The Legend of Zeldais a franchise nearly four decades old. With the first game releasing in 1986, it’s no wonder that many different games have been made and that the storyline has beensplit into three official timelines. Every timeline is centered around the events ofOcarina Of Time, letting you meet various versions of the princess and her hero.
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By playing all the games, you will meet many variations of Link. He may appear as a young child, a teenager, or even a wolf. Some of these forms have been more successful than others, based on the hero’s shown abilities, powers, or even wit.
10Minish Cap Link
Minish Capis the second entry in the timeline ofZelda’s world. In this game, Link has to fight againstVaati, an evil sorcerer. To do that, he must seekPicori’sandEzlo’shelp, shrink down to the size of a Minish, and seal the villain.
Minish Cap’s whole idea of the world shrinking is unique and special, and thanks to the art, story, and characters, the game’s world feels more alive than previous ones. This Link is also the one to reforgethe legendary swordin theFour Swords, which later appear in the same-name game.
9Classic Link
Theclassic Link, who appears in the first games of the franchise, is one of the most beloved versions of the hero for two reasons. The first one is easy: nostalgia. This is the beginning of Link’s journey, and for many, the first game of the series they played.
The other is a more complicated one. You could argue that this Link lacks character compared to later iterations, but it is exactly for this reason that he makes for a great entry. He works as the perfect link between you and the game. You identify yourself as the hero, which makes it easier to become immersed in the world of Hyrule.
8Dark Link
Dark Linkis probably the coolest-looking version of Link. His evil reflection is also one of the most enigmatic enemies, as it appears most of the time with little to no backstory. Dark Link is, sometimes, implied to be the aftermath of shadow magic.
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Whenever Link has to fight against the shadow mimic, it is not just another fight but a fight against himself. His own strength and progress turn against him, making Dark Link one of thetoughest challenges in all the games.
7Hyrule Warriors Link
In terms of design,Hyrule WarriorLink is one of the greatest. His smooth features, silver pauldron, and blue scarf make for an unforgettable and fresh appearance. Link here is able to fight enemy hordes with only a few swings of his sword, in st ark comparison to the usual one-on-one fights.
He has also developed five different combat styles, from fighting with a fire rod to destroying his enemies whileriding his iconic horse, Epona. What makes him truly unforgettable, though, is the scene where he retrieves the Master Sword and uses it in the ultimate boss battle against Ganon.
6Hero Of The Skies
Skyward Swordworks as the beginning of all timelines and the first incarnation of the hero and goddess Hylia. Link here has the ability to fly while riding hiscrimson Loftwing, is training to become a knight of Skyloft, and is one of the more expressive versions of himself.
The Goddess chooses Skyloft’s Link to wield her sword. He later transforms it, together with Fi, into the well-known Master Sword. Holding one of the most powerful versions of the famous sword, he shows what it means to be a courageous hero.
5Wind Waker Link
TheWind WakerLink, otherwise known asToon Link, is one of the most beloved characters, thanks to his quirky facial expressions. He may be the same Link, appearance-wise, that we saw inThe Phantom HourglassandSpirit Tracks, but in this game, his abilities are far greater.
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Link is joyful and courageous. When his sister is kidnaped, he immediately sets off to rescue her and the whole of Hyrule by defeating Ganondorf with the Master Sword.
4A Link Between Worlds Link
Taking place in theFallen Hero Timeline,A Link Between Worldsoffers a hero who saves not one, but two worlds. This time, he does not split into four heroes, nor does he jump back and forth in time; instead, he travels between two dimensions, one set in Hyrule and the other in Lorule.
It is also the first game where, instead of going to dungeons in an orderly fashion, you can just rent or buy the needed equipment right away, enabling you to freely explore the world.
3Breath Of The Wild Link
Breath of the Wild, one of thebest-selling gamesof the franchise, takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, meaning you do not know exactly where it falls in the timeline. That does not, though, stop Link from being once again the hero Hyrule needs.
This Link brings a breath of fresh air to the franchise, with tons of different outfits, new characters, and lore to be explored. It is easier for you to identify as the young hero, as he has lost his memories, and you are both experiencing for the first time this vast,beautiful open world.
2The Hero Of Twilight Link
Link has gone through many transformations in the Legend of Zelda series, but none is as powerful and cool as the one inTwilight Princess. The hero is tossed into the Twilight Realm, wherehe transforms into a wolf, adding a nice touch of horror to the game.
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The hero of Twilight can use various sword techniques, a sniper scope for his bow, and his wolf form adds never-before-seen abilities. He makes for the perfect hero, and together with the help ofMidna, he defeats Ganon once and for all, saving both Hyrule and the Twilight Realm.
1The Hero Of Time Link
Featuring across the fantastic Ocarina of Time andMajora’s Masktitles, the Hero of Time is atragic hero.As a child, he is thrust into an adult body in order to save an entire world. He makes deep connections, banishes evil forces, and after his hero’s work is done, he returns to his original time without anyone knowing of his incredible feats.
After that, Link is forced to go toTermina, where once again he goes through brutal quest after brutal quest, only to return as a ghostly specter, there to train his spiritual descendant. Unlike the other Links, he does not get to reap the rewards of his heroic deeds; he is a lonely and traumatized child, but that does not stop him from fighting for his beliefs.
