Ranking Every Legend Of Zelda Game From Worst To Best

Breath of the Wild is finally released on March 3rd, so it's a good excuse - as if one is even needed - to look back over three decades of triumphs in green tunics and attempt the almost-impossible task of ranking every Zelda game.

It's a pleasant remit, like sampling the sweetest cake or cuddling the cutest kitten. But it's one tougher than a Goron's hide. Just how are you supposed to choose between games of such unremittingly and almost immorally high quality? Talk about a master quest.

I've Ganon had a think about it, and by Din's Fire I've succeeded. Much of Nayru's Love went into this list (not quite so much of Farore's Wind), but quite honestly, the top half could have stacked in almost any other order, and been just as justifiable.

There are some considerations. The selection only concerns the main console outings; the multiplayer Zelda games - namely, the two Four Swords titles and Tri Force Heroes - have been omitted because, as the sort of person who would construct this list, I've never possessed enough friends to enjoy them. Similarly, the CD-i abominations Wand of Gamelon and The Faces of Evil have been stricken on the basis of abject sh*tness. That's something we can all agree on.

The rest? Not by a longshot.

So let's not tarry any further - not all of us have learned the Song of Time, after all.

Zelda II is the Skull Kid of the series. It's mostly forgotten and there's nobody around today who wants to play with it, all because it's different.

Like the skeletally-veiled forest imp, you have to feel somewhat sorry for it, as it doesn't really merit its maligned reputation. In a series which has been justifiably criticised for relying on an increasingly tired formula, that the universal complaint about the second game centres on its early attempts to shake things up seems unfair.

However, there's a very good reason why Zelda is so formulaic: it's a bloody good formula. In largely ditching the top-down perspective for a more action-oriented experience akin to Castlevania or Metroid, Zelda II represented a major overhaul compared to its predecessor, and it's one which has been latterly rejected by fans revisiting the franchise's older titles. "It's not bad... but it's not Zelda," is the typical response.

And that's really the crux of Adventure of Link's problem: it really isn't a bad game, but anyone looking for old-school Zelda magic in the great tradition of the series is going to be left unsatisfied. Stick with it though: it's something of a hidden gem, albeit a tough one. Perfect for a Goron to chew on.