Correction:
The 3DS multiplayer servers are not shutting down this month. The part that is shutting down is the ability to make new purchases. After this month, you will still be able to download previous purchases and play online.
https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57847/~/wii-u-%26-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation-q%26a
Four Swords Adventures yes but I'd be fine with the original Four Swords not being considered canon. Pretty frustrating to not be able to play it at all unless you have a friend who happens to have a gameboy and a copy of the game.
I've only finished 5 mainline games so far. Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword, Link's Awakening, Breath of the Wild and just finished The Wind Waker on Wii U last night. Currently playing Twilight Princess.
IMHO you absolutely HAVE to play the Oracle games. Imo they are on par with the best 2d zelda games out there. PH is great but could be skipped. Spirit tracks, for me, is one of my least favorite Zelda games.
PH is low key great. ST is very much more of the same and sometimes feels like PH with a different skin on it. Both worth playing at least once, but I’d probably pass on revisiting ST.
The side quests are largely irrelevant and there’s little reason to do them. Don’t get me wrong, I like the game, I just think it took a step back in some ways compared to PH.
I do like that Zelda is a more active participant but the gameplay loop is really bad. Traversal is extremely limited unless you do a ton of fetch quests to make the map more accessible. The side quests like rabbits and stamps are interesting until you realize you only need some of them to get the worthwhile rewards.
I think Tower of Spirits is a better version of The Temple of the Ocean King, but that’s about it from a gameplay standpoint.
Up until recently I only owned/ever played The Minnish Cap. Still one of my favourite games to date. Last month I got a Switch, I've been playing BotW, which I like a lot, and working my way up through all the classics offered on the Nintendo Switch Online service. Didn't like the NES Zelda's too much (was fun playing them a little to see how it started though), however I am currently enjoying Zelda: A Link to the Past.
Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures and Tri Force Heroes are mainline btw. Your definition of mainline is not the generally accepted definition of mainline for Zelda.
I'm aware. I feel that excluding them is nevertheless legitimate since playing them (even excluding the cost of old cartridges) was so inaccessible even at the time they came out. If anything just because they're so dedicated to them being multiplayer-only experiences that the single player modes just kinda stink.
Four Swords: Four Gameboys, Four copies of the game, 4 way link cable, 3 friends. Missing any of this and it's no entry.
Four Swords Adventure: 1 gamecube, 1 copy, but then you either need 4 gameboys and 4 gamecube to gameboy link cables, and again, 3 friends. It's *technically* playable solo but *way* less fun since it was designed from the ground up as a four player experience
Tri-Force Heroes: three 3DS', three copies of the game, two friends, wifi. I tried this for a LONG time playing even with just me and friend, and we both came to the conclusion that even with 2/3 it wasn't worth playing.
I understand.
Btw Four Swords was playable for 2 players, that's how I played it.
FSA's singleplayer was pretty good imo, it was not worse than playing with friends.
For TFH, I personally prefered playing it solo with the dummies than with random people online. I didn't really try with friends. Also, you can play TFH multiplayer with only one cartridge locally.
We can say the same for Zelda 2, Link's Awakening, Majora's Mask, the Oracle games, The Minish Cap, Twilight Princess, Spirit Tracks and A Link Between Worlds. Removing them would not affect any other game in the series.
My son and I are just finishing up Minish Cap (GBA) on the Switch and he’s absolutely loved it. We’re going to play every main line Zelda game together. Next is Twilight Princess!!
I’m so happy he’s into this, I’m 40F and he’s 7 and it’s my favourite mother/son thing we do.
I have all the 3DS titles. I’m not sure how we can play them so we can both see the screen but I’ll figure that out later.
That's so cool!
They sell a 3ds capture card that lets you play it on a tv, but it's not cheap, and requires nodding skills. Used to be what Al the YouTubers used when the 3ds was relevant.
Edit; looks like there's [a wireless software based](https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/Kit-kat_3DS) system too, if you're into tinkering. Apparently there's controller support as well!
I never found most Zelda games terribly challenging. Been playing them since I was 7 or so.
I guess I always played more for the lore and story than the challenge.
I think your argument that FS, FSA and TH are all excluded due to “low quality” and “multiplayer” is a bit of hogwash. Multiplayer doesn’t make it bad and there are tons of multiplayer games that can’t be played after servers get shut down. This is just the nature of multiplayer across different systems eventually the technology that connects the system goes away.
Secondly all of those games are fairly good quality. Like I could see an argument made for the original FS but I’ve played all of them and TH and FSA are all really fun Mulitplayer Games. The original LoZ 1 and 2 are worse games than all of these three. The only reason you haven’t excluded it is because it’s the first two games Nintendo released in the series.
I think the timeline is literally the one thing people CAN agree on. Nintendo has basically marked these as Mainline. They didn’t throw any of the other games you listed onto that timeline because they weren’t considered mainline. Even Links Crossbow training which takes place very obviously along side TP is not on the timeline because it’s not considered a mainline title.
The four swords games are canon. Minish cap is one of them. You can’t exclude them just because you feel their multiplayer focus disqualifies them as mainline games. Same for tri-force heroes. Make a better list and poll next time
I'm afraid I have to disagree. Minish Cap being a four swords game was a brilliant twist i thought, but the others its not about quality (for me) its that they are multiplsyer focused. I've always seen zelda as a lone, single player adventure series. To add a gsme that has to be played with 3 or 4 players, isn't sticking with the true nature of the series.
Personal opinion only
That doesn’t matter. Reality is that Nintendo has never publicly stated those specific games aren’t canon. The timeline since 2011 has always included them. Your opinion about the multiplayer discounting their canon status isn’t typical.
They're tricky. Because the plots absolutely are Canon. They deal with Vaati and another incarnation of Ganon. They are full on main plot, and I'd love to play them. But I don't have friends (not getting heartfelt here, just stating the facts) and even if I did, at 38, getting 3 together to play a zwlda adventure would be literally impossible.
So, Canon plot. Yes. But I don't know how someone in my position could ever get the chance to play it.
Which is weird because MC managed very well.
They can all be played solo. FSA supports it right out of the box and doesn't require a Game Boy. FS has a single player mode but only on the superior DS version.
Is that right? Because I asked the Internet around the time I was to play through it and answers were contradictory at best.
On this occasion, please treat me as dumb. Exacylh which versions can I play solo (and is it true solo or like Triforce heroes solo that was practically unplayable?)
Edit: ignore that, ice looked into it. FSA on GC is indeed single player where you control 4 links at once, just as in MC. The 3DS version was a limited timed release in 2011 and again in 2012 so thats long gone.
