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[Oblivion]

That being said, if we want to make a case for actual worst - I think the original might kind of fit the bill. I don't mean it's a bad game - it was absolutely groundbreaking, spellbinding, etc etc - but in terms of design it's by far the most obtuse and unintuitive. That's understandable since it's the first in a now well-established series. They were trying new things and the series got refined as it went on, but seriously, the original Zelda is rough if you strip it of historical context. Which, to be fair - is how it should be, considering it's the very first one.

Ooh, this is gonna make you a few enemies. But I totally agree. That and Zelda 2. Both games are rough, primitive and clunky (2 is also just straight up badly designed). There's plenty of other Zeldas I also dislike, like nearly all the handheld games (especially those garbage DS games), but even those I'd rather play than the two NES games. I just can't.

 

[TriAceJP]

You should really pay attention to his other opinions, let me tell you 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

I have made a terrible mistake.

 

[Aldric]

l'll go with Skyward Sword. Phantom Hourglass had some really rough spots and the temple of the ocean king was a massive pain but Skyward Sword was just a bloated mess. lt's not even about the controls which worked decently for the most part, but the pacing, structure of the game and the gameplay scenarios were broken. Remove two thirds of the content and you'd have something approaching a good game.

 

[JimiNutz]

All of them depending on who you ask.

Yeah I've only played Wind Waker and A Link Between Worlds and I didn't think that either one was particularly great.
Not sure that Zelda is really my thing...

 

[ibyea]

The first one. I never extracted a single ounce of enjoyment out of that one.

 

[The Spoony Hou]

Probably Phantom Hourglass. Excluding the portables and NES ones, probably either Majora's Mask or Wind Waker.

 

[GamerJM]

Zelda 2. IMO it's what people who don't play NES games think of when they think of a difficult NES game. It's legitimately really difficult to the point where it detracts from the quality of the game for me.

I actually think the original is fine. It's obtuse but it also feels like it was designed to be played with a guide at some parts, so I just do that. Once you do that it basically becomes a more arcadey version of the other 2D Zelda games with less of a focus on the puzzles. In terms of the way it feels, difficulty, balance, etc. all that stuff is fine.

Phantom Hourglass is second place. Most of the game is fine, but Temple of the Ocean King is pretty horrendous and the touch controls resulted in a game that functions surprisingly well but is less enjoyable than a traditionally controlled Zelda. It's a weird game; I don't really like the fundamental foundation of it and what it's based around (the controls, the central dungeon, the sailing), but what they built upon that was pretty darn good IMO if not really up to the standard set by most of the rest of the series. I never played Spirit Tracks so idk how that compares.

 

[Ninjimbo]

Ugh, what a horrible question to ask.

But the answer is either the original NES game or the sequel. Every entry after those improved the mechanics and the ideas and made them work without all the bullshit you had to go through just to make some progress.

I'd rather play any other game in the series over those two. For me, they're pretty much unplayable. Link's Awakening is the only 8-bit Zelda worth playing (never played the Oracle games).

 

[Waddle Dee]

Skyward Sword isn't just a bad Zelda game. It's a bad game in general. Incredibly tedious and hand-holdy. I felt like I was being treated like a toddler even more so than when playing most other Zelda games.

Also, it's story was total amateur hour. Just because it's more "involved" than most other Zelda stories doesn't make it good. It's very cliche and I found it impossible to care at all by the halfway point.

Edit: For the record, I'm only talking about Zelda games I've actually beaten or at least played more than a few hours of. The NES Zelda games and Phantom Hourglass are likely worse overall but I haven't put much time into them and never plan on doing so.

 

[matrix-cat]

Phantom Hourglass is an awful game. 100% touch controls, without even the option to control Link with the D-pad, is one of those perfectly Nintendo, completely bone-headed moves. No, an options menu will confuse people, so let's just give everyone an inferior experience.

But I could have made it through the game, regardless of the controls, if it weren't for that complete nightmare, the Temple of the Ocean King. What do people hate about video games? Stealth missions? Check. Escort missions? Check. Timers? Check. Insane repetition? Check. Invincible enemies? Check. Invisible enemies? Check check check.

