All Legend of Zelda Games in Order: Complete Release List

There are hardly any gamers who are not familiar with The Legend of Zelda because it not only existed over 35 years, but also one of the most successful Nintendo video game series ever.

Launched in 1986, the franchise has come a long way and released many titles, giving players a chance to engage in puzzle-solving, combat, and exploration for them to have an experience richer than any other action-adventure games out there.

From the pixelated beginnings to the vast open-world experience, the series has evolved over time, but the core theme, i.e., the battle between good and evil is the same even after so many titles.

With dozens of titles, including spin-offs and remakes, players wonder where to begin or how the titles connect and if you are among them, you are in the right place. In this guide, we will tell you how to play Zelda games in order, so you can understand the storyline better.

All Legend of Zelda Games in Order of Release

If you want to experience The Legend of Zelda series the way fans did when it first launched, playing them in the release order is the way to go because that way you can see how the design changed from simple pixel graphics to breath-taking visuals of today.

The earliest titles with simple stories and limited direction are tough to navigate, but they laid the foundation for what has now become an iconic franchise. That being said, let’s walk you through the list of titles in the series.

• The Legend of Zelda (1986)
• Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987)
• A Link to the Past (1991)
• Link’s Awakening (1993)
• Ocarina of Time (1998)
• Majora’s Mask (2000)
• Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages (2001)
• Four Swords (2002)
• The Wind Waker (2002)
• Four Swords Adventures (2004)
• The Minish Cap (2004)
• Twilight Princess (2006)
• Phantom Hourglass (2007)
• Spirit Tracks (2009)
• Skyward Sword (2011)
• A Link Between Worlds (2013)
• Tri Force Heroes (2015)
• Breath of the Wild (2017)
• Tears of the Kingdom (2023)
• Echoes of Wisdom (2024)

Zelda Games in Timeline Order

Trying to make sense of The Legend of Zelda timeline is not easy if you are a new player because unlike other games, it doesn’t follow a single straight path, but split into multiple storylines, which leaves you confused and scratching your head.

The series includes different versions of what happens depending on whether Link rewinds time, wins, or loses and there’s not just one correct way to play the games in story order. If it is your introduction to the game, this guide will be beneficial for you. 

The Legend Begins – Where It All Starts

Skyward Sword marks the beginning of the game, where you get to know about how the Kingdom of Hyrule came into existence and the importance of the battle between good and evil. This sets up the frequent cycle of Zelda, Link, and Ganon being reborn across generations, and after Skyward Sword games like The Minish Cap, and Four Swords follow lead to the Ocarina of Time, the point where the timeline splits into multiple storylines.

These are the titles included in this timeline:

• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
• The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The Fallen Hero Timeline

Ganon defeats Link during their final battle at the end of Ocarina of Time and the kingdom falls into darkness, causing a long Imprisoning War to start. This leads into A Link to the Past, where a new hero rises to save the day and this timeline includes the following titles:

• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
• The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
• The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
• The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
• The Legend of Zelda
• Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

The Child Timeline

After defeating Ganon, Link travels back in time and tells Princess Zelda about Ganon’s evil plans, so they can work together and stop him from taking over.

This includes the following titles:

• The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
• The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

The Adult Timeline

Adult Link defeats Ganon, but disappears from that world because he was sent back to his childhood and with no hero left behind, the kingdom is no longer safe like it was when Link was there.

This timeline includes:

• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
• The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
• The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

The End of The Timeline

Nintendo has never officially placed Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild in any of the three timelines mainly because they happen long after the other games took place.

Some fans assume they have merged all the timelines into one while others believe they exist in a fresh timeline altogether and because these games refer to many past events, but change parts of the story, it is hard to pin down exactly where they belong.

With more titles to be added in the series, it is clear The Legend of Zelda timeline will grow further and the adventure is far from being over in case you are concerned.

This timeline includes the following titles:

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda is indeed a great series and different from anything you have played before mainly because it’s not just about a hero saving one kingdom, but a legacy passed down through time, and it doesn’t matter if you follow the games through the timeline journey or release, each story adds a new layer and gives you an exciting experience. It may be confusing at times, but that’s what makes Zelda magical and worth playing. Now that you have this guide, it should be less confusing for you to get started.