The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to release on May 12, 2023, and fans of the franchise are patiently waiting to witness another hit. Meanwhile, they can also visit some of the past Zelda games to live the nostalgia. With 29 titles to choose, from there are five that have been shortlisted in this article.
To this day, the Zelda series stands as Nintendo’s masterpiece. The Breath of the Wild, in particular, has revolutionized the franchise for the future. As Tears of the Kingdom is right at the doorstep, now is a good time to visit these five games.
5 Legends of Zelda games to play before the Tears of the Kingdom
1) Breath of the Wild
The 2017 release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a gush of fresh air to the the series. It offered a massive open-world design with exploration and unimaginable freedom to do anything that players want.
What separates it from the rest of the franchise is its execution. The game took inspiration from other open-world titles of that time and made it better. The main story might seem a little behind compared to the other installments of the franchise. However, it makes up for its minor shortcoming with its dystopian setting, divine beasts, variety of traversing options, and more.
2) Ocarina of time
This game from the Zelda series is what some might argue to be the best. It was the fifth addition to the franchise that introduced a gripping 3d experience to their fans back in the day. The story in the Ocarina of Time is nostalgic for veterans and they should revisit it while waiting for the Tears of the Kingdom.
For newer players, this masterpiece can offer a variety of side quests, interesting world design, mesmerizing background scores, puzzles, and more. Overall the Ocarina of Time has over 20 hours of solid story content to immerse yourself into.
3) A Link to the Past
Set in the fictional world of Hyrule, A Link to the Past charmed players with its top-down gameplay at the time of its release. It was the distant prequel to the original Zelda story and had massive success upon release.
Fans of the franchise should explore this old masterpiece to enjoy its extensive dungeon, acquire the Pendants of Virtue and witness the introduction of Master Sword. The game also provides players the ability to use magic, talk to the NPCs about dungeons, and more. Overall, the gameplay element is satisfactory and stands as a great option for the waiting period.
4) The Wind Waker
Up on the list is the Wind Waker, which was an excellent entry in the The Legend of Zelda series. It boasts one of the most colorful worlds that pairs well with its jolly characters. Players must revisit it for its vibrancy, exciting art style, and its take on ocean exploration.
Lastly, the combat system is phenomenal and its story is thrilling which deserves fans’ attention as they wait for Tears of the Kingdom.
5) Twilight Princess
The mentioned title was a darker take on Zelda that players are bound to have their opinions on. It came out in the year 2006, intending to redefine the franchise. What was unique about the game was the introduction to Link’s companion Midna. She allowed the protagonist to transform into a wolf at will.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess further provides masterful dungeons, a mature setting, and a bewildering story that made fans come for more. Overall, it is a fantastic title that Zelda players should try before the release of Breath of the Wild 2.