Every Version Of Zelda Ranked

Nintendo has produced no shortage of iconic royals for its IPs. Of the regal lineup, Princess Zelda is perhaps the most recognizable, though the many iterations of Princess Peach have certainly given the Hylian a run for her money.

Before the first "The Legend of Zelda" entry hit the scene in the mid-1980s, series co-creator Shigeru Miyamoto set out to create an "eternal beauty" for his dashing new protagonist to rescue (per Hyrule Historia). When it came time to name his damsel, he turned to a famous real-world beauty for inspiration: the enigmatic writer and socialite Zelda Fitzgerald. Much like her namesake, Princess Zelda went on to become a style icon, influencing decades of artists, cosplayers, designers, developers, and fantasy writers.

Though well-known for her ethereal visage, Princess Zelda has become much more than just a pretty face over the course of dozens of mainline games and other media appearances. Prized for her wisdom and compassion, Zelda has demonstrated her dedication to the people of Hyrule again and again. Of course, not every version has done the character justice. Here's a look at Princess Zelda's best and worst moments throughout the franchise.

"The Adventure of Link" functions as a bit of an oddity for the "Zelda" series. Though it serves as a direct sequel to "The Legend of Zelda," "Zelda 2" favors a mixture of side-scrolling and top-down views along with RPG elements. It also utilizes a life feature that hasn't turned up in any other installment.

The gameplay differences in the second entry may stand out, but its portrayal of Princess Zelda does not. The royal takes on the role of Sleeping Beauty thanks to a magical slumber, keeping her offscreen as Link fights his way through multiple palaces to claim the Triforce of Courage.

Adding a bit of intrigue, it turns out that this version is the original namesake of the princess from the first title. She's been snoozing for multiple generations due to a conflict with her brother and an overeager wizard. While she gets some points for standing up to her sibling to protect their father's secrets, the whole situation seems like it could have been avoided with better communication — a recurring theme for the franchise.

A Super NES masterpiece, "A Link to the Past" established even more of the classic components of the "Zelda" IP. Items like the Master Sword and Hookshot appeared for the first time in the entry, as did the concept of traveling between parallel worlds. Princess Zelda also plays a greater role in the plot than she did in the first two entries, though not by much.

Keeping with tradition, Zelda winds up kidnapped at the hands of one of Ganon's servants, the wizard Agahnim. She summons Link to Hyrule Castle to help her out and they manage to escape Agahnim – at least for a time. Zelda then goes into hiding with a helpful priest while Link ventures forth to acquire Master Sword.

Zelda gets captured not once but twice in "A Link to the Past," and the trend continues in "Oracle of Seasons" and "Oracle of Ages." The titles feature the same Zelda, who gets kidnapped by the antagonists Twinrova as part of their plot to resurrect Ganon. While she does receive more screen time, this Zelda unfortunately still functions as little more than a damsel and plot device to further Link's story.

Another Game Boy Advance title, "The Minish Cap" centers on the origin story of the Four Sword and how Vaati ended up trapped inside of it. While it features a lot of classic "Zelda" elements, it also incorporates some new ideas, such as allowing Link to shrink down to a much smaller size with the aid of a sentient hat named Ezlo.

This time around, Zelda enjoys a bit of screentime before getting shelved. She and her pal Link go to a festival together and she even wins a prize during the outing: a shield that she gifts to her friend and protector. Of course, Vaati shows up and ruins the fun, though instead of kidnapping Zelda he transforms her into a stone statue. While a nice twist, this move still takes her out of commission for the bulk of the game. Link eventually saves the day, but it's a bit of a bummer that players don't get more time with this version of the princess.

Throughout 1991 and 1992, a dozen choose-your-own-adventure style novels hit the market as part of the "Nintendo Adventure Book" series. While most of the stories center on the "Mario" franchise, two feature the "Zelda" universe. The second, "The Shadow Prince," places Link in a variety of perilous situations. The first, "The Crystal Trap," puts Princess Zelda front and center.

In a rare twist for the IP, Zelda must work through a number of dungeons and environments to save Link from a spell cast by Ganon. She has only 24 hours to break the spell, or he'll end up trapped inside a crystal forever. Readers get to decide which paths the princess follows on her quest, and she can acquire a number of items along the way, like a magic ring or magnifying glass.

"The Crystal Trap" has 14 potential endings, with most resulting in either Zelda or Link's demise. In the true ending, Zelda frees Link and they work together to defeat Ganon. While not the most groundbreaking portrayal of either character, it's nice to see Link playing the damsel and Zelda the hero for a change.

In the early '90s, Valiant Comics published a run of comics based on "The Legend of Zelda" series. The non-canon plot unfolds after the events of the first two "Zelda" games and follows the adventures of Link and Zelda as they work to prevent Ganon from getting his hands on the Triforce of Wisdom.

While the comics have a lot in common with "The Legend of Zelda" TV show, they offer a slightly more serious tone and a variety of problems to solve. Zelda once again gets to fight in different conflicts, even rescuing Link from time to time. The comics also mitigate some of the more annoying aspects of the TV series by making it plain that Zelda and Link share a reciprocated romantic connection. This lessens some of the ick factor of Link constantly trying to get the princess to kiss him. The pair don't often get to be in a relationship, further distinguishing their comic book portrayal.

