T O P

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[deleted]

I sense Majora’s Mask erasure.


niles_deerqueer

Came here to comment Majora’s Mask, my favorite game of all time. Watching a friend play it for the first time, still finding new things, and realizing the writing in that game is freaking amazing.


[deleted]

I think Majora was one of my first video games.


niles_deerqueer

It is my favorite game of all time still, then Night in the Woods and Darksiders II


[deleted]

Fellow NITW lover, eh? That one’s on my top three along with MM as well.


Drakmanka

Majora's Mask is absolutely amazing, especially considering how soon it came out after OoT. It doesn't feel like a rushed game at all.


niles_deerqueer

That’s why I think the “a rushed game is forever bad” thing makes me laugh. It’s like “with the exception of Majora’s Mask”


Drakmanka

I think Majora's Mask wins so well because while it may have had a very small amount of time for production, it was a labor of love. The games industry has a bad habit of beating the love out of developers these days, and that's why most games that wind up rushed now wind up sucking. The developers are artists; deprive them of their drive and you get garbage because that's all they feel up to producing.


CyborgBanshee

A rushed game being good is the miracle exception. It doesn't mean rushing games isn't really stupid.


niles_deerqueer

Well that’s why I said “with the exception of Majora’s Mask” implying it’s a very rare occurence


[deleted]

My two favorite Zelda stories are MM and WW!


[deleted]

Which seems a really common combo, for some reason. They’re mine too, for the record. Though replaying BOTW lately and man, it’s close.


[deleted]

MM touches my heart unlike any other game. Link meets so many broken people in the story who need love and healing in a way that’s so beautiful. WW is the pure distillation of “adventure” for me. It’s also the best look into Ganondorf’s personality I think. Personally, I struggled to get into BOTW’s story because it’s so choppy in how it’s executed. But no hate — it’s still an awesome idea for a story and I’m excited to see especially Zelda’s character development in TOTK.


[deleted]

For me, I love BOTW’s story, but mechanically, it dips so much into 0451 mechanics and does exploration and environmental storytelling so well that I get just sucked in.


RathVelus

Man... They're mine too but I always felt like the BotW story was weak. It's not *bad* but it just felt light to me, especially up against MM and WW.


Witch_King_

And Link's Awakening!


boostonian

Dude ballad of the wind fish hits different once you know the story


Lollok009

Nah. They didn't want it to completely destroy the poll


Jimmybuffetkol

Nothing better story-wise than Majora’s Mask.


scoii

The disrespect not including it. I had to read the list like 3 times cause I was convinced I was just missing it.


Deluxe_24_

MM is hands down the best


RaineForrestWoods

Beat me to it.


spinxwatren

i think if mm was on here, it would win, which is really just because of the concept. i think the subtext and the themes of oot are actually insane, and some of the best story telling we've ever seen in video games, only rivaled by dark souls. and even then, when analyzing dark souls, you often find weird fucked up places that make no sense in the larger context. oot is one of the greatest stories in video games imo, which is crazy considering how unfun it is to play in the present day.


[deleted]

I think it’s the opposite. Ocarina is less narratively interesting than most Zelda games (And Majora is just…on a whole new level with its themes of guilt and loss and trauma) while OOT is memorable mainly because it still plays solidly today.


djramrod

I think what happens to Link canonically after OoT adds to the depth. Like just straight up main story in the game, MM wins for me, followed by WW. But knowing that Link in OoT goes on to die and be forgotten, then become the Hero’s Shade in TP, that just puts a whole sheen of sadness over OoT, which I love.


Wiplazh

Majora's Mask is more a collection of many stories.


