<center>[[File:The Legend of Zelda logo.png|The Legend of Zelda series|280px|link=]]</center>
{{Series
{| width=100% cellpadding=5px
|name=The Legend of Zelda
|valign=top colspan=2|[[File:TP WalkthroughImage.png|right|100px|Link, the series' protagonist]]'''The Legend of Zelda''' is one of [[Nintendo]]'s most famous series, and one of the longest running series. A ''Zelda'' game has appeared on every Nintendo console, an accomplishment shared only with ''[[:Category:Mario|Mario]]''. The games are [[adventure]] games that focus primarily on puzzle soving and exploration. The only game to radically break from the normal style was [[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]], which was a sidescrolling game with experience points typical of most [[Role-Playing Game]]s. Actually, all titles in the series feature every (Japanese) role-playing element except for experience points.
|image=The Legend of Zelda logo.png
|developer=[[Nintendo EAD]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|year=1986
|genre=[[Action-adventure]]
}}
{{Zeldawiki}}
{{Series featured
|image=[[File:LttP SNES box.jpg|120px|left|The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|link=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]
|contents='''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]''' is an [[action-adventure]] game that returns the series to its roots with gameplay resembling the first [[The Legend of Zelda]], while introducing new staples to the series. Link travels through many varied dungeons in his quest to restore order to Hyrule.
}}
[[File:TP WalkthroughImage.png|left|100px|Link, the series' protagonist]]
'''The Legend of Zelda''' is one of [[Nintendo]]'s most famous series, and one of the longest running series. A ''Zelda'' game has appeared on every Nintendo console, an accomplishment shared only with ''{{c|Mario}}''. The games are [[adventure]] games that focus primarily on puzzle soving and exploration. The only game to radically break from the normal style was [[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]], which was a sidescrolling game with experience points typical of most [[Role-Playing Game]]s. Actually, all titles in the series feature every (Japanese) role-playing element except for experience points.
The games generally revolve around a young adventurer, Link, and his quest to save the land from an evil force (usually Ganon). Traditionally Link would fight his nemesis Ganon at the end, and have to save Princess Zelda at some point. In modern games, Zelda has become less of a damsel in distress and has taken a more active role in fighting evil.
The games generally revolve around a young adventurer, Link, and his quest to save the land from an evil force (usually Ganon). Traditionally Link would fight his nemesis Ganon at the end, and have to save Princess Zelda at some point. In modern games, Zelda has become less of a damsel in distress and has taken a more active role in fighting evil.
[[Image:LttP SNES box.jpg|120px|left|The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|link=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]'''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]''' is an [[action-adventure]] game that returns the series to its roots with gameplay resembling the first [[The Legend of Zelda]], while introducing new staples to the series. Link travels through many varied dungeons in his quest to restore order to Hyrule.
|valign=top width=40% style="padding-left:7px;border:1px solid #CCCCCC;"|<center><big>'''Partner wiki'''</big></center><span class="plainlinks">[[File:Zeldawiki-logo.png|left|70px|link=zw:]]<big>'''[[zeldawiki:|Zelda Wiki]]'''<br /> a ''Legend of Zelda'' encyclopedia that anyone can edit</big></span>
|}
=== Main series titles ===
=== Main series titles ===
{|{{prettytable|sortable=1}}
{| {{prettytable|sortable=1}}
!width=35%| Original title !!width=35%| Localized title !! Year !!Systems and remakes
!width=35%| Original title !!width=35%| Localized title !! Year !!Systems and remakes
|-
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 The Hyrule Fantasy <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: The Hyrule Fantasy ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda]] || 1986 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[NES]] <br/> {{icon|jp}} [[SNES]] ([[BS The Legend of Zelda]]; fan translation)
| ゼルダの伝説 The Hyrule Fantasy <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: The Hyrule Fantasy ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda]] || 1986 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[NES]] <br/> {{icon|jp}} [[SNES]] ([[BS The Legend of Zelda]]; fan translation)
|-
|-
| リンクの冒険 <br/>'' Link's Adventure ''|| [[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]] || 1987 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[NES]]
| The Legend of Zelda 2: リンクの冒険 <br/>'' Legend of Zelda 2: Link's Adventure ''|| [[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]] || 1987 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[NES]]
|-
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 神々のトライフォース <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Triforce of the Gods ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]] || 1991 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[SNES]], GBA (within [[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords|Four Swords]]) <br/> {{icon|jp}} SNES ([[BS The Legend of Zelda: Inishie no Sekiban|BS Ancient Stone Tablets]]; fan translation)
| ゼルダの伝説 神々のトライフォース <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Triforce of the Gods ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]] || 1991 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[SNES]], GBA (within [[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords|Four Swords]]) <br/> {{icon|jp}} SNES ([[BS The Legend of Zelda: Inishie no Sekiban|BS Ancient Stone Tablets]]; fan translation)
|-
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 夢をみる島 <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Dream Island ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening]] || 1993 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[GB]], [[GBC]] (Deluxe)
| ゼルダの伝説 夢をみる島 <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: The Dreaming Island ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening]] || 1993 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[GB]], [[GBC]] (Deluxe)
|-
