The first ten dungeons of our Top 50 dungeons are down below! Make sure to check back next week when 10 more are revealed! Let’s get started!

 

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50. Tower of Hera

A Link Between Worlds

The Tower of Hera in A Link Between Worlds is where the dungeons of the game really start to get good. Although it’s pretty short, I loved climbing the levels of the tower using the Hammer and the Moles, and I enjoyed the use of the wall mechanic to ascend — it was pretty memorable. To top it off, you get hit with nostalgia when you find out Moldorm is back at his old stomping grounds! Overall, this is a solid dungeon from a game that has a lot of great ones.

– Charles Xavier

 

 

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49. Ganon’s Tower

The Wind Waker

Ganon’s Tower is one of the many shining moments in The Wind Waker. Although the rehash of bosses at the start may be tedious and frustrating, it’s relatively easy to conquer them and advance. Following Phantom Ganon through his maze, getting the Light Arrows, and then the epic climb to what you think will be the end are some of the most exhilarating moments in the game. Then, crossing into Ganondorf’s chamber for the penultimate fight to find the villain with Zelda in his clutches fills you with a sense of, “maybe Link is in over his head”. Lastly, the final showdown with Ganondorf is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) in the series. It’s atmospheric, epic, daunting, and easily one of the greatest dungeons in the Zelda series!

– David Nystrom

 

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48. Wind Temple

The Wind Waker

The Wind Temple is a good dungeon for many reasons. But for me, one stand-out feature is its mechanics. Utilizing Makar to make my way through the temple shook up the usual dynamic found in typical Zelda dungeons, where Link must traverse the area alone. Facing some classic Zelda puzzles that could be solved with Makar’s help was quite interesting in itself. Controlling this companion was easy enough and rather enjoyable once he took flight, which brought some cheer to an otherwise characterless dungeon. Pushing Makar to his gliding limits was a challenge that I really liked too. The tinkle that sounded as he “tootled” around on his cute little legs was also endearing and added to the enjoyment of his company. What more could I ask for? Perhaps a quality boss battle, which is exactly what I got as well! Facing Molgera was pretty exciting. I had to stay on my toes to avoid the sizeable damage that she could cause, making her defeat feel like an achievement.

– Judy Calder

 

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47. Turtle Rock

Link’s Awakening

How can you not love a dungeon where just getting inside requires you to have a boss fight at said dungeon’s entrance? Just that alone should be enough of a reason to appreciate Turtle Rock like I do. However, there’s a lot more to this section of Link’s Awakening than meets the eye. While Eagle’s Tower is more focused on puzzle than enemy, Turtle Rock is the opposite. It requires you to remember everything up until this point on how to beat some of the mini-bosses you’ve encountered throughout the game. What I like the most about Turtle Rock is that it makes for a solid final dungeon in a Zelda title. You have to use everything you’ve learned up until this point and you’re rewarded for your efforts.

– Kristen Rosario

 

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46. Forbidden Woods

The Wind Waker

The Forbidden Woods isn’t a particularly special dungeon, though it’s got a nice touch. Each of It’s honestly the calm, simple approach that draws me to it; when playing this dungeon, I feel like I can just sit back. The Deku Leaf here has to take the cake, being such a simple, yet entertaining gimmick that uses the environment well. Aesthetically speaking, I feel the dungeon’s great, what with its colors and the unique Wind Waker sound effects. The beautiful neon aesthetic of Kalle Demos creates an awesome atmosphere, and the fight is a great improvement over Ocarina of Time’s Barinade, especially with the root-like tentacles that occasionally ambush Link.

– John Piland

 

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45. Color Dungeon

Link’s Awakening

The Color Dungeon ranks as one of my favorite Zelda dungeons because it’s just simple and fun. It was originally part of Link’s Awakening DX, and I was thrilled to see it return for the Switch remake. I love the use of colors within the puzzles, and it’s kind of a relaxing dungeon. It’s not hard, and the reward at the end is worth it. I love how the color dungeon gives you an option of greater defense or greater power as a different kind of reward, and if you change your mind, you can always change your tunic! It’s an easy, fun, optional dungeon to play in Link’s Awakening, and certainly memorable among the many on Koholint Island.

– Heather Beard

 

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44. Divine Beast Vah Naboris

Breath of the Wild

As far as dungeons go in Breath of the Wild, Vah Naboris took the cake as most challenging for me. If you count the whole Gerudo questline, it makes this dungeon worth traveling across the desert for. Naboris has some really fun puzzle elements that made it stand out among the other Divine Beasts, especially when it came to getting into the upper levels of Naboris’ chambers. The rotating and usage of different circuits was a new element that I hope returns in subsequent Zelda games. I felt, especially having done it recently in Master Mode, that it made you think critically. Breath of the Wild’s dungeons were certainly not traditional, but the fighting of Thunderblight Ganon at the end of Naboris certainly made for a great challenge.

– Heather Beard

 

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43. Woodfall Temple

Majora’s Mask

As someone who doesn’t much care for the dungeons in Majora’s Mask, Woodfall Temple does a good job of trying to change my mind. It’s eerie, well paced, and a lot of fun to run through. The music does such a great job of making you feel like you’re in some kind of polluted, creepy shrine. I also think it’s safe to say that, no matter what version of the game you’re playing, the boss battle is epic and unique to what we’ve seen throughout the series. Overall, it does a great job setting the tone for the dungeons that follow it in Majora’s Mask.

– Alasyn Eletha

 

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42. Forest Temple

Twilight Princess

While I wasn’t initially a fan of Twilight Princess‘ poison fog navigation and mischievous monkeys, I’m fully nostalgic for them now. They constitute a fantastic build-up to this dungeon with the introduction of the monkeys and that sense of danger encroaching on Ordon. The pacing of the Forest Temple is nice, too, because you can really feel your progression with every monkey you free. And oh, that Ook fight! So. Much. Fun. The music and Ook himself are so kooky, and when he shows up again during the Diababa fight, I just want to stand up and cheer. Speaking of the boss fight, I like that the dungeon’s puzzles essentially prepare you for it, and the Gale Boomerang is an interesting (if cumbersome) addition to Link’s arsenal. This Forest Temple is a solid introductory dungeon that I’ve certainly grown to love more overtime.

– Alexis Anderson

 

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41. Great Palace

The Adventure of Link

This is the hardest dungeon of any Zelda game. If you think there’s one more difficult, then you’re wrong. Accept this now and make it easier on yourself. Zelda II is notorious for not pulling any punches when it comes to how brutal it can be, and the entirety of the Great Palace is the definition of arduous. From the relentless enemy variety that you’re presented with, to the labyrinthine layout, it’s an endurance trial and a true test of the skills you’ve been honing for the entirety of the journey. It’s not all painful though, as you’re treated to a really awesome theme tune that’s unique to this palace, and the final encounter with Dark Link is thematically one of the coolest fights in the franchise. Conquering this dungeon delivers a sense of triumph that I think is second to none in the series. It may be from the most divisive Zelda title, but the Great Palace is absolutely worthy of this list.

– Bryan King

 

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Be sure to check back next Monday, as ten more dungeons will be revealed on our list!