List of The Legend of Zelda media

The Legend of Zelda is a video game series created by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, and developed and published by Nintendo. The series debuted in Japan with The Legend of Zelda[a] on February 21, 1986, which was later released in North America (August 22, 1987) and Europe (November 27). The Legend of Zelda video games have been developed exclusively for Nintendo video game consoles and handhelds, dating from the Family Computer Disk System to the current generation of video game consoles. Spin-off titles, however, have been released on non-Nintendo systems. The franchise currently consists of 29 video games, including original titles, ports, remakes and collections. Over 52 million copies have been sold since the release of the first game.[1] The franchise also includes an American cartoon adaptation, multiple comic book adaptations, as well as soundtracks.

Photograph of various The Legend of toon game boxes, cartridges and discs.
Many games in The Legend of Zelda series including some ports and remakes.

Gameplay consists of a mixture of action, adventure, puzzle-solving, and role-playing video games. The series centers on Link, the protagonist and player character. Link is often given the task of rescuing Princess Zelda and the most common setting of the series, Hyrule, from Ganon, the series' primary antagonist. Other minor settings and antagonists have appeared throughout the series; Vaati has become one of the series' recurring antagonists. Games in The Legend of Zelda series with two-dimensional (2D) graphics feature side-scrolling or overhead view gameplay, while games with three-dimensional (3D) graphics give the player a third-person perspective.[2] The franchise holds several Guinness World Records, including the first game with a battery-powered save feature and the longest-running action-adventure series.[3]

Video games

Main series

TitleReleaseRelease by systemNotes
The Legend of Zelda
  • JP: February 21, 1986
  • NA: August 22, 1987
  • PAL: November 15, 1987
[4][5]
1986 – Famicom Disk System[4]
1987 – Nintendo Entertainment System[5]
2003 – GameCube[6]
2004 – Game Boy Advance[7]
2006 – Wii Virtual Console[8]
2012 – 3DS Virtual Console
2013 – Wii U Virtual Console
2018 – Switch Online NES Library[9]
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
  • JP: January 14, 1987
  • PAL: September 26, 1988
  • NA: December 1, 1988
[12][13][14]
1987 – Famicom Disk System [15]
1988 – Nintendo Entertainment System[13]
2003 – GameCube[6]
2004 – Game Boy Advance[16]
2007 – Wii Virtual Console[17]
2012 – 3DS Virtual Console
2013 – Wii U Virtual Console
2019 – Switch Online NES Library
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
  • JP: November 21, 1991
  • NA: April 13, 1992
  • PAL: September 24, 1992
[19]
1991 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System[19]
1997 – Satellaview[20]
2002 – Game Boy Advance[21]
2006 – Wii Virtual Console[22]
2013 – Wii U Virtual Console
2016 – 3DS Virtual Console[23]
2019 – Switch Online SNES Library
  • Known in Japan as Zeruda no Densetsu Kamigami no Toraifōsu.[d][24]
  • Introduced two parallel worlds concept to the series.[18]
  • Re-released in North America as part of Nintendo's Player's Choice line.[19]
  • Game Boy Advance re-release includes a multi-player portion (The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords).[18]
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
  • JP: June 6, 1993
  • NA: August 6, 1993
  • PAL: 1993
[25]
1993 – Game Boy[25]
1998 – Game Boy Color[26]
2011 – 3DS Virtual Console
2019 – Switch
2023 – Switch Online GBC Library
  • Known in Japan as Zeruda no Densetsu Yume o Miru Shima.[e][27]
  • First title for a handheld console.[18]
  • Re-released for the Game Boy Color, under the title of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX, with additional elements.[18]
  • Remade for Switch, featuring updated graphics, gameplay, art style, and soundtrack.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
  • JP: November 21, 1998
  • NA: November 23, 1998
  • PAL: December 11, 1998
  • CHN: November 2003
[28]
1998 – Nintendo 64[28]
2003 – GameCube[29]
2003 – iQue Player[30]
2007 – Wii Virtual Console[31]
2011 – 3DS[32]
2015 – Wii U Virtual Console

2021 – Switch Online N64 Library

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
  • JP: April 27, 2000
  • NA: October 25, 2000
  • PAL: November 17, 2000
[35]
2000 – Nintendo 64[35]
2003 – GameCube[6]
2009 – Wii Virtual Console[36]
2015 – 3DS
2016 – Wii U Virtual Console