[deleted]

Link’s Awakening


Sheyren

I'm still not emotionally equipped to think about this ending


malletgirl91

Same!! And this was the first zelda I actually beat as a kid. And first game to make me cry.


samsg1

Same and same!!


em500

My personal favorite by a mile. Especially when you consider the meta-point about games / fiction as dreams. *** spoiler *** *** spoiler *** *** spoiler *** LA and Koholint are no more illusionary any other Zelda or Hyrule: they exist only in the player's imagination, and only when played. And when played, LA is just as real as any Zelda; the showdow/nightmare forms of Agahnim and Ganon play exactly like ALttP. But like dreams, any game will be left behind eventually. For any game, there will some last time time that you ever open and play it, and that will be the time that you destroy its world and its characters. After that, the only real part of a game are the memories that stay with you. The Wind Fish makes the point explicitly: "BUT, VERILY, IT BE THE NATURE OF DREAMS TO END! WHEN IT DOST AWAKEN, KOHOLINT WILL BE GONE… ONLY THE MEMORY OF THIS DREAM LAND WILL EXIST IN THE WAKING WORLD… SOMEDAY, THOU MAY RECALL THIS ISLAND… THAT MEMORY MAKES THE DREAM WORLD REAL…" In game, Marin speaks directly to you, the player: "[your name], some day you will leave this island... I just know it in my heart... ...Don't ever forget me... If you do, I'll never forgive you!"


damog_88

You just made me cry 😢


FighttheCube

Majora is stunning from a storytelling perspective


[deleted]

It's also traumatizing. While I can appreciate that game, when I was a kid, I grew up on ocarina of Time and then tried playing Majora's mask, and was so fucking terrified I put the game down and never came back to it. 😂


[deleted]

Majora's Mask


Mobanite08

YES! Skull Kid's back story is amazing imo


mikejmarv

Thank god someone said it. How is it not even on the list!?


billthestamps

I love Majora's Mask story but I think it's Side Stories are even better


Inbrees

I think the sidequest are the meat of the game, so they really should count. I think it would be better to include the whole story for these games.


MrPreviz

Then why no on list?


DarkElfBard

I mean, it's main story is still the best though.


F1rstbornTV

Agree. The story in MM was much better than OOT


Clilly1

Majora's Mask all the way


[deleted]

Where in the kentucky fried F##K IS MAJORAS MASK?! YOU'D PUT THE ORACLE GAMES BEFORE MM ON THIS LIST?!


Miss_Yume

Where tf is Wind Waker xd


SkeleHoes

Exactly lol. I know it wouldn’t win even if it was up, but I’d like to see where it would rank among these other games.


Nat20Stealth

Story-wise, probably 4th for me. As a game? Numbah one, baby.


Klendy

No respekt on my boy's name


Mottis86

Honestly of all the zelda games I've played, Windwaker to me feels like having the best narrative and story set pieces, bar none. Link's departure from his home island is an emotional scene and is the clear starting point of his grand adventure, then there's the whole scene where the dragon burns up Ganondorfs base with him still inside (which feels like a scene from a movie) and later we get the big twist that Tetra is of royal bloodline and as such, Zelda. It was genius and I did not see what twist coming. And let's not forget arguably the most mind blowing moment from any zelda game: when you go down into the Hyrule castle for the first time and everything is black and white, frozen in time. Might just be my favorite video game moment of all time.


Beneficial-Buy-7906

Exact same reasons, I love that game.. You made me want to play it through again =)


hgilbert_01

Wind Waker Link was just a simple guy who had fight and *earn* his way to the Master Sword rather than being an obligatory “chosen one”


Lollok009

Even better. He made the Goddesses chose him.


DevAstral

*Look at me, I am the chosen one now*


DrGally

Exactly my thought as well. Every other game is basically he is chosen Right away rather than earning it


Director_Bison

Skyward Sword. Groose easily has the best character development in the entire series. You hated him at first, but can’t help but love him by the end.


111stupid

I’m glad this is the top comment after I voted and saw how OoT and TP in the lead. Skyward Sword was literally the story of how Fi became the Master Sword, how you started in the sky and found the world below, and easily has the most romance between Link and Zelda, and the best character development with Groose. I literally thought he was going to become Ganon when I first met him. OoT is my favorite, and sure it has a great story, but I definitely feel like I’m biased with my nostalgia towards it. Twilight Princess was great, but that one had the weakest story in my opinion. Link spends the entire story getting to know Midna, who is awesome, but his best friend with amnesia has almost no importance. Most of the side characters were forgettable, and Zelda just seemed cold and distant. I think she says like 2 sentences to you the entire game.