That place is a cornucopia of every terrible game design idea imaginable, and you have to go through it like ten times. Sometimes you can unlock a shortcut, but it's never short enough, and eventually I just could not face it ever again. Dropped the game like a rock, never regretted it for a second.

 

[BKJest]

Phantom Hourglass was at least decent. Spirit Tracks is the truly awful DS game.

 

[JediLink]

I think Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks are the bottom two. To pick just one, I'd have to say Spirit Tracks as it's literally on rails. Alternatively either of the NES games could count if you disregard how revolutionary they were at the time and think of someone today trying to play it for the first time without a guide. They're more pain than anything else.

 

[Lord of Ostia]

I'm glad you asked. Typically these games are linear and you acquire tools in a set order. Since you get the items in a set order, the game designers know exactly what you have at all times and can design the puzzles and dungeons around that. So, naturally, the further you get in the game, the more complex it gets because there are potentially more items you need to consider. That doesn't even take into account that you may need to use different combinations of items in sequence.

Conversely, ALBW has a more open structure. Thus, you can have an combination of items at any time. The game stupidly accounts for this by putting a giant sign with one item on it outside each dungeon. And that's the one item you need to use in that dungeon. You know that saying, "When you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail?" That's the dungeon design. Just use the item on the sign and you'll get it right away. That's shaving off a great deal of complexity. And all of the dungeons are like that. They never get more complex. It's a totally flat puzzle curve, and it's completely unsatisfying.

If you come to Zelda for dungeons and puzzles (which you might not, I guess, if you're weird), then it is a complete and utter failure.



I haven't played ST in like seven years, but I'm not sure what you're talking about with the signs. I remember them being fairly complex, and really enjoying the sand dungeon in particular.

Hm, I see what you are saying. Don't some of the puzzles require multiple items though? Or am I misremembering? I understand what you are getting at, though I honestly can't say that any of the puzzles in ALBW were any easier than the puzzles in, say, ALTTP. I can see how you are suggesting that the bar for complexity would be lowered, but most Zelda titles focus on only one or two items per dungeon, except for the ending dungeons which usually combine them all (ALBW does this also). In fact, I can hardly think of any dungeons that require the use of more than two items extensively. ALBW also has the painting mechanic that adds a layer of depth to the puzzles, so that even if you are only using one item, you are using it in conjunction with the wall-painting ability in various ways.

 

[...Scatter...]

Zelda 2. Like Mario 2, it was different. I take it back. Those games are too nostalgic to be bad.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

Link to the Past is by FAR my least favorite Zelda game. I hate it, while I hate no other Zelda games.

Wind Waker is my least fav 3D Zelda game, but I still like it quite a bit.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone else have this opinion. Could you explain why you hate it?

Anyway, for me it's probably Zelda 2, but I haven't played the DS ones or Skyward Sword.

 

[Stairouais]

Phantom Hourgalass and its horrible dungeon.
Fuck that game.

 

[Tohsaka]

Either Phantom Hourglass or Spirit Tracks, probably the latter.

 

[Oblivion]

Zelda 2. Like Mario 2, it was different. I take it back. Those games are too nostalgic to be bad.

Mario 2 was actually playable and beatable tho.

 

[Diddy Kong]

Skyward Sword is cancer

 

[rainking187]

Spirit Tracks. I was at least able to force myself through Phantom Hourglass, just couldn't do it with Spirit Tracks.

 

[BigTnaples]

Came in for the the terrible posts. (LTTP, OoT,MM) Was not dissapointed.



I haven't even played them, but I would assume it would be the DS games, or Skyward Sword.


Loved all the rest I've played, didn't finish TP but liked it enough not to call it the worst.

 

[Thud]

Spirit Tracks and Phantom Hourglass.

If we don't count the CDi and spinoff games.

 

[Yabberwocky]

There are good points to Skyward Sword (the art direction is lovely), but it's definitely my least favourite Zelda.

 

[Sebastian Suola]

Spirit Tracks is the only one I couldn't finish. So Spirit Tracks it is!

 

[Sky Walker]

WW is the worst among the 3D zeldas : It only contains 4 main dungeons "excluding the prison fortress, tower of gods, and and ganons tower". Mediocre level design and puzzles in dungeons.The art style is timelessly delicious though and loved the sailing though.