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 時のオカリナ <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]] || 1998 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[N64]], NGC & 3DS ([[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest|Master Quest]])
| ゼルダの伝説 時のオカリナ <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]] || 1998 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[N64]], NGC & 3DS ([[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest|Master Quest]])
| ゼルダの伝説 ふしぎの木の実 ～大地の章～ <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Mysterious Seeds ~Chapter of Time Space~ ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages]] || 2001 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[GBC]]
| ゼルダの伝説 ふしぎの木の実 ～大地の章～ <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: The Mystical Seed ~Chapter of Time and Space~ ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages]] || 2001 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[GBC]]
|-
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 ふしぎの木の実 ～時空の章～ <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Mysterious Seeds ~Chapter of Earth~ ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons]] || 2001 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[GBC]]
| ゼルダの伝説 ふしぎの木の実 ～時空の章～ <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: The Mystical Seed ~Chapter of Earth~ ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons]] || 2001 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[GBC]]
|-
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 4つの剣 <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Four Swords ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords]] || 2002 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[GBA]]
| ゼルダの伝説 4つの剣 <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Four Swords ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords]] || 2002 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[GBA]]
|-
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 風のタクト <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Tact of Wind ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker]] || 2003 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[NGC]], [[Wii U]]
| ゼルダの伝説 風のタクト <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Takt of Wind ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker]] || 2003 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[NGC]], [[Wii U]]
|-
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 4つの剣+ <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Plus ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures]] || 2004 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] NGC
| ゼルダの伝説 4つの剣+ <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Plus ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures]] || 2004 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] NGC
|-
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 ふしぎのぼうし <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Mysterious Cap ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap]] || 2005 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] GBA
| ゼルダの伝説 ふしぎのぼうし <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: The Wonder Hat ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap]] || 2005 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] GBA
|-
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 トワイライトプリンセス <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess]] || 2006 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] NGC, [[Wii]], Wii U
| ゼルダの伝説 トワイライトプリンセス <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess]] || 2006 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] NGC, [[Wii]], Wii U
| ゼルダの伝説 夢幻の砂時計 <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Hourglass of Dreams ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass]] || 2007 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[NDS]]
|-
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 大地の汽笛 <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Train Whistle of the Wide World ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks]] || 2009 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] NDS
| ゼルダの伝説 大地の汽笛 <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Steam Whistle of the Earth ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks]] || 2009 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] NDS
| ゼルダの伝説 トライフォース3銃士 <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: The Three Triforce Musketeers ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes]] || 2015 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] 3DS
| ゼルダの伝説 トライフォース3銃士 <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: The Three Triforce Musketeers ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes]] || 2015 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] 3DS
|-
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 ブレス オブ ザ ワイルド <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild]] || 2017 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] [[Switch]]
| ゼルダの伝説 ブレス オブ ザ ワイルド <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild]] || 2017 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] Wii U, [[Switch]]
|-
| ゼルダの伝説 ティアーズ オブ ザ キングダム <br/>'' Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom ''|| [[The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom]] || 2023 || [[File:globe.svg|25px]] Switch
|}
|}
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=== Central timeline ===
=== Central timeline ===
* ''Official names:''
* ''Official names:''
**''' Legend of the gods and the hero of time''''' (up to the events of ''Ocarina of Time'')''
** ''' Legend of the gods and the hero of time''''' (up to the events of ''Ocarina of Time'')''
**''' The dark world and the hero's descendants''''' (after the events of ''Ocarina of Time'')''
** ''' The dark world and the hero's descendants''''' (after the events of ''Ocarina of Time'')''
**''' Child era''''' (after the events of ''Ocarina of Time'')''
** ''' Child era''''' (after the events of ''Ocarina of Time'')''
In 1998, the 5th Legend of Zelda created a chronology problem that received an official answer only thirteen years later, in 2011. With ''Ocarina of Time'', the chronology of the various legends of Zelda splits in three: the [[#Original timeline: the last hero and Hyrule's decline|#Last hero timeline]] above, this "central" timeline, and the [[#New World timeline and the Hero of Wind|#New world timeline]] below.
