There is a lot of Zelda talk going on right now because of the much-awaited and much-anticipated series ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2’ preview release. After watching a small preview of Breath of the Wild 2 whose full version is set to be released in 2023. Gamers should get ready for the new series by playing and knowing all the Zelda games in order before 2023.
Many of us might want to check back on some of the earlier Zelda game series while we’re waiting for the new Zelda games to arrive. Let’s learn all the Zelda games in order before the new Zelda series ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2’ release,s which is not so far in 2023.
There are obviously many games in the Zelda franchise. The quickest and easiest way to finish them all and know the storyline correctly is by playing all the Zelda games in order. If you do not wish to play every game and just want to know the storyline of all the Zelda games, we can help with that too. So, let’s begin the epic Zelda games franchise journey now.
In This Article
Zelda Games In Order Of Timelines | Child, Adult & Fallen Hero Storylines
There are 3 main timelines which you can take in reference while you play the Legend of Zelda Games in order, i.e., child, adult, and fallen hero timelines, but there are some games that were released before this timeline split which we will be calling Pre-timeline games in this article. If you want the correct Zelda games story in order and want to play all the Zelda Games in order Of Their Timeline, you should scroll on and find out our best order according to the 3 primary timelines. By the way, this is the best order in which you can play to follow the storyline correctly and appreciate Zelda games as a whole.
All Zelda Games in order of their timelines, are –
1. The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- Timeline: Pre-Timeline
- Released: 2011
- Supported Platform: Wii/Wii U
About:
The first in the list of Zelda games in order is Skyward Sword. While the Zelda timeline can be somewhat convoluted at times, we can all agree that Skyward Sword is the starting point for the overarching story, going much further back than any previous key game in the franchise has. This game created so many crucial elements of the franchise that we doubt any other main series game would ever go as far back as it did.
2. The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap
- Timeline: Pre-Timeline
- Released: 2004
- Supported Platform: Game Boy Advance
About:
The Minish Cap, which falls into the original Zelda games in order between Skyward Sword and Four Swords, is quite distinctive because it reduces Link to the size of an insect so he may communicate with a race of tiny people known as the Minish.
If you only want to play the more well-known games, you could skip this one, but if you did, you’d be losing out on many things and don’t forget that the Minish Cap received excellent reviews. So, we’d suggest giving it a try instead of skipping it.
3. The Legend Of Zelda: Four Swords
- Timeline: Pre-Timeline
- Released: 2002
- Supported Platform: Game Boy Advance (bundled with a Link to the past)
About:
This little multiplayer game which is third in the list of Zelda games in order is a great companion to The Minish Cap because of how similar their positions are in the greater Zelda mythos. The Minish Cap and Four Swords appear to be quite a distance apart chronologically. You shouldn’t stress too much about it, because there isn’t a game which is similar or a continuation of this storyline.
4. The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
- Timeline: Child & Adult timelines
- Released: 1998
- Platform: N64
About:
We mentioned the three Zelda timelines before starting the Zelda games in order list, didn’t we? The split first happens with Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64; this game is set in both Child and Adult timeframes, thus this is where things start to get murky. Here is also where the long-running conflict with Ganondorf begins.
5. The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
- Timeline: Child timeline
- Released: 2000
- Platform: N64
About:
It is commonly accepted that Link opted to leave Hyrule for a while after being blasted hurtling back through time in this Majora’s mask Zelda games in order list. And it’s during that time away that he finds himself in a time loop where the same three days keep happening over and over again.
At the conclusion of the game, Link does go back home, where he enlists in the Hylian army. This game, which continues the Child chronology, is well-remembered for its unsettling moon.
6. The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- Timeline: Child timeline
- Released: 2006
- Platform: GameCube/Wii
About:
Continuing with the Child timeline, this one makes things even more complex because, as if things weren’t already perplexing enough, we actually already have two versions of Link! Although Ganondorf is murdered, he quickly reappears in a reincarnated form at the end of this Twilight Princess Zelda games in order list.
7. The Legend Of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
- Timeline: Child timeline
- Released: 2004
- Platform: GameCube
About:
Now we go on to the final game of the Child timeframe in this Zelda games in order list. The Four Swords storyline is concluded in the GBA sequel Four Sword Adventures, which features a reappearance of Ganondorf. But the game’s proper placement is still a subject of intense discussion.
At first, a lot of people believed it to be related to Link and his Past, but the Child timeline revelation changed everything. If you haven’t seen it already, it’s worth checking out because Vaati is also murdered in this one.
8. The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Timeline: Adult timeline
- Released: 2002
- Platform: GameCube
About:
You are now in the Adult timeline zone of this Zelda games in order. Since Link was transported back in time in Ocarina, the world has endured centuries, and Ganon has had plenty of opportunities to cause significant harm.
In response, the goddesses chose to flood and ultimately submerge Hyrule, sealing the famous spot inside the ocean’s depths. This is one of the series’ strongest chapters as far as pure storytelling in Zelda is concerned.
A new Link is introduced in Wind Waker, who has grown up hearing stories of the great Link from the past (the one who was sent back in time to Ocarina). In this game, the younger Link matures and briefly assumes the role of the series protagonist.
9. The Legend Of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
- Timeline: Adult timeline
- Released: 2007
- Supported Platform: DS
About:
At the conclusion of the previous game in Zelda games in order list, Link and Tetra set off to locate a brand-new kingdom. In Phantom Hourglass, the duo regrettably gets shipwrecked, and then disaster eventually breaks out.
This series is a peculiar one, actually, as it is more of a mini-game than a major entry in the genre. The majority of it occurs in a dream and has little to no impact on the timeline. If you don’t want to play everything, skip this one!