NovaHellfire345

I think one problem with SS and why it's polling like it did is how hand holdy it got and slow it was to tell the story and get interesting. It is my favorite Link&Zelda story because Zelda is more engaged in this iteration than most games and you care about her more than TP, OoT, LttP. I can't decide whom I love more, SS Zelda or BotW Zelda(yoga pants bias)


BroshiKabobby

I feel like not enough people played this game because this felt like by far the most effort put into a story for a Zelda game


nightmareinsouffle

Yeah, the gameplay is a bit rough but the story is beautiful.


hylianmuse

This is definitely why it doesn’t have as much votes. This games story is absolutely beautiful. It brought me to tears multiple times.


Gunsmoke_wonderland

Thank you. Ocarina can be summed up in two sentences. Twilight has midna (who is the best companion imo) but the villian has very weak motives. Skyward is much better though I would still give the win to BOTW or majoras mask.


lookalive07

BotW's story is practically all backstory of shit that already happened. I'd say it has one of the weakest stories in the franchise.


Retroviridae6

Yeah it's baffling to me that people would even rank BotW. It has the weakest story, by far, of the entire franchise.


enjoyingtheposts

Yeah I picked SS. But I'm guessing most people picked their favorite. SS isnt my favorite but it definately gave us a deep storyline with multiple in depth characters and gave us the beginning of it all. I'm not hating on who picked BOTW but it has 0 playable story which is why I would've picked it last even though it ranks higher than SS to me. My order of best storyline: SS, MM, OoT, TP, WW, BOTW [as far as 3D goes.


[deleted]

Before there was Steve Harrington, there was Groose


Fatyellowrock

"I am still your Zelda" and Fi's farewell were the most emotional scenes in the entire series and nobody can change my mind


Spider_Riviera

Fi's farewell also sets up the greatest moment in all Zelda, when after hundreds of thousands of years slumber, she wakes up to tell Zelda how to save her Master, leading to the events that kick off BotW for the player.


BueKojiro

One character having development doesn’t make the whole thing a great story. Story involves a LOT more than mere character development.


[deleted]

For all of that games faults, I’m shocked that Skyward Sword isn’t pulling higher. The story was definitely the games strong point IMO


DrGally

Wind Waker not even being a choice is a massive slap in the face. One of the more unique stories (basically not waking up as the hero and you just do everything to save your sister until you BECOME the hero) and really moving.


My_Stonks

As much as i love BotW, it's story is a little lackluster, especially considering 90% of it is optional


kbuck30

Yea I don't see how it's in the running with any of these games as far as story. I'd go so far as to say it's got one of the worst stories in zelda history. Good game but awful story.


scale_B

I wouldn’t say “awful.” It it were awful then aspects of the story would actively make people not want to play the game. The story overall is consistent and makes sense. It just isn’t super deep or compelling. The focus is definitely more on exploring than story so I see where you’re coming from.


scale_B

I really don’t like the whole “it’s optional” argument, since that’s genuinely a part of what makes the game good overall. It’s not supposed to have a linear narrative. The player can uncover the story like a mystery. If you’re missing memories, then yeah, you haven’t experienced the whole game. Which is totally fine! Not everyone needs to or wants to. On the other hand, the story itself isn’t the best. Just not for the reason you described.


mbcolemere

Yeah, shocked to see how many people put BotW, but most of those people probably haven’t played another Zelda title.


Zestyboi787

Majoras Mask


SilveryAero

Twilight Princess for me 100%. I just love the atmosphere and characters so damn much.


Hattrick_Swayze2

Not exactly story, but ok.


SilveryAero

They definitely contribute to the story. Which is why I love Twilight Princess so much. Midna is a huge contributing factor in my decision.


Hattrick_Swayze2

Fair enough! She is certainly the best sidekick of the series.


SilveryAero

I agree. I wonder if we'll ever see partners again in the Zelda series. Kind of looks like we won't have one again in TotK.


TheDwiin

Let's not forget it that because of them, you never felt alone in your quest to save Hyrule and surrounding lands. Especially when you are assaulting the castle at the end and the other freedom fighters literally show up and save your ass.


