Summary
- The Legend of Zelda lore is rich and intricate, adding depth to the franchise beyond cosplay and iconic tunes.
- Significant myths like The Great Flood and The Zonai Civilization enhance the depths of the game worlds.
- The Triforce & The Master Sword are iconic components driving the plot, while the Hero of Time myth explores Link's legacy.
The Legend Of Zelda hardly needs an introduction. What began as a flagship title to show off the Famicom Disk System has turned into a video gaming institution — a gold standard for fluid, satisfying gameplay and a masterclass of iterating on a series of foundations. Not only that, it is also a pop culture phenomenon, with a soundtrack as memorable as any tentpole Hollywood franchise and characters that have become iconic in their own right, dominating memes and cosplay.
Which Console Produced The Best Zelda Games?
When looking at the history of The Legend of Zelda, a game was released for most of Nintendo's mainline consoles, meaning there is a long list of consoles that could be the one that produced the best Zelda game. I would argue that either the N64 or Nintendo Switch would be the console that produced the best games. I think that Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask are two of the best games in the franchise, but I also think that Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are contenders. For me, I would argue that it all comes down to how well Echoes of Wisdom does. Since a game where Zelda is the main protagonist is something I have wanted forever, I would argue that it could be the game that makes or breaks the Nintendo Switch in terms of games.
What doesn't get quite as much attention as Zelda theme tunes or cosplay, however, is its lore. There are a lot of mainline Zelda games, and plenty of spin-offs, most of which have all added something to the franchise and its world-building. There are a plethora of mythic figures, timelines, and histories, all of which make for one of the richest worlds in gaming. With such a dense collection of lore and histories, here are the standout myths and legends from the franchise.
9 The Moon Of Termina
"You've Met With A Terrible Fate, Haven't You?"
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
- Released
- October 26, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 64, GameCube
Majora's Mask remains one of the most unique and fascinating Zelda games to this day, not least because of its setting. The world of Termina acts as a sort of parallel universe in the franchise, separate from Hyrule but somehow a reflection of it — in strange and unsettling ways. One of the strangest is in the celestial body that hangs in its sky; a terrifying, grinning Moon, which is prophesied to collide with Termina's surface within three days and wipe out all life upon it.
If the player chooses not to unwind time and stop the Moon's collision, it makes for a tragic legend in the game's history, with some of the most powerful imagery. The theme that plays as the Moon bears down in its final minutes is one of the most eerie and melancholy in the entire series, and the image of Link surveying a silent landscape before he screams and the world is obliterated is a profoundly haunting moment.
8 The Great Flood
"What Became Of That Kingdom? None Remain Who Know."
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Released
- March 24, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
The Wind Waker is a game that got a mixed reception on release but has since come to be revered as one of the very best games in the series, with its ocean setting creating some epic moments. It has a backstory to match; at the end of Ocarina Of Time, Ganondorf was brutally defeated by the Hero of Time and sealed inside the Sacred Realm. While Hyrule entered a longtime peace, Princess Zelda sent Link back to his childhood, causing a split in the timeline — and the Triforce of Courage to shatter into eight pieces.
Ganondorf eventually escaped his cosmic bonds, however, and returned to wreak havoc on Hyrule, but with no Hero of Time in the present, he went unchallenged. In their darkest hour, the people of Hyrule prayed to the Three Goddesses for help, who eventually answered the kingdom's prayers in a cataclysmic fashion. A great deluge was unleashed, a gigantic torrential downpour that covered the entire land and turned Hyrule's mountaintops into islands. What remained came to be known as the Great Sea.
7 The Zonai Civilization
"It Was Said They Were The Descendants Of Gods..."
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
After the majestic heights of Breath Of The Wild, players couldn't have expected the series to get any better, and yet, Tears Of The Kingdom somehow managed to be an even more sublime game. It added to the lore substantially, going all the way back to Hyrule's prehistoric era via the introduction of the Zonai, an ancient tribe who came from the heavens and are said to have mystical powers that stem from divine heritage.
5 Best Zelda Games Not Made By Nintendo
It might surprise some players, but there are some incredible games in The Legend of Zelda franchise that were not actually made by Nintendo.
The Zonai and their technology form a pivotal part of the game's story as well as its items, which are essential for progressing through the game world. Although there is much about the Zonai that remains unknown, according to Hyrule lore, not long after their descent from the heavens, they were given the Secret Stones, which could amplify an individual's magical abilities. Zonai tech gives Link his prosthetic arm and its attendant magical abilities, and the game's many sky islands reflect the Zonai's origins as sky-dwellers.
6 The Sheikah
"It Was The Power And Wisdom Of The Sheikah That Saved This Land Time And Time Again..."
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii U, Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The Sheikah occupy a unique space in Hyrule mythology; a secretive warrior tribe who practice stealth and work tirelessly behind the scenes to protect Princess Zelda and the royal line, no matter the cost. They are the chosen guardians who serve the goddess Hylia, and while friendly and hospitable, they possess expert fighting skills and a distinct air of mystery about them.