In 1998, the 5th Legend of Zelda created a chronology problem that received an official answer only thirteen years later, in 2011. With ''Ocarina of Time'', the chronology of the various legends of Zelda splits in three: the [[#Original timeline: the last hero and Hyrule's decline|#Last hero timeline]] above, this "central" timeline, and the [[#New World timeline and the Hero of Wind|#New world timeline]] below.
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=== Future timeline ===
=== Future timeline ===
The 18th Legend of Zelda (''[[The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild]]'') is officially set long, long after all known legends. In fact, it includes references to all the three timelines above.
The 18th and 19th legends of Zelda (''[[The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild|Breath of the Wild]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom|Tears of the Kingdom]]'') are officially set long, long after all known legends. In fact, they include references to all the three timelines above.
The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's most famous series, and one of the longest running series. A Zelda game has appeared on every Nintendo console, an accomplishment shared only with Mario. The games are adventure games that focus primarily on puzzle soving and exploration. The only game to radically break from the normal style was Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, which was a sidescrolling game with experience points typical of most Role-Playing Games. Actually, all titles in the series feature every (Japanese) role-playing element except for experience points.
The games generally revolve around a young adventurer, Link, and his quest to save the land from an evil force (usually Ganon). Traditionally Link would fight his nemesis Ganon at the end, and have to save Princess Zelda at some point. In modern games, Zelda has become less of a damsel in distress and has taken a more active role in fighting evil.
3. A Link to the Past: a prequel[1], telling the rise of Ganon in the land of Hyrule.
4. Link's Awakening: Ganon appears in a nightmare, i.e. in memories of the past.
After that, the 5th Legend of Zelda (Ocarina of Time) openly contradicted the story of Link's childhood as told in the 3rd one. It created a continuity problem, thus setting the base for a different timeline.
Years later, more games belonging to this first timeline were released:
Legend of the gods and the hero of time (up to the events of Ocarina of Time)
The dark world and the hero's descendants (after the events of Ocarina of Time)
Child era (after the events of Ocarina of Time)
In 1998, the 5th Legend of Zelda created a chronology problem that received an official answer only thirteen years later, in 2011. With Ocarina of Time, the chronology of the various legends of Zelda splits in three: the #Last hero timeline above, this "central" timeline, and the #New world timeline below.
The following legends belong to this central timeline, before and after the "three-fork":
Legends featuring the magical Ocarina:
5. Ocarina of Time: it tells how the desert raider Ganondorf turned into the monstruous Ganon.
6. Majora's Mask: a direct sequel to the 5th Legend of Zelda.
In 2003, the 9th Legend of Zelda ("The Wind Waker") openly contradicted both the 3rd and 5th legends of Zelda about the childhood of Link and the origins of Ganondorf. It was the start of a new timeline.
9. The Wind Waker: Ganondorf if a sea pirate, instead of a desert raider.
The 18th and 19th legends of Zelda (Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom) are officially set long, long after all known legends. In fact, they include references to all the three timelines above.
↑Prequel = sequel (released later) taking place in a previous time.
NES 
SNES (BS The Legend of Zelda; fan translation)