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Play the mainline The Legend of Zelda games in the order they first launched, not in the order of Hyrule’s fictional history. This guide uses Nintendo’s European release dates and a practical definition of “mainline”: original Zelda action-adventure games, each listed once, including the co-op-focused entries Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures and Tri Force Heroes. Remakes and enhanced ports are not separate entries.
Nintendo’s official history page uses European release dates, although its introduction notes that Link debuted in Japan in 1986. That distinction explains why the first European date below is in 1987. The series’ mainline boundary is editorial, not an official Nintendo classification.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
![The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition - (GC) GameCube [Pre-Owned]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41ugnJbueOL._SL160_.jpg)
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The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition - (GC) GameCube [Pre-Owned] | $130.06 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda | $70.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia | $19.17 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xVZUUZ1hL._SL160_.jpg)
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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The Legend of Zelda - Legendary Edition Box Set | $105.19 | Buy on Amazon |
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Every mainline Zelda game in release order
The platform shown is the game’s first platform, not a claim about where it can be played today. Nintendo’s official series history is the source for the European dates and platform details below. For the Oracle games, the page identifies the paired 2001 launch but does not provide a legible exact day in its available text, so no day is stated.
| Release order | Original release | First platform | Orientation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Legend of Zelda — November 15, 1987 | NES | Link’s debut adventure in Europe; the series’ starting point by release date. |
| 2 | Zelda II: The Adventure of Link — September 26, 1988 | NES | The second released game. Its distinct action-RPG approach makes it a notable change from the first game. |
| 3 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past — September 24, 1992 | Super NES | A mainline entry released before the portable adventures that followed. |
| 4 | The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening — November 18, 1993 | Game Boy | The original portable release. The later Switch version is a remake, not a separate place in this chronology. |
| 5 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — December 12, 1998 | Nintendo 64 | Followed by Majora’s Mask in release order. |
| 6 | The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask — November 17, 2000 | Nintendo 64 | The next Nintendo 64 entry by European release date. |
| 7 | The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons — 2001; exact European date not stated | Game Boy Color | One half of a paired set of adventures released in 2001. |
| 8 | The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages — 2001; exact European date not stated | Game Boy Color | The other half of the Oracle pair. Both belong together in a release-order list; an exact within-year ordering is not established here. |
| 9 | The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords — March 28, 2003 | Game Boy Advance | A cooperative-focused entry. Included because this guide counts original Zelda action-adventure games rather than excluding a game for its multiplayer emphasis. |
| 10 | The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker — May 2, 2003 | GameCube | Released after Four Swords in the European chronology. |
| 11 | The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap — November 12, 2004 | Game Boy Advance | A handheld mainline adventure. |
| 12 | The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures — January 7, 2005 | GameCube | A second cooperative-focused entry, retained under the same inclusion rule as Four Swords. |
| 13 | The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess — December 8, 2006 (Wii date) | Wii and GameCube | Nintendo’s history page marks December 8 as the Wii release date; this should not be mistaken for a single shared launch date across both platforms. |
| 14 | The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass — October 19, 2007 | Nintendo DS | A portable entry released after Twilight Princess. |
| 15 | The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks — December 11, 2009 | Nintendo DS | The next DS entry in release order. |
| 16 | The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword — November 18, 2011 | Wii | The original Wii release; Skyward Sword HD is a later enhanced edition. |
| 17 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds — November 22, 2013 | Nintendo 3DS | The first 3DS entry in this chronology. |
| 18 | The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes — October 23, 2015 | Nintendo 3DS | A co-op-focused entry included because the guide’s rule includes original Zelda action-adventure games, not just solo-first games. |
| 19 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — March 3, 2017 | Nintendo Switch and Wii U | Nintendo describes Tears of the Kingdom as its sequel. The official history also lists a Switch 2 edition as an alternate current edition. |
| 20 | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — May 12, 2023 | Nintendo Switch | A sequel to Breath of the Wild. Nintendo also lists a Switch 2 edition as an alternate current edition. |
| 21 | The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom — September 26, 2024 | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo’s summary places Zelda in the role of saving Hyrule, making this a clear endpoint for the release chronology covered here. |
How to use release order as a play order
Release order is a straightforward way to see how the series’ games arrived over time. It does not claim to resolve their fictional chronology. Follow the numbered list if you want the original sequence; if you are mainly interested in newer games, you can instead begin with an entry that is available on your hardware, then return to the earlier releases.
#1 Best Overall
- Features Playable Demo: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The co-op entries are included rather than silently omitted. If by “mainline” you mean only primarily solo adventures, skip Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures and Tri Force Heroes—but recognize that this is a narrower personal definition, not a formal Nintendo category. Remakes and enhanced versions such as Link’s Awakening on Switch and Skyward Sword HD can be used to play those games, but they do not add new positions to the release chronology.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to play selected entries on Switch and Switch 2
Nintendo’s Zelda Portal lists selected games available on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, not every game in the historical chronology. Its listed modern editions include Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom for Switch 2, plus Echoes of Wisdom, Tears of the Kingdom, Skyward Sword HD, Link’s Awakening and Breath of the Wild for Switch. The Switch 2 editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were released June 5, 2025; those are editions of existing games, not new mainline entries.
Rank #2
- A collectible Game & Watch system packed with Legend of Zelda classics
Nintendo says classic Zelda games can be played on Switch and Switch 2 with a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. That is access to a selected classic-game catalogue, rather than a promise that every older title in the table is included. Catalogues and membership access can vary by country and change over time, so check the Nintendo store for your region before choosing a route. On Nintendo’s US storefront, online play requires a Nintendo Account and Nintendo Switch Online membership, is not available in all countries, and is subject to terms.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequences
- Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
- Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
- Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
- Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls objects and enemies in fun ways
Rank #3
- A comprehensive collection of enemies and items, potions to poes, an expansion of the lore touched upon in Hyrule Historia, concept art, screencaps, maps, main characters and how they relate, languages, and much, much more, including an exclusive interview with Series Producer, Eiji Aonuma!
- This, the last of The Goddess Collection trilogy, which includes Hyrule Historia and Art & Artifacts, is a treasure trove of explanations and information about every aspect of The Legend of Zelda universe!
- This 336-page book is an exhaustive guide to The Legend of Zelda from the original game through Twilight Princess HD.
- Original hardware: use the system listed in the first-platform column when you want the original release.
- Modern edition: choose an officially listed Switch or Switch 2 release where one exists; a remake or HD edition remains a later version of the same game.
- Classic-game catalogue: check the current regional Nintendo Switch Online catalogue for the specific classic title rather than assuming the full chronology is available.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
