Every Version Of Zelda Ranked (And She's Not #1)
Through the ages and through the seasons, Zelda's been as important to the "Legend of Zelda" franchise as Link himself. But which version of the magical princess reigns supreme?
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00:00Through the ages and through the seasons, Zelda's been as important to the Legend of
00:04Zelda franchise as Link himself. But which version of the magical princess reigns supreme?
00:10Let's take a look.
00:11Princess Zelda debuted in 1986 alongside Link, Impa, and Ganon in the game that started it
00:17all, The Legend of Zelda. The NES title established many of the series' most well-known features,
00:23including what became one of the industry's most quoted phrases, it's dangerous to go
00:27alone, take this. It also sets into motion the long tradition of Zelda playing second
00:31fiddle to Link, despite the fact that the franchise bears her name and not his.
00:36Zelda gets kidnapped by Ganon before the action of The Legend of Zelda kicks off, leaving
00:40her with very little screen time. Though she succeeded in keeping the Triforce of Courage
00:44away from the Prince of Darkness, the plot centers on Link reassembling the fragments
00:49of the magical artifact she painstakingly hid away so he can go save the princess.
00:54Throughout this process, the kingdom of Hyrule remains at Ganon's mercy. Since Link needs
00:58the Triforce piece to defeat Ganon, it calls into question the wisdom of Zelda's decision
01:03to sunder it and distribute the pieces across eight labyrinthine dungeons in the first place.
01:08The Legend of Zelda remains an iconic game, but it is far from the princess' best outing.
01:12Watch Zelda become a legend on your Nintendo Entertainment System.
01:17Zelda!
01:18The Adventure of Link functions as a bit of an oddity for the Zelda series, though it
01:22serves as a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II favors a mixture of side-scrolling
01:27and top-down views along with RPG elements. It also utilizes a life feature that hasn't
01:32turned up in any other installment. The gameplay differences in the second entry may stand
01:36out, but its portrayal of Princess Zelda does not. The royal takes on the role of Sleeping
01:41Beauty thanks to a magical slumber, keeping her off-screen as Link fights his way through
01:46multiple palaces to claim the Triforce of Courage.
01:49Adding a bit of intrigue, it turns out that this version is the original namesake of the
01:53princess from the first title. She's been snoozing for multiple generations due to a
01:57conflict with her brother and an overeager wizard. While she gets some points for standing
02:02up to her sibling to protect their father's secrets, the whole situation seems like it
02:06could have been avoided with better communication, a recurring theme for the franchise.
02:11Many Zelda fans choose to ignore the trio of non-canon Zelda titles developed for the
02:15Philips CD-i, and with good reason. These bad boys have a lot of problems, ranging from
02:21terrifying animation to bad level design and controls. But the second and third entries,
02:26The Wand of Gamelon and Zelda's Adventure, stand out as the first games to make Zelda
02:30the playable character. The Philips CD-i entries don't do Princess Zelda many favors, especially
02:35when it comes to her unflattering character designs, but she does at least get to play
02:38the hero.
02:40In The Wand of Gamelon, she saves both Link and her father, the King of Hyrule, after
02:44neutralizing Ganon and a number of his minions. She rescues Link and takes on Ganon again
02:49on her own in Zelda's Adventure.
02:51What happened?
02:52Nothing, Link. We were just about to have a feast.
02:56Though fans have long wished to see Zelda as a playable character, the Philips CD-i entries
03:00kind of make a mockery of that dream. It's quite unfortunate that they were the first
03:04to place the princess in a starring role, though at least they don't have a spot in
03:08the official Zelda lore.
03:10A Super NES masterpiece, A Link to the Past established even more of the classic components
03:15of the Zelda IP. Items like the Master Sword and Hookshot appeared for the first time in
03:20the entry, as did the concept of traveling between parallel worlds. Princess Zelda also
03:25plays a greater role in the plot than she did in the first two entries, though not by
03:28much.