For the 2D/classics, I've only played LttP, Minish Cap, and LBW. LttP is my least favorite between the other two. Couldn't enjoy it that much and I loved MC+LBW dungeons much more.

 

[Why would you do that?]

That being said, if we want to make a case for actual worst - I think the original might kind of fit the bill. I don't mean it's a bad game - it was absolutely groundbreaking, spellbinding, etc etc - but in terms of design it's by far the most obtuse and unintuitive. That's understandable since it's the first in a now well-established series. They were trying new things and the series got refined as it went on, but seriously, the original Zelda is rough if you strip it of historical context. Which, to be fair - is how it should be, considering it's the very first one.

There was a time when I thought that the original was old and outdated. Then I played 3D Dot Game Heroes on PS3, which is heavily based on the original Zelda, and I gained a new appreciation for the Zelda 1. I had the strong itch to replay Zelda afterward and had a really great time. Though there's an obvious bias because I know where all the dungeons are and where to go in the more maze-like dungeons (e.g. Level 9).

I feel like there are other games that are worse in the "outdated" sense you describe, specifically the second Zelda, which had some weird parts that are almost impossible to figure out without a guide.

(But really, 3D Dot Game Heroes is amazing.)

 

[Fou-Lu]

Phantom Hourglass or Skyward Sword. Neither is awful, but both have quite a lot of issues that make playing them sometimes a chore for me.

 

[WarAdept]

Spirit Tracks. Take away what makes Zelda fun, the exploration and replace it with some shitty on rails (literally) travel sequence that involves stabbing the bottom DS screen to fight off unkillable enemies.

Great job Spirit Tracks. May you rot in hell.

 

[unknownstranger]

Skyward Sword just because I could never get used to the controls. Gave up around the first dungeon.

Of the Legend of Zelda games I've finished though, Spirit Tracks easily. I actually loved Phantom Hourglass. Yeah the repeating dungeon sucks but replaying it years after first beating it I enjoyed it a lot more. There's a bunch of trial and error in that dungeon but once I knew the majority of it I really liked it. Spirit Tracks though, I hated the train travelling so much. It felt so clunky and killed the open world feeling of Legend of Zelda games. Then we have the pan flute. I do not have steady hands. Making precise movements is not something I'm good at (and it's why I'm terrible at writing). Then you combine that with having to blow into the microphone at the same time. The first few sections are relatively easy, but then we have the final boss segment that I was literally stuck on for an hour because I had so much trouble with the pan flute. It's the only Legend of Zelda game I've had 0 desire to ever replay again.

 

[whiterabbit]

I would say it's either Spirit Tracks because of the silly train mechanics, and blowing into the microphone to play the flute and use an item. I liked Phantom Hourglass better but I do plan to beat Spirit Tracks too.

Also, Zelda II since it doesn't really feel like a Zelda game and the difficulty is pretty insane, plus the random encounters don't give you much experience and you lose your XP and start at the beginning if you get a game over.

 

[eXistor]

Link to the Past was the first reaction in this thread...One of the greatest games ever made is someones least favorite in the series... That's something I didn't expect to read this early in the morning. To each his own I suppose I take it he hasn't played the actual worst Zelda game: Phantom Hourglass. If it wasn't a Zelda game it would be decent still, but as a Zelda it's just the most tedious, ugly, bland thing the series has produced. The recurring dungeon was so dumb, whoever came up with that should be fired.

Spirit Tracks is a close second, it's pretty much more of the same but with a few adjustments that make it a bit better. Still a complete drag though and both of them are the oly two Zelda's I've just given up on about three quarters in, due to sheer boredom.

edit: I still maintain Skyward Sword will be looked back upon in time and people will realise how wrong they were about it. It's good shit man.

 

[Indelible]

I really hated the gimmicky feel of Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, the only main Zelda games I couldn't get into.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

Zelda 2 for 2D games.

Majora's Mask for 3D games.

Both black sheep. Both also much worse than any other Zelda game and the only Zeldas outside of the NES original that I've never beaten.

 

[timetokill]

2D games: Zelda 2
3D games: Wind Waker

That's if you don't count the Oracle games.

The hate for Skyward Sword is so ridiculously overblown.

 

[G-Fex]

The first one. I never extracted a single ounce of enjoyment out of that one.

