As a follow up to our 3D Mario platformer ranking, and in anticipation for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake in November, we are revisiting 40 years’ worth of Zelda titles and ranking the 3D mainline games. This time, we are doing this debate style where fellow copy editor, Josh Martinez, will follow-up with his comments. Also he will provide his ranking next week, and we will see which one reigns supreme!
Yes, The Legend of Zelda series has surpassed 40 years. This adventure game sprung from the mind of Shigeru Myamoto when he was exploring Kyoto as a youth. While Mario is all about platforming, Zelda focuses more on the thrill of exploration and experiencing a hero’s adventure. The original Legend of Zelda was a top-down 2D game, and the first 3D release was on the Nintendo 64 with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It was hailed as revolutionary in the 3D gaming space and one of the highest rated video games of all…well, time.
There are a total of seven 3D mainline Zelda games and about a whopping thirteen 2D titles (suffice it to say, we will need to return with a 2D ranking). The titles in scope for today are:
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – original and 3D remaster considered
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask – original and 3D remaster considered
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker– original and HD remaster considered
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess – original and HD remaster considered
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
So, let’s get started!
#7: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Now, wait, how could I put this gorgeous open-world Zelda title that built off of Breath of the Wild at the bottom of the list? Trust me, I too, am a fan of the Zonai and several of the new mechanics, but when reviewing seven top-tier games, the competition gets tight. It’s important to say at the top of this article that ranking the top seven 3D Zelda games is an epic undertaking, as even the “worst” of the 3D Zelda games are still better than other “great” video games out there.
While a solid game, the reason Tears of the Kingdom falls to last place is because it is an iteration of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It was not the title that revolutionized the series with a true open world concept. It was not the first title with this art style. This version of Hyrule is not new. This Link and Zelda are not new. And unlike Majora’s Mask, which reused Ocarina of Times‘ assets, much of this is the same. We have some version of Ganon/ Ganondorf as the villain to both Tears and Breath of the Wild. Lastly, while I felt Tears of the Kingdom did improve on some things like dungeons, the methodology to obtain story remained the same (dragon tears that can be discovered in any order, much like memories).
Therefore, as much as the Depths and the sky islands were fun, and the Zonai powers and ability to build were cool, it doesn’t compare to its stronger brethren.
Josh: Oh no! We’re already starting off on such distant sky islands. I see this game as an improving on everything Breath of the Wild did, and yet, it still feels lesser than its predecessor. I’m not sure how to explain this. That said, I don’t think it deserves to be the bottom of this list. It is an excellent point to make in saying that the race is tight here so someone has to go at the bottom. I’m just not sure it’s this one.
#6: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
First and foremost, I want to recognize Skyward Sword with having one of the most compelling stories in the franchise. It explains the origin of the perpetual curse that the Hero and Princess must endure over the ages with the reincarnation of evil via Ganon or Ganondorf. Also, the innocent love that develops between Link and Zelda is more fleshed out than most games they are in. With that said, there are just a few reasons why it is on the lower half of the list.
One major pain point is the pacing. There are several areas that you must revisit over and over again (I’m personally not a fan of the Silent Realm portions), and you must also do battle with the Imprisoned several times. Also, explorable areas are disappointingly limited. There are only three areas on the surface: Faron, Eldin, and Lanayru province. Skyloft is a fun place to run around; however, outside of that, there is so little to the sky as well. The motion controls proved to be a struggle for many, including myself—and I don’t even mind motion controls—and Fi can be a tiring companion. I can still recall her warning me constantly about my Wii Remote’s battery.
Josh: This is such a tough entry for me because it does so much right. And yet, there’s so much that’s rough about it. I’m a gamer who hates backtracking. It can be fun but not here. Three times back to the same area is too much. I don’t have time for it! Again, I agree with you on the fact that its story, music, and characters are some of the best in the series. It is the gameplay that makes this rough and it’s not enough to fully redeem it.
#5: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker has had a roller coaster of a history. First hated for its “cartoony” graphics, many now look back on this game fondly. Who knew that cell-shaded graphics age really well? Regardless of what you think of the art style, Wind Waker took a lot of risks by having Link navigating a flooded world in a talking boat. Even the Link in this game isn’t the traditional destined hero. Here, he’s just a boy set to save his sister. Even the Zelda figure is non-conventional here; she is also known as Tetra, the pirate.
There’s a lot that Wind Waker does right, despite some bumps in the road. While the sea exploration was sparse, the major islands like Windfall and Dragon Roost have lots of personality. Gameplay is fun, and the pacing is generally smooth (outside the Triforce piece hunting before the HD remake).
