| Title |
Details |
The Legend of Zelda
Original release date(s):
- February 21, 1986
- August 22, 1987
- November 15, 1987
|
Release years by system:
1986 – Famicom Disk System
1987 – Nintendo Entertainment System
2003 – Nintendo GameCube
2004 – Game Boy Advance
2006 – Virtual Console
2012 – 3DS Virtual Console |
Notes:
- The first game in The Legend of Zelda series
- Created by Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto as the "killer app" for the Famicom Disk System
- Released outside Japan for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987, becoming the first game to feature a battery-powered save function
- Helped popularize the action-adventure genre of video games
- Known in Japan as The Hyrule Fantasy: The Legend of Zelda (The Hyrule Fantasyゼルダの伝説, The Hyrule Fantasy Zeruda no Densetsu?)
- Re-released for the Japanese Family Computer as The Legend of Zelda 1 (ゼルダの伝説1?) in 1994
|
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Original release date(s):
- January 14, 1987
- September 26, 1988
|
Release years by system:
1987 – Famicom Disk System
1988 – Nintendo Entertainment System
2003 – Nintendo GameCube
2004 – Game Boy Advance
2007 – Virtual Console
2012 – 3DS Virtual Console |
Notes:
- Direct sequel to the first game
- Shifted the perspective to a side-scrolling view rather than keeping the top-down view of its predecessor
- Fused aspects of role-playing games and platform games
- Commonly labeled the "black sheep" of the series due to its graphical and gameplay differences from the other games in the franchise
|
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Original release date(s):
- November 21, 1991
- April 13, 1992
- September 24, 1992
|
Release years by system:
1991 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System
1997 – Satellaview
2002 – Game Boy Advance
2006 – Virtual Console |
Notes:
- Known in Japan as Zeruda no Densetsu Kamigami no Toraifōsu (ゼルダの伝説 神々のトライフォース?, lit. "The Legend of Zelda: Triforce of the Gods")
- Introduced two parallel worlds concept to the series.
- Re-released in North America as part of Nintendo's Player's Choice line
- Game Boy Advance re-release includes a multi-player portion(The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords)
|
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Original release date(s):
- June 6, 1993
- August 1993
- 1993
|
Release years by system:
1993 – Game Boy
1998 – Game Boy Color |
Notes:
- Known in Japan as Zeruda no Densetsu Yume o Miru Shima (ゼルダの伝説 夢をみる島?, lit. "The Legend of Zelda: Dreaming Island")
- First title for Nintendo's handheld consoles
- Re-released for the Game Boy Color, under the title of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX, with additional elements
|
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Original release date(s):
- November 21, 1998
- November 23, 1998
- December 11, 1998
|
Release years by system:
1998 – Nintendo 64
2003 – Nintendo GameCube
2003 – iQue Player
2007 – Virtual Console
2011 – Nintendo 3DS |
Notes:
- The first 3D The Legend of Zelda game
- Sold 7.6 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling title in the series
- First game to receive a perfect score from Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu
- Included in The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition
|
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Original release date(s):
- April 27, 2000
- October 25, 2000
- November 17, 2000
|
Release years by system:
2000 – Nintendo 64
2003 – Nintendo GameCube
2009 – Virtual Console |
Notes:
- Takes place after the events of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and uses its game engine
- Features mask that transform the main character
- First title directed by Eiji Aonuma
- Included in The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition
|
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
Original release date(s):
- February 27, 2001
- May 13, 2001
- October 5, 2001
|
Release years by system:
2001 – Game Boy Color
2013 – 3DS Virtual Console |
Notes:
- Developed in conjunction with Capcom
- Features a time travel game mechanic
- Links with The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
- Known in Japan as Zeruda no Densetsu Fushigi no Ki no Mi Jikū no Shō (ゼルダの伝説 ふしぎの木の実 時空の章?, lit. "The Legend of Zelda: Nut of the Mysterious Tree: Chapter of Time and Space")
|
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
Original release date(s):
- February 27, 2001
- May 13, 2001
- October 5, 2001
|
Release years by system:
2001 – Game Boy Color
2013 – 3DS Virtual Console |
Notes:
- Developed in conjunction with Capcom
- Features a game mechanic that changes the season of the year
- Links with The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
- Known in Japan as Zeruda no Densetsu Fushigi no Ki no Mi Daichi no Shō (ゼルダの伝説 ふしぎの木の実 大地の章?, lit. "The Legend of Zelda: Nut of the Mysterious Tree: Chapter of Earth")
|
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords
Original release date(s):
- March 14, 2003
- March 28, 2003
|
Release years by system:
2002 – Game Boy Advance |
Notes:
- Remake of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Includes a four-player adventure mode
- Four-player mode introduce multi-player gameplay to the series
- Re-released in North America under the Player's Choice label
|
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Original release date(s):
- December 13, 2002
- March 24, 2003
- May 2, 2003
|
Release years by system:
2002 – Nintendo GameCube
2013 – Wii U |
Notes:
- Known in Japan as Zeruda no Densetsu Kaze no Takuto (ゼルダの伝説 風のタクト?, lit. "The Legend of Zelda: Baton of Wind")
- Features cel-shaded graphics
- Designed to reach a wider range of age groups
- Re-released in North America and Europe as part of Nintendo's Player's Choice line
|
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Original release date(s):
- March 18, 2004
- June 7, 2004
- January 7, 2005
|
Release years by system:
2004 – Nintendo GameCube |
Notes:
- Known in Japan as Zelda no Densetsu Yottsu no Tsurugi Purasu (ゼルダの伝説 4つの剣+?, lit. "The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Plus")
- Allows for up to four players to play the game using Game Boy Advances and Game Link Cables
- Carried over stylistic elements from The Wind Waker
- Re-released in North America as part of Nintendo's Player's Choice line
|
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Original release date(s):
- November 4, 2004
- November 12, 2004
|
Release years by system:
2004 – Game Boy Advance |
Notes:
- Developed by Capcom
- Introduced a shrinking game mechanic
- Known in Japan as Zeruda no Densetsu Fushigi no Bōshi (ゼルダの伝説 ふしぎのぼうし?, lit. "The Legend of Zelda: The Mysterious Hat")
- Released in Europe in a bundled package with a The Legend of Zelda-themed Game Boy Advance SP
|
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system:
2006 – Nintendo GameCube, Wii |
Notes:
- A Wii launch game
- Release was delayed so it could be ported to the Wii
- GameCube and Wii versions differ, in that the Wii version supports 16:9 widescreen presentation and horizontally flips the in-game world to make Link right-handed
- The first in the series to receive a T (Teen) rating
|
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Original release date(s):
- June 23, 2007
- October 1, 2007
|
Release years by system:
2007 – Nintendo DS |
Notes:
- Features touchscreen functionality and visuals similar to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Originally developed as The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords DS
- Takes place after the events of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and uses its cel-shaded visuals
- Also released in a bundled package with a The Legend of Zelda-themed Nintendo DS
|
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Original release date(s):
- December 7, 2009
- December 10, 2009
|
Release years by system:
2009 – Nintendo DS |
Notes:
- Known in Japan as Zeruda no Densetsu Daichi no Kiteki (ゼルダの伝説 大地の汽笛?, lit. "The Legend of Zelda: The Steam Whistle of Earth")
- Features touchscreen functionality and visuals similar to The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
- Takes place one hundred years after the events of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
|
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system:
2011 – Wii |
Notes:
- Announced at the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo
|