The Legend of Zelda series is full of classic games. From its humble roots on the NES to the sweeping Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda captures magical adventure like no other. Screen Rant has ranked every 3D Zelda game from worst to best, and now it's time for the 2D entries to receive the same treatment. The 2D Zelda games feel different from their broader 3D cousins, but many still manage to generate the same sense of wonder in players eager to check out new worlds, battle big monsters, and be the hero Hyrule needs.
With most recent series releases on the Nintendo Switch - Breath of the Wild and Link's Awakening's remake - embracing different formulas of 3D gameplay, it appears the era of true 2D Zelda games may be over. The style of gameplay may live on in top-down, "2.5D" remakes and spiritual successors in the style of Link's Awakening, but the best may now be in the past. Instead of bemoaning the fact, though, the death of 2D Zelda games means it's time to celebrate the mainline Zelda games that kept players peering down on Link from on high.
The list of Legend of Zelda games below has the special distinction of containing no terrible entries. If fans have not yet had the joy of checking out any of these games, there's no time like the present to track down a console and get adventuring. For the more discerning, however, this list ranks all 2D Zelda games from worst to best. It's time to grab the Ocarina of Time and dive back into the '80s.
8. Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link (1987)
Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link did what a lot of NES sequels did, trying something completely different from its predecessor. Like Super Mario Bros. 2 and the fascinatingly bad Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest, Zelda 2 dropped the winning style of The Legend of Zelda and shifted to gameplay split between top-down overworld movement and side-scrolling sections for combat and dungeon exploration. It was a jarring transition back in 1987 and hasn't aged well. The core tenets of Zelda gameplay are still there, like exploring, completing temples, and earning special items. Yet the strange controls of a side-scrolling Link, the obtuse overworld, and the repetitive scenery means Zelda 2 is really only worth playing for diehard fans.
7. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords (2002)
On the surface, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on the Game Boy Advance seemed like a straightforward port, but there were subtle modifications for keen-eyed players. The biggest addition, though, was the introduction of Four Swords, a semi-cooperative adventure for two to four players. In Four Swords, players had to cooperate to maneuver through dungeons and defeat bosses, while also competing to gather the most rupees. Four Swords also introduced fun gameplay additions, like Zelda's first shrinking mechanic. While decently entertaining, Four Swords' short missions failed to really bring the idea to life. It would take a standalone title to really make Four Swords' gameplay shine.
6. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages & Seasons (2001)
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and its sister game, Oracle of Seasons, tried to take Link's Awakening's engine to its limits. The dungeons are interesting, and the narrative, one that centers around two of the creator goddesses of Hyrule, is worth exploring. But this pair of games lacks the same hard-hitting, tight gameplay of its predecessor. Add on the fact that players were basically required to purchase both Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons to get the full experience, and these two can rest comfortably at the lower end of 2D Zelda games.
5. The Legend of Zelda (1986)
Bursting onto the scene during 1986, arguably gaming's biggest year, The Legend of Zelda introduced the world to Link, Zelda, and Ganon, as well as the core features that make The Legend of Zelda games excellent. With an open world to explore, dungeons to delve, secrets to uncover, and a variety of weapons and items to equip, The Legend of Zelda had it all. It might feel a bit dated in 2021, but The Legend of Zelda is still worth a playthrough. It's engaging, entertaining, and a beautiful piece of gaming history.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (2004)
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures is a masterpiece of semi-cooperative gameplay. Though requiring each player to connect a Game Boy Advance to the GameCube through a proprietary cable was frustrating, if the stars aligned and four players with the appropriate gear could participate, Four Swords Adventures was an absolute riot. Battling through hazardous levels, defeating tricky bosses, and utilizing the Game Boy Advance's screen to sneak through underground caverns, Four Swords had it all. If it weren't locked behind such a massive barrier to entry, it might be one of the best cooperative experiences out there. Sadly, its restrictions force it to be lower on the list.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (1993)
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was the first Nintendo Game Boy title in the Zelda series. As is tradition with direct Zelda sequels, this one got a little weird. Link, sailing on the open ocean after A Link to the Past, is lost in a storm. He washes up on a small island and is tasked with waking the Wind Fish. What follows is an excellent adventure with memorable locations, quests, and puzzles. Link's Awakening's Koholint Island is memorable and unique; who could forget rescuing a Chain Chomp from Moblins, or conversing with the animal folk, or hearing Marin's song by the weathervane? While often dipping into the surreal, Link's Awakening was a worthy first handheld Zelda game and definitely worth playing today.
2. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004)
The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap is an excellent addition to the Zelda series. Introducing some key background lore for the franchise, like the origin of Link's iconic hat and the reason heroes can find money in the grass, Minish Cap takes what was good about A Link to the Past and executes it as well as its inspiration. The added fun of puzzles that span the big world of Hyrule and the tiny world of the Minish people, and little quality of life things like Link's ability to roll, make Minish Cap worthy of repeated plays.
1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is many fans' favorite. Introducing a recurring trend in Zelda games with its Light and Dark World, A Link to the Past took the best parts of the original The Legend of Zelda and turned things up to 11. With more narrative, amazing graphics, some of the best songs in the Zelda series, and memorable items like the Pegasus Boots, Power Gloves and the Hookshot, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is every bit the classic fans know it as. Anyone who hasn't been exposed should jump into this wonderful adventure at their earliest convenience.
It's difficult to rank such a wonderful collection of games, but in the end, there can only be one top spot. Suffice to say that any time spent with these classics will not be wasted - and the 2D formula still has some kick, judging by Breath of the Wild's prototyping phase. The Legend of Zelda games always manage to carry that spark of adventurous magic within them, regardless of each game's particular ups and downs. No matter which of these games beckons, just be sure to bring some fairies in bottles.