10 Iconic Legend of Zelda Dungeons That Defined The Franchise

The Legend of Zelda franchise has conquered fans over the decades with its impressive dungeons, filled with innovative mechanics and challenging puzzles. Each challenge is a mix of exploration with epic battles, creatively testing players’ skills. Thus, these locations stand out as one of the main elements of the series, ensuring numerous incredible dungeons throughout the games.

Not always the most iconic dungeons of The Legend of Zelda are those that present the best technical design. Many of them mark players through narrative, unique atmosphere, or challenges that defined unforgettable moments. Whether by their difficulty, the creativity of the solutions, or memorable bosses, these dungeons remain as symbols of an epic journey.

10

Eagle’s Tower (Link’s Awakening)

The Design Of This Dungeon Is Well Done

Systems

Released

September 20, 2019

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Eagle’s Tower is widely considered the most iconic dungeon in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening due to its innovative and challenging mechanics. The main objective is to topple four pillars with a demolition ball, drastically altering the tower’s structure to open new paths. This unique design approach requires strategy and offers an experience that remains memorable for players.

Additionally, Eagle’s Tower is a brilliant example of the integration between theme and mechanics, with puzzles that challenge logic and navigation. Although some players may find the process tedious at certain moments, the sense of accomplishment upon overcoming its challenges is unparalleled. This combination of innovation, and complexity solidifies it as one of the best dungeons in the Zelda franchise.

9

Deepwood Shrine (The Minish Cap)

The Game’s First Dungeon Makes Good Use Of New Mechanics

Systems

Released

January 10, 2005

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

The Minish Cap offers the mechanic of Link shrinking in size at certain moments of the adventure and, although it is well utilized throughout the game, it is precisely Deepwood Shrine, the game’s first dungeon, that best takes advantage of these elements. Its design is simple and does not demand much from players, but it is extremely fun.

Moreover, this dungeon in The Minish Cap also does a good job of showing how the game’s scale feeling works, since its final boss is a ChuChu, an enemy that is easy to handle on other occasions but becomes a challenging fight given Link’s reduced size. Thus, Deepwood Shrine serves very well to situate players in this new setting and set the tone for the entire adventure.

8

Tower Of The Gods (The Wind Waker)

Dungeon Offers Different Challenges For Link

Systems

Released

March 24, 2003

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Tower of the Gods is one of the most emblematic dungeons in The Wind Waker, serving as a divine test to determine if Link is worthy of wielding the Master Sword. Located in the middle of the Great Sea, the tower combines aquatic puzzles and creative challenges that utilize the navigation mechanics with the King of Red Lions, creating a dynamic experience.

In addition to the challenges, the dungeon features a design that blends divine and mysterious elements, reinforcing its importance in the narrative. The puzzles involving the use of items like bow and arrow, coupled with changes in water levels, keep exploration always interesting, making Tower of the Gods an epic journey full of symbolism for the game’s themes.

7

Sandship (Skyward Sword)

The Place Makes Use Of Various Creative Mechanics

Systems

Released

November 20, 2011

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

The Sandship is one of the most remarkable dungeons in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword thanks to its unique setting – a stranded ship in the desert. It perfectly intertwines exploration and creativity, utilizing the Timeshift Stone to alternate between past and present, enabling players to solve complex puzzles while uncovering more of the location’s history.

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In addition to innovative mechanics, the Sandship stands out for an atmosphere that fuses mystery and discovery, forging an unforgettable experience. The battle against Tentalus is a good finale for this dungeon, but the true highlight lies in its fantastic puzzles and some of the best narrative elements in the series, leaving a lasting impression on players.