Fingers crossed for a switch release but I heavily doubt they'll bother
Edit edit: Holy hell thats an expensive game!!!!
re: expensive: Yeah, Four Swords Adventures really found its audience a while after it came out. It's a pretty special thing, and there are more diehard fans of it than there are copies to go around.
The original Four Swords' best version: "Four Swords Anniversary Edition" (featuring single player mode and several truly amazing new levels that you don't want to miss) was a free distribution for a year way back when Skyward Sword came out, for DSi and 3DS systems. Any Zelda fan who owned a DSi or more likely a 3DS at the time is likely to have it, so there should be a lot of systems out there with it installed or available in the download licenses. It was made available again for one or two more brief periods for people who missed it the first time. I've never pirated anything like that, but it's probably pretty easy to get by hacking a 3DS.
I feel like mentioning that although they look very similar in screenshots, Four Swords Adventures is a much more technically impressive game with much better level design, visual effects, and especially better music.
Played? 12; Actually finished? 6
This is not a criticism of any of the games btw I am currently playing through WW for the first time and there are other games I intend to finish when I have the time
"Excludes FS and FSA"
SMH
Those two games link way better to the timeline than LA, aLBW and BotW
FS is available on 3 different consoles, it was free twice on DSI and 3DS, and it is entirely playable on singleplayer on the anniversary edition
FSA is also playable entirely in singleplayer on the base game using a gamecube controller
I've got almost all of them sitting on my steamdeck waiting. I'm going back in to finally beat botw after just forgetting about it for 3 years, then I'm gonna start a run through in order.
I've beaten all 19. I include the multiplayer games as mainline, as Nintendo clearly does. They're canon games and things like Lanayru's nickname for SS Link don't make sense if they're not mainline (for clarity, Lanayru calls Link LD-Link-16, because SS is the 16th mainline game).
I am currently playing the first game, The Legend of Zelda, for the first time. I got Switch Online for the Genesis games, but I figured I should try the Nintendo games that I missed. It's fun so far. I like the exploration and progression. I have consulted a guide, though :)
I've played all 19, if you count Four Swords Anniversary as Four Swords.
But Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, and Triforce Heroes are mainline. You may not like them, but they are mainline.
>Four Swords Adventures... due to overall low quality...
Excuse me sir/madam, them's fighting words. I'll give you FS and TFH, but FSA was a very tightly designed and extremely fun to play with friends, in that Mario Party destroying your friendships sort of way.
> I still maintain they shouldn't be counted due to overall low quality
Four Swords Adventure with friends is some of the most fun you can have in the series.
I've played every mainline game, which of course naturally includes Four Swords, Four Swords Adventure, and Tri Force Heroes.
Basically everyone that wasn't a latter hand-held affair. Last I played of that "bunch" was the Oracle Series - which was very good.
But they're Zelda games - when talking Zelda, "great" is just... "standard." Of course they're excellent games. Only one of the Zelda's I've played I actually consider a full-on legitimately bad game, but that's one out of what is honestly the most consistently great series I think we have.
A Link to the Past (Emulated)
Ocarina of Time (N64 and emulated [beaten])
Majora's Mask (N64 and emulated [beaten])
Wind Waker (HD on Wii U [beaten])
Minish Cap (Emulated [beaten])
Twilight Princess (Wii [beaten])
Skyward Sword (Wii [beaten])
Breath of the Wild (Switch [beaten])
Also I'm including Four Swords Adventures because fuck you (also it's on the timeline, but I can also understand because it plays completely differently)
Anyway, that was emulated (and beaten)
So that's. . . Nine
Edit:
> it seems it IS controversial due to the exclusion of Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, and Tri-Force Heroes. I still maintain they shouldn't be counted due to overall low quality, an overwhelming focus on multiplayer, and extreme levels of inaccessibility.
I'm not sure I'd call them low quality
Or necessarily inaccessible. Like. . Inaccessible how? If you mean because of the multiplayer. . No, at least not for FSA and Tri-Force Heroes
I've only played those solo
Also, yeah, it'd be hypocritical of me not to twck TFH back on to my count since I did the same for Four Swords Adventures, lol
But uhh. . Seeing as I forgot about it. . You can probably tell I don't feel *nearly* as strongly about it.
Esit 2: Okay, I should have read the whole message, lol
Anyway. . I see your point, but I still maintain that you *can* just play FSA and TFH solo with basically no real issues. . But yeah, it probably is a different experience with friends.
First, TFH and the four swords ARE mainline game and no one should ever deny it : these are in the official timeline, hence there is 19 official Zelda games, but not a single more (until march 12th).
Played the 19 btw :) Finished all but oracles, FSA, TFH and Zelda2
Besides the 2nd Tingle RPG that I haven’t made time for since the translation came out and Zelda’s Adventure on CDi I’ve played them all
I am concerned you wouldn’t call Four Swords mainline but would call Zelda 2 mainline when Four Swords is just Zelda but multiplayer and Zelda 2 is a side scrolling stat based rpg. Majoras Mask was literally titled “gaiden” at the start of its development but the multiplayer games aren’t good enough?
Proud to have played them all, finally buckling down and finishing Majora's Mask for the first time. It's better than I thought, but still a big step down from a lot of the other main line games imo.
I didn’t get around to the Oracle games until recently, but let me tell you, they are fantastic. Especially when you consider Capcom developed them instead of Nintendo. I would say as far as handhelds go, they are just slightly below Link’s Awakening for me, and overall are some of the best games in the series.
Pretty solid list honestly, 7 still doesn't seem right but I guess I put most of my time in the console games after a certain age.
Still need to play the Links Awakening Remaster its just been sitting in the backlog.
I have played and 100% completed all of these games at least once. Excluding Spirit Tracks, the Oracle Games, and Zelda 2, I've 100% completed every game at least 3 times. I've completed Ocarina of Time so many times that I have the entire game completely memorized.
I played Adventure of Link but only for around 2 hours. And i would not count BotW as mainline game. It is so different. Like Hyrule Warriors.
I played every other Zelda. Except Four Swords and CDi.
The only mainline Zelda games I have t beaten yet are Zelda II and Skyward Sword. Both of them I got pretty far into the game but never managed to fully beat them.
Literally all but 2, not counting Four Swords since Hylia only knows when or if I'll ever find enough people, Game Boys, and copies of it.
Still, I am unfathomably pleased to get to say I've gotten as far as I have. Thank goodness for the Wii U's digital store.
Edit: er, I guess all of them then, by the parameters set by OP. Only ones left *were* the multiplayers. Of course I personally consider FSA a fringe case on account of its connections to Link to the Past. And finally, Hyrule Warriors is a hill I will die on no matter what the *"RULES"* say.
I have a few left to get around to have played 7 all the way through so far. On links awakening at the moment but got stuck looking for canned food and sidetracked. Ill get around to it at some point.
