The Legend of Zelda is a video game series created by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, and mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The series debuted with in 1986. The Legend of Zelda video games have been developed exclusively for Nintendo video game consoles and handhelds, dating from the Family Computer Disk System to the Nintendo Switch 2. Spin-off titles, however, have been released on non-Nintendo systems. the franchise's main series consists of 33 video games, including 21 original titles, 11 remakes and enhanced ports, and the collection The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition. over 52 million copies have been sold since the release of the first game. The franchise also includes an American cartoon adaptation, multiple comic book adaptations, as well as soundtracks.
Gameplay consists of a mixture of action, adventure, puzzle-solving, and role-playing video games. The series centers on Link, the protagonist and player character in all but one of the main series. Link is often given the task of saving the world from Ganon, the series' primary antagonist and is aided by Princess Zelda, a mortal reincarnation of the Goddess Hylia. Games in The Legend of Zelda series with 2D graphics feature side-scrolling or overhead view gameplay, while games with 3D graphics give the player a third-person or fixed overhead perspective. The franchise holds several Guinness World Records, including the first game with a battery-powered save feature and the longest-running action-adventure series.
Video games Main series TitleReleaseRelease by systemNotesThe Legend of Zelda1986 – Famicom Disk System1987 – Nintendo Entertainment System2003 – GameCube2004 – Game Boy Advance2006 – Wii Virtual Console2012 – 3DS Virtual Console2013 – Wii U Virtual Console2018 – Nintendo Classics Designed by Shigeru Miyamoto as a "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 Mandelin, Clyde. Legends of Localization - The Legend of Zelda: Graphics. Legends of Localization. Retrieved September 1, 2020. Re-released for the Japanese Family Computer as in 1994. Included in The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition.Zelda II: The Adventure of Link1987 – Famicom Disk System 1988 – Nintendo Entertainment System2003 – GameCube2004 – Game Boy Advance2007 – Wii Virtual Console2012 – 3DS Virtual Console2013 – Wii U Virtual Console2019 – Nintendo ClassicsDirect sequel to the first game. Shifted the main perspective to a side-scrolling view rather than 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. Included in The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition.The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past1991 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System2002 – Game Boy Advance2006 – Wii Virtual Console2013 – Wii U Virtual Console2016 – 3DS Virtual Console2019 – Nintendo Classics Known in Japan as 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 Awakening1993 – Game Boy Known in Japan as First title for a handheld console.The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time1998 – Nintendo 642003 – GameCube2003 – iQue Player2007 – Wii Virtual Console2015 – Wii U Virtual Console 2021 – Nintendo Classics The first 3D The Legend of Zelda game. Sold 7.6 million copies worldwide and was the best-selling title in the series at the time. First video game ever 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 Mask2000 – Nintendo 642003 – GameCube2009 – Wii Virtual Console2016 – Wii U Virtual Console 2022 – Nintendo Classics Takes place after the events of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and uses its game engine. Features masks that transform the main character. Noted for its darker tone and themes compared to other titles in the franchise. First The Legend of Zelda title where Eiji Aonuma was the primary director. Included in The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition.The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons2001 – Game Boy Color 2013 – 3DS Virtual Console2023 – Nintendo Classics Known in Japan as Developed in conjunction with Capcom. Features a season changing game mechanic. Links with The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages.The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages2001 – Game Boy Color 2013 – 3DS Virtual Console2023 – Nintendo Classics Known in Japan as Developed in conjunction with Capcom. Features a time travel game mechanic. Links with The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons.The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords2002 – Game Boy Advance2024 – Nintendo Classics Port of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Includes a four-player adventure mode. Four-player mode introduced multiplayer gameplay to the series. Re-released in North America under the Player's Choice label.The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker2002 – GameCube2025 – Nintendo Classics Known in Japan as 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 Adventures2004 – GameCube Known in Japan as 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 Cap2004 – Game Boy Advance2011 – 3DS Virtual Console2014 – Wii U Virtual Console2023 – Nintendo Classics Known in Japan as Developed by Capcom Features a shrinking game mechanic. Released in Europe in a bundled package with a The Legend of Zelda-themed Game Boy Advance SP.The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess2006 – GameCube2006 – Wii Release was delayed so it could be ported to the Wii and released as a Wii launch title. Features a gameplay mechanic in which Link has the power to turn into a wolf. 