Josh: The Wind Waker will always hold a special place in my heart. That’s why it pains me to say this is a fair ranking for it. The main issue is it feels incomplete and developers have said as much. Had this game been completed, it would have been much higher on my list. That said, it is a great entry point for newcomers and has a lot of charm. The HD Remake is great but smoothing the Triforce hunt only reinforces its incomplete nature.
#4: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is the gritty cousin of The Wind Waker. It carries the darker aesthetic that Zelda fans were looking for in the early 2000s. With that said, Twilight Princess earns its stripes with (mostly) stellar dungeon designs and (mostly) memorable bosses. For example, Arbiter’s Grounds and Snowpeak Ruins are always in a top ten list for best dungeons and Stallord and Blizzeta rank high on boss lists.
Midna is also a notable companion. While the decision of which Zelda companion is best can be subjective, I appreciate her character design and growth from beginning to end. She is not some static guide that interrupts you on occasion. She plays a significant role in the plot, and the ending was more impactful than that of Fi or the King of Red Lions.
Twilight Princess is not without its pitfalls. The graphics did not age well, some characters (*ahem*, Ilia) fell flat, and the pacing can also blow up in our faces (remember goat herding?).
Josh: Aca-scuse me?!? I don’t even know where to begin. I’ll start with my extreme bias: this is my favorite Zelda title. The debate is still out on if it’s objectively the best, but it is in my heart. Call me an edge lord if you will, but it is the dark tone of this one that is most compelling. Furthermore, it gets a knock for knocking off Ocarina of Time, but I see this one as everything I wanted from its predecessor and more. Lastly, cue the Whitney Houston because “I will always love (Midna)!”
#3: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Many would say Majora’s Mask is another divisive game in the Zelda franchise. Why? Likely because of its three-day time limit. However, whether or not you like an ever-present ticking clock breathing down your neck, you can’t deny the genius of Nintendo for turning around Ocarina of Time‘s assets into a completely new game in a year. The tone of the game is dark and deep, which isn’t present in many Zelda games.
While Majora’s Mask is not a personal favorite, I credit the intricate schedule that all the NPCs run on. During the three-day cycle, each character has something different today, somewhere to be, and/or something to do. Many of the times, they are involved in their own side quest and results in a unique mask. The hard work not only provides additional content but also a rewarding mask at the end.
The 3D remaster made a few graphical and quality of life updates; however, not all of them made Majora’s Mask necessarily better. For example, the added eyesore of a massive eye on each boss was unnecessary, and the swimming mechanic was updated when it wasn’t really broken to begin with.
Josh: Ok, I’m calm again. This one is interesting for me. I don’t have the nostalgia for it and my first crack at it was the 3D remaster. I love the tone — as you can see from my inner emo self loving Twilight Princess — and think it has the best message of the entire series. The character work is fantastic but the gimmick wore thin on me. You might not like where I place this one Steph…
#2: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The battle between the number one and two spot was a close one. It honestly is like picking which of your two children are your favorite because The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Ocarina of Time are representations of the best of Zelda.
Breath of the Wild finally was able to truly open the world up to players, something that the original wanted to portray but was hindered by technological limitations. You could climb, parasail, cook, and more across one of the franchises’ largest maps. The art style is new and refreshing, and the music took on a more ambient nature.
We also got to see voice acting, original characters, and unique game mechanics with the Sheikah Slate. Moreover, unlike the sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, we also received meaty DLC.
Josh: I stand by my comments that I think Tears of the Kingdom is the better game, but not necessarily the better experience. I will never forget walking out of the Shrine of Resurrection and seeing the true scope of Hyrule. I loved being able to spend hours just exploring the peaks and valleys of Hyrule. The story was really lackluster in my opinion but it made up for it with a fun experience. Few games can match that.
#1: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
I could spend hours rehashing what’s already been said about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, but to keep it brief, it earned its rank because of how revolutionary it was, how high it scored, and how it endured as a fan-favorite for just under 30 years.
Ocarina of Time has stood the test of time as a video game because of its strong dungeons, memorable characters, and solid gameplay mechanics. While it is linear in nature, Ocarina of Time is able to hold players’ attention by making us feel like we are embarking on our own epic adventure. Moreover, it has a theme that all people can relate to—the impact of time. There is an innocence associated to childhood, and there’s something somber…something tragic…about the need to grow up and face your “destiny”. Over time, our relationships with family, friends, and strangers change.
Josh: It’s really hard to argue with this one. It was my first experience with Zelda and its ending felt like the mid-credit scene in Iron Man where you realize the world is much bigger than just Tony Stark. This game deserves all the accolades it gets, but does it deserve the top spot? We’ll have to see where it goes on my list because I’m not so sure…
How would you rank the 3D Zelda titles? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord. Hang tight to see how Josh ranks these games!
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