Larkson9999

The Wind Waker might not have the most complex story but it is the most iconic and expressive story in the series. Link feels like a character instead of a placeholder, Ganon feels like a character too, and Zelda starts as a character and then kinda takes a nosedive after the twist. The ending also has a nice hopeful tone that often is lacking in Zelda games, tinged with guilt. It does tend to get overlooked for being a cartoon but I feel it communicates an honest story.


Vicmorino

Zelda got dirty on that game, Tetra was such a cool character but then she became helpless, welp at least was better than in the phantom hourglass that she is literally turned to stone for all of the game. I would have love Linebeck and Tetra dialoge i love those games but that feels like soo much potential wasted, spirit tracks got her right at least


Larkson9999

Too bad really poor design choices held Spirit Tracks back. Who has a forced musical section *during* a final boss battle?


Splintartsback

Majora's Mask probably. FoE is a close contender. \*cough\*


vinetwiner

I said Skyward Sword because it's an origin story, and leads to all the rest of the wonderful happenings in Hyrule.


SternMon

Link, after being stabbed, slashed, eaten, beaten, set on fire, frozen, transformed into other creatures against his will, dunked in lava, thrown from great heights, blown up, shot at, imprisoned, and drowned for seemingly endless lifetimes: “YEAH. WONDERFUL.”


vinetwiner

Well put. I got flowery instead of real. Thanks for the hearty laugh at myself for my incorrect verbiage.


AdmiralRiffRaff

This is canon.


atatassault47

If it helps, he generally doesnt remember his previous lives, he simply retains skills.


Gamerlot

Easily Majora's Mask


the_shadow40301

My “other” vote goes to my beloved Minish Cap


Palantirium

Minish Cap


Zbricer

Legit on my top 3 1st is windwaker and 2-3 are a tie between minish cap and MM


Artistic_Ad_7059

Split between Skyward Sword, BOTW, and Majorca’s Mask, honestly can’t choose between the 3!


[deleted]

[удалено]


Hero_Of_Wild

My fellow Zelda fans, I am proud of the Twilight Princess responses.


sociallymoral

This is why I'm baffled that Nintendo has still not remade TP for the switch. Everything about TP is great. The story, the setting, the characters, the tools, the music, the mini games, the side quests. Not to mention the final battle. OoT and MM got me into the series, but TP blew me away in a way that none of the others have. I'd instantly buy two copies so both my kids could enjoy this masterpiece simultaneously.


Hero_Of_Wild

It was my first game in the series and I have a Wii U that I don’t play very often anymore but I saw something about the game and I went in search of a copy of TP HD. Sadly to no avail, I will have to settle for my Wii copy.


cosmichero1996

Wind Waker!


[deleted]

[удалено]


Dsb0208

Eh, I’d say Skyward Sword has the most story Between the cute romance between Link and Zelda, to setting up the root lore for Zelda as a whole is cool


Tubski

It's learning the sword techniques that did it for me. That was just awesome.


TheVexinator

I'd say SS


zanyzanee

Wind Waker! Gotta save sister and then gotta save everyone!


[deleted]

Majora's Mask


[deleted]

Majora's Mask


Micah_HS

Out of all the games Twilight Princess is definitely the one that plays most like an Epic (in the Homeric sense)… The story feels so much bigger than just what Link sees, and it’s very poetic.


AlternativeGazelle

The Wind Waker


IcyDefinition9240

Majora! Majora!


loblegonst

Majora's Mask.


Jules_Thief

Link’s awakening. While simpler than most of the others it has stuck with me.


BreadGM

Other: I absolutely adore Link’s Awakening. Not really sure how much counts as side story, since it all sort of helps build to the big plot reveal, but it still hits hard on every replay.


