Top 5 games in The Legend of Zelda franchise, according to reviews

after a long wait, The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom’s Tears finally. The game has already been a huge hit for critics and audiences and seems to be on its way to becoming another one in the long list of classics in the series. But how does it compare to its predecessors?

With that in mind, Voxel decided to remember what it was Top five games in the Zelda franchiseaccording to reviews Metacritic. It’s worth noting that the site is considering re-releases on different platforms with separate notes, so we’ll only be looking at the best of each game for this list. paying off:

Fifth place: Kingdom Tears (Switch, 2022)

(cloning)source: Nintendo

Well, the game has just been released, but it is already among the best. Of course, since it’s still fairly recent, that number could change. At the time this article was published, however, the headline was 96 points On the site, it’s technically tied for the fourth and third spots.

As the number suggests, first impressions are very positive, with critics noting that this new saga is larger and more ambitious than its predecessor, Wild scent. Will Link’s latest adventure finally replace other classics?

fourth place: Twilight princess (GameCube/Wii, 2006)

(cloning)source: Nintendo

Next is one of the darkest games in the franchise. Due to the mixed reception of Sword toward the sky (Wee, 2011), Twilight princess It was, for a long time, considered the last really good console game — that is, even Wild scent is released.

The title not only featured an interesting story that helped establish the Hyrule legends, but also a foot Midna, one of the most likable characters in the franchise. Not to mention a final battle with Ganondorf So epic that, to this day, it is considered the best by many fans.

the third place: Wind awake (GameCube, 2003)

(cloning)source: Nintendo

Wind awake is a game that set the series apart in many ways – most notably its cartoonish visuals which, despite being controversial when released, ended up winning over fans and has aged well, is still a sweet game to look at, even at 20 years old.

while Twilight princess it was dark and sad, Wind awake It was light-hearted, colorful, and hopeful, with hilarious characters and a heart-warming story. The game also introduced two new races: ritual and the Coroxwhich also returns in the latest titles.

All of this, along with a huge sea of ​​exploration and an excellent soundtrack, made for one of Link and Zelda’s most fun and wacky adventures.

2nd place: Wild scent (Wii U / Switch, 2017)

(cloning)source: Nintendo

It is no exaggeration to say that Wild scent It completely reinvigorated the franchise. And it did so by throwing out all the ingrained lore of the series and going back to basics. In many ways, the address, with Note 97 In the Metacriticis a kind of retelling of the first The Legend of Zelda (NES, 1986): The concept, in both, is that the player is free to explore the world of Hyrule as they wish, without restrictions.

The game also changed the way open world games are viewed. Instead of filling the map with icons to follow, as many do, the player chooses to go where they want and will always find something useful to offer, creating an organic exploration.

With a greater focus on story and characters, the game was also the first to feature voice-over dialogue (with the exception of Link, of course). Plus, in few titles has Zelda been as sophisticated and interesting as in this one – which is more than fair and deserved, since the franchise bears its name.

first place: Ocarina of time (Nintendo 64, 1998)

(cloning)source: Nintendo

with 99 of the noteFirst place is no surprise to anyone. If you’ve played a 3D title nowadays, it’s likely been influenced (directly or indirectly) by this classic, along with Super Mario 64has helped define how 3D games are made and controlled ever since.

But that’s not “only” the reason why this title is so highly regarded. Few games have moments as memorable as the first time you step out of Kokiri Forest and see the vast Hyrule countryside – with scope and freedom to explore like never before.

And that was just the beginning of an unforgettable adventure, with characters and music that would set fans and even the gaming industry apart. For these and many other reasons, Ocarina of time It is considered the best game The Legend of Zelda.