Every 2D Zelda Game Ranked

Picking the bottom entry is actually pretty easy. That’s not a slight on the quality of “Four Swords.” But when compared to how much each game can offer, it’s a significantly smaller experience. It was first released on the Game Boy Advance, as a multiplayer add-on for a port of “A Link to the Past.” It follows a group of Links trying to save Zelda from a new villain, Vaati, by completing a handful of randomly generated dungeons. The multiplayer was novel back in 2002, but it’s clearly short and fairly simple. It’s still a bit of fun, even when playing alone on the re-released “Anniversary Edition.” But there isn’t enough here to justify placing it above any others.

This multiplayer title on the 3DS is often considered one of the weakest entries in the series. It’s a perfectly fine game, but it doesn’t offer nearly as much depth in its worldbuilding or mechanics that many other installments do. It follows Link in the fashion-centric Hytopia, whose princess has been cursed by a witch to be stuck in a hideous brown jumpsuit. Obviously being one of the sillier games in the series, it could be fun going through a lighthearted adventure online. But the structure was much more billed towards multiplayer, and playing alone could be a bit of a chore. With the handheld’s online functionality getting closed down in April of 2024, that also means the game got a little bit worse.

The second, and best, attempt at “Zelda” multiplayer, “Four Swords Adventures” expanded on everything its predecessor tried to do. It once again pitted the Links against Vaati. But, being a full game, there were more dungeons, areas, characters, pretty much more of everything. Unfortunately, the multiplayer still required your friends to have their own GBAs, limiting in 2004 and even more so today, if you can even find a copy. However, playing by yourself was still fun, because it was still a top down “Zelda,” albeit one where you controlled a group instead of a single adventurer.

A lot of “Zelda” fans like to hate on “The Adventure of Link.” It’s very different from most other games, being a sidescroller and introducing RPG mechanics. It’s also one of the hardest games on the NES, let alone in this series. That being said, and fully knowing how low we have it ranked, “Zelda II” is still a worthy installment. It still did a lot well, like giving Link access to spells and placing more emphasis on combat. Additionally, Hyrule was more defined than in the first game, with cities and towns of people rather than just a couple NPCs in some caves.

Link’s second and final outing on the original DS, “Spirit Tracks” is set in a new era and one that Nintendo has yet to revisit. A hundred years after “Phantom Hourglass,” Zelda’s spirit is removed from her body in an attempt to revive an ancient demon king. It was a clever way to both keep her in need of rescue and make her the companion. And other than a soundtrack filled with bangers, it’s probably the best thing “Spirit Tracks” does. The touchscreen mechanics aren’t quite as impressive the second time around, even with new gameplay features. Also, Link being a train conductor is charming, but it does somewhat hinder your freedom in exploring the overworld.

Only slightly better than its follow up, “Phantom Hourglass” wowed players with the DS’ stylus and touchscreen. A direct sequel to “Wind Waker,” it followed Link as he tried to save Zelda from a monster called Bellum, which was also terrorizing a whole sea full of new islands. The game was perfectly built for its system, and took full advantage of the features it offered. Whether you were solving puzzles with boomerangs and Bombchus, taking on a dungeon’s deadly beasts, or simply charting your next course, drawing with the Stylus was always quick and easy. It struggled with some dungeon designs, particularly with the Temple of the Ocean King, but it still has a lot to offer.

Undeniably one of the most important games ever released, “The Legend of Zelda” perfected the action adventure experience by 1980s standards. There are obviously a lot of things the series has since done better, but they wouldn’t have happened without such a strong foundation. Being dropped in the middle of the world with no instructions on which way to go or what to do was more open than basically any other game. Back then, it was a moment of pure freedom that was impossible to forget. There were secrets and treasure hidden all over for those willing to search, and its dungeons promised glory and death alike.

Nintendo partnered with Capcom for a duology on the Game Boy Color. Given that they released at the same time, they’re fairly similar visually and mechanically. So your favorite of the two is just down to preference. For us, “Oracle of Ages” is the weaker of the two, but that by no means makes it weak. It sees Link whisked away to Labrynna, where the capture of the Oracle, Nayru, disrupts time. Traveling through time is common in a lot of “Zelda” games, though it was still interesting seeing the changes between time periods on a smaller scale. “Ages” is also more puzzle-heavy than “Seasons,” which does make it a bit harder.

In the counterpart to “Ages,” Link travels to Holodrum when its Oracle, Din, is kidnapped. Only here, the seasons are thrown out of whack instead of time. What areas Link has access to can completely change between the four options. With the Rod of Seasons, you can switch between the different times of the year. Because there are more ways to interact with its world, Holodrum becomes more interesting to explore than Labrynna. Where “Ages” has a heavier focus on puzzles, “Seasons” is a bit more combat-centric, and slightly easier. Again, it’s really down to preference. But playing both is certainly worth your time, especially since save files connect to give players the True Ending.

It’s remarkable just how much Nintendo packed into the first handheld “Zelda.” After being caught in a disastrous storm, Link washes up on Koholint Island, an oddly quaint locale with something sinister underneath. “Link’s Awakening” was praised for transitioning the series’ formula to the Game Boy, but there’s a lot more here deserving of acclaim. The characters are all wonderfully quirky and the island itself is packed with plenty of personality, making it one of the more well-defined settings outside of Hyrule. Everything it did well still shines in the 2019 remake on Switch. It also proved, for the first time, that the series didn’t need staple features like the Triforce, Ganon, or even the Princess to thrive.

After the “Oracle” games, Nintendo partnered with Capcom once again for “The Minish Cap.” Set at the beginning of the timeline, at least before “Skyward Sword” was released, it brought a lot of new, engaging lore concerning the Picori, a miniature race living in Hyrule. Shrinking down to the size of a pebble to explore new areas never got old, nor did it ever fail to leave us utterly smitten. Vaati from the multiplayer outings was given backstory and more personality, and Ezlo remains one of the funniest companions Link has teamed up with. It did nearly everything right; the dungeons were great, there were plenty of secrets lying in wait, and the timeless visuals make it a treat to play at any time.

Being a spiritual successor to one of the most beloved games in existence, there was a lot of hype behind “A Link Between Worlds.” Needless to say, at #2 on our list, it surpassed our expectations and then some. It sees Link trying to thwart a sorcerer from another kingdom, one that serves as a mirror to Hyrule. There isn’t anything here that won’t delight fans. The painting mechanic is undeniably creative, adding another layer of fun to puzzles, traversal, and even some combat. Being able to rent items rather than unlock them gave us a level of freedom in how we progressed through dungeons. The soundtrack was also stunning, and it made fantastic use of the handheld’s 3D. Naturally, only its predecessor surpasses it.

“Ocarina of Time” deservedly gets a ton of love for how it shaped “Zelda” and 3D gaming as a whole. But without the success of “A Link to the Past,” we wouldn’t have any of it. It’s about as Classic as you can get, giving us a lot of ‘firsts’ that the franchise would continually build off of for years. We got history for Hyrule and the Triforce for the first time, as well as the Master Sword. Some of the most famous “Zelda” tunes also debuted here, like ‘Zelda’s Lullaby’ and ‘Ganon’s Theme.’ Obviously, historical significance means a lot here. But go pick up the game today and you’ll find a title that has aged gracefully, from its dungeons to its visuals to its gameplay.

Which game do you think best represents 2D “Zelda?” Share your thoughts in the comments and be sure to subscribe to MojoPlays for more great gaming videos every day!