For most newcomers in 2026, start with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, then play Tears of the Kingdom. Breath of the Wild teaches exploration, combat and puzzle-solving without requiring knowledge of earlier games; Tears of the Kingdom is explicitly its sequel and assumes you already understand that open-air style.
Choose a different first game only when your preference is clear: Link’s Awakening for a short, guided adventure; Echoes of Wisdom if you want to play as Zelda and solve creative puzzles; or the Ocarina of Time remake if you own a Switch 2 and want the classic 3D template from 5 November 2026. You do not need to begin with the official timeline or play every previous Zelda.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Free plan / price | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breath of the Wild | Most newcomers; open-air exploration | 80+ hour GameFAQs average; more than 100 shrines; over 180 weapons | Not stated in the supplied Nintendo US listing | Switch; Switch 2 Edition | Oct 2026 |
| Tears of the Kingdom | Second game after Breath of the Wild | 80+ hour GameFAQs average; land, sky and Depths; Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend and Recall | $69.99 regular price (Nintendo US store) | Switch; Switch 2 Edition | Oct 2026 |
| Link’s Awakening | Short, focused 2D adventure | 26.5 hour GameFAQs average; dungeon-led remake | $59.99 regular price (Nintendo US store) | Switch; Switch 2 compatible | Oct 2026 |
| Echoes of Wisdom | Playing as Zelda; puzzle-first design | 28 hour GameFAQs average; copy objects and monsters with the Tri Rod | $59.99 regular price (Nintendo US store) | Switch; Switch 2 compatible | Oct 2026 |
| Ocarina of Time (Switch 2 remake) | Guided 3D adventure and the classic template | 42.6 hour original GameFAQs average; remake launches 5 Nov 2026 | $59.99 digital; $69.99 physical | Switch 2 only | Oct 2026 |
Which Zelda game should I play first?
Play Breath of the Wild first unless you specifically want a short, guided or 2D game. Its opening gives you the essential abilities quickly, then lets you approach Hyrule in almost any direction. Nintendo’s store description starts with Link waking after a 100-year slumber “alone in a world he no longer remembers,” so the story deliberately introduces its setting and characters from scratch.
The game’s open-air structure is the best general introduction because it teaches by letting you experiment. You can climb, glide, cook, avoid a fight, solve more than 100 Shrines of Trials or follow the main quest immediately. Weapons wear out, but Nintendo’s listing says there are more than 180 different weapons to find, so durability becomes a reason to improvise rather than a permanent loss.
A community average compiled from GameFAQs by ZeldaSpeedRuns lists more than 80 hours for Breath of the Wild. That is an average, not a required length: a newcomer can finish the critical path in far less time or spend considerably longer exploring.
Use this quick preference test
- You want freedom and discovery: choose Breath of the Wild.
- You want a compact, traditional dungeon game: choose Link’s Awakening.
- You want to play as Princess Zelda and prefer puzzles: choose Echoes of Wisdom.
- You want a guided 3D coming-of-age adventure: choose Ocarina of Time, preferably the Switch 2 remake from 5 November 2026 if you have that console.
Should I play Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom first?
Play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom. Nintendo’s product page calls Tears of the Kingdom “this sequel to the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild game.” Its controls, vocabulary and version of Hyrule make more sense after the first game, even though it is possible to start it without completing every earlier objective.
Breath of the Wild is the cleaner tutorial. Its map is primarily one enormous connected landscape, while Tears of the Kingdom adds the surface, floating sky islands and the underground Depths. The sequel also layers on Ultrahand construction, Fuse weapon crafting, Ascend and Recall. Those systems are inventive, but they create a much busier first hour for someone who has never played Zelda.
ZeldaSpeedRuns’ GameFAQs averages put both games at 80-plus hours. Tears of the Kingdom launched in 2023 as the fastest-selling Zelda title at launch according to Game Informer, and IGN’s 2026 roundup records more than 10 million copies sold in its first three days. Those figures describe its commercial launch, not a recommendation to skip the first game.
What changes between the two games?
| Area | Breath of the Wild | Tears of the Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Core feel | Open-air survival, climbing and experimentation | Open-air exploration expanded vertically and underground |
| Signature systems | Remote Bombs, Magnesis, Stasis and Cryonis on the original Sheikah Slate | Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend and Recall |
| Story position | Modern starting point with no lore prerequisite | Direct sequel set in the same broad version of Hyrule |
| Switch storage | 14.4 GB original Switch listing; 24.1 GB Switch 2 Edition | 16.5 GB original Switch listing; 20.1 GB Switch 2 Edition |
Series producer Eiji Aonuma described Tears of the Kingdom in 2023 as “an apotheosis” or final form of that version of The Legend of Zelda and said he did not expect a direct sequel to that world. Treat that as context for the two-game arc, not as a promise that no future Zelda game will use open-air design.