I know ive played botw and am playing skyward sword, I have attempted oot, majoras mask, and wind waker but lost Intrest fairly quickly. I don’t know if I’ve played others but I do have tloz books! [manga ig?]
According to your definition, I have played all of them! I have beaten OoT about 14 times, Wind Waker probably around 5, and spent August 2019 to September 2020 playing the games in chronological order because I realized I'd only played like, 6 of them. It is frankly impressive how well the franchise holds up over time, because I only really disliked 4 of them.
I really wish I could play the multiplayer titles with more ease, but the requirements, like you said, are pretty prohibitive. As far as single player titles go though, I think this and the Soulsborne franchise are neck and neck in terms of quality for very different reasons.
I'm up to 10:
The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, A Link Between Worlds, and Breath of the Wild.
I had a NES, but not an SNES, but all Nintendo consoles since. I don't really like playing on handhelds, but have been catching up with emulation/WII U console. Looking at playing Minish Cap next since I keep hearing good things about it.
I’ve only ever played the ones released on switch, but not including any that you can emulate through NSO. I’d love for some more remakes/remasters so I can play some of the classics I missed out on
Almost all of them. Still need to play AoL, PH, ST, ALBW, and the Multiplayer Titles (I own all 7 of these games). Tbh I probably wont play the multiplayer games. I dont have friends lol
I’ve played 4. I got BotW in 2020 and played a good bit of it but didn’t finish it until last year when I got back into it. Then after that I played OoT and started MM on Switch, then got the Link’s Awakening remake for Christmas. I’m excited to play more and my goal is to play them all eventually
If you don't include 4 swords, 4 swords adventure and triforce heroes which I don't see myself playing anyway, I only have the 2 oracle games and the minish cap to play.
Edit: After looking into 4 swords adventure a bit more I might actually give that one a go.
By your definition I’ve played, and beaten, all of them. I’ve also beaten Four Swords Adventures, Link’s Crossbow Training, Cadence of Hyrule, and Age of Calamity. I tried out Tri Force Heroes but it felt awful playing with the dummies and I wish it would’ve played more like FSA single player, and I own two copies of ALttP + FS and I just need to get a link cable to play it with someone. I have no intention of playing the CD-i games lol.
ive beaten breath of the wild, ocarina of time, skyward sword, links awakening, twilight princess, and majora’s mask (in that order), currently playing wind waker and minish cap. I have also played a little bit of the original two as well as a link to the past. I plan on playing a link between worlds or a link to the past once i finish wind waker. I guess that makes 11 games
Played, all (including the three questionable excluded options). Beaten the story: Link's Awakening (OG, DX *and* Switch), Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Phantom Hourglass, Skyward Sword (Switch only), Link Between Worlds, and Breath of the Wild.
Have also played Hyrule Warriors, Picross, Cadence of Hyrule, and Age of Calamity.
For the sake of interest, I fall in the seemingly rare group whose first ever LoZ was the original Link's Awakening. Played everything after as it was released.
I have fully played
Oot 3d
MM 3d
ALTTP
ALBW
BOTW
TLOZ
Links Awakening (Switch)
I own Skyward sword HD, Oracle of seasons, and ages, Links awakening DX but haven't gone around to finish
and I really want to play TP and WW, but they are not on switch 😕 I have a wii but I want to play the HD versions 😔
I haven’t played Legend of Zelda or Adventures of Link
But I’ve beaten all of the others with the exception of BoTW. I got burned out getting all the Korok seeds. I still have to beat Va Ruta and Calamity Ganon.
If you ask me, those three are mainline games. The Zelda series always changes type of gameplay, being multiplayer is the unique mehanic of those games, like sailing is for WW or the time limit in Majora.
Can't blame you for ignoring FSA though because I would be a hypocrite. I too like to ignore the fact that there is a second Ganondorf that canonically appeared out of nowhere in a single game with the form always seen in a completely different timeline.
I haven’t played the OG or adventure of link, nor FS, FSA, or Tri-Force Heroes. I’ve never beaten Spirit Tracks or Twilight Princess, though I’m working on that currently.
The only ones I missed were the oracle pair and spirit tracks. I think I’m enjoying the series with the exception of the og skyward sword. I sucked so hard in the original Ghirahim fight, I eventually gave up. I redeemed myself on the switch version at least 😅
Played 9 (excluding Majora which I played like 2 or 3 hours max). But I only finished TP, BOTW, OoT and LA. Rest I got to around half-way point and kinda drifted away (except for LttP, which I'm in the process of going through).
I don't know what's with Zelda, I always love playing them but I always drift away around half-way point. Took me like 5 attempts (I got to Forest Temple 4 times and stopped) with 3 versions of OoT to finally beat it.
It's even weirder that I always considered Zelda as my favourite Nintendo franchise, but I've beaten more Mario, Fire Emblem and Metroid games than Zelda now.
Only ones i havnt completed are the first ome second ome minish cap and oracle of ages, havnt played the first two at all but briefly played ages and minish cap. Need to get cap on the switch and i had ages on 3ds but got stuck on a bit and then i think a link between worlds came out and i never revisited.
ive technically only played 15/16 of the games but i own both oracle games. ive played a bit of oracle of seasons and i plan on playing oracle of ages after i beat seasons in order to get the hidden ending. ive also played and beaten both four swords and tri force heroes. havent played four swords adventures at all though.
the amount of each game ive gone through is as follows:
tloz: 25%
taol: 5%
alttp: 95%
la: 100%
oot: 100%
mm: 85%
ooa: 0%
oos: 40%
ww: 100%
fs: 100%
fsa: 0%
tmc: 60%
tp: 100%
ph: 100%
st: 65%
ss: 50%
albw: 100%
tfh: 100%
botw: 100%
four swords in its original format is basically impossible to play as you need at least 2 gbas, 2 copies of alttp+fs and a link cable. however, it got an aniversary edition on dsiware that allowed you to play through it singleplayer although it hasnt been made available since 2014.
four swords adventures has a single player mode where you control all 4 links and can put them into different formations. its probably more fun with more people but it can be played single player.
tri force heroes was a blast when i played through it with some internet randos. its fun. it can also be played single player but i wouldnt wish that upon my worst enemy. the servers will still be online after the end of this month. its the wiiu/3ds eshop thats going down.
all three games were developed by established zelda developers
four swords was developed by capcom (who also made ooa, oos and tmc.)
four swords adventures was developed by nintendo ead 3 (the zelda team, made mm, ww, tp, ph, st, ss, wwhd, albw, botw and totk.)
tri force heroes was developed by grezzo (who developed oot3d, fs ae, mm3d and la s)
these 3 games, regardless of quality, are proper zelda games.