Probably the original NES game. I understand it's innovations but it hasn't aged too well.

spoken like people who don't know how to play it.

 

[Joey Ravn]

Either Phantom Hourglass or Spirit Tracks, probably the latter.

This. Though I think I had more fun with Spirit Tracks than with Phantom Hourglass. The temple that you had to repeat from the start (or some later, not-very-useful shortcuts) every time you wanted to progress further was a massive pain in the butt.

That's if you don't count the Oracle games.

I can't imagine a reality where the Oracle games are the worst Zelda games. If that means that every other Zelda game is absolutely brilliant, then count me in. Because the Oracles are my favorite Zeldas. They are Link's Awakening on steroids.

 

[enkaisu]

I'm not really fond of Zelda games like ALTTP or LBW where you just go do shit in any order and there's not a lot in the way of story. So those ones I guess.

 

[Persona7]

TP and SS are my least favorite games. I think I would place SS a little bit higher than TP but the controls really bother me. I haven't replayed zelda and zelda 2 in quite a while and I am curious if I would enjoy them today.

 

[J_ToSaveTheDay]

Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks felt pretty disconnected for me, so the DS entries get my proper vote.

I overall didn't like the world design of Skyward Sword and I secede that the controls did fail on me from time to time, but I did actually find a groove with the combat in that game and I felt like the puzzle solving was strong enough to save it the disgrace of worst "main" Zelda game -- at the very least, despite being a very, very flawed game, I did actually finish it. Neither of the DS games could hold my interest past their 3rd or 4th dungeon or so.

 

[correojon]

Not counting Zelda 1 & 2, Spirit Tracks for me. I enjoyed Phantom Hourglass a lot, but something in Spirit Tracks just felt off.

Skyward Sword was awesome, I really enjoyed it (with a few bumps along the way, but overall it was an amazing experience). I don´t understand how this game can get so much hate for being so "hand-holdy" while Okami gets nothing but praise. Let´s be serious, the hand holding in Okami is 100 times worse than in SS (and both are amazing games).

 

[Frimaire]

I say Phantom Hourglass, but that may just be because I'm still kinda salty over it...
I got to the last boss and it told me to draw like an hourglass on the screen or something and I could not get it to work.
I spent like an hour trying to figure it out, but I'm probably just dumb...

 

[Bedameister]

Link to the past. Somehow it never really pleased me that much. I still liked it since all Zelda games are great of course. I haven't played that much of them yet but I will do so in the near future.

 

[IrishNinja]

as a yuge zelda fan, i forced myself through Phantom Hourglass, and enjoyed some of it - though definitely not the stealth/timed sections of the ocean temple. i still can't get past the frozen village in Spirit Tracks, just lost interest completely & was feeling too much like a chore.

Skwyard isn't my favorite, but it's far from the same category as those, in my mind. parts like the pirate ship were just awesome.

crap, just remembered i also never finished oracle of ages

*edit honestly, how did people enjoy the masterpiece that was Zelda 1 and not love LTTP? it's an evolution of the formula

 

[timetokill]

People saying Zelda 1 are dead to me

 

[spekkeh]

Personally Skyward Sword for me doesn't deserve the rep it gets.What it lacks in variety it made up in having my favorite Zelda plot and Zelda/Link

That made it even worse in hindsight. It sets up this fantastic love story and then it's all like Psych! Here's thirty hours of fetch quests and fighting the same bosses over and over. And then the story ended in a whimper. You hated Fi with a passion right? Here's an emotional scene around her. END.

I'm going with SS too, though I haven't played the DS games

 

[Platy]

There are 2 types of person ... those who LOVE OMFG BEST ZELDA Zelda 2 and those who HATE WITH PASSION Zelda 2

I hate with passion Zelda 2

 

[G-Fex]

People saying Zelda 1 are dead to me

damn right

Z1 is the best one

 

[dickroach]

Skyward Sword. it felt like an absolute chore.

 

[d00d3n]

Zelda 2 for NES is the worst by a healthy margin imo. It hardly has any puzzles. The ridiculous difficulty makes the game a nightmare to play without save states. The high/low shield enemies started to feel like a gimmick real fast.

 

[KnightimeX_Legacy]

Skyward Sword is the absolute worst no thanks to those terrible wii controls.