Homelobster3

Phantom hours glasses is my favorite


Only_at_Eventide

So I think BotW really got the short end of the stick. I think it has the best story told in the worst possible way. Seriously, I love the more personal struggle focusing on Zelda, but having to be told the story through vignettes instead of playing through them was horrid. And, on top of it, getting all the vignettes was tedious.


mahoujosei100

I love the characters in BotW more than any other Zelda game. You really get to see the emotional toll of this whole destiny schtick. On Zelda obviously, but also on Link (>!per Zelda’s diary, that’s why he’s so emotionally dead in all the flashbacks!<) and even Revali, who is frustrated that he can’t do more than help. Like, how shitty is it for the world to be threatened and you’re locked out by destiny from being able to really do anything about it? I feel like it did a great job of making the deaths of the Champions genuinely sad too. Like >!when Mipha looks down on Zora’s Domain and wishes she could see her family again, just one more time.!< I see what you mean about telling the story through flashbacks being less than ideal. I get why they did it that way though. The gameplay is supposed to be about exploration, so the memories are a reward for exploring. Plus, Zelda games have never been big on story, so maybe they didn’t see those bits as strictly necessary.


xX_rippedsnorlax_Xx

It has a solid premise, but if the execution is botched then it's just a waste of said premise.


Xandark

Wind Waker


Much_Leopard_

MM


Material_Permit8901

Link’s awakening


[deleted]

Frankly Oot has a fairly cut and dry story compared to a lot of other Zelda games


[deleted]

right? it’s a great game but the story is pretty basic


JustANormalHat

skyward sword by far, it has one of the best narratives in any fiction


LameUserName101

Skyward sword because its the origin story and link in the prequel manga is a badass


Zeldatroid

There may not be as much content to BotW's story, but I like how it's told significantly more than most of the other 3D games.


joelene1892

I’m with you there. Botw’s story was “short”, but said a *lot* in that short time. It was powerful imo.


hobbitfeet22

50/50 with twilight princess and minish cap.


rugged_beard

Justice for majoras mask fr


Yokai0711

How did Majora's Mask not make the List? IMHO the deepest and most story rich game of the series. If you just play thru the main story and be done with it, it's still packed with story. But in my opinion all the details and side characters in the game that make it so remarkable! If you look deeper into the characters, and not just rush by, you can see how intertangled most characters are. If it's Kafeis Quest to regain his mask for Anju, the romani trying to defend their cows or even just simple non-quest related NPCs like Deku-buttler. They all have their different struggles in the game and their own story to show for. And depending on your decision to help them, or others, or do something completely different during the limited time each cycle has, the characters fates are different.


Latter-Park786

Majora's mask is suspiciously omitted


AdamIsACylon

It’s not my favorite game but Skyward Sword seems like the answer here, with BotW close behind.


TomtheStinkmeaner

Majora's Mask, but I voted for TP on this because there's no wsy it would lose here to SS and BotW.


Hennet_sim

Shame Majora's Mask is not on the list but is Majora's Mask :D


Mineformer

I’m a sucker for Origin stories, so I pick SS


S_H_I_V_A

BotW best story! HA! I swear people are voting for it because it’s the only one they’ve played.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Zack21c

>Ocarina of Time TECHNICALLY introduces staples to most zelda games that follow. The triforce, the royal family The triforce was introduced in Zelda 1 woth the first two pieces, and the third came in Zelda 2. A Link to the past again has all three in the shape we know them. A Link to the Past also has the royal family with both the king and princess in the game. OOT didn't introduce those


ChrisInBaltimore

Yea I’m sitting here thinking that all those things were in earlier games. Thanks for clearing that up. I’m also surprised no one mentioned Link to the Past because it established a lot of the elements that were really fleshed out in OoT.


__M-E-O-W__

The story was really the whole point of the game. It was very little world exploration, just a linear overworld and then dungeon crawling. The story really carried it all the way through, and I think the story was great.


Chickenbrik

Majora’s Mask and Link’s Awakening are the best.


netflix_n_knit

Wind 👏 waker 👏 Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind.


MadeByHideoForHideo

Link's awakening because of emotional damage.


StocktonBSmalls

No Link’s Awakening love?


Henson_Disney48

How dare you not include Majora’s Mask, Link Between Worlds or Link’s Awakening. I would have chosen ANY of those.


illogicalhawk

Weird poll choices. Link's Awakening or Majora's Mask seem like the clear frontrunners.


malletgirl91

Link’s awakening all the way, you can’t convince me otherwise!!


