What Zelda game has the best story?

You might have had Skyward Sword's time frame a little backwards. The meat of that game takes place before every other Zelda game like you said, but all the time travel goes even further back in time. There was no jump forward in time. It's just that the distant past was more technologically advanced than the present or even the future of the series.

Hmm, I must have it backwards, I didn't realize they went further back. Then again, it's the Zelda i've played the least, i should go back and revisit it... for science.

I think Minish Cap should really be on the list. Out of the ones listed though, maybe Majora's Mask or Twilight Princess.

Greatest to least from what I played

OOT, WW, TP, Majoras MAsk, SS

It's easily one of the most annoying characters in gaming history. Considering that most Nintendo characters are annoying though it might still be one of Nintendo's best.

Where's the original? That had the best story, no story.

Majora's Mask. Skyward Sword is a distant second.

I actually find the "herp derp Zelda has no story" posts to be pretty shortsighted. There can actually be much beauty/depth in narrative minimalism. That's to not say that Zelda's story is deep. It's still just a video game story, but it sure as **** is not any more shallow than the B-action action plot that most video games are sporting; characters talking a lot and convoluted plots/=/depth. And I find that Zelda's stories, despite not being deep or even much of a priority, at least have a certain beauty and elegance to them that is sorely lacking in the triple A space.

Ocarina of time has an epic story.

I still remember the water zora girl and you had zelda disguised as a guy.

That was so good.

I also really liked the gameboy zelda story where this big whale was controlling link's dreams oh my god that was just epic.

This makes me realize how little of the 3d Zelda games I've played. I've played around 2-3 hours of LTTP, OoT, WW and also beat awakening in that list (only other Zelda games I've beat are Four swords adventures, Oracle of Seasons/ages). I don't know why I haven't played more Zelda game, maybe I need to change that.

yes back in the day you made up your own story. I used to love how big that game map was I was only a kid so I sucked at it but I could beat the first level and that was it, now I went back and beat it now and its still a very hard game.

@GreySeal9: Definitely, they are simple but effective yarns, a lot like fairy tales that grow in the telling.

Nothing special, but perfectly fine for what they are.

Agreed 100%.

majoras mask

I'm replaying TP and I am kind of amazed at how little I remembered from my first play through. My first play through I was unimpressed by the overworld I think, and the side stuff. And IIRC that was exactly what I was looking for at the time. Playing it now I see they put in more humor than I remember and the story is actually quite interesting. Midna is probably my favorite Zelda character ever. I may vote TP for best story, too, because it's one of the few Zelda stories to actually make me feel a lot of stuff.

Replaying this (the remaster) has actually been a completely unexpected fantastic experience well worth the money.

I would play oracle of ages TC. Best story in a Zelda game.i just finished it last week. Wonderful game made in 2001.

The story in Zelda games are totally whatever. I don't say that as a huge negative Most of those games are highly successful at making you feel like you're on a heroic adventure. I think that's more important then telling some everyday fantasy tale.

Yup.

That's not to say there aren't other good Zelda stories, but every other answer is wrong.

Also, Wind Waker, seriously? You give Ganon's monologue at the end way more credit than it deserves.

@DarkLink77: There is no right answer, everyone likes the different stories for different reasons. And what many consider the best Zelda stories, isnt even on the list.

You can have a personal favorite, but Majora's Mask is better written than the others, and presents its theme far, far more clearly and without beating you over the head with them.

Which is?

@DarkLink77: The Oracle series on Game Boy Color. Hes my favorite Zelda writer.

Haven't played, so no comment. Of the major releases, though, it's MM.

@DarkLink77: Yeah, mine is Skyward Sword story wise.

Skyward Sword has a very good story. It's probably the best part of that game.

Twilight Princess comes to mind first, followed by Wind Waker.

@DarkLink77: It's not just Ganon's monologue, though yeah, definitely, that counts too. It's the game's excellent handle on passive storytelling:

• You start the game, and Hyrule is nowhere to be seen, instead you're in this tropical island setting. What's going on? Where are you, where's Hyrule? Putting things together over the course of the first half of the game is great.
• Eventually you go underwater, and you discover the truth, and that's just great (also, finding Hyrule submerged underwater, frozen in time is one of my favorite moments in gaming)
• The climax is absolutely incredible, there's no getting around that at all
• The starting 'legend' is probably the best setup for a Zelda game yet

Playing Wind Waker for the first time without knowing what the story setup was whatsoever was an incredible experience, man. It's also I think the one Zelda game, except for maybe Majora, that manages to sell its setting fully.

