The Best Non-Linear Zelda Games

The Legend of Zelda franchise is not known for maintaining a consistent pattern between releases, with games varying in setting, artistic style, and even gameplay. Some of the series' most acclaimed titles stand out by embracing a non-linear approach, allowing players the freedom to explore Hyrule in a less restrictive and more organic way.

Related

10 Iconic Left-Handed Characters in Video Games, Ranked

Right-handed characters are dominant in video games, but every once in awhile, the left-handed folks get some representation.

Posts

By  Eduardo Ariedo

This approach offers a new dimension of immersion, enabling the player to choose Link's path and face challenges in any preferred order. Instead of following a linear progression, exploration freedom becomes the centerpiece, encouraging players to discover and explore throughout their adventure.

8 The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask

Time Manipulation And Deep Exploration

Majora's Mask introduces a time-loop mechanic that allows players to relive the same three days repeatedly. Although the main narrative is linear, this gameplay element offers the freedom to explore Termina in greater depth, taking advantage of the constant restart of the time cycle.

The ability to go back in time and revisit locations enables players to discover side quests and hidden secrets. This non-linear approach to exploration makes Majora's Mask one of the most unique Zelda games, providing a rich experience in an open and dynamic world.

7 The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Unrestricted Navigation During The Journey

With a unique cel-shaded art style, The Wind Waker offers an unprecedented maritime exploration experience in the franchise. Sailing across vast oceans allows players to discover hidden islands, face enemies, and find treasures, all in an open-world environment that encourages curiosity.

Although the main narrative is linear, side quests and mini-dungeons are available for free exploration. This freedom provides a sense of non-linear adventure, making this title one of the most immersive open-world Zelda games in the series.

6 The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past

Two Realities And Expanded Exploration

A Link to the Past introduces the concept of parallel worlds, allowing players to alternate between the Light World and the Dark World. This mechanic significantly expands the explorable game world, offering multiple paths and challenges in one of the first non-linear Zelda games.

After a more linear first part, the second half of the game grants greater freedom in the order of dungeons. This flexibility in progression encourages exploration and discovery, solidifying the title as a landmark in the series in terms of non-linearity.

5 The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Players Have Total Freedom In Dungeon Order

In A Link Between Worlds, Link's ability to merge into walls adds a new dimension to exploration. Players can access previously unreachable areas, making this title one of the most innovative open-world Zelda games in terms of level design.

Related

8 Bravest Zelda Characters, Ranked

The Legend of Zelda franchise is full of brave and intrepid characters willing to do what they think is right.

Posts 2

By  Alexandra O'Leary

The game allows dungeons to be completed in almost any order, offering a unique non-linear experience. This freedom of choice reinforces the sense of adventure, allowing each player to create their own path through Hyrule.

4 The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

Adult Link Has More Freedom To Explore Hyrule

As the first 3D adventure in the franchise, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was a milestone not only in the series, but also in the gaming industry, establishing pillars that would define many other games in the future. The game is divided into two parts: the first with the younger version of Link, and the second after he has grown older, following his use of time travel.

Although the first part of the game is more linear, with dungeons needing to be completed in specific orders, Adult Link does not have the same limitations, and is able to tackle the temples without following a set pattern. This flexibility allowed players to choose non-linear routes within the game, enhancing the sense of adventure and making each experience unique within a more open and dynamic world.

3 The Legend Of Zelda

The Origins Of Zelda Were Already Non-Linear

When it was released in Japan in 1986, The Legend of Zelda brought an innovative experience to games of the time, offering unprecedented freedom of exploration. Instead of directing players down a specific path, the game allowed different areas of Hyrule to be explored in any order, without the need to follow a rigid sequence of events.

This lack of linearity was a milestone in game design, influencing not only future titles in the series but also the adventure genre in general. The idea of giving the player freedom of choice and the ability to solve puzzles and challenges at their desired pace solidified The Legend of Zelda as a pioneer of non-linear exploration in games.

2 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

A Landmark In Non-Linear Exploration In The Zelda Franchise

Although many older games in The Legend of Zelda franchise offer some element non-linear exploration, none was as ambitious and open as Breath of the Wild. Thus, even while breaking many established patterns in the series, Nintendo delivered an excellent game to fans, and attracted many new players as well.

Related

The Legend Of Zelda: 10 Easiest Boss Fights In The Series

The Legend of Zelda series features plenty of memorable boss fights, although not every one of them is a home run...

Posts 8

By  Julián Jorge Fernández Loyarte

One of the main highlights of the game was exploration. After spending a few minutes completing the initial missions to get accustomed to Breath of the Wild's mechanics, players were invited to explore a huge open world at their leisure. There was no set order of events to be completed, so players had total freedom to explore every corner of Hyrule in any order, and could even head straight for the final dungeon if they wished.

1 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

The Pinnacle Of Open-World Exploration In Zelda Games

When Breath of the Wild was released, it seemed to set standards in The Legend of Zelda franchise that would be difficult to surpass, offering players a lot of freedom and a huge map of Hyrule to be explored without any linearity. However, the release of Tears of the Kingdom in 2023 showed that the formula created by Nintendo could still be improved upon.

In addition to being a significant technical achievement in the map expansion — allowing Link to explore the skies and the underground of Hyrule — the developers also created ways to make exploration more enjoyable. Thus, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was able to enhance the non-linearity of its predecessor, offering players a large map and many ways to explore and manipulate it in ways the series has never seen before.

More

Best Top-Down Zelda Games, Ranked

The Legend of Zelda transcends perspective, as plenty of the best games from the entire franchise have come from a top-down angle.

Posts

By  Tristan Jurkovich