03:29Keeping with tradition, Zelda winds up kidnapped by one of Ganon's servants, the wizard Oganim.
03:34She summons Link to Hyrule Castle to help her out, and they manage to escape Oganim,
03:38at least for a time. Zelda then goes into hiding with a helpful priest while Link ventures
03:43forth to acquire the Master Sword.
03:45Zelda gets captured not once but twice in A Link to the Past, and the trend continues
03:50in Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. These titles feature the same Zelda who gets kidnapped
03:55by the antagonists' twin Rova as part of their plot to resurrect Ganon. While she does receive
04:00more screen time, this Zelda unfortunately still functions as little more than a damsel
04:04and plot device to further Link's story.
04:09Based on the Game Boy Advance, Four Swords took much of the A Link to the Past format
04:12and adapted it for multiplayer. Featuring two to four color-coded Links, this entry
04:17switches up the formula a bit to accommodate co-op play. For example, players compete to
04:22get the most rupees in each level and can only equip one item at once. Unfortunately,
04:27it does little to expand on Zelda's character. Four Swords sees Princess Zelda watching over
04:31the Four Sword Sanctuary and the artifact housed within, which serves as a prison for
04:36the sorcerer Vaati. Sensing that something is off, Zelda calls on her old friend Link
04:40to examine the shrine with her. Of course, the seal keeping Vaati trapped wanes, and
04:45he escapes, kidnapping Zelda in the process. Beyond her capture, it's yet another example
04:49of Zelda failing at her sworn task, prompting Link â or four Links, in this case â to
04:54come in, save her, and clean up the mess. The princess just can't catch a break.
04:59Another Game Boy Advance title, The Minish Cap, centers on the origin story of the Four
05:03Sword and how Vaati ended up trapped inside of it. While it features a lot of classic
05:08Zelda elements, it also incorporates some new ideas, such as allowing Link to shrink
05:12down to a much smaller size with the aid of a sentient hat named Ezlo. This time around,
05:17Zelda enjoys a bit of screen time before getting shelved. She and her pal Link go to a festival
05:22together, and she even wins a prize during the outing â a shield that she gifts to
05:26her friend and protector. Of course, Vaati shows up and ruins the fun, though instead
05:31Instead of kidnapping Zelda, he transforms her into a stone statue. While a nice twist,
05:35this move still takes her out of commission for the bulk of the game. Link eventually
05:39saves the day, but it's a bit of a bummer that players don't get more time with this
05:43version of the princess.
05:45A sequel to Four Swords created for the GameCube, Four Swords Adventures sends Link and his
05:49three duplicates on another quest. While the crew rightly suspects Vaati may escape his
05:54prison again, the story also pits them against the hero's dark counterpart, the dreaded Shadow
06:00Link. On top of that, it throws in Ganon as the mastermind behind the whole plot.
06:04Zelda's role unfolds in a rather typical fashion at first, with Shadow Link kidnapping her
06:08and all six Shrine Maidens at the same time. After the Links save her, Zelda gets trapped
06:13again by Ganon after she faces him alone, though the protagonists quickly break her
06:18free. Thankfully, the princess then gets another moment to shine, assisting in the battle against
06:22Ganon by wielding magical balls of light. Because of this power and the aid of the other
06:27Shrine Maidens, the Links can finally seal Ganon within the Four Sword.
06:31Throughout 1991 and 1992, a dozen choose-your-own-adventure-style novels hit the market as part of the Nintendo
06:37Adventure Book series. While most of the stories center on the Mario franchise, two feature
06:42the Zelda universe. The second, The Shadow Prince, places Link in a variety of perilous
06:47situations. The first, The Crystal Trap, puts Princess Zelda front and center. In a rare
06:52twist for the IP, Zelda must work through a number of dungeons and environments to save
06:56Link from a spell cast by Ganon. She has only 24 hours to break the spell, or he'll
07:01end up trapped inside a crystal forever. While not the most groundbreaking portrayal of either
07:06character, it's nice to see Link playing the damsel and Zelda the hero for a change.
