3 Worst Zelda Games Ever Made

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Over nearly 30 titles, “The Legend of Zelda” has evolved into a massive video game series. With Nintendo continuously expanding, it’s unlikely that the Zelda series will be coming to an end. These games are well-liked by fans and critics alike, and they tend to be profitable for Nintendo as well.

This high quality has been consistently maintained throughout the entire series due to the passion and attention to detail poured into each game’s development since its inception. However, even a venerable franchise like Zelda isn’t immune to occasional flops. Keeping that in perspective, here are three games from the Zelda series that didn’t meet expectations.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

To put it simply, although I’d like to make clear that Skyward Sword isn’t a terrible game, it does stand out as one of the weaker entries in an otherwise exceptional series known as The Legend of Zelda. This game seems to have many problems, and while its story is quite compelling, its gameplay leaves much to be desired.

In 2021, the remake of the Nintendo Switch addressed certain gameplay problems, yet it and the original Wii version continue to struggle with suboptimal controls. Even when motion controls are disabled on the Switch, they remain less than ideal. The mechanics are underwhelming and generally uncomfortable to use.

The content is excessively repetitive. In Hyrule, there are three primary regions suspended beneath Skyloft, which players must revisit multiple times for various parts of the game. After traversing Faron Woods numerous times, one can grow weary of exploring the same locale repeatedly.

In different regions, this recurring problem isn’t unique. The dungeons across all areas are vast, interconnected locations where players frequently need to retrace their steps. At times, they can be overly tiresome and rather challenging, but the rewards don’t always justify the effort.

Despite its shortcomings, the impressive soundtrack, stunning visuals (ranking among the best for the series), and engaging narrative keep this game from plunging into outright terrible territory. However, it remains close to the bottom of the barrel.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords

The majority of Zelda games are single-player, narrative-focused puzzle and adventure titles. Although the game Four Swords offered a taste of multiplayer gameplay early on, it wasn’t particularly successful, which might explain the lack of emphasis on multiplayer aspects within the series currently.

This game is enjoyable and boasts a decent art style, but it outshone by a superior game called “The Minish Cap”. It’s arguable whether this additional game (it was included with the GBA adaptation of “A Link to the Past”) deserves such harsh criticism, given the high caliber of games in the series. However, when compared to other outstanding titles in the franchise, it can be deemed one of the weaker ones.

Four Swords, unfortunately, didn’t manage to distinguish itself beyond providing basic multiplayer features. The narrative didn’t make a lasting impression on players, largely due to its brief length. In summary, it lacked the depth required to become memorable, and with few noteworthy aspects, it can be considered one of the more forgettable Zelda games in history.

1. Zelda II: The Adventures of Link

Nintendo felt that the format for “The Legend of Zelda” could benefit from some innovation after its initial success. Instead of continuing with the top-down, dungeon-exploring style of the original game, they took an unexpected approach for the sequel. In fact, Link started moving sideways in a way that resembled a 2D platformer game, similar to how Mario moves.

Despite being just the second installment, this unexpected shift was noticeable. At that point in time, there were only two styles – one top-down and one side-scroller. The series had the potential to develop either way. Fortunately, they opted for top-down gameplay initially, and later introduced more 3D elements into it.

In a unique blend of various game genres, Zelda II brought together aspects from side-scrolling platformers, role-playing games (RPG), and 2D action titles. This unusual fusion was initially peculiar and even disconcerting to some players, leading one to question if it might have potentially hastened the demise of the franchise.

This particular element stands out within this expansive series, yet unfortunately, that’s not necessarily a positive aspect. It introduced fresh challenges that could potentially drive players away completely, making the endeavor more of a risk than reward.

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2025-07-18 19:13