Intended as a spiritual successor for "A Link to the Past," "A Link Between Worlds" honors the legacy of its predecessor. At the same time, it offers some unique mechanics, such as Yuga, the main villain, trapping Zelda and the Sages in paintings and Link's ability to merge with walls. Much like "A Link to the Past," the 3DS entry features parallel worlds, which take the form of Hyrule and Lorule, a kingdom that once had its own Triforce and has fallen into ruin following its destruction.

Despite retaining the title of princess, Zelda rules Hyrule alone – a situation that feels like it merits an upgrade to Queen Zelda. She does get captured by Yuga, the sinister sorcerer trying to resurrect Ganon (a plot that sounds all too familiar), but she contributes to the final conflict by providing Link with the Bow of Light. She and Link also show great kindness, using the wish granted by the reassembled Triforce to restore Lorule's own Triforce, saving the mirror kingdom despite the problems its inhabitants caused for Hyrule throughout the game.

Zelda has made several non-canon appearances over the years. Of these instances, her two "Hyrule Warriors" iterations stand out the most.

The first "Hyrule Warriors" entry features different playable versions of Zelda, including Sheik from "Ocarina of Time," Tetra from "The Wind Waker," and a Princess Zelda that possesses powers, items, and weapons drawn from or inspired by multiple series entries. The latter combines magic and martial prowess as the leader of the Hyrulean Forces. Talk about a girl boss.

In the second "Hyrule Warriors" entry, "Age of Calamity," players step into the shoes of a host of characters to fight Calamity Ganon. Set a hundred years before the events of "Breath of the Wild," the hack-and-slash game features an alternate take on the same Princess Zelda. Drawing on her more scholarly inclinations, she can unleash a number of abilities using the Sheikah Slate. She also makes use of the Bow of Light and gets an adorable little Guardian companion named Terrako, further adding to her charm.

With the exception of "Majora's Mask," "Twilight Princess" represents the "Zelda" franchise at its darkest. The title kicks off with some child kidnappings and sees Link deprived of his Hylian body, forced to take the form of a wolf. Similarly, the people of Hyrule, caught in the perpetual Twilight unleashed by the sorcerer Zant, all transform into spirits.

The Zelda of "Twilight Princess" cuts a regal if tragic figure. The sole ruler of Hyrule, she surrendered to Zant to prevent the destruction of her citizens, becoming a prisoner within her own castle. She wears dark clothing when she first meets with Link, a reminder of the somber circumstances they have all found themselves in. In other scenes she sheds the robes, revealing regalia befitting a monarch. This, along with the longsword she wields and other stylistic choices, combines to form Zelda's most elegant character design in the entire franchise.

It's clear that Zelda will pay any price to safeguard her subjects and those she cares about. She even sacrifices her physical form to save Midna, a princess from another realm. This allows Ganondorf to take control of her body, creating Puppet Zelda, a particularly noteworthy sub-boss. After Midna restores Zelda to her normal state, the Hyrule royal assists Link in the final showdown using the Light Arrows. Despite facing a number of tragedies and setbacks, the "Twilight Princess" Zelda never gives up, putting the strength of her spirit on display.

Another sequel to "The Wind Waker," the Nintendo DS title "Spirit Tracks" takes place almost a century later. Due to the time skip, players meet new versions of both Link and Zelda. Unlike in "Phantom Hourglass," the princess takes a much more active role this time around.

From the early moments, "Spirit Tracks" sets itself apart from other "Zelda" entries. Players actually get to play as Zelda during an escape sequence, and she remains a core part of the gameplay once Link steps back into the driver's seat. Though the antagonist steals the princess' body, she retains her spirit form. In this guise, she can possess Phantom Guardians, helping Link solve puzzles and move through different environments.

After returning to her body, the "Spirit Tracks" Zelda joins Link in the final battle, calling on her magic and Light Arrows. They can only take out the villain by working together. Given its princess is a direct descendant of Tetra who bears a strong resemblance to the pirate captain, "Spirit Tracks" even manages to partially make up for the missed opportunities of "Phantom Hourglass."

In addition to portraying Link as a top-tier hero, "Ocarina of Time" includes one of the most memorable Zeldas. Like Link, players first encounter a younger Princess of Destiny. Despite her age, she catches on to Ganondorf's less-than-altruistic motives, enabling her to set plans into motion that prevent a total loss when the Gerudo king takes over Hyrule Castle.

Zelda then spends seven years in hiding, training for a rematch under the guise of the mysterious Sheik as she waits for Link to emerge from the Sacred Realm. Though she can't vanquish Ganondorf on her own, she assists the Hero of Time in awakening the other Sages, who she leads as the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom. While the big bad does kidnap her towards the end of the narrative, she and the Sages play a key role in Ganondorf's defeat, which allows them to trap him in the Dark Realm. 

Of all the versions of the princess, this Zelda has the greatest impact on the "Zelda" universe as a whole. Her decisions during the course of "Ocarina of Time" lead to the creation of three timelines: the Fallen Hero Timeline, the Child Timeline, and the Adult Timeline. Due to this far-reaching influence and her other qualities (Sheik for the win), she comes out on top in the Zelda rankings.