Key Takeaways
- Most Legend of Zelda games feature Link, but fans can explore Hyrule as the princess in a variety of titles.
- Zelda is mostly playable in spinoffs like Hyrule Warriors, but she also appears in the mainline entry, Echoes of Wisdom.
Since the release of the first Legend of Zelda in 1987, you've been able to take control of Link countless times as he saves Hyrule and its diverse population from danger. Link offers something new every time, but it would also be nice to have the opportunity to play as someone else instead.
For a long time, fans of the series have wanted Princess Zelda to appear as a playable protagonist in the mainline entry. It would be nice to see a twist on the damsel in distress trope by placing Link in a captive position and the princess of Hyrule as the hero. Luckily, many games, mostly spinoffs and side adventures, allow Zelda to be a playable character.
Updated September 30, 2024 by PJ Molloy: Echoes of Wisdom has finally been released, giving Zelda its first mainline entry. We've updated the list with new information about the princess's exciting new adventures.
8 The Legend of Zelda: Echo of Wisdom
After 37 long years, Zelda finally made her first mainline appearance thanks to Echoes of Wisdom. When a mysterious vortex traps Link in a distorted realm called the Still World, the princess must explore Hyrule to find a way to bring him back.
Not only does this adventure mark the return of the 2D format, it also introduces the Echo feature. With the help of the new Tri Rod, Zelda can create replicas of objects and enemies that can be used to solve puzzles, access hard-to-reach areas, and even fight bosses. This is a brilliant debut work that makes excellent use of the princess's wisdom.
7 Zelda's Adventure
In the early 1990s, Philips created three Zelda games as part of its deal with Nintendo for the CD-i format. The title has become one of the most ridiculed games in the industry, mainly due to its terrible cutscenes and poor controls. The story and combat were also panned by fans and critics alike. But their terrifying quality created instant memes and their legacy endures even today.
The final entry in the trilogy is called Zelda's Adventure, and is a top-down game in which Zelda attempts to save Link from Ganon. It's an interesting artifact if you want to watch terrible FMV cutscenes and experience some of the worst level design ever made.
6 Zelda: Staff of Gamelon
It's hard to believe that while two out of three CD-i games feature a playable version of Zelda, most canon titles have her in a supporting role. Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon isn't much better than Zelda's Adventure. Still, it has some charm and some unintentional humor, so it's worth checking out at least once.
Like Zelda's Adventure, The Wand of Gamelon follows Link and the titular princess on a quest to rescue her father from Ganon. Despite being incredibly cheesy, the animated cutscenes and voice acting are far superior to the FMVs used in other games. As long as you don't take it too seriously, you'll have a decent amount of time with this short adventure.
5 The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Track
In The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Zelda's spirit separates from her body and spends most of the game as Link's traveling companion in his spirit form. Therefore, she possesses the Phantom Guard and can use it to solve puzzles and move Link.
Because of this, Zelda is technically playable in this game. It's a small role, sure, but it's the closest she came to being a playable character in the main series before Echoes of Wisdom was released.
4 Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
Shortly after Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition launched on Nintendo Switch, Omega Force began development on Age of Calamity, another Zelda-inspired spinoff focusing on characters and events from Breath of the Wild. There are fewer modes to play through, but the lengthy campaign lets you revisit Hyrule as your favorite characters, including Princess Zelda.
There are technically two versions of Zelda in Age of Calamity: Scholar Zelda and Awakened Zelda, and they play very differently from each other. The former wields the Sheikah Slate and uses moves like Magnesis and Stasis. The latter can use more traditional weapons such as bows. Playing as Zelda in Age of Calamity is great, but her version in Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition better encapsulates the character's history.
3 hyrule warriors
In 2014, Nintendo made a move no one saw coming by teaming up with Koei Tecmo to create a crossover game between The Legend of Zelda and Dynamise Warriors. Hyrule Warriors uses locations, characters, items, and enemies from the Zelda series and combines them with the hack-and-slash gameplay of Dynay Warriors. It was initially released on the Wii U, with an updated version ported to the 3DS in 2016, and the Definitive Edition port to the Switch in 2018.
You'll be able to play as many fan-favorite characters from the Zelda series, from obvious choices like Midna or Ganondorf to surprising appearances from characters like Agitha and Ravio. But one of the best and most highly regarded fighters is Zelda herself, who sports a great new design. As for weapon choice, you can wield a Rapier, Wind Waker, or Dominion Rod. You can also play as Sheik, Tetra, and Toon Zelda, each with their own unique play style.
2 Cadence of Hyrule
After the success of Hyrule Warriors, Nintendo decided to team up with another studio once again to create a fantastic and underrated Zelda spinoff. In 2019, Nintendo and Brace Yourself Games came together to release Cadence of Hyrule, a rhythm game featuring gameplay from Crypt of the Necrodancer and characters, locations, enemies, and music from The Legend of Zelda series.
Crypt of the Necrodancer was already an amazing game with a very unique playstyle that required you to move, attack, and explore the world to the beat of the music. Cadence of Hyrule builds on Zelda by adding some of its iconic songs and characters. The top-down style and art direction are very reminiscent of early Zelda titles, and lo-fi renditions of familiar songs will rekindle your love of the series' music. What's even better is that you can play as either Link or Zelda and switch between the two.
1 Super Smash Bros.
Of course, the simplest way to play as the Princess of Hyrule is to pick up a Super Smash Bros game. Zelda appears in Super Smash Bros. Participated in battle in Melee. Since then, she and her alter ego, Sheik, have appeared in every entry.
Zelda's design was first introduced in Smash Bros. It changed significantly throughout the series. In Melee, she takes on her adult form in Ocarina of Time. Then in Brawl she shows off her Twilight Princess model. She made her latest update in Ultimate with a design based on her Link Between Worlds outfit.
Fighting games may not be most people's ideal way to play Zelda, but it's always been a constant that gets better with each iteration. And it's pretty satisfying to see the princess destroy Ganondorf along the way.