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. First game in the series to receive a Teen rating.The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass2007 – DS2016 – Wii U Virtual Console 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: The Wind Waker and uses its cel-shaded visuals. Also released in a bundled package with a The Legend of Zelda-themed DS.The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks2009 – DS2016 – Wii U Virtual Console Known in Japan as 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 Sword2011 – Wii2016 – Wii U Virtual Console Celebrates the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda with the power of Link to fly with his bird. Announced at the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo. Prominently features motion controls through the use of the Wii Remote.The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds2013 – 3DS Announced at the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo. Spiritual sequel to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes2015 – 3DS Focus on multiplayer gameplay. Developed by Grezzo.The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild2017 – Wii U2017 – Switch Nintendo Switch launch game.The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom2023 – Switch Sequel to Breath of the Wild.The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom2024 – Switch Developed by Grezzo.
Remakes TitleReleaseRelease by systemNotesThe Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX1998 – Game Boy Color2023 – Nintendo Classics Color remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. Includes a new dungeon and new items.The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest2002 – GameCube Modified version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time featuring new puzzles in the dungeons. Included as a limited pre-order bonus with The Wind Waker in Japan and North America; included in the first boxes of The Wind Waker in the PAL-region. Began as an expansion to Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64DD under the working title Ura Zelda.The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D2011 – 3DS Remaster / enhanced port of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time featuring updated graphics and gameplay features. Includes content from Master Quest. Developed by Grezzo.The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition2011 – DSiWare Remake of the Four Swords game from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords featuring new dungeons based on classic Zelda games, optional singleplayer gameplay, and wireless multiplayer. Developed by Grezzo.The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD2013 – Wii U Remaster / enhanced port of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker featuring updated graphics and gameplay features.The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D2015 – 3DS Remaster / enhanced port of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask featuring updated graphics and gameplay features. Developed by Grezzo.The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD2016 – Wii U Celebrates the 30th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda with the power of Link to turn into a wolf again. Also celebrates the 10th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Remaster / enhanced port of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess featuring updated graphics and gameplay features. Developed by Tantalus Media.The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening2019 – Switch Remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening featuring updated graphics and gameplay features. Developed by Grezzo. New art style and soundtrack.The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD2021 – Switch Remaster / enhanced port of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword featuring updated graphics and a new control scheme. Developed by Tantalus Media.The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition 2025 – Switch 2 Enhanced port of Breath of the Wild. Nintendo Switch 2 launch game.The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Enhanced port of Tears of the Kingdom. Nintendo Switch 2 launch game.The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time2026 – Switch 2 Remaster of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time with updated graphics. Slated to release on November 5th, 2026.
Collections TitleReleaseSystemPortsThe Legend of Zelda: Collector's EditionGameCube Limited release video game compilation. The Legend of Zelda Zelda II: The Adventure of Link The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker demo
Spin-offs TitleReleaseRelease by systemNotesZelda1989 – Game & Watch 1998 – Mini Classic Based on the original The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The final Game & Watch handheld released. Included in the Game Boy Advance compilation title Game & Watch Gallery 4.The Legend of ZeldaBielby, Matt, ed. No. 1 Nintendo Game Watches. Super Play. Issue 2. Pg. 21. December 19921989 – Nelsonic game watch Developed by Nelsonic Industries. Based on the original The Legend of Zelda for Nintendo Entertainment System. Features a quartz accurate digital clock and a resettable alarm.Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce1992 – Barcode Battler II Developed by Epoch Co.Conveni Wars - Barcode Battler II. Epoch, Co. 1993.