Every 3D Zelda Game, Ranked from Worst to Best

The Zelda series is split up into two main series: the 2D series, and the 3D series. Both have their pros and cons, and every game within each is unique and interesting in its own right. There have been more 2D games than 3D games – just by virtue of having been around for longer – but there are still plenty of 3D Zelda games to play through.

It’s worth noting this is all just opinion, and if you disagree that’s okay, every game is good so there’s no wrong answer here. We’ve also included the Hyrule Warriors games — they’re not strictly mainline Zelda games, but they’re close enough that we’re counting them anyway.

With that out of the way, this is every 3D Zelda game, ranked from worst to best.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

Age of Calamity isn’t a bad game, but something had to be at the bottom of the list, and it just doesn’t stack up as well as the other games on this list. The idea of a prequel to Breath of the Wild is neat, since that’s where most of the action happens in Breath of the Wild’s story, but veering off into a strange time travel story with alternate timelines and bespoke villains just isn’t that interesting. It’s also got some pretty big performance issues, which is unfortunate, and the playable roster is a little bit lacking. A good enough game, but not great.

Majora’s Mask

If I could sum up Majora’s Mask in just one word, it would be “stressful.” Make no mistake, I do think Majora’s Mask is a great game, but the constant and overwhelming time pressure, the high stakes for failure, and the complex progression make for a very stressful experience. The vibes are great, though, the gameplay is really interesting, and if you can get past the stress, it’s probably going to be way higher on your list than it is mine.

Twilight Princess

I quite like Twilight Princess, but there’s no denying that it’s lacking in some areas. The story’s pacing is all over the place, and playing as Wolf Link… well, it’s not great, let’s be real. The dungeons are quite fun, and the story itself is a banger, which is enough of a reason to check it out. It’s also nice to have a game that takes itself a little bit more seriously, though some would argue it does so a little bit too much.

Hyrule Warriors

The first Hyrule Warriors game was a breath of fresh air, offering a fun Musou twist on Zelda characters you know and love. It had a wide range of playable characters from a host of different Zelda games and eras, and a story that somehow managed to bring it all together in a satisfying and entertaining way. It’s kind of a perfect crossover, really, and it’s well worth playing on any platform on which it appeared — Wii U, 3DS, or Switch.

Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time was the first 3D Zelda game, and it was such a graceful transition from 2D to 3D that it’s still beloved to this day. For all the complaints about certain sections – Water Temple I’m looking at you – there’s just something special about it that extends beyond just nostalgia. The 3DS version of the game improved a lot of things about it, ironing out some of the more frustrating parts, but no matter how you play it, it’s brilliant.

Skyward Sword

Skyward Sword is one of the more divisive games on this list, but I think it deserves its spot near the top. Yes, the motion controls in the original release are a bit much at times, but it’s got a gorgeous art style, a really lovely story, and some of the best dungeons in the series. It also has big, friendly birds that you get to ride around on, and you truly can’t go wrong with big birds.

Breath of the Wild

Breath of the Wild didn’t click with me, but there’s no denying that it was an absolute game changer. It’s one of the best-reviewed games of all time, thanks to its innovative approach to open-world gameplay, immersive mechanics, and fantastic gameplay ideas that all feed into each other. It’s not perfect, and some didn’t exactly vibe with the weapon durability mechanic, but it ushered in a new era of open-world games, setting the bar so high that every other developer in the space started working to match it.

The Wind Waker

If the Wii U version of The Wind Waker didn’t exist, this entry would likely be much lower. The original on GameCube, while fantastic, slowed to a halt in the back half of the game, something that was remedied in the fantastic Wii U HD remaster. The art style in this game is phenomenally strong, the music is unmatched, and the story is both engaging and devastating. It’s a wonderful, incredible game that is an absolute must-play.

Tears of the Kingdom

Nobody thought Breath of the Wild could be matched, let alone exceeded, but Nintendo somehow pulled it off. It offset complaints about weapon durability with an unbelievable new system that allows you to create weapons on the fly, it adds two new layers of world to explore – with no loading screens! – and the story is more present than it ever was in Breath of the Wild. The Ultrahand building system is genuinely impossible, but somehow it all works without a hitch, and the fact that every single object in the world remembers its history for Recall is just bonkers. It’s just absurd on every level, and it’s unthinkable that a game this good exists and you can just buy it and play it whenever you please.