The Legend of Zelda has 40 years of mainline entries to argue about, and the franchise’s quality is high enough that even the debates about which games belong in the top tier are fun. Rather than present one definitive order, this guide reflects where broad critical and community consensus lands – and where Ocarina of Time sits heading into its confirmed Switch 2 remake later in 2026.
The Top Tier: Games That Define the Franchise
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
Ocarina of Time consistently appears at or near the top of Zelda rankings – and among the most critically acclaimed games across any franchise ever made. What it achieved in 1998 is hard to overstate: it translated the 2D Zelda formula to 3D with genuine design confidence, introduced the Z-targeting combat system that influenced action games industry-wide, and delivered dungeon design, Koji Kondo’s legendary soundtrack, and a narrative scope that set a benchmark the series has been measured against ever since. It sits at the center of the Zelda canonical timeline split, giving it outsized lore weight in addition to its gameplay legacy. The confirmed Switch 2 remake – announced at the June 2026 Nintendo Direct for later this year – is a direct acknowledgment of how central this title remains to the franchise’s identity.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
Breath of the Wild is OOT’s only genuine rival for the franchise’s most transformative game. Where OOT defined the 3D action-adventure template, BotW demolished that template and built something entirely new: a physics-driven open world where almost any surface can be climbed, almost any puzzle has multiple solutions, and no mandatory dungeon order dictates what you do or when. The result was one of the best-reviewed games ever made, launching with the Nintendo Switch in 2017 and widely credited as a major contributor to the console’s commercial success. It remains the most recommended starting point for players new to Zelda in 2026.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)
The direct BotW sequel builds on the same Hyrule but adds enough new systems – Ultrahand (fusing objects into machines), Recall (reversing objects through time), Ascend (passing through ceilings), and an underground Depth layer – that it feels like genuine expansion rather than DLC. Rankings diverge here: some place TotK above BotW for sheer content and mechanical ambition; others rank BotW higher for the sense of original discovery that a second game in the same world can’t fully replicate. Both are essential, and playing BotW before TotK is strongly recommended for the narrative and world context.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
The SNES entry that established most of the franchise conventions still in use today: the Light World/Dark World duality, top-down perspective refined to near perfection, and dungeon design philosophy that influenced an entire genre. For players approaching classic Zelda before OOT, A Link to the Past is the obvious entry point. A spiritual successor – A Link Between Worlds (3DS, 2013) – is often cited as matching or even exceeding the original and is the best way to experience that design era on modern-accessible hardware.
Key Zelda Games by Era
| Game | Year | Notable For |
| Ocarina of Time | 1998 | Defined 3D adventure gaming; Z-targeting; dungeon design benchmark |
| Majora’s Mask | 2000 | Darker companion to OOT; 3-day loop mechanic; cult classic |
| The Wind Waker | 2002 | Cel-shaded art (initially divisive, now beloved); ocean exploration |
| Twilight Princess | 2006 | Mature aesthetic; horseback combat; SNES-style structure in 3D |
| A Link Between Worlds | 2013 (3DS) | Best 3DS Zelda; wall-merging mechanic; A Link to the Past companion |
| Breath of the Wild | 2017 | Redefined franchise with open-world freedom; launch title benchmark |
| Tears of the Kingdom | 2023 | BotW sequel; Ultrahand building; massive scope |
| Echoes of Wisdom | 2024 | Latest entry; play as Zelda; echo-copying mechanic |
| OOT Remake (Switch 2) | 2026 (confirmed) | Full remake announced June 2026; release date TBD |
Best Zelda Games on 3DS
The 3DS has a strong Zelda library worth knowing if that’s the available hardware:
- A Link Between Worlds (2013): Widely considered the best Zelda on 3DS and one of the best in the entire franchise – a top-down companion to A Link to the Past with a wall-merging mechanic that makes it feel fresh rather than a retread
- Ocarina of Time 3D (2011): The most acclaimed Zelda game remade for the handheld with improved visuals, touch screen inventory management, and Master Quest mode included – the best way to experience OOT on dedicated hardware
- Majora’s Mask 3D (2015): The companion 3DS remake, similarly polished and recommended for anyone who loved OOT 3D
- Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks: DS-era Zelda entries, compatible with 3DS hardware, with stylus-based control schemes
One important clarification: Breath of the Wild was never released on 3DS. It launched as a Nintendo Switch and Wii U exclusive in 2017 and has never been ported to the handheld. Searches for ‘BotW 3DS’ reflect a common misconception – playing BotW requires a Switch (including Switch Lite or Switch 2).