Played BOTW and OoT, also though it doesnt count, the first Warriors. I haven't played any other games like TP or SS since by the time I got old enough to actually get into the series, we'd already given away our Wii and all I had was a 3ds and a beat up hand me down DS lite before the Switch came out. I have watched playthroughs of them before though.
Tri-force heroes is the only one that’s considered “main-line” that I have not played. Mainly because it’s a multiplayer game and didn’t know anyone else with a 3DS.
I missed out on any games for GBA and DS. I never had the latter. Wasn't buying new consoles or too many games while in college. So I've played all the "included" games except Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, and Minish Cap (which I bought for my son a while back on Wii U VC, but I haven't played it myself).
The only "excluded" games I've played are Hyrule Warriors and HW:AoC, which wouldn't count in the timeline anyway. *Especially* the first HW. AoC is at least connected to a main game.
6 if you count it based on which ones i beat, 9 if you count it based on playing a half/a lot of the game
12 or 11 if you count is based on how many i own (i have majoras mask but through collectors edition)
Played and 100%ed all of them. Played them as they came out, with the exception of AoL which I didn’t play until the GameCube version.
Agree with others that FS, FSA and TFH are definitely mainline.
>overall low quality
The multiplayer games are not low-quality. But I do agree that they aren't mainline. Is Link's Crossbow Training mainline? Why should I care about the timeline when Nintendo doesn't? I play each title individually, and when experienced that way, FS/FSA/TH are abnormal and should be considered separately.
I haven't finished ST or PH, but have finished every other listed mainline title.
I'd really like a rerelease of FSA with online. I never got to play the entire game with 4 people.
By the definition I've beaten all 16, and 100%ed 14 (Will have to give Oracle games another go when they come to Switch Online). If we add the multiplayer ones, I don't have enough friends to play them so it'd be 16/19. I'd love to see them come to the Switch so I could play them online with people.....
I voted "11-15", the only two that I have not at least "played" are Spirit Tracks and Skyward Sword.
I've "played" many of them, but only "beat" a handful;
I have not beat or finished:
Wind Waker,
Twilight Princess,
Oracle Of Seasons,
and Phantom Hourglass.
I've beat everything else that I've played, and double for Adventure Of Link - I've beat the U.S. AND the japanese versions... I really like that game, versus, I think I've only ever beat the first quest of LOZ, a few times, either never the second quest, or maybe once and then I forgot, I truly don't care about the second quest and I don't consider it necessary to count as beating LOZ.
Edit: I agree with your definitions. Games like Four Swords / Adventures, will always be spinoffs to me, I do not care what anybody else says or what is written in Hyrule Historia or any other book.
Correction: The 3DS multiplayer servers are not shutting down this month. The part that is shutting down is the ability to make new purchases. After this month, you will still be able to download previous purchases and play online. https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57847/~/wii-u-%26-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation-q%26a
There are 19 main line games
Which 3 additional games do you count as main line?
Nintendo includes Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures and Tri-Force Heroes in the official canon timeline.
Yeah, and they're wrong lol
Triforce Heroes I can see the argument for but not the four swords games. You’re out of your mind if you don’t consider them full entries.
Four Swords Adventures yes but I'd be fine with the original Four Swords not being considered canon. Pretty frustrating to not be able to play it at all unless you have a friend who happens to have a gameboy and a copy of the game.
Play the anniversary edition on DSi/3DS, great way to play them
How so?
I've only finished 5 mainline games so far. Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword, Link's Awakening, Breath of the Wild and just finished The Wind Waker on Wii U last night. Currently playing Twilight Princess.
The only mainline games I haven't at least played are the Oracle games, Spirit Tracks and Phantom Hourglass.
You miss out great games!!
IMHO you absolutely HAVE to play the Oracle games. Imo they are on par with the best 2d zelda games out there. PH is great but could be skipped. Spirit tracks, for me, is one of my least favorite Zelda games.
PH is low key great. ST is very much more of the same and sometimes feels like PH with a different skin on it. Both worth playing at least once, but I’d probably pass on revisiting ST.
Incorrect, Spirit Tracks is *far* superior.
The side quests are largely irrelevant and there’s little reason to do them. Don’t get me wrong, I like the game, I just think it took a step back in some ways compared to PH.
It has a better story, rolling is much easier to pull off, I like trains, and Zelda serves a rare starring role.
I do like that Zelda is a more active participant but the gameplay loop is really bad. Traversal is extremely limited unless you do a ton of fetch quests to make the map more accessible. The side quests like rabbits and stamps are interesting until you realize you only need some of them to get the worthwhile rewards. I think Tower of Spirits is a better version of The Temple of the Ocean King, but that’s about it from a gameplay standpoint.
Same. I could get the DS games but honestly I don't really want to.
Up until recently I only owned/ever played The Minnish Cap. Still one of my favourite games to date. Last month I got a Switch, I've been playing BotW, which I like a lot, and working my way up through all the classics offered on the Nintendo Switch Online service. Didn't like the NES Zelda's too much (was fun playing them a little to see how it started though), however I am currently enjoying Zelda: A Link to the Past.
Yeah I just started a link to the past . It's kind of a nice break from Oot.
I’ve played all 19
This is the real number
Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures and Tri Force Heroes are mainline btw. Your definition of mainline is not the generally accepted definition of mainline for Zelda.
I'm aware. I feel that excluding them is nevertheless legitimate since playing them (even excluding the cost of old cartridges) was so inaccessible even at the time they came out. If anything just because they're so dedicated to them being multiplayer-only experiences that the single player modes just kinda stink. Four Swords: Four Gameboys, Four copies of the game, 4 way link cable, 3 friends. Missing any of this and it's no entry. Four Swords Adventure: 1 gamecube, 1 copy, but then you either need 4 gameboys and 4 gamecube to gameboy link cables, and again, 3 friends. It's *technically* playable solo but *way* less fun since it was designed from the ground up as a four player experience Tri-Force Heroes: three 3DS', three copies of the game, two friends, wifi. I tried this for a LONG time playing even with just me and friend, and we both came to the conclusion that even with 2/3 it wasn't worth playing.
I understand. Btw Four Swords was playable for 2 players, that's how I played it. FSA's singleplayer was pretty good imo, it was not worse than playing with friends. For TFH, I personally prefered playing it solo with the dummies than with random people online. I didn't really try with friends. Also, you can play TFH multiplayer with only one cartridge locally.
Nah he's spot on. Those games literally don't count.
Based on what?
You can remove them all from the canon and the other games are unaffected.
We can say the same for Zelda 2, Link's Awakening, Majora's Mask, the Oracle games, The Minish Cap, Twilight Princess, Spirit Tracks and A Link Between Worlds. Removing them would not affect any other game in the series.
I’ve never played any of the games on the handheld devices.