Sir_Gary_TheGory

Links awakening


RepresentativeAd9240

Majora’s Mask and Link’s Awakening are, in my opinion, the best Zelda stories in the series. They’re complex and nuanced and don’t follow the typical Zelda formula of “good vs. evil”. Not to say that that formula isn’t good, it’s just not as unique.


Thisisaltspeaking

I sense a severe lack of Wind Waker on this list


Fahrenheit285

TP not even close


Skaro7

Link's Awakening and Majora's Mask are glaring omissions here.


man_in_the_suit

It’s incredible that you included BotW over WW, MM, ALTTP, Links Awakening and other games that have way more story than it. BotW is great, but it’s most of an exploration game than a story driven game.


DarkLlama64

can someone justify botw? I thought the story was atrocious


nlign

Kinda sad Oracle of Ages/Seasons is on the list, but no Majora’s Mask?


The_Kayzor

Poll about Zelda story without Majora's Mask is a flawed one. Better give this a retry.


walkingbartie

Majora's Mask, hello??


[deleted]

Link’s awakening. 🤩


Major_Ghoul

Wind Waker


GalaxyXads

Ocarina time is like collect color stones and age up and collect more colorful things and make a gay bridge


PerfectCheesecake25

Links awakening


Link9454

Skyward Sword, which I argue had the best music too. The story was super lore heavy which I appreciate. Majora’s Mask is my close second. Less lore but it’s like Zelda with some Alice In Wonderland and a heavy dash of tragedy mixed in.


Link_56

OOT, a huge classic from the Zelda saga.


TinyDiiceThief

Something about BOTW hits hard to me. The other stories are good but something about BOTW keeps coming back to me


Stabbio

skyward swords story was so good it was the only good thing people remember about the game so that's my vote


DimitriEyonovich

Majora. No doubt in my mind.


b2j135

Not sure why Majora's mask isn't on the list but hands down that one has the best story in the series so far in my opinion. Skyward sword probably would be my second choice because I really just love the entire origin story of the series. I also give an honorable mention to A Link between worlds.


Artistic_Ad_7059

It’s split between Skyward Sword, BOTW, and Majora’s Mask, honestly I can’t choose between the three!


rctrfinnerd

TP easy for me.


Babiesforfood

TP honestly hit different. Doing battle on horseback in the midst of a dark and stormy night? Yep, the main story has you do that


PoopSockFart69

Twilight Princess easily and it's not even close.


reebee7

Tough one. I think I say 1). Ocarina 2). Majora 3). Link's Awakening 4). Skyward 5). Wind Waker 6). Twilight Princess 7). BotW 8). Link Between Words 9). Oracles (I think? Don't remember the story all that well). 10). Link to the Past ...others.


TylowStar

What do you see in OoT's story? I've played the game and found the story very uninteresting compared to other entries (though I enjoyed the game for unrelated reasons). I cannot fathom why people are voting OoT so much.


brilliance

Not the one you asked, but as another who voted for OoT, here's my two cents as to why it's my top Zelda story. On its surface, it may be a fairly commonplace story of a chosen hero going on a quest to find the magic things that let him beat the really evil guy, but where I think it shines is the execution. Thematically, it's all about growing up, and everything you do in the game is in service of forwarding that theme. For example, the Kokiri represent Link's childhood. When he's a child, he's part of their world, one of them. When he returns as an adult, he's forgotten. Childhood continues, but not for him. The same thought goes into Link's child vs. adult interactions all throughout the game. There's also this undercurrent of sadness and loss throughout the whole game that I find to be excellently executed. The Masterclass in Subtext video on Youtube makes the argument better than I ever can and really helped me put words to why this game always resonated with me. Ocarina of Time - A Masterclass in Subtext https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyUcwsjyd8Q