Where Does OOT Rank in 2026?
With BotW and TotK now reshaping expectations of what a Zelda game can be, multiple 2026 rankings still place Ocarina of Time at or very near the top – specifically for its historical significance and what it accomplished within its era. The most common framing that resolves the OOT-vs-BotW debate: OOT ranks highest for legacy and defining a genre; BotW ranks highest for what it offers a player picking up Zelda for the first time today. Both framings are defensible, which is why the two titles trade the top position depending on the criteria any ranking uses.
What’s notable is that OOT’s critical standing hasn’t diminished despite being a 28-year-old game – and the announced Switch 2 remake suggests Nintendo is betting it can introduce OOT to a new generation who didn’t experience the original.
The Latest Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (2024)
The most recent mainline Zelda entry is The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, released for Nintendo Switch in 2024. Its headline distinction: players control Princess Zelda as the protagonist rather than Link, a first for the mainline series. The gameplay centers on copying and deploying ‘echoes’ – duplicates of objects and enemies encountered in the world – as tools for puzzle-solving and combat. Reception has been broadly positive, with the echo system praised for creative puzzle design, even as the game’s place in the overall franchise rankings is still settling relative to the modern heavyweights above.
A Note on Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus appears alongside Zelda searches frequently, which makes sense thematically – both series emphasize exploration, epic boss encounters scaled well beyond typical game enemies, and emotional storytelling in vast ancient worlds. But Shadow of the Colossus is a Sony-published PlayStation game developed by Team ICO/Japan Studio, originally released on PlayStation 2 in 2005, remade for PS3 in 2011 and PS4 in 2018. It has no Switch release and no connection to Nintendo or the Zelda franchise. For players who love Zelda’s scale and atmosphere and want something similar, SotC is one of gaming’s most recommended alternatives – but it requires PlayStation hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Zelda game to start with?
Breath of the Wild is the most recommended starting point for newcomers in 2026 – it’s accessible without any prior Zelda knowledge, visually impressive, and among the best open-world games ever made. Ocarina of Time (via Switch Online) is the classic entry point for players who want to experience the game that originally defined the franchise.
What is the best Zelda game on 3DS?
A Link Between Worlds is the consensus best 3DS Zelda, and one of the best in the entire franchise. Ocarina of Time 3D is a strong second – the most acclaimed Zelda game remade with improved visuals and Master Quest included.
Is Breath of the Wild on 3DS?
No – Breath of the Wild was never released for 3DS. It’s a Nintendo Switch and Wii U exclusive. Playing BotW on a portable Nintendo device requires a Switch Lite, Switch, or Switch 2.
Is Shadow of the Colossus a Zelda game or on Switch?
Neither – Shadow of the Colossus is a Sony-published PlayStation game with no connection to Zelda or Nintendo. It has never been released on Switch. It’s often recommended alongside Zelda for players who enjoy exploration and epic boss encounters, but requires PlayStation hardware.
What is the newest Zelda game?
The newest mainline Zelda entry is Echoes of Wisdom (2024, Nintendo Switch), which lets players control Princess Zelda rather than Link for the first time in the mainline series. A confirmed Switch 2 remake of Ocarina of Time is coming later in 2026.
Final Thoughts
Zelda is one of gaming’s few franchises where ‘best’ legitimately changes depending on what you prioritize – historical impact, modern playability, 2D vs 3D, open-world freedom vs. structured dungeon design. The combination of OOT and BotW sitting at the top of most lists reflects the franchise’s extraordinary range: a game from 1998 and a game from 2017 both staking legitimate claims as the most important entries in a 40-year series. The confirmed OOT Switch 2 remake arriving later in 2026 is one of the year’s most anticipated games precisely because that legacy is so well understood – even players who’ve never touched the original know its reputation.