What is the easiest Zelda game for beginners?
Link’s Awakening is the gentlest short-form introduction, while Echoes of Wisdom is the friendliest choice for puzzle-focused players. Both are self-contained and avoid the enormous map and equipment management of the modern games.
Link’s Awakening — the compact traditional route
The Switch remake, released 20 September 2019, presents a focused island adventure built around dungeons, item upgrades and readable puzzles. ZeldaSpeedRuns lists a 26.5-hour GameFAQs average. Nintendo’s US listing gives a regular price of $59.99, with a 5.9 GB Switch file and a 6.1 GB Switch 2 file.
The remake also adds modern mapping, extra item slots and Chamber Dungeons. Those additions make the 1993 design easier to approach without changing its compact structure. Choose it when a 20-to-30-hour commitment sounds better than an 80-hour sandbox.
Echoes of Wisdom — play as Zelda
Echoes of Wisdom launched on Switch on 26 September 2024. Nintendo’s store description leads with “Save Hyrule—this time with Princess Zelda!” Zelda uses the Tri Rod to create echoes of objects and monsters, turning puzzle solutions into combinations rather than a fixed sequence of tools. Her swordfighter form is timed, so the game remains primarily about positioning and problem-solving.
CBR describes it as easier than most Legend of Zelda games. ZeldaSpeedRuns lists a 28-hour GameFAQs average. The regular US store price is $59.99; the file size is 5.6 GB on Switch and 5.7 GB on Switch 2. It is Switch 2 compatible, with visual and HDR improvements available for the compatible Switch games listed by Nintendo.
Ocarina of Time — the classic 3D route
The Switch 2 remake releases on 5 November 2026 and is exclusive to Switch 2. Nintendo markets it as “a great entry point into this legendary series,” with overhauled visuals, orchestral music, voice acting, expanded cutscenes, jump and dash commands, a right-stick camera, Threads of Time objective tracking and microphone ocarina input.
The listed price is $59.99 digital or $69.99 physical, and Nintendo estimates a 27 GB download. ZeldaSpeedRuns gives the original a 42.6-hour GameFAQs average; that figure is not a measured estimate for the remake. Independent reviews were not available before launch, so Nintendo’s entry-point language is positioning rather than an established critical verdict.
Do I need to play older Zelda games before the new ones?
No. Most Zelda games are self-contained legends with their own version of Link, Zelda and Hyrule. Earlier games add references and historical texture, but they are not prerequisites for understanding Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Link’s Awakening or Echoes of Wisdom.
The pairs and short sequences that benefit most from order are limited:
- Breath of the Wild → Tears of the Kingdom: the direct modern sequel pair.
- Ocarina of Time → Majora’s Mask: the same incarnation of Link continues into a darker, time-loop adventure.
- The Wind Waker → Phantom Hourglass → Spirit Tracks: a connected adult-era line.
- Skyward Sword before later lore-heavy play: useful if you want the origin story of the Master Sword, but not necessary for a first game.
Do not delay a modern game while searching for unavailable entries. Twilight Princess, the DS games, the 3DS games and Four Swords Adventures require older hardware or releases outside the current beginner path.
What is the best order to play Zelda games?
Choose a path based on the experience you want, rather than forcing all 20 core catalogue entries into release or timeline order. These routes preserve the useful connections without turning a first adventure into a completion project.
Path A: the default 2026 order
- Breath of the Wild
- Tears of the Kingdom
- Echoes of Wisdom or Link’s Awakening as a shorter 2D change of pace
- Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 or through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
- Skyward Sword HD if you want the Master Sword’s origin
This route starts with the most accessible current design, follows its direct sequel, then introduces classic top-down and 3D forms after you know what you enjoy.
Path B: short and gentle
- Link’s Awakening
- Echoes of Wisdom or A Link to the Past through Nintendo Switch Online
- Breath of the Wild when you want a larger sandbox
This is the best answer when an 80-hour opening commitment is a deterrent. It also gives you two different 2D approaches before the modern open-air games.
Path C: classic 3D pilgrimage
- Ocarina of Time (Switch 2 remake from 5 November 2026, or the Nintendo 64 version through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack before then)
- Majora’s Mask
- The Wind Waker through the Switch 2 GameCube library, or Breath of the Wild
Majora’s Mask uses the same Link as Ocarina of Time but adds a demanding three-day cycle and a darker tone. It is an excellent second 3D game, not a gentle first one.