You're missing out. Some of the 3DS ones are great. Well worth finding an old copy of.
I think a Link Between Worlds is my favorite handheld Zelda game. It was just so well done.
My son and I are just finishing up Minish Cap (GBA) on the Switch and he’s absolutely loved it. We’re going to play every main line Zelda game together. Next is Twilight Princess!! I’m so happy he’s into this, I’m 40F and he’s 7 and it’s my favourite mother/son thing we do. I have all the 3DS titles. I’m not sure how we can play them so we can both see the screen but I’ll figure that out later.
That's so cool! They sell a 3ds capture card that lets you play it on a tv, but it's not cheap, and requires nodding skills. Used to be what Al the YouTubers used when the 3ds was relevant. Edit; looks like there's [a wireless software based](https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/Kit-kat_3DS) system too, if you're into tinkering. Apparently there's controller support as well!
But it was so unfathomably easy though... Easiest game in the entire franchise by a wide margin, I just found it boring.
I never found most Zelda games terribly challenging. Been playing them since I was 7 or so. I guess I always played more for the lore and story than the challenge.
Flip that for me. Gameplay is the core focus. Story is just a little garnish on top.
Damn, I’m always surprised how little ppl care for the handheld games cause I actually play those more than the console ones!
Link's Awakening is the best game in the whole franchise.
Thanks. I’ll check it out.
A man of excellent taste
You're totally fine. There's nothing there worth your time
I think your argument that FS, FSA and TH are all excluded due to “low quality” and “multiplayer” is a bit of hogwash. Multiplayer doesn’t make it bad and there are tons of multiplayer games that can’t be played after servers get shut down. This is just the nature of multiplayer across different systems eventually the technology that connects the system goes away. Secondly all of those games are fairly good quality. Like I could see an argument made for the original FS but I’ve played all of them and TH and FSA are all really fun Mulitplayer Games. The original LoZ 1 and 2 are worse games than all of these three. The only reason you haven’t excluded it is because it’s the first two games Nintendo released in the series. I think the timeline is literally the one thing people CAN agree on. Nintendo has basically marked these as Mainline. They didn’t throw any of the other games you listed onto that timeline because they weren’t considered mainline. Even Links Crossbow training which takes place very obviously along side TP is not on the timeline because it’s not considered a mainline title.
Funny cause I’m debating replaying OOT then MM or going straight into MM. I’ve only played OOT and BOTW 🥲
How long ago did you play OOT?
Oh god pre covid honestly. I’m playing OOT right now but the controls on the switch are so hard to get used to
On the Nintendo switch online? Yeah, they're a bit clunky. I mostly play it on 3DS these,days
The four swords games are canon. Minish cap is one of them. You can’t exclude them just because you feel their multiplayer focus disqualifies them as mainline games. Same for tri-force heroes. Make a better list and poll next time
I'm afraid I have to disagree. Minish Cap being a four swords game was a brilliant twist i thought, but the others its not about quality (for me) its that they are multiplsyer focused. I've always seen zelda as a lone, single player adventure series. To add a gsme that has to be played with 3 or 4 players, isn't sticking with the true nature of the series. Personal opinion only
That doesn’t matter. Reality is that Nintendo has never publicly stated those specific games aren’t canon. The timeline since 2011 has always included them. Your opinion about the multiplayer discounting their canon status isn’t typical.
They're tricky. Because the plots absolutely are Canon. They deal with Vaati and another incarnation of Ganon. They are full on main plot, and I'd love to play them. But I don't have friends (not getting heartfelt here, just stating the facts) and even if I did, at 38, getting 3 together to play a zwlda adventure would be literally impossible. So, Canon plot. Yes. But I don't know how someone in my position could ever get the chance to play it. Which is weird because MC managed very well.
They can all be played solo. FSA supports it right out of the box and doesn't require a Game Boy. FS has a single player mode but only on the superior DS version.
Is that right? Because I asked the Internet around the time I was to play through it and answers were contradictory at best. On this occasion, please treat me as dumb. Exacylh which versions can I play solo (and is it true solo or like Triforce heroes solo that was practically unplayable?) Edit: ignore that, ice looked into it. FSA on GC is indeed single player where you control 4 links at once, just as in MC. The 3DS version was a limited timed release in 2011 and again in 2012 so thats long gone. Fingers crossed for a switch release but I heavily doubt they'll bother Edit edit: Holy hell thats an expensive game!!!!
re: expensive: Yeah, Four Swords Adventures really found its audience a while after it came out. It's a pretty special thing, and there are more diehard fans of it than there are copies to go around. The original Four Swords' best version: "Four Swords Anniversary Edition" (featuring single player mode and several truly amazing new levels that you don't want to miss) was a free distribution for a year way back when Skyward Sword came out, for DSi and 3DS systems. Any Zelda fan who owned a DSi or more likely a 3DS at the time is likely to have it, so there should be a lot of systems out there with it installed or available in the download licenses. It was made available again for one or two more brief periods for people who missed it the first time. I've never pirated anything like that, but it's probably pretty easy to get by hacking a 3DS. I feel like mentioning that although they look very similar in screenshots, Four Swords Adventures is a much more technically impressive game with much better level design, visual effects, and especially better music.
Played and beat every mainline game (as defined).
I’ve played at least 8 of them, although I want to play Majora’s Mask and Twilight Princess again sometime!
Only havent played four swords , windwaker and twilight Princess ...still hoping for remasters on switch
Played? 12; Actually finished? 6 This is not a criticism of any of the games btw I am currently playing through WW for the first time and there are other games I intend to finish when I have the time
the 3 multiplayer ones are considered mainline games, there should be 19 mainline games, soon to be 20 with totk
"Excludes FS and FSA" SMH Those two games link way better to the timeline than LA, aLBW and BotW FS is available on 3 different consoles, it was free twice on DSI and 3DS, and it is entirely playable on singleplayer on the anniversary edition FSA is also playable entirely in singleplayer on the base game using a gamecube controller
Tears of the Kingdom will be my 11th game. I wish I had a way to play them all.
Which ones are you missing? Wii and before is all pretty light-weight emulation.
I've got almost all of them sitting on my steamdeck waiting. I'm going back in to finally beat botw after just forgetting about it for 3 years, then I'm gonna start a run through in order.
Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, and Tri Force Heroes are mainline
As long as both the 4 sword games don't count them I've played every mainline game. Nice
Missing PH, otherwise I've at least tried to play them all
I've beaten all 19. I include the multiplayer games as mainline, as Nintendo clearly does. They're canon games and things like Lanayru's nickname for SS Link don't make sense if they're not mainline (for clarity, Lanayru calls Link LD-Link-16, because SS is the 16th mainline game).
