'Legend of Zelda' By Order Trivia Quiz

The full title of the game is 'Zelda II: The Adventure of Link' and it was released in 1987 in Japan. This was before the first game had been issued in the USA and the follow-up didn't reach the American market until late in 1988.

The storyline involved Link trying to rescue Zelda, who was suffering from a sleeping curse and was a side scrolling game, unlike most of the others in the series which used top to bottom graphics.

The game was available on the NES, Game Boy Advance and GameCube consoles.

The next game released of those listed was 'The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past' and became available in 1991 in Japan and 1992 in North America and Europe. It was designed for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

The graphics for the game reverted to the overhead view in the original game, with the story giving a lot of background in the history of Hyrule. Link again has to go to the rescue of Princess Zelda, who is imprisoned in the dungeons of Hyrule Castle. Link's uncle is also involved, but doesn't last long in the game.

Released on the Game Boy, this game reached all countries the same year, 1993, although not simultaneously - Japan was first and Europe last, less than six months later. The game was the first in the 'Legend of Zelda' series to be playable on a hand-held console.

Unusually, the game did not feature Princess Zelda and the location wasn't Hyrule either. Link is the main character, as you'd expect from the title, and the action takes place on an island called Koholint. Link has puzzles to solve and monsters to fight, while music again plays a part as Link has to play tunes to awake the Wind Fish, which guards the island. Doing so allows Link to escape.

A version in colour was issued under the name 'Link's Awakening DX' in 1998, after 'Ocarina of Time' and for the Game Boy Color. A further remake was created for the Nintendo Switch in 2019.

All parts of the world saw this sequel in 1998 and it may be the most famous of all the 'Legend of Zelda' games. It was the first game to use 3D and was, as usual, set in the kingdom of Hyrule. Link is tasked with saving the kingdom from an evil king named Ganondorf, or Ganon, and game play takes place in different times and with locations above and below ground.

The ocarina is a musical instrument which Link uses to perform different tunes to open dungeons and obtain equipment and he also interacts and trades with other characters. The game is one of the most popular and best selling and was available on several consoles.

The success of 'Ocarina of Time' meant that the next sequel, 'Majora's Mask', followed relatively quickly. It was initially released just for the Nintendo 64, in April 2000 in Japan with North America receiving it six months later and Europe a month afterwards. A revised version for the GameCube in 2003 and 2004 depending on region.

The game was equally acclaimed as 'Ocarina of Time'. Gameplay involved Link being in a different world, called Termina, and having to prevent the moon from crashing in three days time. As usual, Link, i.e. the player, has to solve various puzzles, defeat enemies and uncover hidden parts of the game. The game was so complex, compared to earlier games, that an expansion pack was needed before it could be played on the Nintendo 64.

Unusually, Europe received this game earlier than North America with both Japan and Europe being able to play it in 2004 while North America and Australia had to wait a couple of months until 2005. The game was playable on the Game Boy Advance and introduced some new features to regular players of the game series.

Play is similar to previous versions, with Link needing to collect items and learn new abilities. He is helped by having the 'Minish cap', which reduces his size and gives him access to places he would otherwise be unable to enter. The player needs to take care, though, as the miniature Link can run into dangers that a full-sized Link wouldn't even notice.

The game was originally meant to be released in 2005 for the GameCube but was delayed until 2006 so it could be redesigned for the Wii as well. The HD version for the Wii U was much later, in 2016.

The game is set in a different timeline from other games, with Link having to save Hyrule from the twilight which has overcome it. Link is shown as a teenage boy in the game, with Princess Zelda enlisting his help to rid the kingdom of the dark forces which have overcome it. At various times, Link is turned into a wolf and Zelda appears to have died, but there are helpers who assist players to defeat the Twilight Realm.

The game was released in 2011 for the Wii, with all regions receiving it over the course of November. A new version, in HD, was created for the Nintendo Switch in 2021 as 'Skyward Sword HD'.

The game takes players back to the beginning of the 'Zelda' story, explaining the origins of the Master Sword and the Triforce which have been part of earlier games. The storyline explains the childhood friendship between Zelda and Link and the jealousy of Link's rival, Groose. Link has only just finished his training when Zelda is kidnapped. The game is set in a new world, called Skyloft, an island in the sky, and makes much use of the Wii accessories and abilities.

The 2017 version was available on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch, with an updated version released for the Switch 2 in 2025 - hence the hint. The game is less strictly laid out than most, with players being able to explore areas of Hyrule and choose their own pathways.

Some things don't change, though, as Link is again on a quest to rescue Princess Zelda and vanquish Ganon. He gets help from various different characters including a prince named Sidon and a warrior called Teba. With the assistance of the Divine Beasts, Link is able to defeat Ganon.

'Echoes of Wisdom' is the most recent game in the series to be included in this quiz. It was released in 2024 for the Nintendo Switch and took the game in a different direction by having Princess Zelda as the main character. Not only that, she is tasked with rescuing Link, armed with the 'Tri Rod', a magic weapon.

The game begins with Link having fallen through a rift into an area called the 'Still World'. Other rifts capture important characters, including the king of Hyrule and his courtiers. Zelda's task is complicated by fake versions of Link and the enemies, including Fanon who has appeared in other games.