Epics, dungeons and puzzles: from A Link to the Past to Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild, Zelda is the benchmark for adventure. RomWize re-ranks the best entries by its re-evaluated scores, each with its current score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"Still the benchmark open-world on Switch. Climbing anything and gliding wherever you want feels liberating, and the physics-driven systems reward experimentation. Weapon durability remains divisive, yet exploring Hyrule keeps its quiet magic."
"The sequel dares to rebuild everything around Fuse and Ultrahand. Cobbling together absurd contraptions becomes an endless playground, and the sky and depths genuinely expand Hyrule. A bit overwhelming at first, but wildly creative."
"Absolute masterpiece that redefined open-world action-adventure. Total freedom, organic exploration, reactive physics and chemistry. WiiU execution is slightly inferior to Switch but the experience remains transcendent."
"A cornerstone of 3D adventure, plain and simple. Hyrule becomes a tangible world, Z-targeting reinvents combat, the dungeons are design masterclasses and Kondo's score lodges itself in the collective memory. Hard to spend two sentences on this peak without falling into obvious praise."
"Twilight Princess marks a return to mature, darker, more cinematic Zelda. Farmhand Link becomes wolf hero in Midna's twilight realm, descends into monumental dungeons stuffed with ideas. Mastered sword combat, brilliant puzzles, Epona mount returns. Wii version with Wiimote swordplay, GameCube version for nostalgia. An absolute series peak, seven years of Zelda condensed."
"Ocarina of Time 3D on 3DS is the definitive version of the greatest video game ever made. Remastered visuals, gyroscope for aiming, Master Quest included. The perfect masterpiece in its best version. Essential."
"A darker, more singular follow-up to Ocarina of Time. Three days looping endlessly to save Termina, forty-two masks with astonishing powers, dungeons tighter but brilliantly designed. A Zelda of rare melancholy, more demanding and more mysterious than its predecessor, rightly cult."
"Zelda no Densetsu Toki no Ocarina 3D on 3DS, original Japanese version of Ocarina of Time 3D. The definitive version of the greatest video game ever made in its original Japanese presentation. For collectors."
"The cel-shaded Zelda that first split fans then won them over. Archipelago world crossed by sea, animation of rare expressiveness and dungeons of mad elegance. Some stretches at sea drag a touch, yet the voyage has become a timeless classic."
"Zelda A Link to the Past & Four Swords on GBA, ALTTP in portable form with a new multiplayer mode. ALTTP remains an absolute masterpiece. Four Swords mode is a delightful bonus."