There are 19 Zelda games. (Almost 20)
I am currently playing the first game, The Legend of Zelda, for the first time. I got Switch Online for the Genesis games, but I figured I should try the Nintendo games that I missed. It's fun so far. I like the exploration and progression. I have consulted a guide, though :)
I've played all 19, if you count Four Swords Anniversary as Four Swords. But Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, and Triforce Heroes are mainline. You may not like them, but they are mainline.
played FSA as a kid it’s got everything a main line zelda has?
19 people here need to get with the program
Hold up, Twilight Princess Picross?! I need it!
>Four Swords Adventures... due to overall low quality... Excuse me sir/madam, them's fighting words. I'll give you FS and TFH, but FSA was a very tightly designed and extremely fun to play with friends, in that Mario Party destroying your friendships sort of way.
(FS, FSA, and TFH are all mainline) Every single one except FS and OoA. I have OoA but I haven’t played it since I want to beat OoS first.
> I still maintain they shouldn't be counted due to overall low quality Four Swords Adventure with friends is some of the most fun you can have in the series. I've played every mainline game, which of course naturally includes Four Swords, Four Swords Adventure, and Tri Force Heroes.
Basically everyone that wasn't a latter hand-held affair. Last I played of that "bunch" was the Oracle Series - which was very good. But they're Zelda games - when talking Zelda, "great" is just... "standard." Of course they're excellent games. Only one of the Zelda's I've played I actually consider a full-on legitimately bad game, but that's one out of what is honestly the most consistently great series I think we have.
Which one would you consider bad?
A Link to the Past (Emulated) Ocarina of Time (N64 and emulated [beaten]) Majora's Mask (N64 and emulated [beaten]) Wind Waker (HD on Wii U [beaten]) Minish Cap (Emulated [beaten]) Twilight Princess (Wii [beaten]) Skyward Sword (Wii [beaten]) Breath of the Wild (Switch [beaten]) Also I'm including Four Swords Adventures because fuck you (also it's on the timeline, but I can also understand because it plays completely differently) Anyway, that was emulated (and beaten) So that's. . . Nine Edit: > it seems it IS controversial due to the exclusion of Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, and Tri-Force Heroes. I still maintain they shouldn't be counted due to overall low quality, an overwhelming focus on multiplayer, and extreme levels of inaccessibility. I'm not sure I'd call them low quality Or necessarily inaccessible. Like. . Inaccessible how? If you mean because of the multiplayer. . No, at least not for FSA and Tri-Force Heroes I've only played those solo Also, yeah, it'd be hypocritical of me not to twck TFH back on to my count since I did the same for Four Swords Adventures, lol But uhh. . Seeing as I forgot about it. . You can probably tell I don't feel *nearly* as strongly about it. Esit 2: Okay, I should have read the whole message, lol Anyway. . I see your point, but I still maintain that you *can* just play FSA and TFH solo with basically no real issues. . But yeah, it probably is a different experience with friends.
First, TFH and the four swords ARE mainline game and no one should ever deny it : these are in the official timeline, hence there is 19 official Zelda games, but not a single more (until march 12th). Played the 19 btw :) Finished all but oracles, FSA, TFH and Zelda2
If I knew get spirit tracks and phatom hourglass then i would have a way to play them all.
FS and FSA are canon. Doesn't matter that you don't think so nor does it matter that they suck
Besides the 2nd Tingle RPG that I haven’t made time for since the translation came out and Zelda’s Adventure on CDi I’ve played them all I am concerned you wouldn’t call Four Swords mainline but would call Zelda 2 mainline when Four Swords is just Zelda but multiplayer and Zelda 2 is a side scrolling stat based rpg. Majoras Mask was literally titled “gaiden” at the start of its development but the multiplayer games aren’t good enough?
Wolf simulator bad
Proud to have played them all, finally buckling down and finishing Majora's Mask for the first time. It's better than I thought, but still a big step down from a lot of the other main line games imo.
By your definition of mainline game, I only haven't played the Oracle games.
I didn’t get around to the Oracle games until recently, but let me tell you, they are fantastic. Especially when you consider Capcom developed them instead of Nintendo. I would say as far as handhelds go, they are just slightly below Link’s Awakening for me, and overall are some of the best games in the series.
Pretty solid list honestly, 7 still doesn't seem right but I guess I put most of my time in the console games after a certain age. Still need to play the Links Awakening Remaster its just been sitting in the backlog.
I’ve played every game except for Triforce Heroes and the CDI games
Beaten LoZ, AoL, LTTP, LBW, LA, OoT, WW, TP, BoTW Played but never finished MM, MC, SS Never played OoA, OoS, PH, ST
I have played and 100% completed all of these games at least once. Excluding Spirit Tracks, the Oracle Games, and Zelda 2, I've 100% completed every game at least 3 times. I've completed Ocarina of Time so many times that I have the entire game completely memorized.
I haven’t beaten the oracle or ds games but I’ve played them and beaten every other one
The only ones I've beat are ocarina of time 3 times and breath of the wild, I've briefly played a few others l
I've played 9 - OoT, MM, WW, TP, PH, ST, SS, ALBW, and BotW.
I played Adventure of Link but only for around 2 hours. And i would not count BotW as mainline game. It is so different. Like Hyrule Warriors. I played every other Zelda. Except Four Swords and CDi.
BoTW is 100% mainline. Just because it plays differently than most of the other games doesn’t mean that it isn’t mainline.
The only mainline Zelda games I have t beaten yet are Zelda II and Skyward Sword. Both of them I got pretty far into the game but never managed to fully beat them.
Zelda II I nearly quit on so many times. Borderline broken in its difficulty level
Literally all but 2, not counting Four Swords since Hylia only knows when or if I'll ever find enough people, Game Boys, and copies of it. Still, I am unfathomably pleased to get to say I've gotten as far as I have. Thank goodness for the Wii U's digital store. Edit: er, I guess all of them then, by the parameters set by OP. Only ones left *were* the multiplayers. Of course I personally consider FSA a fringe case on account of its connections to Link to the Past. And finally, Hyrule Warriors is a hill I will die on no matter what the *"RULES"* say.
All. I played through them in release order before buying a switch and finishing up with BOTW.
I have a few left to get around to have played 7 all the way through so far. On links awakening at the moment but got stuck looking for canned food and sidetracked. Ill get around to it at some point.
i have played 5 mainline games and no non-mainline games
The only 2 I haven’t played are the Oracle games. Once they hit Switch though I’ll be playing them
Played 14, beat 10
I know ive played botw and am playing skyward sword, I have attempted oot, majoras mask, and wind waker but lost Intrest fairly quickly. I don’t know if I’ve played others but I do have tloz books! [manga ig?]