2022 – Switch Online N64 Library

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
  • JP: February 27, 2001
  • NA: May 13, 2001
  • PAL: October 5, 2001
[39]
2001 – Game Boy Color[39]
2013 – 3DS Virtual Console[40]
2023 – Switch Online GameBoy Library
  • Known in Japan as Zeruda no Densetsu Fushigi no Ki no Mi Daichi no Shō.[f][41]
  • Developed in conjunction with Capcom.[18]
  • Features a season changing game mechanic.[18]
  • Links with The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages.[18][42]
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
  • JP: February 27, 2001
  • NA: May 13, 2001
  • PAL: October 5, 2001
[39]
2001 – Game Boy Color[39]
2013 – 3DS Virtual Console[40]
2023 – Switch Online GameBoy Library
  • Known in Japan as Zeruda no Densetsu Fushigi no Ki no Mi Jikū no Shō.[g][41]
  • Developed in conjunction with Capcom.[18]
  • Features a time travel game mechanic.[18]
  • Links with The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons.[18][42]
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords
  • NA: December 3, 2002
  • JP: March 14, 2003
  • PAL: March 28, 2003
[43]
2002 – Game Boy Advance[43]
2011 – DSiWare
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
  • JP: December 13, 2002
  • NA: March 24, 2003
  • PAL: May 2, 2003
[45]
2002 – GameCube[45]
2013 – Wii U[46]
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
  • JP: March 18, 2004
  • NA: June 7, 2004
  • PAL: January 7, 2005
  • AU: April 7, 2005
[50]
2004 – GameCube[50]
  • Known in Japan as Zelda no Densetsu Yottsu no Tsurugi Purasu.[i][51]
  • Allows for up to four players to play the game using Game Boy Advances and Game Link Cables.[52]
  • Carried over stylistic elements from The Wind Waker.[18]
  • Re-released in North America as part of Nintendo's Player's Choice line.[50]
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
  • JP: November 4, 2004
  • PAL: November 12, 2004
  • NA: January 10, 2005
  • AU: April 7, 2005
[53]
2004 – Game Boy Advance[53]
2011 – 3DS Ambassador Virtual Console
2014 – Wii U Virtual Console
2023 – Switch Online GBA Library
  • Known in Japan as Zeruda no Densetsu Fushigi no Bōshi.[j][54]
  • Developed by Capcom[18]
  • Introduced a shrinking game mechanic.[18]
  • Released in Europe in a bundled package with a The Legend of Zelda-themed Game Boy Advance SP.[53]
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
  • NA: November 19, 2006
  • JP: December 2, 2006
  • AU: December 7, 2006
  • PAL: December 8, 2006
[55]
2006 – GameCube
2006 – Wii[55][56]
2016 – Wii U
  • Release was delayed so it could be ported to the Wii and released as a Wii launch title.[3][57]
  • Features a gameplay mechanic in which Link has the power to turn into a wolf.
  • GameCube and Wii versions differ in that the Wii version supports 16:9 widescreen presentation and horizontally flips the in-game world to make Link right-handed.[58]
  • First game in the series to receive a Teen rating.[3]
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
  • JP: June 23, 2007
  • NA: October 1, 2007
  • AU: October 11, 2007
  • PAL: October 19, 2007
[59]
2007 – DS[59]
2016 – Wii U Virtual Console
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
  • NA: December 7, 2009
  • AU: December 10, 2009
  • EU: December 11, 2009
  • JP: December 23, 2009
[62][63][64][65]
2009 – DS[62]
2016 – Wii U Virtual Console
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
  • EU: November 18, 2011
  • NA: November 20, 2011
  • JP: November 23, 2011
  • AU: November 24, 2011
[68]
2011 – Wii[68]
2016 – Wii U Virtual Console
2021 – Switch
  • Celebrates the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda with the power of Link to fly with his bird.
  • Announced at the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo.[69]
  • Prominently features motion controls through the use of the Wii Remote.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
  • EU: November 22, 2013
  • NA: November 22, 2013
  • AU: November 23, 2013
  • JP: December 26, 2013
[70]
2013 – 3DS[70]
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
  • JP: October 22, 2015
  • NA: October 23, 2015
  • EU: October 23, 2015
  • AU: October 24, 2015
2015 – 3DS
  • Focus on multiplayer gameplay.
  • Developed by Grezzo.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  • NA: March 3, 2017
  • EU: March 3, 2017
  • AU: March 3, 2017
  • JP: March 3, 2017
  • KOR: February 1, 2018
  • HK: February 1, 2018
  • TW: February 1, 2018
2017 – Wii U
2017 – Switch
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
  • NA: May 12, 2023
  • EU: May 12, 2023
  • AU: May 12, 2023
  • JP: May 12, 2023
2023 – Switch

