Which Zelda games tell the best stories? It’s not quite the same question as asking someone which Zelda games have the best plots. Good plots don’t always translate to prime storytelling. The stuff that gets us invested usually has nice crescendos filled with emotional beats and discernible themes.
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Put another way, for as much as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is my favourite game of all time, and its sequel’s somewhere in my top ten, I’d never rank ‘em as high-tier storytellers even within the bounds of their own franchise. They’re too open for all that. It’s not their goal, really. I’m just one fan, though. Countless denizens of the Zelda fandom have debated this for ages, and right now, we’ve got a nice pulse for where the discourse has landed.
Open Your Eyes
The chat started on Reddit, where Specialist-Heat-474 (don’t you just love automatically-generated names?) kicked things off with a full list of their faves. Presented in countdown order, it kicked off with the original Zelda, Triforce Heroes, and Four Swords – none of which are ever going to win any awards in this regard – before giving top marks to Phantom Hourglass, with Majora’s Mask hot on its heels in second place.
In the thread creator’s view, this arguably surprising #1 choice is backed by a “more twisted version of Link’s Awakening,” as it “presents a conflict and theme beyond the scope of the normal adventures of Link and Zelda.” They believe there’s passion here, with tons of room for interpretation, “specifically in the character of Linebeck who despite some elements of goofiness is one of the most interesting side characters in the series.” OK, that part I certainly agree with!
Dreyfus2006, who made sure that readers understand they’re assessing the games’ stories holistically, cites Link’s Awakening as the reigning champion. “Incredibly dark and sophisticated, and the only one that is completely applicable to the real world. More relevant than ever.” I have to admit, I’m not entirely sure what they mean by that, but the game’s lovely melancholic vibes have surely left a lasting impact on my mind.
As expected, there’s not a lot of love for Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom in this debate. “BotW and TotK storytelling is one [of] the things the devs HAVE to address in the next entry,” K_Josef says. “It’s really one of the things the new games suffer a lot [for] because of bad execution.” On the other hand, lilacsigil was happy to see the thread creator speak (relatively) highly of Minish Cap. “It’s a terrific game both in terms of design and story, and the gameplay is wonderful.”
For all the talk of recent Zelda games with lackluster storytelling, Koei Tecmo’s latest spinoff in the Hyrule Warriors series, Age of Imprisonment, is somewhat of an exception. It’s received several compliments, but the OP’s own words are the most thorough examination. “The epic, passionately developed, and stunning high fantasy prequel,” they write, “…made me care about characters who were a bunch of nobodies [in Tears of the Kingdom], and introduced the most likeable original characters in the entire franchise.” Whoa, I’m not sure if I’d go quite that far! But I’m feeling the enthusiasm here!
Across the broader spectrum of Zelda story discussion over the past several years, trends that were evident in past decades have further solidified. Link’s Awakening and Majora’s Mask both get plenty of love pretty much everywhere you look. Ocarina of Time is often cited as “a classic coming-of-age tale,” Skyward Sword beats out common gameplay criticisms to receive nods galore for its story and cast, Wind Waker’s downright beloved. Beyond that, you really start to see some major divergences.
I’ll leave you with my own controversial take: Tears of the Kingdom’s storytelling isn’t as rough as folks think!
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