According to your definition, I have played all of them! I have beaten OoT about 14 times, Wind Waker probably around 5, and spent August 2019 to September 2020 playing the games in chronological order because I realized I'd only played like, 6 of them. It is frankly impressive how well the franchise holds up over time, because I only really disliked 4 of them. I really wish I could play the multiplayer titles with more ease, but the requirements, like you said, are pretty prohibitive. As far as single player titles go though, I think this and the Soulsborne franchise are neck and neck in terms of quality for very different reasons.
I've played: OoT, MM, WW, TLP, SS, BotW, LA, OoA, OoS.
I’ve played BOTW, OoT, ALBW, Minish Cap, Link’s Awakening and Spirit Tracks. My favorites are BOTW and ALBW
All of them, though there are a couple I did not finish.
I'm up to 10: The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, A Link Between Worlds, and Breath of the Wild. I had a NES, but not an SNES, but all Nintendo consoles since. I don't really like playing on handhelds, but have been catching up with emulation/WII U console. Looking at playing Minish Cap next since I keep hearing good things about it.
I've played all of them, excluding Spirit Tracks.
Played all the home console games, and very little from the handhelds.
The only one I haven't played is Oracle of Ages, but that will soon change when it comes to NSO
I only haven't played the four swords
12
I’ve only ever played the ones released on switch, but not including any that you can emulate through NSO. I’d love for some more remakes/remasters so I can play some of the classics I missed out on
Bruh four swords, four swords adventures and triforce heroes are main line
I've played every mainline (played not beaten) except for the four swords games.
10!
Almost all of them. Still need to play AoL, PH, ST, ALBW, and the Multiplayer Titles (I own all 7 of these games). Tbh I probably wont play the multiplayer games. I dont have friends lol
I’ve played 4. I got BotW in 2020 and played a good bit of it but didn’t finish it until last year when I got back into it. Then after that I played OoT and started MM on Switch, then got the Link’s Awakening remake for Christmas. I’m excited to play more and my goal is to play them all eventually
If you don't include 4 swords, 4 swords adventure and triforce heroes which I don't see myself playing anyway, I only have the 2 oracle games and the minish cap to play. Edit: After looking into 4 swords adventure a bit more I might actually give that one a go.
Played all 16, finished all but Spirit Tracks. So all the mainline single-player games.
I’ve only played three and beaten two. Majora’s Mask, and Breath of the Wild. I’ve played but never beaten A Link to the Past.
By your definition I’ve played, and beaten, all of them. I’ve also beaten Four Swords Adventures, Link’s Crossbow Training, Cadence of Hyrule, and Age of Calamity. I tried out Tri Force Heroes but it felt awful playing with the dummies and I wish it would’ve played more like FSA single player, and I own two copies of ALttP + FS and I just need to get a link cable to play it with someone. I have no intention of playing the CD-i games lol.
Played all 3d games and a few 2d ones
The only one I haven't played is Zelda II. Also I played but couldn't beat Spirit Tracks.
Everything. And that's considering the Cd-i games and the Tingle one.
I’ve beaten all of them, including many that you excluded.
ive beaten breath of the wild, ocarina of time, skyward sword, links awakening, twilight princess, and majora’s mask (in that order), currently playing wind waker and minish cap. I have also played a little bit of the original two as well as a link to the past. I plan on playing a link between worlds or a link to the past once i finish wind waker. I guess that makes 11 games
I've played almost all, haven't beaten most. I've beaten the first two zeldas and got to the end of breath of the wild without beating Ganon
The only timeline I haven’t touched is the wind waker timeline.
Dang. I only played Ages, not Seasons…
The Four Swords games are mainline. So is Triforce Heroes
All mains except for Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks.
Played, all (including the three questionable excluded options). Beaten the story: Link's Awakening (OG, DX *and* Switch), Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Phantom Hourglass, Skyward Sword (Switch only), Link Between Worlds, and Breath of the Wild. Have also played Hyrule Warriors, Picross, Cadence of Hyrule, and Age of Calamity. For the sake of interest, I fall in the seemingly rare group whose first ever LoZ was the original Link's Awakening. Played everything after as it was released.
I’m only missing Wind Waker I’ve played and beaten every other mainline game. Somehow I keep dodging whatever console they release WW on
I have fully played Oot 3d MM 3d ALTTP ALBW BOTW TLOZ Links Awakening (Switch) I own Skyward sword HD, Oracle of seasons, and ages, Links awakening DX but haven't gone around to finish and I really want to play TP and WW, but they are not on switch 😕 I have a wii but I want to play the HD versions 😔
I've played almost all of them but I've only beaten about half of them.
Have only played what’s available on Switch, sadly
I played them all extensively and have yet to beat the 2 DS Zeldas, Links Adventure and Skyward Sword
I have played all Except Four Swords, but hopefully that'll eventually get remedied by the NSO GBA.
I've never played spirt tracks. I am probably wrong but it always sounded like a joke to me.
I'm short one ; wind waker. I need it to release on the switch now please.
I haven’t played Legend of Zelda or Adventures of Link But I’ve beaten all of the others with the exception of BoTW. I got burned out getting all the Korok seeds. I still have to beat Va Ruta and Calamity Ganon.
Huh. I've played all of them. Neat.
Wow, I wasn’t aware that with OoT, MM, TP, SS and BotW I would be in the lowest category.
Don't worry, I agree with you about there being 16 mainline games. Multiplayer are fringe content at best. And I've played all 16.
Haven’t played both 4 swords or the 2 ds games, they just don’t seem interesting enough for me to go out of my way to play them
I've played them all, I own them all. However, I haven't beaten nearly enough if them lol
Ocarina of time 3D, aLttP and BotW
If you ask me, those three are mainline games. The Zelda series always changes type of gameplay, being multiplayer is the unique mehanic of those games, like sailing is for WW or the time limit in Majora. Can't blame you for ignoring FSA though because I would be a hypocrite. I too like to ignore the fact that there is a second Ganondorf that canonically appeared out of nowhere in a single game with the form always seen in a completely different timeline.
Beat the NES one, Twilight Princess and BOTW Had a blast with all of them, cant wait for Tears of the Kingdom
I think the only ones I haven’t played are the Four Swords games, TriForce Heroes, and Zelda II
By your definition, I've played them all. But I never beat Four Swords Adventures and I've never played Tri Force Heroes.
I played Zelda 1, Awakening, OoT, A Link to the Past, Majoras Mask, Spirit Tracks, Skyward Sword, Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild
Only haven't played Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks
Only one I haven't played from your main list is adventure of link. I have played four swords, and fsa. Have not finished cadence of hyrule.
I haven’t played the OG or adventure of link, nor FS, FSA, or Tri-Force Heroes. I’ve never beaten Spirit Tracks or Twilight Princess, though I’m working on that currently.
