Best Legend Of Zelda Games For Kids, Ranked

One of the joys of being both a parent and a gamer is passing on some shared memories and experiences to your kids. Nintendo is the best company in the gaming industry for this, with its family friendly brand and array of high-quality, accessible mascots. Of those mascots, arguably the most critically acclaimed is The Legend of Zelda, which has several entries considered among the best games of all time.

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With that brand of quality comes a level of complexity that can prove a significant obstacle to younger players, more so than the likes of Kirby or Super Mario. Granted, everyone’s mileage may vary — some eight-year-olds may already be mastering Elden Ring — but as a more sweeping assessment, accessibility will be prioritized over quality and complexity. With that in mind, these are the top recommendations for the best Zelda games for kids.

7

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Open-World Freedom

Systems

Released

March 3, 2017

Developer(s)

Nintendo EPD

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

One of the best entries in the illustrious series is an easy recommendation. However, the layers of mechanics and physics that made The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild so lauded can serve as a significant barrier to getting the most out of the game, and some of the boss fights are far from simple.

The complete lack of direction could also likely prove too much of a challenge for younger players hoping to see the credits roll. That same freedom and consistent rewards for exploration are where this recommendation does come in, though. It’s possible to have dozens of hours of fun in Breath of the Wild without engaging with the main quest line or confronting any of the opposing enemies.

6

The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom

Open To Experimentation

Systems

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Released

September 26, 2024

As a whole, the classic top-down format is going to be well represented as it presents a natural guiding hand and progression path through the game without the need for endless prompts and tutorials. The games are designed to be completed and are usually accompanied by more modest runtimes that makes them more likely to hold a young player’s attention for the duration of the adventure.

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As a modern entry, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom benefits from a lot of mod-cons compared to its contemporaries but brings with it a little more complexity and runtime more befitting of modern expectations. The game successfully transplants the freedom of Breath of the Wild into the top-down format, but that makes for a lot of systems to master, and the unconventional combat presents a challenge even for seasoned players.

5

The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Reinvigorating Nostalgic Hyrule

Systems

Released

November 22, 2013

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

As the name might suggest, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is very much intended as a bridge to the SNES era of the series and a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It is probably the best game in the series for revitalizing the old formula and offers a great combination of gated direction and freedom of exploration.

Outside a few key areas, the player can wander wherever they want, but the game is intricately designed in a way that ensures players are never lost for an objective. On the downside, it is one of the more difficult games in the series, with some complex multi-room puzzles and a penalty of losing helpful items upon death to up the stakes of dungeons.

4

The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Phantasmal Assistance

Systems

Released

December 7, 2009

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

One of the best outings for the kid-friendly Toon Link, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks has immediate appeal for younger audiences. A fairly linear adventure that showcases the best of the series’ tropes at that point with familiar patterns and tools. The biggest twist is Zelda’s spirit being separated from her body at the beginning of the story and accompanying Link on his adventure.

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She serves as a great guide to keep the player on the right track, and she can also become a physical AI companion in her Phantom form. Phantom Zelda has applications in both puzzle-solving and combat and can be guided by the player at will. A handy shoulder to lean on! However, it does add some complexity when switching between the two roles is required for tougher boss encounters.

3

Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity

Chaotic Power Fantasy

Systems

Released

November 20, 2020

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is one of a precious few Zelda titles these days not made directly by Nintendo, and the experience is noticeably different in this licensed crossover with the Dynasty Warriors series. It’s not useful for introducing the series’ core gameplay, but as a means of introducing young gamers to the characters — especially those popularized by Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom — it’s a great, accessible option.

The thing that makes Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity stand out ahead of so many main canon releases is the sheer fun and power fantasy the series is known for. The difficulty is adjustable on the fly, and standard enemies are no trouble on most difficulties, allowing young audiences to feel engaged and in control. With 18 playable characters, it also offers a great variety for young gamers to find a playstyle that suits them.

2

The Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker HD

A Timeless Adventure That Has Aged Beautifully

Systems

Released

September 20, 2013

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is probably the best-aged game in the series, offering an innovative yet familiar take on the Zelda formula that is just as engaging today as it was when it was first released over 20 years ago. The once controversial cel-shaded art style has now become a fan-favorite motif and has also helped the game endure the test of time.

The HD re-release for the Wii U is the best way to experience the game, currently adding a slight upscaling and some quality-of-life improvements like increased ship speed to combat the sometimes tedious navigation of the original. Wind Waker is also one of the easier games in the series, with a plethora of combat options, a generous life bar, and some powerful potions and elixirs.

1

The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

The Complete Kid-Friendly Package

Systems

Released

September 20, 2019

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

A friendly reminder that this is not to say the Nintendo Switch remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is the best in the series, but it is the best option for young players, particularly if they are playing the series for the first time. In short, it is the most complete and exemplary example of everything discussed above.

It sticks close to the nostalgic and accessible formula while reinvigorating it with a charming new child-friendly presentation. It has a short runtime to completion, a linear progression path, and a reasonably shallow difficulty curve that ramps up just enough without ever crossing into being expressly hard with either puzzles or combat. It can not only be enjoyed but easily completed by young gamers, making it the ideal starting point.

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