Zelda Timeline 2026

Last verified: 2026-11-10

Zelda games in story order

If you want the plot order, start at Skyward Sword. If you want the year a box shipped, use the release-date page instead.

21 games

Zelda games in story order
GameEraBranch JapanNorth AmericaEurope Original platformStory neighbors Remakes / editionsStatus
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Sky eraBefore the split 2011-11-232011-11-202011-11-18 Wii
Skyward Sword HD · Nintendo Switch · 2021-07-16
 On official timeline · 3 source domains
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap Force eraBefore the split 2004-11-042005-01-102004-11-12 Game Boy Advance
Nintendo Classics · Nintendo Switch / Switch 2 · date not sourced
 On official timeline · 3 source domains
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Force eraBefore the split 2003-03-142002-12-02 / 2002-12-03 (sources differ)2003-03-28 Game Boy Advance (bundled with A Link to the Past)
Four Swords Anniversary Edition · Nintendo DSiWare · 2011-09-28
 On official timeline · 3 source domains · NA date conflict
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Era of the Hero of TimeBefore the split 1998-11-211998-11-231998-12-11 Nintendo 64
Ocarina of Time 3D · Nintendo 3DS · 2011-06-16 (Japan)
Ocarina of Time · Nintendo Switch 2 · 2026-11-05
 On official timeline · 4 source domains
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons Era of Light and DarkDownfall 2001-02-272001-05-13 / 2001-05-14 (sources differ)2001-10-05 Game Boy Color
Nintendo Classics · Nintendo Switch / Switch 2 · date not sourced
 On official timeline · 3 source domains · NA date conflict
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages Era of Light and DarkDownfall 2001-02-272001-05-13 / 2001-05-14 (sources differ)2001-10-05 Game Boy Color
Nintendo Classics · Nintendo Switch / Switch 2 · date not sourced
 On official timeline · 3 source domains · NA date conflict
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes Era of Light and DarkDownfall 2015-10-222015-10-232015-10-23 Nintendo 3DS — On official timeline · 3 source domains
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Era of Light and DarkDownfall 2024-09-262024-09-262024-09-26 Nintendo Switch — On official timeline · 4 source domains
The Legend of Zelda Era of declineDownfall 1986-02-211987-08-221987-11-15 Famicom Disk System / Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Classics · Nintendo Switch / Switch 2 · date not sourced
Game Boy Advance port · Game Boy Advance · 2004
 On official timeline · 2 source domains
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Child eraChild 2000-04-272000-10-25 / 2000-10-26 (sources differ)2000-11-17 Nintendo 64
Majora's Mask 3D · Nintendo 3DS · 2015-02-13 (North America / Europe)
 On official timeline · 3 source domains · NA date conflict
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Twilight eraChild 2006-12-022006-11-192006-12-08 Wii / GameCube (regional dates below are Wii)
Twilight Princess HD · Wii U · 2016-03-04 (North America / Europe)
 On official timeline · 4 source domains
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures Shadow eraChild 2004-03-182004-06-072005-01-07 GameCube — On official timeline · 3 source domains
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Era of the Great SeaAdult 2002-12-132003-03-23 / 2003-03-24 (sources differ)2003-05-02 GameCube
The Wind Waker HD · Wii U · 2013-09-26 (Japan; NA digital 2013-09-20; NA physical / Europe 2013-10-04)
 On official timeline · 3 source domains · NA date conflict
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Era of the Great VoyageAdult 2007-06-232007-10-012007-10-19 Nintendo DS — On official timeline · 3 source domains
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Era of Hyrule's rebirthAdult 2009-12-232009-12-072009-12-11 Nintendo DS — On official timeline · 3 source domains
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild The Great Calamity and the UpheavalWild era 2017-03-032017-03-032017-03-03 Wii U / Nintendo Switch
Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition · Nintendo Switch 2 · 2025-06-05
 On official timeline · 2 source domains
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom The Great Calamity and the UpheavalWild era 2023-05-122023-05-122023-05-12 Nintendo Switch
Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition · Nintendo Switch 2 · 2025-06-05
 On official timeline · 3 source domains
Official key art for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
Official key art for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Key art © Nintendo, used with a link to the product page. Chart art on this site is original.

This list keeps only games Nintendo places on the chart, sorted by the story index in our record. Skyward Sword is first. The Minish Cap and Four Swords come before Ocarina of Time. After Ocarina the index jumps into three lanes: downfall, child, and adult. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are the wild-era pair at the end, not a fourth lane of the split.

A new player does not have to start at Skyward Sword. Ocarina of Time, Breath of the Wild, and Link's Awakening on Switch are all workable first games. The story order is for people who asked for the chronology, not a difficulty ranking.

Spin-offs such as the 2014 Hyrule Warriors and Cadence of Hyrule are omitted here on purpose. They are on the full games table with a different status.

Sources