There are many Greco-Roman games inThe Legend of Zeldaseries that fan may be missing out on if they ’ve only played the a la mode title , Breath of the Wild . There ’s much more to it than there is likely at first glance , peculiarly in regard to the various iteration of Link , Zelda , and Ganondorf . The sequel toBOTW- calledBreath of the Wild 2for now - is a good ways away in 2023 , sofinishingLegend of Zeldagames they ’ve never playedbefore is a good path for players to catch up on the series while waiting for it to issue forth out .

InLegend of Zelda , there are three distinct timeline ; two where the hero , Link , is successful in defeating the vicious Ganondorf duringOcarina of Time , and one where he is not . These are known as the " Adult , " " kid , " and " Downfall " timelines . The Adult and minor timelines differ because , in the Child timeline , Ganondorf is prevented from ever obtaining the Triforce like he did in the Adult timeline . Each biz is a part of one of these timeline aside from those that are set before they split . The timelines bear upon the tone of the games they ’re in , and while it can be unmanageable to tell which one each claim belong to at first glance , they each have their own themes and graphics style that can help place them .

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Arthur Morgan, V, and Link over a blurred Elden Ring Background

WhereBOTWfalls onZelda ’s timeline is n’t specific , and it ’s currently unknown exactly how it equip into the three branching timeline . It ’s thought to be at the end of either one timeline or a unification of all three , though nothing is certain as of yet . breathing place of the Wild 2may slough some light on this subject once it releases , and may even be the start of an entirely new continuity . If so , succeeding game have the possibility to go beyond the three timelines and make something new , in a unused start for the serial publication .

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Is The Series' Best Game

InLegend of Zelda : Ocarina of Time , the story starts with Link as a child . At the request of Princess Zelda , he first gathers the three Sacred Stones for enter the Sacred Realm and call up one ofLegend ofZelda ’s most powerful weapon system , the Master Sword . In doing so , however , he circumstantially start the Sacred Realm to Ganondorf , who then steal the Triforce . Seven eld after , Link returns to Hyrule and gathers the Seven Sages for free the country from Ganondorf and seal him in the Sacred Realm , which has since been pervert into the Dark Realm . Once this is done , Zelda expend the Ocarina of Time to place Link back to his puerility .

The reasonZeldafans who have only playedBreath of the Wildshould playOcarina of Timeis because it ’s wide regarded to be the best biz in the series . It was the first title to switch from a 2D data formatting to 3D , and its new nontextual matter lent itself well to the game . Its two - deed story countenance players use different versions of Link , each with their own strengths and abilities . In add-on , Ocarina of Timeis where theLegend ofZeldatimelines split , so playing it can give insight to what lead to the consequence of other games . It may not be necessary to in full appreciateBOTWand other games , but it can give important context .

Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Shows How It All Began

InLegend of Zelda : Skyward Sword , Link and Zelda domiciliate in Skyloft , a floating archipelago of island luxuriously above the surface of Hyrule . After Link conk his last test to become a horse , he goes on to rescue Zelda with the help of the Goddess Sword and the spirit who survive within it , Fi . After jaunt across Hyrule , Link fights off the Demon Lord , Ghirahim , so that Zelda and her booster Impa can travel back in time . Link then completes a serial of challenge to strengthen the Goddess Sword , eventually transmute it intoLegend of Zelda ’s Master Sword , with magic powersthat allow Link to seal Demise , the Demon King , within it .

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The reason devotee should playSkyward Swordif they ’ve only playedBOTWis because it ’s the first game in theZeldaseries ' persistence . The curse that Demise lays on Link and Zelda at the final stage is what go to their endless renascence , which set up the entire remainder of the series . Demise is also the author of Ganondorf , the series ' most well - known antagonist , as he is the reincarnation of Demise ’s hatred for the intend hero and the embodiment of the goddess Hylia . PlayingSkyward Swordcan show fans what is perchance the single most influential bit in the series , in improver to how the Master Sword came to be . This may be especially authoritative if certainhints concerningBOTW 2 ’s Master Swordand how its tattered appearance concern to past characters pan off out .

White Chalier from floating cemetery

Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker Is A Fun, Cutesy Adventure

Legend of Zelda : Wind Wakeris the first biz in the serial ' full-grown timeline . In it , Ganondorf returned after being seal in the Dark Realm , but Link did not return to face him again . A Great Flood sent by the Goddesses of Hyrule trapped him and most of the body politic beneath the sea , forming the Great Sea that dominate most of the landscape painting , forget only a series of island that were once Hyrule ’s mountaintops . During the game , Link goes on a pursuit to spare his sister , Aryll , along with Zelda ’s rebirth , Tetra , from Ganondorf . After obtaining the Master Sword , reassembling the Triforce of Courage , and becoming the Hero of the Winds , tie confronts Ganondorf and sheet away from the Great Sea andZelda : Wind Waker ’s islandsin search of a new land .

There are a few different reasonsZeldafans who have only playedBOTWshould playWind Waker ; the first is the art style . Though it might seem a bit ridiculous , the cartoonish style carries on throughout the Adult timeline and is an undeniable part of the series . It makes these secret plan feel much more relaxed and fun than otherZeldatitles despite their serious subject matter , and is a welcome change of footstep from imagery likeMajora ’s Mask ’s horrifying moonlight . Another reasonableness is that the hiss - like Rito were first introduce inWind Waker , and are far dissimilar from how they are inBreath of the Wild . PlayingWind Wakergives the opportunity to seehow the Rito modification between theZeldagamesthey’re in .

last , Wind Wakeralso reveals Ganondorf ’s master reason for trying to conquer Hyrule so many times ; as a Gerudo , he lived a harsh life in a desert native land replete with sandstorms , in perfect line to the exuberant plains of Hyrule where Hylian ’s lives are much easier . Wind Wakerhelps give a better reason ofThe Legend of Zelda ’s full-grown scoundrel , so it ’s worth playing for fans who have only knownBreath of the Wild ’s Calamity Canon .

A character holding a trunk in art from Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

Classic-Zelda-Games-You-Should-Play-If-Youve-Only-Played-BOTW-Wind-Waker-Ocarina-of-Time-Skyward-Sword-Link

The Best Legend Of Zelda Ocarina Of Time Fan Remake Got Another Huge Update

Key art of Link riding his Loftwing in Skyward Sword. Several other Loftwings can be seen in the background flying around Skyloft, the floating town where Link grew up.

Link holding the Master Sword aloft in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

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