The Best Zelda

POSTED ON:  March 8, 2025

by: abby

In a franchise that has spanned decades and generations, one character has been consistent through almost all of the games: Zelda, Princess of Hyrule. Often thought of as a passive character in the series, many incarnations of Zelda have actually had an impact on their own stories that rivals that of their hero counterpart, Link. When trying to determine the best Zelda, there are hundreds of considerations that must be made.

Which is the most powerful Zelda? Which Zelda had the biggest impact on her story? Which Zelda is the coolest, the prettiest, the most fun to interact with? All of these and more can be combined to point to the “best.” And honestly, depending on the day, my answer to this question may consistently change.

When the question was first posed, my immediate instinct was to think of Ocarina of Time Zelda. She plays an incredibly active role in the story, though many players spend most of the game unaware that the strange figure known as Sheik is actually the very princess that Link is trying to save. She guides Link through the temples, granting him knowledge enough to gather the sages together, and deals the final blow to Ganon at the very end of the game. But while she is definitely one of the most iconic Zeldas, she is not quite my favorite.

Two other Zeldas are vying for that top spot, namely Twilight Princess Zelda and Breath of the Wild Zelda. The Twilight Princess herself feels the most regal, the most connected to the politics and magic of her people. She is a capable leader, a wise tactician, and she knows what moves to make to ensure the victory for Hyrule. Breath of the Wild Zelda, also well-versed in what it takes to be a princess, makes sacrifice after sacrifice for her people to protect them from the impending Calamity Ganon, even when it means giving up her own life for that cause. Both of these princesses make incredible decisions to give their lives and their spirits to Hyrule, and should be counted amongst the best.

Then, there are two princesses that do not feel like princesses at all during their stories. Skyward Sword Zelda and Wind Waker Zelda do not carry their royal titles through the majority, if not the entirety, of their games. But the parts they play are just as important in helping Link along his journey. Wind Waker Zelda, also known as Tetra, provides Link with enough gumption and drive to get him through many of the trials that he would have had to otherwise face alone. She joins Link in the final fight against Ganondorf, and she wields her powers as well as she wields her wit. Skyward Sword Zelda, the very first Zelda to understand her role as the incarnation of Hylia herself, willingly gives up her life to maintain the seal over Demise so Link can destroy him for good. She is the first to bear the reincarnation curse that is placed upon her spirit, and she maintains a smile through it all, despite her circumstances.

But the princess that, in my opinion, just barely makes it into the top spot is Princess Zelda from Tears of the Kingdom.

Yes, while technically she is still the same Zelda from Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom Zelda has grown and changed enough that she is almost a different princess entirely. No longer does she have a kingdom and a destiny hanging over her head. Instead, she is free to make her own destiny alongside her knight. She has used her skills to develop a school in Hateno, create bonds between the races of Hyrule, and conduct research alongside the Sheikah scientists in order to create a better world for her people. Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom is thriving and bursting with new life, and I believe that Zelda has played a significant part in that.

Because of her newfound confidence, Tears of the Kingdom Zelda, when sent back in time to the era of Hyrule’s founding, she is able to make one of the hardest decisions that any Zelda has had to make: she willingly sacrifices herself, knowing that she will likely never return to her body, in order to bring the sword that Link needs back to him. Few other Zeldas have made sacrifices of this magnitude, and this choice shows that Tears of the Kingdom Zelda is one of the most selfless and brave of them all.

Whether she is holding back the forces of evil, fighting side-by-side with Link, or protecting the Master Sword, Zelda will always be one of the biggest driving forces of this franchise. And Tears of the Kingdom Zelda, through her bravery, intelligence, and undeniable selflessness, is undoubtedly a culmination of what it means to be Hyrule’s princess.