10. The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
- Timeline: Adult timeline
- Released: 2009
- Supported Platform: DS/Wii U
About:
Although this series takes place roughly 100 years after the events of the last game in Zelda games in order list, New Hyrule serves as the game’s setting and is also a part of the Adult timeline. We also get our first playable Zelda in this game!
Cole, who was controlled by a resurrected Ganon, is the main antagonist in this story, sort of (he has a habit of doing that). As it is the conclusion to the Adult timeline, you should definitely play this one.
11. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past
- Timeline: Fallen Hero Timeline
- Released: 1991
- Platform: SNES
About:
Now that we have exited the Adult timeline in the Zelda games in order list let’s move on to the Fallen Hero Timeline, which is where this ‘a link to the past’ game begins. Years have passed since Ganondorf beat Link when we jump into this timeline.
Due to the numerous pre-timelines that have been released since 1991, this game has obviously been pushed further and further down the chronology. In this one, Link touches Tristone and undoes much of the harm that Ganon has already caused to the world.
12. The Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Seasons And Oracle Of Ages
- Timeline: Fallen Hero Timeline
- Released: 2001
- Platform: Game Boy Color
About:
Most people can agree that this Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages is in some manner continues A Link to the Past. One of the strongest hints is the knowledge that the Link in this game has already obtained Tristone. Furthermore, he has definitely already defeated Ganon, possibly more than once.
13. The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
- Timeline: Fallen Hero Timeline
- Released: 1993/remade in 2019
- Platform: Game Boy/Nintendo Switch
About:
Nintendo has generated some confusion by stating that this game might take place with any version of Link’ who has beaten Ganon, so you can really choose. This game was initially intended as a straight successor to A Link to the Past.
It is a great game to play no matter when you play this without caring about Zelda games in order list because the story and general narrative do take a bit of a detour in this one, which was welcomed by some.
14. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
- Timeline: Fallen Hero Timeline
- Released: 2013
- Platform: 3DS
About:
Another intriguing one in the series of Zelda games in order is this one. Although this game a link between worlds gives you a lot of backstories, it really draws from other games from different timelines, so you could move the histories around a bit if you wanted to. Despite this, the game does feel very much like it fits in the Fallen timeline, and the title itself implies that it is, at least in part, a hybrid.
15. The Legend Of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
- Timeline: Fallen Hero Timeline
- Released: 2015
- Platform: 3DS
About:
Another game that you could skip with ease without losing anything essential in the complex world-building of the Zelda series. It is a game that hasn’t received much affection from the audience; in fact, many don’t consider it to be a core Zelda game at all. Although it technically belongs to the Fallen timeline and can be played here, skipping this one is okay.
16. The Legend Of Zelda
- Timeline: Fallen Hero Timeline
- Released: 1986
- Platform: NES
About:
The fact that The Legend of Zelda, the first game in the series of Zelda games in order, was released in 1986 and is one of the most recent games in the series chronology does strike us as hilarious.
In this game, also referred to as The Hyrule Fantasy, Link is on the lookout for the Triforce after Hyrule has been completely destroyed and only monsters are left to roam the country. As part of Nintendo Switch Online, you can play both of these games in addition to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.
17. Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link
- Timeline: Fallen Hero Timeline
- Released: 1987
- Platform: NES
About:
Although Zelda II: The Adventure of Link was only published one year after the original, it actually takes place three years after the events of the first game and is a direct sequel, making it simple to put in the timeline.
It’s noteworthy that there are valid grounds for the claim that this is the series’ most advanced timeline ever. We choose to believe Breath of the Wild occurs thousands of years later.
18. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
- Timeline: Fallen Hero Timeline
- Released: 2016
- Platform: Wii U/Nintendo Switch
About:
This Breath of the wild is the franchise’s most recent game, up until next year at least, and has also been hailed as one of the greatest games of all time. Its position in the timeline is still up for discussion. The fact that Ganon is still very much alive is one of the hints that it is a part of the Fallen Hero timeline, but this is still up for debate.
The most important thing to understand is that BotW occurs more than 10,000 years after Ganon’s previous defeat, regardless of whether you believe it to be in the Fallen Hero Timeline or not. This implies that you are not really required to be familiar with the details of the prior games. Instead, BotW explains its intentions to you directly. Let’s look at the next game series of Zelda games in order below.
19. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2
- Timeline: ND
- Release date: 2023
- Supported Platform: Nintendo Switch
About:
This brings us to the franchise’s upcoming game. We do know that this upcoming game will show the destruction of Hyrule (again) and we will see Link go to the skies! All indicators point to the sequel continuing where the first left off; it would be weird if it didn’t.
And perhaps by then, the Nintendo Switch Pro will have received official approval, allowing us to enjoy it in gorgeous 4K! However, there are no guarantees on that front.
Zelda Games In Order Of Their Release | Chronological Order
If you want to play all the Zelda Games In Order of their release to know the story sequence, you can get your answer here by just scrolling down. As this is a long-running franchise, the order to play them can get a little muddled. However, if you wish to play the main Zelda games in the same order as everyone else, follow this Zelda Games In Order list.
The list of all the Zelda games in order of their release is –
- The Legend of Zelda: 1986
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link: 1987
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past: 1991
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening: 1993
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: 1998
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask: 2000
- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages: 2001
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker: 2002
- The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures: 2004
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap: 2004
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess: 2006
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass: 2007
- The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks: 2009
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: 2011
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds: 2013
- The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes: 2015
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: 2017
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2: 2022
Watch The Evolution Of All The Zelda Games In Order
Wrapping Up
So, this was the correct Zelda Games In Order which you were looking for all over the internet, right? I hope you understood everything clearly and enjoyed your little read here. If you wanna know more about the articles on the Games In Oder topic or anything else, visit Path of EX once.
Happy Gaming!
