Which Zelda Game to Play First?
There are more than twenty Legend of Zelda games, and almost every one is a complete story on its own, so there is no wrong place to start. The best first game depends on what kind of game you enjoy and what you can play it on. Here are our picks.
Quick answers
- Best first Zelda today: Breath of the Wild. It teaches you everything as you go and lets you explore at your own pace.
- Do I need to play them in order? No. A few games are direct sequels (see below), but the rest stand alone. Our timeline shows how the stories connect if you are curious.
- Want a classic Zelda with dungeons? Start with the Ocarina of Time remake (2026) or Link's Awakening (2019).
Our Picks
Breath of the Wild
A huge open Hyrule where you can climb anything and go anywhere. Puzzles are bite-sized shrines, and you set your own goals. Play it before its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom.
Ocarina of Time (Remake)
The game that defined 3D Zelda, rebuilt in 2026 with a jump button, a free camera and a new Castle Town. Dungeons, items and a story that unfolds in order.
Link's Awakening (2019)
A compact island adventure with eight dungeons and a toy-like look. Easy to pick up, and a great first taste of classic top-down Zelda.
Echoes of Wisdom
Princess Zelda copies objects and monsters to solve problems her own way. Friendly for younger players and anyone who likes creative puzzles.
Twilight Princess
A darker, story-driven adventure with some of the best dungeons in the series, wolf Link and Midna.
Skyward Sword HD
The first Link and Zelda and the birth of the Master Sword. The HD version lets you play with buttons instead of motion controls.
Games That Are Direct Sequels
- Tears of the Kingdom continues Breath of the Wild. Play Breath of the Wild first.
- Majora's Mask follows straight on from Ocarina of Time, with the same Link.
- Phantom Hourglass picks up right after The Wind Waker, and Spirit Tracks is set about a hundred years later.
- Zelda II follows the original Legend of Zelda, and A Link Between Worlds returns to the world of A Link to the Past. Both make sense on their own.
Maybe Not First
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is a side-scrolling action game, and much harder than the rest of the series.
- Majora's Mask is brilliant, but its three-day clock and story make more sense once you know Ocarina of Time.
- Tears of the Kingdom builds on everything Breath of the Wild sets up, from the map to the story.
Curious what critics thought? See every Zelda game ranked by critic score. See every game in order on our Zelda games in release order page, or find out how the stories fit together on the Zelda timeline.