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GamesRadar
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Josh West

The Legend of Zelda celebration

Countdown to The Legend of Zelda tears of the kingdom asset showing multiple games in the Zelda franchise

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is going to let us explore Hyrule like never before on May 12, 2023. Nintendo may be building upon the foundations it established in Zelda: Breath of the Wild for this long-awaited sequel to one of the best Switch games, but the publisher is really celebrating 37 years of adventuring alongside Link and his friends. That's why Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to be truly Big in 2023 – and why we wanted to do something to celebrate.

As we countdown to Tears of the Kingdom, we are exploring the history and legacy of The Legend of Zelda. From its humble Famicom beginnings in 1986 to its bold 3D reinvention in Ocarina Of Time and the generation-defining Breath Of The Wild. Whether your first steps into Hyrule were through the 8-bit era or the expansive open world kingdoms we've explored in more recent installments, we've all had a shared experience. There's always a Link, a Zelda, and a great evil to overcome. That's what we'll be celebrating here with you in the weeks to come.

In this special series, GamesRadar+ has joined forces with its friends at Retro Gamer to dive into every The Legend of Zelda game, exploring what makes each of them so special and beloved to this day. Zelda creators will also take you behind the scenes and share their insights into the development process of some of the most iconic games in the series. If you're a fan, we're sure you'll enjoy the trip through time. If you're a newcomer, we hope this gives you a newfound appreciation of the series ahead of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. 

Countdown to Tears of the Kingdom

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The Ultimate Guide to The Legend of Zelda games


(Image credit: Nintendo)

Best Zelda Games: After 37 years, there is no shortage of games to try in The Legend of Zelda series, from the 8-bit quests which inspired our imaginations to the open world adventures which encourage experimentation and exploration. But some of Link's trips through Hyrule are better than others, which is why we've worked to rank the 10 best Zelda games which we believe you should play today. 


(Image credit: Nintendo)

Games like Zelda: Struggling to deal with the wait for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom? We don't blame you, it's a nightmare. So instead of staring at a countdown timer for the next few weeks, why not jump into some of these games like Zelda. We've highlighted some of our favorite story-driven RPGs which are full of beautiful worlds to explore and a spirit of adventure that you won't forget. 


(Image credit: Nintendo)

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom guide


(Image credit: Nintendo)

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom pre-order: Tears of the Kingdom looks set to be a celebration of The Legend of Zelda series, and so it's no surprise to see Nintendo offering up some fantastic collector's items for those of you who are willing to put down a pre-order on the new release. Here's everything you need to know about the different versions of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom going on sale in May. 


(Image credit: Nintendo)

Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch OLED pre-order: Nintendo is releasing a limited edition The Legend of Zelda Switch OLED console in celebration of Tears of the Kingdom – it's a thing of beauty. It's also proving difficult to find, with pre-order allocations quickly running dry. Thankfully, we are tracking all of the major retailers closely so that we can let you know when more stock is available. 


(Image credit: Nintendo)

How 'Adventure Mario' evolved into The Legend Of Zelda

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