Remakes

TitleReleaseRelease by systemNotes
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
  • NA: October 31, 1998
  • JP: December 12, 1998
  • PAL: January 1999
[73][74]
1998 – Game Boy Color
2023 – Switch Online GBC Library[73][74]
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest
  • JP: November 28, 2002
  • NA: February 28, 2003
  • PAL: May 3, 2003
[76]
2002 – Nintendo 64
2002 – GameCube[76]
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
2011 – 3DS
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition
  • JP: September 28, 2011
  • NA: September 28, 2011
  • PAL: September 28, 2011
[83]
2011 – DSiWare[83]
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
  • JP: September 26, 2013
  • NA: October 4, 2013
  • EU: October 4, 2013
[46]
2013 – Wii U
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
  • NA: February 13, 2015
  • EU: February 13, 2015
  • JP: February 14, 2015
  • AU: February 14, 2015
2015 – 3DS
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
  • NA: March 4, 2016
  • EU: March 4, 2016
  • JP: March 10, 2016
2016 – Wii U
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
  • NA: September 20, 2019
  • EU: September 20, 2019
  • AU: September 20, 2019
  • JP: September 20, 2019
2019 – Switch
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
  • EU: July 16, 2021
  • NA: July 16, 2021
  • JP: July 16, 2021
  • AU: July 16, 2021
2021 – Switch

Collections

TitleReleaseSystemPorts
The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition
  • PAL: November 14, 2003
  • NA: November 17, 2003
  • JP: March 18, 2004
[6][84]
GameCube[6][84]

Spin-offs

TitleReleaseRelease by systemNotes
Zelda
  • NA: August 1989
[85][86]
1989 – Game & Watch[85]
1998 – Mini Classic[87]
  • Based on the original The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System.[85][86]
  • The final Game & Watch handheld released.[86]
  • Was included in the Game Boy Advance compilation title Game & Watch Gallery 4.[88]
The Legend of Zelda
  • NA: October 5, 1989
  • PAL: December 1992
[89][90]
1989 – Nelsonic game watch[89]
  • Developed by Nelsonic Industries.[89]
  • Based on the original The Legend of Zelda for Nintendo Entertainment System.[89]
  • Features a quartz accurate digital clock and a resettable alarm.[89]
Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce
[91]
1992 – Barcode Battler II[91]
  • Developed by Epoch Co.[91][92]
  • Based on the original The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for Super Nintendo Entertainment System.[93]
Link: The Faces of Evil
  • NA: October 10, 1993
  • PAL: October 10, 1993
[94][95]
1993 – Philips CD-i[94]
Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
  • NA: October 10, 1993
  • PAL: October 10, 1993
[96][97]
1993 – Philips CD-i[96]
  • Developed by Animation Magic.[96]
  • Side-scrolling game.[18]
  • Nintendo licensed its characters for Philips' game console.[18]
Zelda's Adventure
  • NA: June 5, 1994
  • PAL: January 1, 1995
[98][99]
1994 – Philips CD-i[98]
  • Developed by Viridis.[98]
  • Main character is Zelda rather than Link.[18]
  • Nintendo licensed its characters for Philips' game console.[18]
BS Zelda no Densetsu
  • JP: August 6, 1995 (MAP1)
  • JP: December 30, 1995 (MAP2)
[100]
1995 – Satellaview[100]
  • Used the Satellaview peripheral to introduce new elements at specified times.[100][101]
  • Re-broadcast in January 1997 as a Player's Choice Classic SoundLink game.[l][102][103]
BS Zelda no Densetsu Inishie no Sekiban
  • JP: March 30, 1997
[104]
1997 – Satellaview[104]
  • Used the Satellaview peripheral to introduce new elements at specified times.[101]
Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland
  • JP: September 2, 2006
  • PAL: September 14, 2007
[105]
2006 – DS[105]
  • Role-playing game featuring Tingle as the main character.[106]
Tingle's Balloon Fight DS
  • JP: April 12, 2007
[107]
2007 – DS[107]
Link's Crossbow Training
  • NA: November 19, 2007
  • PAL: December 7, 2007
  • AU: December 13, 2007
  • JP: May 1, 2008
[109]
2007 – Wii[109]
Dekisugi Tingle Pack
  • JP: June 24, 2009
[111]
2009 – DSiWare[111]
Irozuki Tingle no Koi no Balloon Trip
  • JP: August 6, 2009
[112]
2009 – DS[112]
Hyrule Warriors
  • JP: August 14, 2014
  • EU: September 19, 2014
  • AU: September 20, 2014
  • NA: September 26, 2014
[113]
2014 – Wii U[113]
2016 – 3DS
2018 – Switch
My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
  • JP: March 17, 2016
  • EU: March 31, 2016
  • AU: March 31, 2016
  • NA: March 31, 2016
[114]
2016 – 3DS[114]
Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of ZeldaJune 13, 2019[115]2019 – Switch
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
  • NA: November 20, 2020
  • EU: November 20, 2020
  • AU: November 20, 2020
  • JP: November 20, 2020
  • MEX: 2021
[116]
2020 – Switch

