Daily Debate: Which Zelda Game Would You Recommend People Play First?

For as many entries as the Legend of Zelda series boasts, it must be reassuring for newcomers to know just how accessible it is. Similar to the likes of the Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy series, each game (aside from the occasional, direct sequel) is its own, standalone story. In Zelda’s case specifically, even a direct sequel tends to be fairly far removed from its predecessor. Majora’s Mask, for instance, despite featuring the Hero of Time, shares very few thematic ties with Ocarina of Time. Indeed, if its announcement trailer is any indication, Breath of the Wild 2 looks to be the first proper followup to its immediate predecessor since Zelda II.

That being said, it’s worth noting that, unlike Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy, which have only a few entries that share narrative continuity with another, the Zelda series is set almost entirely in one kingdom. There are multiple timelines, sure, but there’s still that common thread that binds each game together. Even those that don’t take place in Hyrule still feature a tunic-wearing adventurer named Link.

Certainly, one could tackle this franchise in any order and be A-OK. However, to anyone interested in Zelda’s grander mythology, I would argue that some games do a better job than others when it comes to showcasing the series’ more consistent elements. In that sense, I see Ocarina of Time as the template. It firmly established the Link-Zelda-Ganon conflict, featured the closest thing to mainstay races in the Gorons and Zora, and solidified much of the series’ iconography in the same way that Super Mario 64 did for the Mushroom Kingdom. Also, the game is just so dang good!

What about you? Which Zelda game would you recommend people play first? Arguably, virtually anywhere outside of the CD-i games is an excellent place to start. Either way, let us know in the comments below!