The Legend of Zelda is one of the biggest gaming franchises in the world. With millions of fans all over the world, it is only natural that this franchise draws attention from gamers both old and new. Being exclusive to Nintendo consoles, it’s possible that many fans who haven't gotten to experience it yet want to try this franchise.
This franchise has a large array of games, from the first Legend Of Zelda which was released in 1986 to the latest Breath of the Wild, making it hard for beginners to pick their best starter game. Link’s quests across Hyrule have given birth to many adventures and these are, perhaps, the best games to pick up for players new to this franchise.
7 Link’s Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, the one fans might know from the 2019 version on the Nintendo Switch, is a remake of the original game of the same name which was released in 1993 on the Game Boy and Game Boy Color.
Having a very unique style, this game takes the player to the island of Koholint. The style of this game is reminiscent of very early Zelda titles, however, the art direction for it is unique, making it easier to get into for some players. The game has an open world that Link can go through to find dungeons and complete his mission of collecting the eight instruments of the Sirens to awaken the Wind Fish, which would give beginners a good idea of what the franchise is about.
6 Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is a game originally for the GameCube, as well as the Wii in 2006. This game was remastered for the Wii U back in 2016 to make it accessible to more fans.
The game tries to convey a darker atmosphere and tells the story of Link as he tries to save Hyrule from falling into the Twilight Realm, a parallel dimension, and with that, this game has one of the best storylines in the franchise which is sure to get anyone hooked. The game allows Link to change appearances from a human to a wolf and, until the release of Breath of the Wild, it was the best-selling Legend of Zelda game.
5 Skyward Sword
A game originally for the Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was released in 2011 and in 2021, received a remastered version for the Nintendo Switch called The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD. This game is known to be the first to come in the Zelda timeline, so it wouldn’t be a bad fit for a first game to explore.
The game’s main criticism is how Link is controlled. To play, it's required to have the Wii MotionPlus in addition to the usual Wii Remote and the Nunchuk. This makes the game harder to get into but the version on the Nintendo Switch solves these problems and allows new players to enjoy this game’s great story and dungeons without struggling with the game’s mechanics on the newest available console.
4 Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a game for the GameCube that was released in 2002 in Japan and in 2003 in North America, Australia, and Europe. The game had a rerelease on the Wii U in 2013, allowing more fans to access the game. Wind Waker centers around this incarnation of Link on a quest to save his sister from Ganondorf with the aid of Tetra, a pirate captain, which is this game’s Zelda.
The game is very stylized, using a cartoonish style, which may not be to everyone’s taste but does add to the game’s charm. This style makes many appearances in games after this one too. Another important aspect of the game is sailing, as this allows the player to go to many islands and explore the open world that’s offered to them.
3 A Link Between Worlds
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a game released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2013 and a remake of one of the oldest Legend of Zelda titles; A Link To The Past, a game dating from 1991. While it takes place in the same world as A Link To The Past, the plot and dungeons do differ, but this makes it more accessible to beginner players.
After acquiring a magic bracelet, Link is able to transform into a 2D drawing that looks like a mural which lets him access areas his form in 3D can’t. This gives the game a unique aspect that can make the gameplay a big highlight while keeping the franchise’s core mechanics intact. Added to that is its lower difficulty compared to other titles, making it ideal for the first game to try in the Zelda franchise.
2 Ocarina Of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which was released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64, is perhaps the most iconic Legend of Zelda game. The game became more accessible to fans when they brought it to the Nintendo 3DS and has, ever since its release, received wide acclaim and ranked among the best games ever made.
While it isn’t exactly an easy game to beat, the dungeons offer amazing gaming experiences that are guaranteed to leave anyone wanting more. The game is straightforward with what to do, however, it might be a better option for people who like some level of guidance.
1 Breath Of The Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is, so far, the most recent mainline game in the franchise that was released in 2017 for the Nintendo Switch and the Wii U. The game follows the story of Link as he awakens with Amnesia and has to save Hyrule from Ganon.
It’s the perfect starting game for people who aren’t familiar with the franchise. It has an open world that encourages players to explore and grants the player freedom when it comes to gameplay. Similar in some aspects to the first Legend of Zelda title, little instructions are given to the player. The game has received acclaim from everyone and is easy to get into for any new players.