Which The Legend of Zelda Game Is a Good Place to Start?

Pretty much everyone i stalking about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in 2023. After all, it’s a follow-up to a critically acclaimed installment and one of the biggest releases this year. But someone might also wonder if it is really the best The Legend of Zelda game to play at the moment, especially if someone is new to the series and it would be their first one. It’s going to be big and intimidating! Since I’ve been playing entries in the series since the NES, I figured suggesting different sorts of installments could help people pin down the right one to pick up and play.

I want to play the newest The Legend of Zelda game first: Tears of the Kingdom

I figured let’s start this out with an easy one. If you don’t care about history, gameplay, or style of gameplay and just want the newest game, go with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It’s the newest possible entry and you can find it on the Nintendo Switch.

However, since it is a sequel, I’d say you really might want to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild first if you can.

I want to play what may be all-time best The Legend of Zelda game first: A Link to the Past

While the original NES The Legend of Zelda titles lay an incredible foundation, A Link to the Past is perhaps one of the best games ever made. The artistry, game design, dungeons, and premise are all pretty much perfect. It appeared on the SNES, GBA (with Four Swords), 3DS, Wii, and Wii U via Virtual Console, and Nintendo Switch Online.

I want to play one of the all-time greatest 3D The Legend of Zelda games first: The Ocarina of Time

The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time is a formative game. It isn’t just a wonderful The Legend of Zelda title. Both it and A Link to the Past should basically be mandatory playing for anyone who wants to really understand action games with a real sense of adventure. The storyline is great, the dungeons are fantastic, the time travel mechanic is wonderful, and it’s a delight. You can find it on the N64, GameCube, Wii and Wii U via Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, and 3DS.

Image via Nintendo

I want to play a bright and colorful The Legend of Zelda game first: The Wind Waker

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is one of the brightest and most vibrant versions of Hyrule people will get to explore. It’s one of the cel-shaded entries, and it also sets itself apart with its sea-faring ways. You can find it on the GameCube and Wii U.

I want to play a more unconventional The Legend of Zelda games first: Majora’s Mask

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is weird in many wonderful ways. It’s a direct follow-up to The Ocarina of Time. It relies upon masks for different abilities and progression. It’s incredibly dark, as we see a moon about to crush everything. Plus there’s a time loop that involves repeating days until you can get everything done to save the day. It’s good! You can find it on the N64, GameCube, Wii and Wii U via Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, and 3DS.

I want to play a darker The Legend of Zelda game first: The Twilight Princess

While it isn’t an open-world game, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is a huge game with fantastic dungeons, the glorious gremlin-like assistant Midna, and a version of Link that can transforms into a wolf. It’s a darker title in many ways, both in terms of appearance and knowing Twilight infested Hyrule. It’s definitely worth someone’s time. You can find it on the GameCube, Wii, and Wii U.

I want to play a multiplayer The Legend of Zelda game first: Four Swords Adventures

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures is so much fun! You can get together and form a group of four people who all control a “Link” to solve puzzles and progress through the adventure. It’s a wonderful GameCube game. Though also, if you can’t find it, then Four Swords on the GBA (via The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past) or The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition on the DSi or 3DS if you have it is also a lot of fun.