07:11The Zelda franchise got its own animated series in 1989 as part of the Super Mario Bros. Super
07:16Show. While the cartoon presents some nostalgic pleasure for fans, it didn't get the best
07:21reception, and it only lasted 13 episodes. Nevertheless, it still has a few fun moments
07:26to offer. Much like the Philips CD-i games, the show features Zelda taking a more active
07:30role in the conflict against Ganon, wielding a variety of weapons to aid Link and safeguarding
07:35the Triforce of Wisdom. Despite this, she still plays the damsel, with Link urging Zelda
07:40to kiss him pretty much nonstop. While a bit grating to watch again and again, this running
07:44gag led to a favorite catchphrase among certain gamers.
07:48Hey, excuse me, princess.
07:52Cartoon Zelda displays a strong personality and is not afraid to give Link, who often
07:56loafs around the castle, a piece of her mind. The two characters don't have the most attractive
08:01designs, but at least they get to work together in a variety of wacky scenarios to foil Ganon's
08:06plots.
08:07In the early 90s, Valiant Comics published a non-canonical run of five comics, which
08:11take place after the events of the first two Zelda games, where Link and Zelda continue
08:16to work to prevent Ganon from getting his hands on the Triforce of Wisdom. While the
08:20comics have a lot in common with the Legend of Zelda animated mini-series, they offer
08:24a slightly more serious tone and a variety of problems to solve. Zelda once again gets
08:29to fight in different conflicts, even rescuing Link from time to time. The comics also mitigate
08:34some of the more annoying aspects of the TV series by making it plain that Zelda and Link
08:38share a reciprocated romantic connection.
08:41Though not part of the official timeline, Cadence of Hyrule blends the Zelda franchise
08:46with the rhythm-based crypt of the Necrodancer. The mechanics of both series come together
08:50to offer an enjoyable twist on the familiar, with the hero Cadence getting pulled to the
08:54kingdom of Hyrule to assist with a musical problem. Why?
08:58They need a little extra help.
09:02Rather than just focusing on Cadence, the title also follows Link and Princess Zelda
09:06as they take on the lute-strumming Octavo and his quartet of champions. Zelda steps
09:11into the role of playable character for this outing, wielding both weapons and magic while
09:16facing off against a mix of new challenges and classic Zelda baddies. This Zelda functions
09:21as a refreshing take on a character who often gets left out in her own franchise. However,
09:25the game's relatively short runtime and place outside of Zelda canon tarnish the princess'
09:30luster just a bit.
09:32A Link Between Worlds honors the legacy of its predecessor, A Link to the Past, while
09:36still offering some unique mechanics, like Link's ability to merge with walls. Much like
09:41A Link to the Past, the 3DS entry features parallel worlds â the familiar Hyrule and
09:46the less familiar Lorule, a kingdom that once had its own Triforce and has fallen into ruin
09:51following its destruction.
09:53This version of Princess Zelda rules Hyrule alone. She's captured by Yuga, a sinister
09:57sorcerer trying to resurrect Ganon, but she contributes to the final conflict by providing
10:02Link with the Bow of Light. She and Link also show great kindness, using the wish granted
10:06by the reassembled Triforce to restore Lorule's own Triforce, saving the Mirror Kingdom despite
10:12the problems its inhabitants caused for Hyrule throughout the game.
10:16Fans don't get many opportunities to play as Princess Zelda, so her inclusion in the
10:20Super Smash Bros. games is particularly exciting. She debuted in 2001's Melee in her Ocarina
10:26of Time form, with a moveset including spells inspired by Nayru's Love, Din's Fire, and
10:31Furore's Wind. She can also transform into Sheik, which is something that sets her apart
10:36from other Melee characters.
