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What to Read if You Grew Up Playing “The Legend of Zelda”

Take an epic journey through the history of one of the most beloved franchises in video games.

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Alex Dalenberg

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Image by Chelsea Guglielmino / Staff / Getty Images

How The Legend of Zelda Changed the Game

For nearly four decades, the video game franchise has emphasized exploration and the joy of discovery. Millions of fans hope that the newest entry, Tears of the Kingdom, will push the boundaries of what an open-world game can be.

The Legend of Zelda Timeline, Explained

Where does Tears of the Kingdom fit in the convoluted plot?

All of Nintendo’s Zelda Games, Ranked

From NES to Switch, our picks for the best legends in the 35-year-old iconic adventure saga.

The Legend of The Legend of Zelda

Developed as the opposite of Super Mario Bros., which led you on a linear path from left to right, the original Zelda gave NES owners an open world they could explore at will from the very beginning, offering a level of freedom rarely seen prior to 1986.

15 Things You Might Not Know About The Legend of Zelda

Even if you spent hours with the iconic gold cartridge loaded into your NES, you can probably still learn a few things about Link’s epic adventure.

Meet The First Guy To Beat "The Legend Of Zelda"

As far as the history books are concerned.

The Most Unappreciated Zelda Game Is Secretly Its Most Innovative

If you’ve ever sat there angrily stabbing the A button while trying to skip the obligatory tutorial section of a modern Zelda game, spare a thought for those who didn’t have the luxury of such mentoring back in the day.

Why A Link to the Past Is the Definitive Legend of Zelda Game

Three decades after its release, it's easier than ever to appreciate the many ways A Link to the Past offers the quintessential Zelda experience.

This Nintendo Classic Was Inspired by 'Twin Peaks'

Link’s Awakening was the fourth entry in the game’s lineup and would go on to change future games going forward.

Why ‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ Will Always Be the “Best Game Ever”

Thanks to the power of aggregators like Metacritic to calculate consensus, the revolutionary 3D adventure is remembered as a benchmark achievement that will likely never be replicated.

Majora’s Mask Still Hits Hard 20 Years Later

Existential, human, experimental. There’s not been another Zelda game quite like it.

Wind Waker, a Zelda Game Whose Time Has Finally Come

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was ahead of its time. But like all such things, it took us a while to realize that.

Coming of Age With The Legend of Zelda

The franchise’s evolving complexity, its young protagonists, and its accessibility make it a particularly apt reflection of entering adulthood.

The Legend of Zelda, 'Dinky,' and a Bridge to My Daughter

When winter made its second pandemic appearance here in Montana, I found myself pining to relive my first experience with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

The Legend of Zelda Didn’t Just Make Video Game History—It Put Video Game Concerts on the Map

Looking back at the Symphony of the Goddesses tour, which helped usher in a new era of respect for video game music.

‘Excuuuuse Me, Princess!’: An Oral History of the Legend of Zelda Cartoon

The Zelda TV adaptation that took inspiration from Moonlighting and a 16-year-old girl’s D&D games

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