The Best Towns in the Zelda Series

I’ve always loved some of the central towns in the Zelda series. They help provide an anchor for Link’s quest and give the player a break from some of the more strenuous adventuring and puzzle-solving, offering new opportunities for item acquisition. The Zelda series has had some truly spectacular towns, and they’ve always helped add to the flavor of the game as a whole and to their locations.

My personal favorite since I first saw it in 2003 is Windfall Island from The Wind Waker. It feels like a proper “home base,” and it helps give the player a sense of the scale of the game at the same time. People gather from all over the Great Sea on that island with stories about different locations Link will encounter or has encountered, both unifying the world and making it more mysterious. Not to mention, the quests are a whole lot of fun and open up new locations, and the characters are some of the most over-the-top and funny you’re likely to see in the series. The story on Windfall is also somewhat dynamic, reflecting changes in the overworld. Overall, it was the town that I felt I as the player had the most effect on, and I loved it for that.

Of course, the popular choice is Clock Town, and with good reason. It runs on the in-game clock and all the residents have their own schedules. It also literally serves as the hub of the entire game. Rather than offering an escape from the more strenuous in-game moments, it serves as a reminder of what’s at stake.

Skyloft was decent, but I didn’t think it lived up to the best Majora’s Mask and The Wind Waker, the games with the most well-developed towns, had to offer. The sidequests felt a bit tacked-on and didn’t seem to add much to the main quest. This may have been by design, since Skyloft was so separated from the surface, but I was expecting more. That said, it wasn’t bad and still offered plenty of material–not to mention the Silent Realm used the landscape well.

There are countless other towns in the Zelda series. What’s your favorite town and why? Do you think Skyloft, as the only town in Skyward Sword, served its purpose well and lived up to expectations? Share your thoughts below.