10:37In 2008's Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Zelda appears in her Twilight Princess form. This version
10:43makes use of the potent Final Smash, Light Arrow. Unfortunately, the excitement of getting
10:48to play as Princess Zelda is somewhat diminished by her low-tier rankings in both games, leaving
10:52her outranked by most of the other fighters. By Smash Bros. 4, she could no longer turn
10:57into Sheik and ranked 53rd out of 54 characters. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, she was modeled
11:02after her Link to the Past appearance and got a new Final Smash, Triforce of Wisdom.
11:07Still, it wasn't enough to pull her out of 75th place on the Ultimate roster rankings.
11:13Zelda has made several non-canon appearances over the years. Of these instances, her two
11:17Hyrule Warriors iterations stand out the most. The first Hyrule Warriors entry features different
11:23playable versions of Zelda. There's Sheik from Ocarina of Time, Tetra from The Wind
11:27Waker, and a Princess Zelda that possesses powers, items, and weapons drawn from or inspired
11:32by multiple series entries. The latter combines magic and martial prowess as the leader of
11:37Hyrule's forces.
11:39In the second Hyrule Warriors entry, Age of Calamity, players fight Calamity Ganon. Set
11:44a hundred years before the events of Breath of the Wild, the hack-and-slash game features
11:48an alternate take on the same Princess Zelda. Drawing on her more scholarly inclinations,
11:52she can unleash a number of abilities using the Sheikah Slate. She also makes use of the
11:57Bow of Light and gets an adorable guardian companion, further adding to her charm.
12:02Zelda, you are my pride, and indeed, the pride of all Hyrule.
12:11Skyward Sword, released for the Wii in 2011, includes a slightly different take on Link
12:16and Zelda, casting them as students of Skyloft's Knight Academy. This version of Zelda, the
12:21first in the official Zelda timeline, doesn't bear royal blood, though she does turn out
12:25to be the original mortal reincarnation of the goddess Hylia. While Zelda is kidnapped
12:30in the first act, she subverts expectations by escaping the villain and instead setting
12:35out to fulfill her destiny. She conducts multiple rituals, travels through time, and sacrifices
12:40her own freedom to ensure the destruction of Demise, one of the era's greatest threats.
12:45The bulk of her journey and struggles may not unfold on screen, but this Zelda accomplishes
12:49what she sets out to do and bears equal responsibility for saving the world.
12:54Skyward Sword also depicts a romantic aspect of Link and Zelda's relationship that doesn't
12:58appear in most other Zelda games. Here, they feel like an evenly matched pair, making the
13:03Skyward Sword Zelda one of the most capable and memorable of the lot.
13:08Twilight Princess is one of the games that represents the Zelda franchise at its darkest.
13:12The title kicks off with some child kidnappings and sees Link deprived of his body, forced
13:17to take the form of a wolf. The people of Hyrule, caught in the perpetual twilight unleashed
13:22by the sorcerer Zant, all transform into spirits.
13:25This Zelda is a regal, tragic figure. The sole ruler of Hyrule, she surrendered to Zant
13:30to prevent the destruction of her citizens, becoming a prisoner within her own castle.
13:35She first appears in dark clothing, but later she sheds the robes, revealing regalia befitting
13:40a monarch. This, along with the longsword she wields and other stylistic choices, combines
13:44to form Zelda's most elegant character design in the entire franchise.
13:48Zelda also sacrifices her physical form to save Midna, a princess from another realm.
13:53This allows Ganondorf to take control of her body, creating Puppet Zelda, a particularly
13:58noteworthy sub-boss. After Midna restores Zelda to her normal state, the Hyrule royal
14:03assists Link in the final showdown. Despite facing a number of tragedies and setbacks,
14:08the Twilight Princess Zelda never gives up, putting the strength of her spirit on display.
