I’d still suggest the NES original as it provides the blueprint for the others going forward and is less complicated.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | Nintendo Switch The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | Nintendo Switch

People new to zelda should start out with botw because they can wander around and do things on their own but old titles force you to do stuff and put you on a set path and its not as easy to get the hang of. I think the more honest answer is I don't think it really matters. As long as there's some aspect that grabs you and pushes you to complete it, you can start with whatever game you like. Your chances of landing on a dud are pretty slim with Zelda. I chose The Minish Cap because it's really simple and does a good job of introducing the themes and gameplay mechanics of the series. If you are only doing the 3D ones, then I'd choose Wind Waker for the same reason.Really, all Zelda's that I played after that were either great of fantastic.. until Breath of the Wild came out. My first 2D Zelda was A Link To The Past- and I hated it. I was convinced that I didn’t like 2D Zelda until I tried Link’s Awakening and released that it was just ALTTP I didn’t like.

Nintendo Switch – OLED Model - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of

I've done the mistake of starting with the oldest game of a series many times and then I played the newest, got hooked, and then enjoyed the oldest ones too because at that point I was already invested in the franchise. Where to start with a big franchise like this is a dilemma we've discussed before, but today we thought we'd focus specifically on which Zelda would be best to onboard new players in the run-up to Tears of the Kingdom. We've got our individual thoughts on this one — which are surprisingly diverse! — but you'll also find a poll at the bottom featuring every mainline game in the series. What did you mean by 'Old games need careful thought put into them to make them approachable for a modern new audience.'? Do you mean the devs should think about it at the time or that emulators need to consider it for older games? The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's most venerated franchises. If any of Nintendo's first-party mascots is as well-known as its mustachioed plumber, it's the noble sword-and-shield adventurer Link. Zelda games also often happen to be among the best-reviewed of Nintendo's first-party stable, often receiving critical acclaim for their lively atmosphere and ingenious puzzles and dungeons. If someone hasn't played Zelda I'd recommend whichever one appeals to them or can get ahold of... depending on if its a "gamer" of not I'm not gonna sit here and recommend nes games but more likely the latest (and greatest imo) botw.

But then again I would absolutely recommend Majora's Mask even if it is just as clunky as it is still one of the most outstanding games ever made. And knowing OoT sort of helps.

Zelda games on Nintendo Switch 2023 | iMore All Zelda games on Nintendo Switch 2023 | iMore

I played Wind Waker first and it's absolutely THE entry point that will make you love Zelda. The only downside is that since this is the best Zelda, nothing else will ever live up to the name. Majora comes close, but nothing will truly replace the Wind Waker. It is hard for me to accept that I will never play it for the first time again. But for people who are pretty familiar with the franchise and want a Zelda game to experience first, I'd say Ocarina of Time, as it introduces a lot of mechanics later seen in 3D Zelda games. The other great all-rounder is, of course, A Link to the Past, but 2D Zelda plays differently from 3D Zelda. A Link to the Past does have the benefit, however, of being the most flawless Zelda. (Which doesn't mean it literally is flawless, but it gets closest.)I know this is a year’s end repost, but I deleted my original comment and amend it to this: I think most should start with Breath of the Wild. Robster64 I think OoT really stands out for being able to express a wide breadth of mood - there are moments of cheerfulness, joy, humor, and hope mixed in episodes of melancholy, despair, fear, and even horror. The only thing I can think is that Skyward Sword reveals certain mysterious plot points on other games, but I don't really see a problem starting with it either. Forget everything you know about The Legend of Zelda games. Step into a world of discovery, exploration, and adventure in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a boundary-breaking new game in the acclaimed series. Travel across vast fields, through forests, and to mountain peaks as you discover what has become of the kingdom of Hyrule in this stunning Open-Air Adventure. Now on Nintendo Switch, your journey is freer and more open than ever. Take your system anywhere, and adventure as Link any way you like.

SWITCH The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Currys NINTENDO SWITCH The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Currys

A direct sequel to Breath of the Wild called The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is releasing for Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. It seems to be a bit darker than the first game and has already introduced an evil power that we assume will be the main villain. My thoughts: if someone has never played the series, I’d advise them to start with the most recent games so they feel they’re part of what’s happening now, and can be involved in the conversation and get excited for Tears of the Kingdom. So I’d say Breath of the Wild or Skyward Sword. If you've never played Zelda before and for some reason are committing right now to playing all of them, then I might choose Breath of the Wild just to get it out of the way early since it's so bad.Meanwhile, the latest entry, Breath of the Wild, is such a divergence for the franchise that it doesn't really serve as an introduction to it, even if inevitably that's what it's become to many young gamers.