And the ultimate dick tease. I remember thinking "holy shit, there's a sub world to explore here!" I thought they were actually about to let us loose in a sizeable section of Hyrule lol.

It was still a damn cool moment for sure, I just let my imagination get the better of me.

I absolutely thought that was what was going to happen too (I thought that would be Wind Waker's take on the two worlds mechanic), but when it didn't happen, I wasn't disappointed, my, like what, 10 year old self? Was absolutely blown away by the story and that revelation lol.

Zelda game stories get unnecessary criticism, they are no better or worse than most video game stories out there. Which is to say, sure, they're not all that great, but at least they don't have any pretensions, and they just tell a simple story in an effective manner each time. Like a fairy tale.

Either Majora's Mask or Link's Awakening. Otherwise, more recent titles such as Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess are a bit better than the older games (most of the others feel a bit generic story-wise). The Oracle games have a decent story too. I'm surprised they weren't listed in the poll considering some of the games listed in the poll have pretty similar stories.

I voted MM. But I could change my mind and choose LA.

It's a tough call between Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword for me. I think overall I like Skyward Sword's story better, because it explains what the "Legend of Zelda" is really about, but Midna alone makes TP so great.

I'm really enjoying my first time through Wind Waker at the moment. I just got past the Forbidden Woods, near the Forest Haven, and it's so freakin' charming. However, the one that will always resonate with me, will be OoT. Objectively, it's probably not the best, but that's the Zelda I grew up with, and still love to this day.

Even knowing about it before, it was still a supremely disappointing moment.

I'd say the last hour of The Wind Waker was the only part about it as a game I'd say was good, even fun, and this could have definitely added on to it.

@lundy86_4: Yeah, same here. I told myself i wouldnt try and do everything in the game. But it feels so rewarding and it seems everything is so well organized and thought out. I think im getting close to the end, im not to sure, im mapping the islands and collecting treasure right now.

@iandizion713: It does kinda suck you in. I hate that I can't explore all that much yet, but i'm sure it's gonna open up soon. I'm currently playing TP and WW, but I think I prefer WW overall.

@lundy86_4: Ill be playing Twilight Princess HD after awhile. Im gonna play Kirby Planet Robobot and Boxbox Boy next. They wont take long.

@iandizion713: I never played a Zelda after OoT, except part of SS... So i'm catching up. I'd kill for a re-release on WiiU/NX. Screw motion controls.

Definitely Majora's Mask. It's the silent Hill 2 of the series, in that it uses the familiar series mechanics and fantasy setting and does something entirely different and more intimate with it. Game's a masterpiece of storytelling (and gameplay).

Top five stories in the series for me are probably as follows:

1. Majora's Mask

2. Wind Waker

3. Link's Awakening (come at me)

4. Twilight Princess (mostly because of Zant and the Twili, both of which are fascinating story elements)

5. Ocarina of Time

Crap I meant to select Wind Waker. Darn slow loading ijunk. Then Twilight Princess.

1.) Skyward Sword

2.) Ocarina of Time

3.) Windwaker

It's a toss up between Windwaker and TP. I think TP is the more emotional story. Windwaker had an awesome concept of how the world became the way it was.

Majora's Mask seems to be winning the pole... I would say the story is unique out of the Zelda games, with the side quest stories being the highlight instead of the main story.

Wind Waker. It felt really epic.

Love the opening, but the "start" thing only works if you're already a Zelda fan. Someone who is playing the series for the first time doesn't know/care.

I've always liked Wind Waker's story.

Ocarina of Time has the best story.

Majora's Mask, not the best story, but the best story-telling

Triforce Heroes

Easily Skyward Sword. I mean.. it explains practically everything. The origins of Zelda, Link, Ganon, Hyrule, the Master Sword. Heck even the fact that the bird on the Hylian shield is a Loft Wing is revealed. As a fan of Zelda and its lore it was incredibly satisfying playing through it regardless of its some of its other shortcomings.