Other media

TitleReleaseMediumNotes
The Legend of Zelda Game1988Board game
  • Released by Milton Bradley.
The Legend of Zelda1989[117][118]2005: DVD
The Legend of Zelda1990, 1999[119]Comic books, manga
The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia
  • JP: December 21, 2011
  • AU/EU/NA: January 29, 2013
Hardcover book
  • Zelda timeline.
  • Hyrule history lore.
Monopoly: The Legend of Zelda
  • NA: September 15, 2014
[122]
Board game
The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts
  • JP: August 26, 2016
  • NA: February 21, 2017
Hardcover book
  • Contains art from different games.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Creating a Champion
Hardcover book
  • Lore and concept art from Breath of the Wild.
The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia
Hardcover book
  • Lore from the Zelda world.
Linked Universe[123]2019Webcomic
  • Crossover series featuring a group of versions of Link from different games
"Power of the Triforce"2023Single

Soundtracks

TitleReleaseMediumNotes
Zelda no Densetsu Sound & DramaJP: June 22, 1994[125][126]CD
  • Remixed soundtrack to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past including an audio drama giving Link's backstory.
  • 2-disc, 49-track album released by Sony Records.[125][126]
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Original SoundtrackDecember 18, 1998[127]CD82-track album released by Pony Canyon.[127]
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Hyrule SymphonyJanuary 27, 1999[128]CD
  • 13-track remix album released by Players Planet.
  • Contains orchestral remixes of songs from previous games.[128]
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Original SoundtrackJune 23, 2000[129]CD112-track double album released by Pioneer LDC.[129]
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask OrchestrationsOctober 21, 2000[130]CD11-track remix album released by Enterbrain.[130]
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Original SoundtrackMarch 31, 2003[131]CDColumbia Records[131]
Mario & Zelda Big Band LiveDecember 15, 2003[132]CD
Nintendo Sound History Series: Zelda the MusicDecember 27, 2004[133]CD
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Official SoundtrackNovember 19, 2006CD7-track promotional album released by Nintendo Power to promote Twilight Princess.[134]
The Legend of Zelda: 25th Anniversary Special Orchestration2011[135]CD
  • 8-track album.
  • Exclusive with Skyward Sword pre-orders and shortly after release.[135]
Hero of Time2017[136]Vinyl and digital distribution
  • Orchestral recording of Ocarina of Time's score produced by Sebastian Wolff and Eric Buchholz, and performed by the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra.
  • Distributed on vinyl by Iam8bit and digitally by Materia Collective.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Original SoundtrackApril 25, 2018[137][138]CD
  • 211-track 5 disc set released by Nippon Columbia.[139]
  • Limited collector's edition was released, with a Play Button music player containing 15 pre-loaded tracks.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Original SoundtrackMarch 18, 2020[140]CD
  • 205-track 4 disc set released by Nippon Columbia.[140]
  • Discs 1 & 2 feature music from the 2019 Switch remake, while discs 3 & 4 feature music from the 1993 Game Boy original.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Original SoundtrackNovember 23, 2021[141]CD
  • 187-track 5 disc set released by Nippon Columbia.[142]
  • A limited collector's edition was released, containing a music box that plays the track "Ballad of the Goddess".

Notes

References