14:14The Wind Waker introduced players to one of the most unforgettable takes on Princess Zelda,
14:18Tetra. Unaware of her royal heritage, Tetra has lived her life on the high seas as the
14:23captain of a pirate ship. Befitting her chosen career path, she sports pants, a curved blade,
14:28and an unflappable confidence in her abilities. Tetra doesn't escape the damsel in distress
14:33trope, but she makes contributions throughout the game. Notably, she's the first iteration
14:38to join Link during the Ganon boss fight. Even with the threat vanquished, she retains
14:42her sense of adventure, sailing off with Link in search of new places to explore.
14:47Unfortunately, when it came to Phantom Hourglass, she disappears from the story almost immediately,
14:52with Link later discovering that she's been turned to stone and is relying on him to save
14:56her. It's a pretty disappointing final outing for a Zelda that showed so much promise in
15:01her debut game.
15:02The Nintendo DS title Spirit Tracks takes place almost a century after Wind Waker. Due
15:07to the time skip, players meet new versions of both Link and Zelda, and the princess takes
15:11a much more active role this time around. From the start, Spirit Tracks sets itself
15:16apart from other Zelda entries. Players actually get to play as Zelda during an escape sequence,
15:21and she remains a core part of the gameplay. Though the antagonist steals the princess'
15:25body, she retains her spirit form. In this guise, she can possess phantom guardians,
15:30helping Link solve puzzles and move through different environments. After returning to
15:34her body, Zelda joins Link in the final battle, calling on her magic and light arrows. Given
15:39that this Zelda is a direct descendant of Tetra and bears a strong resemblance to the
15:43pirate captain, Spirit Tracks manages to partially make up for the missed opportunities
15:47of Phantom Hourglass.
15:49Breath of the Wild is a mixed bag in terms of its portrayal of Zelda. She receives her
15:53most in-depth characterization here, but she also has little agency during the events of
15:58the actual game, instead appearing largely through flashbacks. Prior to the happenings
16:03of Breath of the Wild, Zelda spent years training in an attempt to unlock the magic passed down
16:08through her line, during which time she developed a fraught relationship with her protector,
16:12Link.
16:13She gets frustrated every time she looks up and sees you carrying that sword on your back.
16:19It makes her feel like a failure when it comes to her own destiny.
16:23Unable to access her magic despite her efforts, she sees the night as a constant reminder
16:27of her own inadequacies. While Zelda's magic eventually manifested, it wasn't in time to
16:32save the champions, her father, and much of Hyrule from the devastation of Calamity Ganon.
16:38These losses weigh on her heavily, and she spends a hundred years trapped in Hyrule Castle
16:42with the villain, using her own powers to keep him from breaking free. She guides Link
16:47telepathically during his quest, but doesn't get to contribute much beyond an assist during
16:51the final encounter with Dark Beast Ganon.
16:54Though it would have been nice for Zelda to have more to do during Breath of the Wild,
16:58it still offers one of the most nuanced takes on the princess, along with some stellar character
17:03design work.
17:04In addition to portraying Link as a top-tier hero, Ocarina of Time includes one of the
17:08most memorable Zeldas. Players first encounter a younger Princess of Destiny, and despite
17:13her age, she catches on to Ganondorf's shady motives. She's able to set plans into motion
17:18that prevent a total loss when the Gerudo King takes over Hyrule Castle.
17:23Zelda then spends seven years in hiding, training for a rematch under the guise of the mysterious
17:28Sheik, as she waits for Link to emerge from the Sacred Realm. Though she can't vanquish
17:32Ganondorf on her own, she assists the Hero of Time in awakening the other Sages, who
17:37she leads as the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom. While the Big Bad does kidnap her
17:42towards the end of the story, she and the Sages play a key role in Ganondorf's defeat,
17:46which allows them to trap him in the Dark Realm.
17:49Of all the versions of the princess, this Zelda has the greatest impact on the Zelda
17:53universe. Her decisions during the course of Ocarina of Time lead to the creation of
17:57three timelines â the Fallen Hero timeline, the Child timeline, and the Adult timeline.
18:03Due to this far-reaching influence, she comes out on top in the Zelda rankings.