The Legend of Zelda series is nearing its 35th anniversary, and we’ve seen many different expertly crafted games each with their own unique aspects. The variable that has arguably changed the most over time is the difficulty level of each respective game.
Beginning on the NES, games were usually created with a sense of difficulty in mind to simulate having more playtime, as games by themselves were fairly short due to technological limitations. As consoles have grown more advanced, the way that difficulty is implemented into games has changed drastically. Which Zelda games stick out for testing you as a true hero?
14 A Link Between Worlds
The sequel to A Link to the Past we never knew we needed feels like a bit of a breeze at times, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The game has some really unique dungeons and clever puzzles with the new wall-merging mechanic, but enemies are a bit on the weaker side, especially as you progress through the game with more hearts and powerful items, making Link feel unstoppable.
13 Minish Cap
Traveling between bite-sized and life-sized worlds make adventuring with our cute hero and trusty cap a blast. Minish Cap has a super limited amount of dungeons, and each one only feels a little harder than the last. While some of the puzzles require a bit of critical thinking, most are a breeze. Minish Cap does have some stellar sidequests, though, and plenty of them to boot.
12 Wind Waker
Zelda fans have definitely grown on this beloved classic, and it now stands as one of the most popular games in the series. Criticism often arose around its “childish” art style, and worry surrounding the game’s difficulty wasn’t uncommon.
While not a cakewalk by any stretch, the linear combat and more simplistic dungeons might never let you see the game over screen, especially without Wind Waker HD’s Hero Mode.
11 Phantom Hourglass & Spirit Tracks
Being Wind Waker’s successors, these games share similar difficulty-related issues. The enemies are a bit non-threatening and the dungeons are at least a little more challenging. The boat and train battles can also offer a decent challenge, but not as much as your stylus-related frustrations. Only being able to move and attack with your stylus can be quite a hindrance to gameplay at times, and we’re left to wonder what normal controls could offer to these games.
10 Breath of the Wild
The newest entry in the franchise is “wildly” different than any other game we’ve seen thus far, and has some interesting levels of challenge. Breath of the Wild’s combat is more varied and complex than any other game, but enemy AI leaves a bit to be desired. Being able to replenish health with a nice home-cooked meal in the middle of combat also takes out some of the stakes of engaging a group of angry Bokoblins.
9 Twilight Princess
The second GameCube title boasts a bit more challenge than the first, but our hero is particularly buff this time around with a plethora of Hidden Skills in his arsenal. Twilight Princess has some fantastic dungeons with some fairly challenging puzzles.
The game has a similar predicament with its enemies as Wind Waker, as enemies are a bit aloof and are taken out quite easily by our favorite ranchhand and his muscles.
8 Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword is one of the most divisive games in the entire series, often criticized for its motion controls and overworld. One area that Skyward Sword does particularly well in is its dungeons, where it has some of the most challenging ones the series has to offer. Enemies are still no match for our Skyward Hero, but they at least have the ability to block and counter to put up a fight.
7 Ocarina of Time
Being the first 3D Zelda game, and an extremely early one at that, Ocarina of Time did an astounding job at creating a beloved experience that is still praised to this day. The controls are a slight bit primitive compared to later titles, but Ocarina of Time may have the best balance of difficulty in the series, with a great gradual increase in dungeon and boss difficulty.
6 Majora’s Mask
Using the same engine as Ocarina of Time, it’s quite obvious for Majora’s Mask to feel similar in terms of difficulty. There are significantly fewer dungeons this time around, but each one feels like a significantly bigger challenge that can take a while to complete. Working around the apocalyptic clock also adds an extra layer of needing to work quickly.
5 Link’s Awakening
We’re now at three versions of this GameBoy classic, and each one provides a significant challenge.
The dungeons are lengthy with complex puzzles, and it’s difficult to defeat Anti-Kirby without feeling bad. 2D Zelda’s are traditionally a bit harder than 3D titles, and Link’s Awakening is a great introduction to classic Zelda challenge.
4 A Link to the Past
The third installment in the series still remains one of the most beloved, as it was a massive step up from the previous titles in terms of gameplay, graphical capabilities, and story. Without straying away from capturing the amount of skill needed to traverse a massive world with your own two feet, A Link to the Past is everything fans loved about the original and more.
3 Oracle of Seasons & Ages
Premiering on the GameBoy Color in a sort of Pokémon fashion, these two games were extremely similar, but with enough differences to feel like separate experiences. For Zelda titles, these ones are tough. Oracle of Ages, in particular, has some of the most brutal dungeons in the entire series, being time-consuming with some of the most complex puzzles Zelda has to offer.
2 The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda was, and will forever be, a revolutionary title in gaming history. Back in the ancient times of the NES, games were intentionally very difficult, and Zelda is no exception. From the get-go, you’re abruptly thrown into the world with no directions. Once you do happen to find a dungeon to explore, you’ll find that it’ll take you at least a few tries to get through it, as the older controls and combat, paired with the unforgiving enemies, don’t do you any favors. Once you reach Ganon, you’ll feel like a hardened adventurer.
1 Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Transitioning from Zelda 1 to 2, The Adventure of Link quickly became the black sheep of the franchise as a completely unfair adventure platformer. Like was said before, this game is straight-up unfair at times by throwing tons of enemies at the already weaker Link, who has abysmal range and damage compared to the first. The map and dungeons are extremely confusing as well, so completing this game is reserved for the most dedicated of fans.
NEXT: 10 Amazing Facts You Didn’t Know About The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