The Sheikah became an integral part of Zelda mythology in Ocarina Of Time's story, which included the memorable revelation where the character Sheik turns out to be Princess Zelda in disguise. The Sheikah are also the founders of Kakariko Village, an indispensable location in more than one Zelda game. The lore of the tribe expands even further in Breath Of The Wild when the player discovers the Yiga Clan, a group of stealth assassins who worship Ganon and are the Sheikah's arch nemeses.
5 The Imprisoning War
"Deep Beneath This Land, Our Mighty First Ruler Imprisoned The Demon King."
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Released
- April 13, 1992
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Violence
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- SNES, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, 3DS
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Zelda lore can be very dense, with split timelines and alternate events across different games. The Imprisoning War is first referenced in A Link To The Past, before appearing again in Tears Of The Kingdom. In both versions, the bare bones of the story are the same — Ganon is sealed away in a cosmic prison by the Sages — but the details can play out very differently. The lore is fleshed out in much greater detail in the latter game.
In Tears Of The Kingdom, Ganondorf, powerful and ambitious leader of the Gerudo, swore fealty to Hyrule's first rulers as a means of gaining access to The Sacred Stones. After murdering the priestess Sonia on the Blood Moon, Ganondorf got his hands on a stone only to be transformed into evil incarnate, The Demon King. The Zonai leader Rauru marshaled the forces of Hyrule's many races, including Rito, Gorons and Gerudo, and a fierce conflict ensued, ending only when Rauru made the ultimate sacrifice and gave his own life to seal Ganondorf away once more.
4 The Golden Goddesses
"Before Time Began, Before Spirits And Life Existed... Three Golden Goddesses Descended Upon The Chaos That Was Hyrule..."
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Released
- November 21, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 64, GameCube
Early on in Ocarina Of Time, the Great Deku tree dumps some exposition that forever changed Zelda fans' perception of the game world. In Hylian mythology, before recorded time began, the world was once a sterile rock devoid of life. Then, from parts unknown, the three Golden Goddesses descended upon the chaos and created the land.
Each had their part to play. Din, the Goddess of Power, sculpted the land and formed mountains, valleys, and vast landscapes. Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom, brought her wisdom and gave the world stability and order via the cycles of nature. Farore, the Goddess of Courage, created all living things, including giving life to the spirits who would uphold Nayru’s laws in the world.
But as suddenly as they had arrived, the Golden Goddesses would then depart, leaving the Sacred Triforce behind — and leaving Hyrule to forge its own destiny. They stand at a critical point in the franchise's lore, and references to them are scattered across the series.
3 The Hero Of Time
"This Boy, Who Traveled Through Time To Save The Land, Was Known As The Hero Of Time."
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Released
- November 21, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 64, GameCube
Everything changed with Ocarina Of Time, including its hero. The Legend of the Hero of Time is one of the most important myths in Hyrule, with huge implications for that world's mythology and the rest of the series. It focuses on Link’s role in Ocarina of Time and its aftermath, telling the story of how the Hero of Time fought against Ganondorf, saved Hyrule, and how his actions created the infamous split in the Zelda timeline.
It also carries a major emotional impact. A young Link growing up in Kokiri Forest believed that he was one of the Kokiri, only to have his world turned upside down when it is revealed that he was an orphaned Hylian and had a much greater destiny. Sealed away for seven years after pulling The Master Sword from its pedestal, he emerged into a world devastated by Ganondorf, and his actions feed into the pivotal timeline split that affected later games in the series.
2 The Triforce
"The Sacred Triangle...It Is A Balance That Weighs The Three Forces: Power, Wisdom And Courage."
The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes
- Released
- October 23, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
TheTriforce is the single most important object in the mythology of the Zelda series. In its most basic form, it is a sacred, golden artifact created by the Golden Goddesses Din, Nayru, and Farore. It is the ultimate source of power in Hyrule, and the lore of that world revolves around it. Crucially, it ties together the three most important figures in the series — Zelda, Link, and Ganondorf — as each has control of one aspect of The Triforce.
Each part of The Triforce embodies the essence of one of the Goddesses, and these parts have a huge impact on the story in each of the mainline Zelda games. The Triforce of Power, often associated with Ganondorf, grants immense strength and magical abilities. The Triforce of Wisdom provides the user with great intelligence, insight, and divine wisdom and has been held by Princess Zelda. Link often wields The Triforce of Courage, which bestows bravery and resilience.
1 The Master Sword
"The Legendary Sword That Seals The Darkness."
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- Released
- November 20, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Also known as the Blade of Evil’s Bane, the Master Sword is the most iconic weapon in The Legend Of Zelda franchise, and almost all of the mainline games cannot be completed without it. It is a legendary sword imbued with sacred power, designed to repel evil and often used by Link to defeat Ganon/Ganondorf and other dark forces in Hyrule. But, as with other characters or items across the games, its origins and its place in the game can often be confusing.
According to Skyward Sword, which is recognized as the first game in the Zelda timeline, The Master Sword was originally forged as the Goddess Sword by Hylia, a powerful deity who protected the land from the Demon King Demise. Over time, the sword was eventually transformed into the Master Sword by the Sheikah monk Sage, Hylian blacksmiths, and Fi, the sword’s spirit. It was then bathed in three Sacred Flames, enhancing its divine power. The sword is usually housed in the Pedestal of Time and can only be wielded by someone deemed worthy, which, unsurprisingly, usually turns out to be Link.