Path D: 2D classics
- A Link to the Past
- Link’s Awakening DX
- Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons
- The Minish Cap
Nintendo Switch Online makes this route practical. The Oracle games are one slot in Nintendo’s 40th-anniversary catalogue but two separate games in ZeldaSpeedRuns’ count.
Path E: what not to use as a first plan
Full release order and full lore order are poor introductions. The original NES games can be cryptic, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is a difficult side-scrolling outlier, and Skyward Sword asks you to begin with a motion-control-oriented origin story. Start there only if that specific history interests you.
What is the official Zelda timeline order?
The official chronology is a lore map, not a required play order. Nintendo’s timeline begins with Skyward Sword, then The Minish Cap, Four Swords and Ocarina of Time. After Ocarina, it branches according to whether the Hero is defeated or triumphant.
Before the split
- Skyward Sword
- The Minish Cap
- Four Swords
- Ocarina of Time
Hero is defeated (Downfall branch)
- A Link to the Past
- Link’s Awakening
- Oracle of Ages / Oracle of Seasons
- A Link Between Worlds
- Tri Force Heroes
- Echoes of Wisdom
- The Legend of Zelda
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Hero is triumphant — Child Era
- Majora’s Mask
- Twilight Princess
- Four Swords Adventures
Hero is triumphant — Adult Era
- The Wind Waker
- Phantom Hourglass
- Spirit Tracks
Where do Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom fit?
The modern pair sits in a late or separate block rather than neatly inside one of the three older branches. A Nintendo Live 2024 slide placed both games apart from the established branches, while later Japanese history-page updates keep them in a late section and have been reported to describe another founding of Hyrule before Tears of the Kingdom’s Imprisoning War. Exact placement remains volatile lore; it is not a reason to postpone playing them.
Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi explained that getting too detailed about timeline placement creates restraints on creativity. That is why timeline order should guide a replay or a lore project, not dictate a newcomer’s first purchase.
What is the Zelda release order?
Nintendo UK’s 40th-anniversary Game History catalogue lists 20 core entries. The Oracle pair occupies one catalogue slot, which explains why ZeldaSpeedRuns counts 21 when it lists those two games separately.
- The Legend of Zelda — NES; Europe 15 November 1987 (Japan 21 February 1986)
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link — NES; Europe 26 September 1988 (Japan 14 January 1987)
- A Link to the Past — Super NES; Europe 24 September 1992
- Link’s Awakening — Game Boy; Europe 18 November 1993
- Ocarina of Time — Nintendo 64; Europe 12 December 1998
- Majora’s Mask — Nintendo 64; Europe 17 November 2000
- Oracle of Ages / Oracle of Seasons — Game Boy Color; Europe 5 October 2001
- Four Swords — Game Boy Advance; Europe 28 March 2003
- The Wind Waker — GameCube; Europe 2 May 2003
- The Minish Cap — Game Boy Advance; Europe 12 November 2004
- Four Swords Adventures — GameCube; Europe 7 January 2005
- Twilight Princess — Wii/GameCube; Europe 8 December 2006 (Wii date)
- Phantom Hourglass — Nintendo DS; Europe 19 October 2007
- Spirit Tracks — Nintendo DS; Europe 11 December 2009
- Skyward Sword — Wii; Europe 18 November 2011
- A Link Between Worlds — Nintendo 3DS; Europe 22 November 2013
- Tri Force Heroes — Nintendo 3DS; Europe 23 October 2015
- Breath of the Wild — Switch and Wii U; 3 March 2017
- Tears of the Kingdom — Switch; 12 May 2023
- Echoes of Wisdom — Switch; 26 September 2024
The Switch 2 editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, released 5 June 2025, are enhanced editions rather than new numbered adventures. The Ocarina of Time remake is announced for 5 November 2026 and is not part of the released chronology yet.
Where can I play Zelda games in late 2026?
A Switch or Switch 2 covers the recommended beginner route. The original Switch versions of Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Echoes of Wisdom, Link’s Awakening and Skyward Sword HD are playable on Switch 2 under Nintendo’s compatibility notes.
Switch 2 editions
Enhanced editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom launched on 5 June 2025 with higher resolution, smoother frame rates, faster loading, HDR, an extra save slot and Zelda Notes through the Nintendo Switch App. Active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members can access those editions at no extra cost according to Nintendo’s store information. The listed file sizes are 24.1 GB for the Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition and 20.1 GB for the Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition.
