All 12 Different Versions of Link from The Legend of Zelda Ranked

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In most games of the famed series The Legend of Zelda, you’ll find Link, Princess Zelda, and Ganondorf. Link is a constant presence in all the games, whereas Princess Zelda has starred in every title except for Link’s Awakening and Tri Force Heroes. On some occasions, Ganondorf has been replaced by other major antagonists. However, with few exceptions, if you play any game from this series, it will typically feature these three iconic characters.

In summary, it’s worth noting that characters tend not to remain consistent across different versions. The game “Skyward Sword” introduced the concept that similar characters appear in various timelines and future periods, which accounts for Ganondorf’s recurring presence and the occasional differences between Link and Zelda. To date, there have been 12 distinct iterations of Link based on this complex timeline. Here is a list ranking them all.

In this paraphrase, I’ve aimed to maintain the original meaning while making the text more natural and easier to read for a general audience.

12. Four Swords

In the game titled Four Swords, we find a rather distinctive take on the franchise’s usual formula. This time around, our protagonist Link is divided into four distinct characters by the Four Sword. Instead of embarking on the typical adventure, he spends his time battling waves of enemies across various stages to confront Vaati, the sorcerer. The aim was to introduce a fresh twist, but some argue that it produced an unusually unpopular interpretation of this character.

11. Four Swords Adventures

In the game named “Four Swords Adventures,” a character similar to Link appears, but he’s divided into four distinct versions. Although these aren’t exactly the same Link from previous games, they reside in an alternate part of the timeline. It’s puzzling why Nintendo made this change, given their somewhat lax approach towards timeline consistency. This Link encounters Vaati again, but his battles don’t significantly set him apart from his predecessor.

10. A Link Between Worlds and Tri Force Heroes

In simple terms, “A Link Between Worlds” is the sequel to “A Link to the Past”, set in a future time frame, implying it’s not the same hero. This new Link confronts both Ganondorf and Yuga while journeying through Lorule, a dark counterpart of Hyrule, and eventually making his way to Hytopia for “Tri Force Heroes”. His mission involves rescuing Princess Styla from a peculiar curse that has her trapped in an unattractive garment. However, this unusual predicament might not seem particularly extraordinary for the iconic hero, Link.

9. Spirit Tracks

In “Spirit Tracks”, it might seem like Link is similar to his character from both “The Wind Waker” and “Phantom Hourglass“, due to the shared art style and their chronological sequence, but there’s a difference. Here, he’s known as the “Hero of Trains”, which is quite fitting. Interestingly, this iteration of Link appears a century after the “Hero of Winds”. Unlike his previous incarnation, he receives the shield from “Phantom Hourglass“, and in this game, he’s on a mission to save an entirely new Hyrule.

8. The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass

In a common perception, the Hero of Winds’ Link is often perceived as a juvenile counterpart of Link. However, this interpretation undermines the cool and unique portrayal of the character. This particular Link faces a challenge that no other Link has encountered: mastering the sea, as Ganondorf floods Hyrule and leaves him, as a young child, with the responsibility to save the world by becoming a seasoned mariner. In Phantom Hourglass, Link journeys across the seas alongside Tetra (a variant of Zelda), bravely pursuing a ghost ship – an undeniably terrifying endeavor for a youngster.

7. The Legend of Zelda and The Adventures of Link

At this stage in the series, things were relatively straightforward. This particular iteration of Link, being the first one, spanned approximately six years and included two games. During this time, Link was tasked with retrieving eight distinct fragments of a third part of the Triforce and confront Ganondorf. Later on, he embarked on a mission to revive Zelda from a deep sleep by locating yet another piece of the Triforce. It can be said that this version of Link faced the most challenging tasks involving the Triforce, an object known for being incredibly powerful within the universe of Zelda.

In the early days of the franchise, things were simple but significant. This initial portrayal of Link lasted six years and comprised two games. Throughout this period, Link was assigned to collect eight separate parts of a third section of the Triforce while battling Ganondorf. Subsequently, he endeavored to awaken Zelda from an extended sleep by finding another piece of the Triforce. It could be asserted that this version of Link tackled the most formidable tasks related to the Triforce, a highly potent artifact in the Zelda universe.

6. A Link To The Past, Link’s Awakening, and Oracle of Ages/Seasons

In the series, this iteration of Link is involved in some of the longest continuous stories. Starting with ‘A Link to the Past’, our hero embarks on a journey that requires battling across both Hyrule and the Dark World to vanquish Ganondorf. Subsequently, he finds himself stranded on an otherworldly island where he must confront nightmares in a literal sense. To add to the adventure, this version of Link later wakes up and faces the task of saving Hyrule from two separate sorcerers over two different games.

5. The Minish Cap

In this rendition, titled “The Minish Cap“, Link appears uniquely, as it wasn’t created by Nintendo themselves. Unlike other versions of the character, this Link is more serious and less playful in nature. He possesses extraordinary abilities such as shrinking to microscopic sizes and wearing a magical hat. At approximately 12 or 13 years old, the Hero of the Minish embarks on an adventure where he battles the formidable sorcerer Vaati, ultimately saving Hyrule.

4. Skyward Sword

In the ever-evolving and often confusing narrative, “Skyward Sword” is always placed first in the series timeline. This was designed to establish it as the beginning of the franchise. As a result, Link – with no prior battles or rescue missions under his belt – faces Demise, an early form of Ganondorf’s malevolence. In this game, he is referred to as the Hero chosen by the Goddess, a title that seems fitting for the one who kicked off the entire storyline.

3. Twilight Princess

In the game called ‘Twilight Princess’, the character Link faces some of his toughest trials yet. He gets captured, transformed into a wolf, and must protect the realm from a perilous predicament that even surpasses the gravest crises he’s faced within the series. The antagonists Zant and Ganondorf are exceptionally formidable in this installment, but Link manages to contend with them thanks to some assistance from Midna. However, it’s primarily the Hero of Twilight who takes on the brunt of the tasks.

2. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom

In the game Tears of the Kingdom, this rendition of Link – also known as both the Hero of Hyrule and the Hero of the Wild – is widely regarded as one of the strongest versions of the character. He possesses extraordinary skills that other portrayals can scarcely imagine. Although he acquires unique powers from the Zonai in Tears of the Kingdom, he has always been capable of merging items, lifting objects of any size, and even rewinding time – just a few examples of his numerous remarkable abilities spanning both games.

1. Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask

In the sequential games “Ocarina of Time” and “Majora’s Mask,” our protagonist, Link, is portrayed as the Hero of Time and arguably the best depiction of this character. For half of “Ocarina of Time,” he is only ten years old, and despite his youth, he matures to 17 before revertng back to his younger self for “Majora’s Mask.” At this tender age, Link demonstrates a remarkable grasp of time travel and successfully overcomes formidable opponents like Ganondorf and Majora. These adversaries are among the most powerful entities in the entire Zelda universe.

Which version of Link is your favorite? Sound off below!

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2025-08-30 02:12