The Most Challenging Zelda Games of All Time, Ranked
The Legend of Zelda franchise has captivated gamers for decades, and while most games offer moderate difficulty, here are the few that truly push players to their limits Discover the most challenging Zelda games that will test your skills and determination
The Legend of Zelda franchise has continuously defied the passage of time, constantly evolving and staying relevant. From its humble beginnings as a top-down dungeon crawler in the 80s to its groundbreaking leap into 3D in the 90s and the ever-changing artistic styles of the 00s, this iconic franchise refuses to fade away. Each new release becomes a monumental moment for the gaming community, and the recent arrival of Tears of the Kingdom once again solidifies the Legend of Zelda's dominance in the world of gaming. However, one aspect that has undergone transformation is the level of difficulty in these games. While the modern Zelda adventures are undeniably exceptional, many fans wonder if they match up to the challenging nature of the earlier entries in the franchise.
7 Ocarina Of Time
Among the vast selection of titles in The Legend of Zelda series, few have reached the legendary level of success achieved by Ocarina of Time. This game's ambitious storyline, which was groundbreaking for its time, has had a profound impact on the franchise and has inspired countless other games. Ocarina of Time stands out as one of the greatest games ever created.
As the first Zelda game in 3D, Ocarina of Time introduced players to a whole new style of controls. While it proved to be a remarkable achievement, the controls were more challenging compared to later games in the series. Additionally, Ocarina of Time featured an impressive lineup of formidable bosses such as the Death Hand and Volvagia, further raising the difficulty for players.
6 Oracle Of Ages
An interesting fact about Oracle of Ages is that, despite being released alongside Oracle of Seasons for the Game Boy Advance, the game stands out as the more challenging of the two. Unlike Nintendo's usual approach with simultaneous releases of Pokémon games, where the difficulty level remains consistent, Oracle of Ages boasts a unique aspect that sets it apart. This lies in the intricate complexity of certain puzzles, which fans widely regard as the toughest in the entire Legend of Zelda franchise. Even to this day, players are discovering new techniques to overcome the high difficulty of these games.
5 Majora’s Mask
Majora's Mask presented a higher level of challenge compared to recent entries in the 3D Zelda series. While there were notable changes after Ocarina of Time, both games shared the same dungeon structure. However, Majora's Mask deliberately reduced the number of dungeons to allow for a more focused and demanding experience in each individual one.
Obtaining every mask in Majora's Mask adds an additional layer of difficulty to the game. While completing a 100% run in a Zelda game is not typically common, it feels entirely reasonable for gamers to strive for full completion in Majora's Mask, resulting in a considerable amount of arduous effort.
4 A Link To The Past
A Link To The Past encompassed everything - an exceptional storyline, an expansive world, and a refreshing absence of explicit guidance. This element alone heightened the game's difficulty and offered players a genuine sense of achievement upon completion.
Unafraid of presenting gamers with the challenge of traversing through waves of adversaries armed solely with a sword and hope, A Link To The Past captivated its audience. Its multitude of dungeons and hidden treasures kept even seasoned players on their toes, leading to the establishment of a dedicated speed-running community. As a result, this game continues to be held in high regard by gamers to this day.
3 The CD-I Trilogy
The CD-I trilogy of Legend of Zelda games, including The Wand of Gamelon, Faces of Evil & Zelda's Adventure, had the intention of providing a user-friendly control system for players. However, this goal was not achieved, resulting in all three games being excessively challenging to play. Due to the frustrating controls and combat mechanics, most gamers have never attempted to experience these entries in the franchise.
2 The Legend of Zelda
The original Legend of Zelda game holds a significant place in the hearts of gamers today. As a nearly forty-year-old piece of history, it continues to impress with its ingenuity. However, the controls have become challenging due to their age, and the game's style from that era was notably unforgiving, aiming to provide players with a greater struggle compared to modern games. The enemies were intentionally designed to create distressing combat experiences. Despite not being the longest game to complete, especially during its time, the limitations of the NES make it and other games for that platform appear even more difficult when compared to newer releases.
1 Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link
Zelda II is often referred to as the outcast of the Legend of Zelda series. This can be attributed to its challenging nature. The Adventure of Link was notorious for its brutal difficulty, featuring a 2D platformer with numerous and tougher enemies compared to its predecessor. To make matters worse, Link's abilities were weaker and his range was limited.
As a result, many fans of the Legend of Zelda franchise opt to skip this particular installment when playing through the series. The game's intense difficulty and steep learning curve, especially when faced with the formidable Dark Link, make it a daunting experience. Following this unique entry, the franchise rarely ventured back into the side-scrolling platformer genre.