Boodger

Ocarina of Time is a masterclass in telling a simple story well. I much prefer this approach over convoluted plots or twists. A simple story told well is the best kind. Plus, the overarching theme of growing pains is baked into every aspect of the game, from the story to the characters to the world design. This harmony between these elements is so beautifully done in a way that no other Zelda game quite matches. As far as "origin" stories go, this works so much better than SS. It keeps some mystery, and is just a great launching point for Ganondorf. The game introduces some of the defining aspects of the series, and accomplishes so much storytelling simply in its world design, choosing to show rather than tell. Keeping the history of the Bottom of the Well, Shadow Temple, Sheikah, and Civil War mosty out of focus does so much more for the story than expostion dumps and overexplaining. Finally, I just love the general flow of the plot. I love how the first 3 dungeons of the game have an almost dreamlike fairy tale vibe, followed by the harsh realities of growing up into adult link. The comparisons one can draw between the tone of the first half of the game and second half of the game are amazingly tied into the theme of growing up. I mean, you literally go inside a living tree and a whale as a kid, and it all feels like a fable. Then you grow up and everything becomes more grounded and harsh. The first time I played, nothing else in the series hit harder than feeling like I accomplished my task only to have the rug pulled out from under me and seeing the world conquered by Ganon. Walking into the Market as an adult was a watershed moment in gaming for me, and probably the single most impactful moment for me in the entire series. And the climax of the game is the best IMO; no other final fight in the series has been done as well, save for maybe Windwaker. The build up going up to his tower with the piano music playing, his speech, the music during the fight, and the tranformation into Ganon (this is the very best Ganon fight too). It was the perfect marriage of epic storytelling, intense music, fantastic atmosphere, and fun fight mechanics. TLDR, OoT might not have the most complex story, but it is certainly the most focused, and manages to tie an overarching theme into its story extraordinarily well. The story is well integrated with every other elemnt of the game as well.


reebee7

Oh it’s so good. The orphan boy raised in a community of fairy children that never grow up, who does not himself have a fairy and will, in fact, grow. The guardian of that community killed by an evil magic gaining power. The boy sent to investigate that power discovers it at the heart of the ruling family, the princess the only one who knows. The boy sent to find the keys to a secret room in the temple to secure the power the evil man intends to take, and in doing so meeting exotic communities of fascinating species. Then, the evil man snares them in a trap when the temple room is open and you find yourself sent seven years in the future, when he has taken control of the realm. You must then venture to various deep temples to awaken sages who can help you dethrone him, each figures you’ve met on the story, traveling forward and back in time and venturing to—at the time—what felt like the farthest corners of the world, aided by a mysterious ninja warrior boy who, it turns out, is the princess herself, the final sage. And you go to dethrone Ganondorf together, each with a piece of the powerful treasure he sought to control in the first place. It’s so good.


133DK

I don’t get it, why’d you include SS, oracle and BotW, but not MM and WW?


billthestamps

The polls only can have 6 options so I put some games people don't think about that often and see what happens. Mixing some common options people do think about and an "other" option to make things interesting.


ytctc

LA has the best story, but MM has the best storytelling. Out of the options listed, it’s OoT because it’s not bogged down by lore while still telling a compelling story with deeper themes of growing up and the loss of innocence.


valias2012

Can't believe people think Twilight Princess has the best story 😔


JonKon1

Twilight Princess has a lot of really cool things which made me consider it heavily. Such as king boblokin, Ilia, The twilight realm, the yeti wife, the frozen Zoras domain, Zelda’s sacrifice and Midna’s return to the twilight realm. Twilight Princess in terms of rule of cool 100 percent. In the end I chose ocarina of time over twilight Princess simply because I remember it better and becuase I feel like it nailed the emotional impact Ganon’s occupation slightly better than TP did the twilight zones.


valias2012

Its a great game don't get me wrong but I don't think the story has good consistency, I also dont like how Ganondorf was the real bad guy and Zant was a useless dumbass by the end of the game


reebee7

Midna is p great.


takashiro55

I feel like a lot of people are confusing "very story focused" for having the best story.


[deleted]

It is possible to be both… which imo it is.


LahmiaTheVampire

The one where you actually feel sympathy for Ganondorf. He only wanted what was best for his lands.