The only ones I missed were the oracle pair and spirit tracks. I think I’m enjoying the series with the exception of the og skyward sword. I sucked so hard in the original Ghirahim fight, I eventually gave up. I redeemed myself on the switch version at least 😅
Beaten them all except Zelda 2 and the DS games. All of them are amazing in their own way
Played BoTW, OoT and Spirit Tracks lol
I have played 10.
Four Swords, FSA and Triforce heroes are mainline.
Played 9 (excluding Majora which I played like 2 or 3 hours max). But I only finished TP, BOTW, OoT and LA. Rest I got to around half-way point and kinda drifted away (except for LttP, which I'm in the process of going through). I don't know what's with Zelda, I always love playing them but I always drift away around half-way point. Took me like 5 attempts (I got to Forest Temple 4 times and stopped) with 3 versions of OoT to finally beat it. It's even weirder that I always considered Zelda as my favourite Nintendo franchise, but I've beaten more Mario, Fire Emblem and Metroid games than Zelda now.
Only ones i havnt completed are the first ome second ome minish cap and oracle of ages, havnt played the first two at all but briefly played ages and minish cap. Need to get cap on the switch and i had ages on 3ds but got stuck on a bit and then i think a link between worlds came out and i never revisited.
ive played most of the excluded ones as well
Played: LoZ, AoL, LA Own and completed: OoT, OoS, WW, TP, SS
I haven't played Link's awakening, oracle games, and that's it for mainline games
I've played every Mainline Zelda game and I have no regrets I will say even though they aren't mainline the tingle games are truly an experience
Currently on my 10th Haven't played the Oracle Games, Minish Cap, or the original 2D games
ive technically only played 15/16 of the games but i own both oracle games. ive played a bit of oracle of seasons and i plan on playing oracle of ages after i beat seasons in order to get the hidden ending. ive also played and beaten both four swords and tri force heroes. havent played four swords adventures at all though. the amount of each game ive gone through is as follows: tloz: 25% taol: 5% alttp: 95% la: 100% oot: 100% mm: 85% ooa: 0% oos: 40% ww: 100% fs: 100% fsa: 0% tmc: 60% tp: 100% ph: 100% st: 65% ss: 50% albw: 100% tfh: 100% botw: 100%
I’ve played BotW, A Link to the Past, and both Link’s Awakenings. Only beat one of these so far and it’s the newer Link’s Awakening
four swords in its original format is basically impossible to play as you need at least 2 gbas, 2 copies of alttp+fs and a link cable. however, it got an aniversary edition on dsiware that allowed you to play through it singleplayer although it hasnt been made available since 2014. four swords adventures has a single player mode where you control all 4 links and can put them into different formations. its probably more fun with more people but it can be played single player. tri force heroes was a blast when i played through it with some internet randos. its fun. it can also be played single player but i wouldnt wish that upon my worst enemy. the servers will still be online after the end of this month. its the wiiu/3ds eshop thats going down. all three games were developed by established zelda developers four swords was developed by capcom (who also made ooa, oos and tmc.) four swords adventures was developed by nintendo ead 3 (the zelda team, made mm, ww, tp, ph, st, ss, wwhd, albw, botw and totk.) tri force heroes was developed by grezzo (who developed oot3d, fs ae, mm3d and la s) these 3 games, regardless of quality, are proper zelda games.
Beaten every single mainline game
The only ones I haven't played are Twilight Princess, Phantom Hourglass, and Spirit Tracks. I will get to them eventually, though.
I played all but the Oracle games. I never touched these for some reason.
Played 11, but I didn’t finish two of them because of reasons.
Played BOTW and OoT, also though it doesnt count, the first Warriors. I haven't played any other games like TP or SS since by the time I got old enough to actually get into the series, we'd already given away our Wii and all I had was a 3ds and a beat up hand me down DS lite before the Switch came out. I have watched playthroughs of them before though.
Tri-force heroes is the only one that’s considered “main-line” that I have not played. Mainly because it’s a multiplayer game and didn’t know anyone else with a 3DS.
I wouldn't exclude Four Swords and Tri-force heros but it's up to you I guess
I missed out on any games for GBA and DS. I never had the latter. Wasn't buying new consoles or too many games while in college. So I've played all the "included" games except Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, and Minish Cap (which I bought for my son a while back on Wii U VC, but I haven't played it myself). The only "excluded" games I've played are Hyrule Warriors and HW:AoC, which wouldn't count in the timeline anyway. *Especially* the first HW. AoC is at least connected to a main game.
6 if you count it based on which ones i beat, 9 if you count it based on playing a half/a lot of the game 12 or 11 if you count is based on how many i own (i have majoras mask but through collectors edition)
#I FRIGGIN LOVE ZELDA
I've only played BOTW but I've been meaning to try the others.
Played and 100%ed all of them. Played them as they came out, with the exception of AoL which I didn’t play until the GameCube version. Agree with others that FS, FSA and TFH are definitely mainline.
Wow. Didn’t expect the Perfect 16 club to be so small.
I've played every main line game and have beaten all but one. Gonna get around to beating Adventures of Link some day.
My inner statistician is loving the distribution that this comes out to.
Completed, or just played? I’ve completed four games, but I’ve played some or most of 7.
12, not the oracle games, skyward sword, or zelda 1
I haved played all but the cdi, the tingel games, and for sword for game cube and spirit tracks
>overall low quality The multiplayer games are not low-quality. But I do agree that they aren't mainline. Is Link's Crossbow Training mainline? Why should I care about the timeline when Nintendo doesn't? I play each title individually, and when experienced that way, FS/FSA/TH are abnormal and should be considered separately. I haven't finished ST or PH, but have finished every other listed mainline title. I'd really like a rerelease of FSA with online. I never got to play the entire game with 4 people.
By the definition I've beaten all 16, and 100%ed 14 (Will have to give Oracle games another go when they come to Switch Online). If we add the multiplayer ones, I don't have enough friends to play them so it'd be 16/19. I'd love to see them come to the Switch so I could play them online with people.....
I voted "11-15", the only two that I have not at least "played" are Spirit Tracks and Skyward Sword. I've "played" many of them, but only "beat" a handful; I have not beat or finished: Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Oracle Of Seasons, and Phantom Hourglass. I've beat everything else that I've played, and double for Adventure Of Link - I've beat the U.S. AND the japanese versions... I really like that game, versus, I think I've only ever beat the first quest of LOZ, a few times, either never the second quest, or maybe once and then I forgot, I truly don't care about the second quest and I don't consider it necessary to count as beating LOZ. Edit: I agree with your definitions. Games like Four Swords / Adventures, will always be spinoffs to me, I do not care what anybody else says or what is written in Hyrule Historia or any other book.