The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker took Link to many islands, and among them are the game's best and most interesting destinations. Some islands are important to the story, while others provide side rewards or bonuses. Whatever the case, the features of each island are a big part of Wind Waker's charm, and it's clear that an awful lot of creativity was involved in creating them.

In Wind Waker, one of the game's main gimmicks is the fact that Link sails from island to island for almost every step of his quest. He receives Wind Waker's boat, the King of Red Lions early, and uses the titular Wind Waker to control the winds to make sure he can sail wherever he needs to. Although Wind Waker's sailing mechanic was controversial, the game itself provides plenty of destinations that are worth the trip, especially when the reward features rare or vital items.

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An astute player of Wind Waker is very likely to visit all of the game's islands before the end credits. At the same time, there are a few specific islands that deserve to be pointed out as the most unique and interesting for Link to visit. Link's quest is an important one, but that's no reason not to admire the greatest sights in the Great Sea and remind oneself that Wind Waker deserves a remaster.

Ice Ring Isle Is The Coldest Place In Wind Waker

The freezing Ice Ring Isle is one of the Great Sea's most unique obstacles.

One way to make an island stand out is to give it a unique mechanic, and that is where Ice Ring Isle delivers. If Link sets foot on the island, then he will be instantly frozen solid and respawn in his boat. This will not happen anywhere else in the game, giving Ice Ring Isle its own distinctive gimmick. However, that is not all there is to the island.

In order to safely disembark on Ice Ring Isle, Link must first gain Fire Arrows from one of the Great Fairies, and shoot one at the island. After that, he will have five minutes to traverse an obstacle course made of ice without slipping into the water. If he can reach the end, then he will be granted the Iron Boots, a key item that increases Link's weight and makes him immune to heavy winds. They're niche, but compared to The Legend of Zelda's more useless items, they're worth their weight in gold. Once the Iron Boots have been obtained, Ice Ring Isle will not freeze Link anymore when he tries to walk on it.

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Ice Ring Isle is definitely unique, but its weakness is that there is only one real reason to visit it. Worse, once its treasure has been received, it loses one of the things that made it stand out from the rest of the islands. Even so, Ice Ring Isle still has a cool look, and it is undoubtedly memorable for players who had to tackle its challenge.

Wind Waker's Private Oasis Hides A Dark Secret

Wind Waker players were taken by surprise by what hid under the Private Oasis.

The Private Oasis is one of the least threatening-looking islands in the whole of Wind Waker. It is a small island that plays home to a nice-looking vacation home, looking almost as cozy as Wind Waker's Outset Island. It is originally owned by Mrs. Marie from Windfall Island, but she'll give Link the deed to the house in exchange for 20 Joy Pendants. However, the island is not truly as friendly as it seems at first glance.

Inside the house is a lever that Link can reach with his grappling hook. Upon pulling it, the fire in the fireplace will be extinguished and reveal a pit By leaping inside, Link will find himself in a hidden dungeon populated by ReDeads, one of the game's most terrifying enemies. Braving the dungeon will lead to a phenomenal reward of a Triforce Chart, which will help Link find a piece of the missing Triforce. However, it leaves plenty of questions unanswered, almost as many as Wind Waker's destroyed Greatfish Isle. For example, how did such a creepy dungeon wind up under such a fancy house, and did Mrs. Marie ever know about it herself?

The dungeon underneath the Private Oasis is one of the game's creepiest areas without a doubt. The contrast between the the peaceful vacation home and the monster-filled dungeon underneath is enough to make the Private Oasis very difficult to forget. Plenty of players were caught off guard by the Oasis' secret, and it's one of the game's biggest surprises.

The Angular Isles Are One Of Wind Waker's Most Memorable Sights

The Angular Isles are one of Wind Waker's most creative landmarks.

The Angular Isles stand out from most of the Great Sea's island destinations based on the appearance alone. They are a pair of perfectly angular islands made of blocks - hence the name. Most players would deign to explore whatever islands they found in the Great Sea no matter what, just given the nature of the game, which is arguably a predecessor to Breath of the Wild's amazing open world. However, the Angular Isles' especially peculiar design makes them almost impossible to ignore during a voyage.

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Despite being so small, the Angular Isles actually hold two puzzles, with each offering Link a different reward. The larger island is covered in blocks that can be moved around and climbed, and if Link can reach the top, there is a Piece of Heart held in a treasure chest. Meanwhile, the smaller island features a small cavern containing a second block puzzle that required the Mirror Shield's light-reflecting ability during one of the final steps. Completing this task will reward Link with 200 Rupees. Considering that there is also a sunken treasure chest near the islands containing another Piece of Heart, visiting the Angular Isles can be very profitable.

The Angular Isles are completely optional in Wind Waker, but are absolutely worth visiting, just like a rare enemy encounter in BOTW. Fully completing what these small islands have to offer will make Link 200 Rupees richer and bring him halfway to another Heart Container. It may not be a necessary destination for Link's quest, but of all the game's small islands, there's little doubt that the Angular Isles are among the best.

Dragon Roost Island is Wind Waker's Most Interesting Island

Dragon Roost Island is easily the most iconic in Wind Waker.

Dragon Roost Island is one of the first islands that Link travels to during his quest, and it is by far one of the most impactful. After Outset Island and Windfall Island help the player to get adjusted to gameplay and story, the game starts getting serious at this point. It would not be unfair to say that Dragon Roost Island is where The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker truly begins, and further proves that Wind Waker should come to Switch.

Dragon's Roost Island is a special place in Wind Waker because is is where the player will be introduced to a lot of important details and mechanics. It features the game's first proper dungeon crawl, as well as its first boss battle in the form of Gohma at the heart of the volcano. In addition, the player will meet several characters important to the plot, such as Medli, Prince Komali, and Valoo. More importantly, it is where Link learns the first spell for the Wind Waker, allowing him to control the winds. This opens the door for players to finally explore the Great Sea at their leisure after the story's first chapter locked them into a set path. On top of that, Dragon Roost Island also has Wind Waker's engaging mail-sorting mini-game.

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In the grand scheme of the game, Dragon's Roost Island is the first major step forward in the adventure, and arguably the most important one. The Rito village, volcano, and dungeon are all incredibly memorable, and the island's ambient music is one of the game's best tracks to boot. There is little reason to doubt that Dragon's Roost Island is the best island in the game.

Wind Waker is one of the most distinctive Zelda games, from its art style to its setting. Even among its already illustrious series, it can boast some incredibly memorable moments as well as amazing experiences. When players think back to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, the game's most memorable islands are likely at the forefront of their mind.

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