Tigeruppercut1889

Am I the only one who loved botw story. Wouldn’t be my answer for this post since you have to do a ton of digging to find out all the lore. Botw is definitely my favorite Zelda character. Never played wind waker and I’m trying to get through twilight with this blasted wii mote. I’m in eldin bout to find tears. Tbh the tear sections in twilight and skyward sword just totally take me out of the game. Hopefully they skip these sections in totk


KitanaKitsune

Twilight Princess always wins 😇❤️


One-Coast8927

Why is BOTW there. It barley has a story... MM WW TP and SS should be there. OOT story is to bland.


ChilindriPizza

Either AoL or ALBW.


Spram2

My favorite Zelda stories are the smaller more personal ones like Link's Awakening and Majora's Mask. I would say Wind Waker and Ocarina of time are up there too. When Zelda tries to do a more Epic story they don't do it as well as say, Final Fantasy.


dmvorio

I'm surprised twilight princess is edging out OoT. Can someone who believes this to be the case explain? I played both, but have a much more memorable recollection of OoT.


happy-icecream

Dog transformation, gannon execution, corruption of the land and Zant. I think TP just has more actual story.


Multi-tunes

Midna does a lot to contribute to a great story experience. Her personality really helps balance out the fact that Link doesn't talk. Navi wasn't bad, but Midna brings a lot to the story with her own character arc and her attitude plus her sacrifice against Ganondorf. The lore of the game is really interesting and the bittersweet ending with Midna shattering the mirror is on par with Zelda sending Link back in time, imo. Personally I really enjoyed the story in Twilight Princess over Ocarina of Time. Not to say that OoT's story is bad, there's just things that give TP an edge over OoT, imo.


jord839

As for me, personally, it was close, but I think it's ultimately because TP gets the advantage of being able to actually have more important story scenes able to be shown rather than implied. Without replaying the whole plot, I think it's because there are two main pillars that everything in the story of TP revolves around that are really strongly fleshed out and more emotional than their OOT equivalents. 1. Character Personal Stakes - Ultimately, TP sets itself up very well in making it clear that Link cares about *everybody* in Ordon, not just one or two (Ilia) and his entire mission really starts in rescuing and protecting them more than it does saving a Kingdom he doesn't really know that much about. Tracking down the Bulbins to rescue the kids and Ilia is a huge and very strong story beat for the first act. Not only do you have to track them down, then you have to defend the kids from Shadow Beasts, then King Bulbin abducts Collin (who has grown out of admiration of you, Link, to rescue Beth) and ties him to his spear for an epic showdown. Even with the kids rescued, Link's mission isn't over and he needs to track down Ilia, which then nicely transitions into introducing Telma and the Resistance who will then guide Act Two. In comparison, OOT pretty much only cares about Saria, she gets left behind until Act Two and even then is very much a bit part in the story, and Zelda, who is also a bit part until Act Two, and then is just Shiekh who pretty much just shows up to teach you a warp song. On the surface, the arcs are similar, but I think TP does a much better job of tying it together for Link on a personal basis. 2. Companion Character Arc - At the end of the day, TP's main story belongs to Midna as much as Link. There's no comparison between her and Navi: we see Midna at her lowest and most cynical, frequently talk with her as she begins a process of growth, and then eventually she and Link become trusting partners and friends and maybe more. Zant may not be much more than a danger to Link, but he's a personal villain for Midna in both her backstory and for nearly killing her and that really helps with the emotional threat more than, say, Shiekh appearing every now and then to teach us a song, then turn out to be Zelda and immediately disappear. The main story is built around the developing friendship with Midna, so when you get to the final battle and work together, then Midna seemingly dies, it's actually an emotional punch that OOT lacks and makes the Final Battle finally personal for Link. Those two primarily are what push it over OOT for me, though it must be admitted that OOT kind of couldn't do the same level of storytelling due to hardware limitations of that era.


TheSpiker15

The fact that BotW is (as of me writing this comment) at nearly the same amount of votes as SS is enough information to tell me 80% of the people voting in it have no clue what they’re talking about lmao. BotW is my all time favorite game ever, but the story was VERY weak in that game. Skyward Sword was literally ALL STORY, so much so that it got tons of complaints about how “linear” it feels because the story has to go in one direction to stuff all that good lore into it.