The Legend of Zeldais one of the most popular video game series ever, with many of its titles being up there with the best-selling games on the consoles they launch on. Though all the games share many similarities, each title innovates the series in one way or another.
However, over the years, some Zelda games have sold better than others. Whether it’s because of their inventive gameplay or the popularity of the console they launched on, these are the best-selling games in the Zelda series. There’s a surprising range of new and old titles, but they all represent what makes the series so great.
These numbers are from The Legend of Zelda Wikipedia’s Sales and aggregate review scores section, which are accurate as of September 2023 and include the original and 3D/HD versions.
10The Legend Of Zelda
6.51 Million
Where it all began, The Legend of Zelda launched on the NES in 1987, and would go on to create one of the most famous gaming series ever. The original The Legend of Zelda has an open-world-like approach, where you canattempt any dungeon you want, provided you have the correct item.
Journeying throughout Hyrule with very minimal instruction can be a rewarding challenge as you discover all the secrets it offers. It’s unsurprising that the first game is one of the ten best-selling in the series, as it kickstarted it all and was even among the best-selling games on the NES system.
Majora’s Mask launched less than two years after the success of Ocarina of Time, and while it had a lot to live up to, it didn’t disappoint. The game is set in Termina, which is full of eccentric characters and has a pervading melancholy that seeps into Majora’s Mask’s overarching narrative.
While Majora’s Mask sold a little less than Ocarina of Time, it’s still considered to be one of the best games in the series by fans. Its three-day cycle is different from any other Zelda game, and the title is certainly one of the most memorable entries.
The Wind Waker is a sea-faring adventure where Link journeys across the sea, first leaving Outset Island to find his younger sister Aryll, but soon discovering that he needs to restore the Master Sword’s power and findthe pieces of the Triforce.
When The Wind Waker launched on the GameCube, it sold extremely well, despite initial reservations about the style of Toon Link, which was completely different from previous iterations. The HD version on the Wii U, though it sold fewer units, was still popular with fans thanks to its enhanced graphics and quality-of-life improvements.
7A Link To The Past
7.43 Million
The third entry in the series, A Link to the Past built on the previous two games’ successes and established a lot of the ‘Zelda formula’ we know today. It begins with Link heading to Hyrule Castle after receiving a message from Princess Zelda, only to find his uncle has been killed when trying to rescue her.
It’s a strong opening that immediately engages you, and the game only gets better when you begin to explore both the Light World and Dark World. With 7.43 million units sold, A Link to the Past is one of the most successful in the series, and its impact is clearly felt throughout the titles that came after it.
Skyward Swordis most well-known for telling the origin story of the legend of Princess Zelda, Link, and Ganonthrough Demise’s curse. It’s one of the more narrative-driven Zelda games, but it also doesn’t disappoint with its dungeons, with the Ancient Cistern being a highlight.
The game’s divisive use of motion controls perhaps impeded its sales on the Wii, but the HD version on the Switch opened up the experience thanks to its use of regular controls, and exceeded the original’s sales numbers by almost a million.
Twilight Princessis one of the most popular Zelda games thanks to Wolf Link, as well as the dynamic between Link and Midna. The darker aesthetic was a big change from The Wind Waker, but it helped the title to stand out and succeed in terms of sales as well as in the eyes of fans.
Interestingly, while Twilight Princess launched on both the Wii and GameCube, the Wii version sold significantly better, with almost 7.5 million units sold on the Wii alone. The HD version on the Wii U also couldn’t compete with the success of the Wii, coming in at just over one million.
After washing up on Koholint Island inLink’s Awakening, Link discovers that the only way to return home is to wake the Wind Fish by playing the eight Instruments of the Sirens. The island of Koholint is exciting to explore, especially as it’s so different from Hyrule.
The original GameBoy version sold almost four million copies, which is already quite a feat, and then the2019 remake on Nintendo Switchgave it a new lease of life, selling almost six and a half million copies. The cartoon-like art style was clearly a hit.
The Zelda series took its first steps into 3D withOcarina of Timeon the N64 and remained the most successful game in the series for many years. Its influence was not only felt in the series itself, but in the wider gaming sphere as a whole.
Both the original N64 version and the 2011 3DS remake sold extremely well, selling around seven million copies each. The 3DS remake was well-received by long-time fans because of its rejuvenated graphics and faithfulness to the original, which is clear to see in the sales.
The highly anticipated sequel toBreath of the Wild,Tears of the Kingdomsees you revisiting Hyrule, though a lot has changed in the years Link was away. While you return to the same locations, there are new NPCs to meet and mysteries to uncover.
One of the highlights of the game is the Ultrahand mechanic, as well as the Zonai devices, which allow you to create almost anything you can imagine. Tears of the Kingdom quickly became one of the best-selling games on the Switch, with over 19 million copies sold.
Exploring Breath of the Wild’s expansive Hyrule for the first time is an experience like no other. After Link wakes up in the Shrine of Resurrection and you complete the Shrines on the Great Plateau, you’re free to go wherever you please. Breath of the Wild’s sheer size is impressive, and it’s easy to spend hundreds of hours in it.
The open-world concept was a change for the series, eschewing a linear story and traditional dungeons for pure exploration. It was a risk worth taking, as the game became the best-selling in the entire series, and one of the top five best-selling Switch games ever.