6

Stone Tower Temple (Majora’s Mask)

One Of The Most Unique Dungeons In The Entire Franchise

Systems

Released

October 26, 2000

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

As the final dungeon Link must overcome before heading to the Moon to face Majora’s Mask, the Stone Tower Temple is also one of the most challenging in the franchise, requiring use of Link’s four forms to progress. Additionally, it compels players to flip the entire temple upside down to move forward

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Despite its demanding nature, this temple ranks among the best in The Legend of Zelda, pushing Link in various ways and making extensive use of items collected throughout the journey. It is therefore an ideal choice for those who enjoy a higher level of difficulty, featuring not only complex puzzles but also mini-boss encounters until its complete conclusion.

5

Arbiter’s Grounds (Twilight Princess)

Dungeon Makes Good Use Of Link’s Different Forms In The Game

Systems

Released

November 19, 2006

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

The approach this title in the franchise takes with more realistic graphics makes Arbiter’s Grounds not only one of the most iconic dungeons in The Legend of Zelda, but also one of the most terrifying. This is because the place is inhabited by Poes, which, thanks to the game’s artistic direction, have a terrifying appearance instead of their cartoony look.

Additionally, Arbiter’s Grounds is the first dungeon that Link visits after obtaining the Master Sword and the location has great importance for the game, advancing the narrative at certain points. The place also forces players to use both the protagonist’s human form and wolf form, making exploration even more interesting.

4

Hyrule Castle (A Link To The Past)

Dungeon Is Present In Various Moments Of The Game

Systems

Released

April 13, 1992

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Hyrule Castle is one of the most iconic places in the entire The Legend of Zelda franchise, and in A Link to the Past, the place is also one of the most important dungeons in the game. At the very beginning of the journey, the protagonist needs to infiltrate the place to save Princess Zelda using a more stealth-focused approach to avoid being caught by enemy guards.

Later, players return to Hyrule Castle, after gaining access to the Master Sword, to rescue the princess again and also face Agahnim. Thus, in A Link to the Past, the dungeon has enormous importance for the game’s story, present in various moments of the character’s journey, making it an iconic place for many players.

3

The Eagle (The Legend Of Zelda)

The Franchise’s First Dungeon

Systems

Released

February 21, 1986

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Although not a location that stands out for its design or difficulty, The Eagle, or Level-1, is among the most iconic dungeons in The Legend of Zelda for being the franchise’s first. It was from it that the dungeon became a common element in the subsequent games, becoming a hallmark of the series.

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Thus, the design of The Eagle is quite simple, but it provides access to some items that will be very useful throughout the rest of the journey, such as the Boomerang, which helps to face various enemies during the game. Additionally, the confrontation against Aquamentus, a green dragon, is an excellent way to showcase the epic tone that the franchise would have in future titles.

2

Hyrule Castle (Breath Of The Wild)

The Game’s Biggest Challenges Are Found Here

Systems

Released

March 3, 2017

Developer(s)

Nintendo EPD

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

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Even though the dungeons in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild are not among the best in the series, Hyrule Castle is an exception, offering one of the best experiences in the franchise. What makes this place so good is the great freedom players have when exploring it, with various ways to reach the final part.

For example, players can skip some parts of Hyrule Castle using abilities like Revali’s Gale or even the Zora Set. However, the exploration and challenges the place offers are also worthwhile, as it is possible to find the Hylian Shield in this dungeon, one of the best equipment in the game to be used by Link during battles.

1

Water Temple (Ocarina Of Time)

One Of The Most Unforgettable Dungeons In The Legend Of Zelda Series

Systems

Released

November 21, 1998

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Although not one of the best dungeons created for Link’s adventure in Ocarina of Time, the Water Temple in this game is one of the most iconic ever made for the franchise. The place can only be explored when the protagonist is in his adult form and contains some mechanics that stayed in players’ minds, especially the need to constantly switch boots.

Thus, besides being one of the most iconic dungeons in The Legend of Zelda, the Water Temple is also a very divisive place, as its unique design may please some players but also be frustrating at times. However, that is what makes it one of the most remembered places by fans, making the experience of exploring it something unique in the series to date.

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