Switch 2 exclusive and classic libraries
The Ocarina of Time remake is Switch 2 exclusive. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack includes The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, A Link to the Past, A Link to the Past & Four Swords, Ocarina of Time, Link’s Awakening DX, Majora’s Mask, The Minish Cap, Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. The Switch 2 GameCube library also includes The Wind Waker.
Games that still need older hardware
Twilight Princess is available through GameCube, Wii or Wii U HD versions; Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks are Nintendo DS games; A Link Between Worlds and Tri Force Heroes are Nintendo 3DS games; and Four Swords Adventures is a GameCube title. None is necessary for the modern beginner path.
How long do the main beginner choices take?
The following are ZeldaSpeedRuns’ GameFAQs averages recorded 10 October 2026. They are community averages, not Nintendo measurements or guarantees for a first playthrough.
| Game | Average time | File size listed by Nintendo | Release or edition note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breath of the Wild | 80+ hours | 14.4 GB Switch; 24.1 GB Switch 2 Edition | Switch 2 Edition released 5 June 2025 |
| Tears of the Kingdom | 80+ hours | 16.5 GB Switch; 20.1 GB Switch 2 Edition | Switch 2 Edition released 5 June 2025 |
| Ocarina of Time | 42.6 hours | 27 GB estimated for the remake | Switch 2 remake launches 5 November 2026 |
| Skyward Sword | 46.9 hours | Not stated in the supplied figures | Switch HD released 16 July 2021 |
| A Link to the Past | 30.2 hours | Not stated in the supplied figures | Available through Nintendo Switch Online |
| Link’s Awakening | 26.5 hours | 5.9 GB Switch; 6.1 GB Switch 2 | Switch remake released 20 September 2019 |
| Echoes of Wisdom | 28 hours | 5.6 GB Switch; 5.7 GB Switch 2 | Released 26 September 2024 |
Which Zelda games should I postpone?
Postpone a game when its design assumes a familiarity or patience that a first Zelda does not provide.
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link: its side-scrolling combat and punishing early sections are unlike the rest of the series.
- Majora’s Mask: its three-day cycle, darker tone and unusual quest structure make more sense after Ocarina of Time.
- Tears of the Kingdom: its construction systems and expanded map are more rewarding after Breath of the Wild.
- Original NES The Legend of Zelda: foundational but cryptic, with limited guidance by modern standards.
- Twilight Princess: its long village opening is a slower on-ramp, and no current Switch remaster is available.
- Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures and Tri Force Heroes: multiplayer-focused experiments that work better after a solo Zelda.
- Hyrule Warriors games: musou spin-offs rather than the standard puzzle-and-dungeon adventure. Age of Imprisonment offers a canon look at the Imprisoning War, but it is not a beginner Zelda entry.
What should I play after my first Zelda?
After Breath of the Wild, go directly to Tears of the Kingdom if you want more of that world. If you want contrast, play Link’s Awakening or Echoes of Wisdom before returning to a larger game.
After Ocarina of Time, choose Majora’s Mask for the same Link, or switch eras with The Wind Waker. After a 2D game, A Link to the Past gives you the series’ most concentrated classic structure, while Skyward Sword HD supplies the origin-focused mythology and optional button-only controls on Switch.
The useful long-term plan is two or three games chosen by taste, not a forced 20-game marathon. Nintendo’s own 40th-anniversary message welcomes beginnings in 1986, 1998 or 2017, which is a fair summary of the series: the original game, Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild are all legitimate doors in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start Tears of the Kingdom without finishing every Breath of the Wild shrine?
Yes. The sequel is sold as a separate Switch game and does not require a completed shrine checklist. Finishing optional shrines is useful for practice and upgrades, but it is not a prerequisite for beginning the sequel.
Is the Ocarina of Time remake available on the original Nintendo Switch?
No. Nintendo lists the remake as a Switch 2 exclusive for 5 November 2026. Original Switch owners can use the Nintendo 64 version through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack instead.
Which Zelda game is best if I want to play as Princess Zelda?
Echoes of Wisdom is the mainline choice. Zelda uses the Tri Rod to create echoes of objects and monsters, and her temporary swordfighter form supplements rather than replaces the puzzle-focused design.
Do the Switch 2 editions replace my original Switch games?
They are enhanced editions of the same two adventures, not new story entries. Nintendo lists higher resolution, smoother frame rates, faster loading, HDR, an extra save slot and Zelda Notes; active Expansion Pack members can access them at no extra cost according to the store listing.
Should I wait for reviews before choosing Ocarina of Time as my first Zelda?
If you can wait, that is sensible: the remake launches on 5 November 2026, and independent reviews were not available as of 29 October. Nintendo calls it a great entry point, but that is launch positioning rather than a settled review consensus.