Back to the trend of the day: Zelda: Ocarina of Time is rebuilt for Switch 2, out November 5
Poly Rating · from the trend of the day

Best Zelda Games Ranked: Critics vs Players vs Sales

Ocarina of Time still holds Metacritic's all-time top score of 99, yet Breath of the Wild has sold 34.06 million copies, more than four times Ocarina's 7.6 million on N64, and players rate Majora's Mask higher.

  • No. 1: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
  • 10 places

01Final list

The leading AIs each built their own list of ten independently. Here is one result that is easy to check: every place has a reason, a source, and the list of AIs that included it.

Order: from most to least AI agreement.

A bright badge means this AI put the entry on its list. A dim badge means it did not.

  1. 1

    The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

    Critics' No. 1 at 99 and Famitsu's first 40/40, but 7.6M N64 copies (about 14M with the 3DS remake) leave it far behind Breath of the Wild.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Nemotron, Kimi, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta, Wenxin.

    In their lists: Claude: 2 · ChatGPT: 1 · Gemini: 1 · Nemotron: 1 · Kimi: 1 · DeepSeek: 1

    What each AI noted 6
    • Claudeplace 2

      The highest Metacritic score of any game (99), but 7.6 million copies on N64 put it only fourth in Zelda sales.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 1

      The series’ 99 Metascore still stands above its later open-world entries.

      Source ↗
    • Geminiplace 1

      Holds the untouchable 99 Metascore record and Famitsu's inaugural 40/40, yet sold less than a quarter of Breath of the Wild's copies.

      Source ↗
    • Nemotronplace 1

      Only game with 99 Metacritic critic score and 40/40 Famitsu; 3DS remake sold 6.4M vs original 7.6M.

      Source ↗
    • Kimiplace 1

      The only 99 in Metacritic history, frozen on just 22 reviews, and the first game ever to get Famitsu's 40/40.

    • DeepSeekplace 1

      The only game here with a 99 Metascore and a Famitsu 40/40, yet it is only third in lifetime sales — the purest critics' champion.

      Source ↗
    6 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  2. 2

    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

    Buyers' No. 1 with 34.06M copies (Nintendo, June 2026), over four times Ocarina's N64 total, on a 97 Metascore and Famitsu 40/40. Players give it 8.9.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Nemotron, Kimi, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta, Wenxin.

    In their lists: Claude: 1 · ChatGPT: 2 · Gemini: 2 · Nemotron: 2 · Kimi: 2 · DeepSeek: 2

    What each AI noted 6
    • Claudeplace 1

      34.06 million copies: more than four times Ocarina's 7.6 million, with a 97 from critics and a perfect Famitsu 40.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 2

      Its 97 critic score helped launch a new formula that sold more than 30 million Switch copies.

      Source ↗
    • Geminiplace 2

      Redefined modern open worlds and shifted 33.55 million units, generating more retail sales than the previous four 3D entries combined.

      Source ↗
    • Nemotronplace 2

      Critic 97, user 8.7, but runs away with sales: 31.15M — 4× Ocarina's total.

      Source ↗
    • Kimiplace 2

      Best-selling Zelda ever at roughly 34-35 million — nearly 5x Ocarina — while players rate it below every classic 3D Zelda.

    • DeepSeekplace 2

      The buyers' champion: 34.06M lifetime, more than double Ocarina's 14.04M, but its 8.9 user score sits below Majora's 9.2.

      Source ↗
    6 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  3. 3

    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

    96 from critics, 9.0 from players and Famitsu 40/40, yet only 4.6M GameCube copies (about 6.8M with the HD version).

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Nemotron, Kimi, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta, Wenxin.

    In their lists: Claude: 4 · ChatGPT: 4 · Gemini: 5 · Nemotron: 6 · Kimi: 4 · DeepSeek: 4

    What each AI noted 6
    • Claudeplace 4

      A 96 from critics, a 9.0 from players and a Famitsu 40, but only 4.6 million buyers, a third of Twilight Princess's rank-ordered neighbours.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 4

      A once-divisive cartoon look became one of the series’ most recognizable identities.

      Source ↗
    • Geminiplace 5

      Weathered the notorious 'Cel-da' preview storm to earn a 40/40 Famitsu mark, though hardware limits capped its GameCube run at 4.43 million.

      Source ↗
    • Nemotronplace 6

      Critic 96, user 9.0, but only 4.6M sales — cel-shaded art split buyers; HD remake added 2.3M.

      Source ↗
    • Kimiplace 4

      Famitsu's second-ever 40/40 and a 96, yet it sold only 4.6 million — 60% less than Ocarina — before its reputation was rebuilt by the HD remaster.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 4

      Critics 96 and players 9.0, but only about 6.8M lifetime — the widest love-to-sales gap in the top five.

      Source ↗
    6 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  4. More about the top three ↓
  5. 4

    The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

    96 from critics, Famitsu 40/40 and 22.71M sold, second only to Breath of the Wild, but players score it 8.8, below four older Zeldas.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Nemotron, Kimi, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta, Wenxin.

    In their lists: Claude: 3 · ChatGPT: 3 · Gemini: 3 · Nemotron: 3 · Kimi: 3 · DeepSeek: 3

    What each AI noted 6
    • Claudeplace 3

      22.71 million sold and 10 million in the first three days, yet players score it a notch below Breath of the Wild (8.8 against 8.9).

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 3

      It sold over 20 million copies despite some players arguing it feels too much like its predecessor.

      Source ↗
    • Geminiplace 3

      Cleared 10 million units in 72 hours at a contested $70 price tag while matching its predecessor's perfect Japanese review tally.

      Source ↗
    • Nemotronplace 3

      Critic 96, user 8.6, 20.28M sold in first year — fastest-selling Zelda ever.

      Source ↗
    • Kimiplace 3

      10 million copies in three days — the fastest-selling game in Nintendo's history at launch — with a player score that still trails the N64 classics.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 3

      A 96 critic score and 22.71M sales make it the fastest-selling Zelda, yet players rank it behind four older entries.

      Source ↗
    6 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  6. 5

    The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

    Players' No. 1 at 9.2 (some snapshots show 9.0–9.1), yet it got only 37/40 from Famitsu and sold just 3.36M on N64.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Nemotron, Kimi, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta, Wenxin.

    In their lists: Claude: 5 · ChatGPT: 6 · Gemini: 4 · Nemotron: 4 · Kimi: 5 · DeepSeek: 6

    What each AI noted 6
    • Claudeplace 5

      The highest user score in the series (9.2, above Ocarina's 9.1) with only a 37/40 from Famitsu.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 6

      A three-day loop and a darker mood made it a cult favorite rather than the easiest crowd-pleaser.

      Source ↗
    • Geminiplace 4

      Sold under half of Ocarina's volume on N64, yet commands the series' highest retrospective cult reverence and a 9.0 player score.

      Source ↗
    • Nemotronplace 4

      Critic 95, user 9.1, but only 3.36M sales — cult favorite that critics and players rate higher than buyers.

      Source ↗
    • Kimiplace 5

      Players' joint-favourite Zelda (9.1 user score, #1 on Metacritic's open-world user chart) — yet only 3.36 million people bought it, less than half of Ocarina.

    • DeepSeekplace 6

      Players' No. 1 at 9.2, critics only No. 5 at 95, and sales No. 8 at 6.82M — the clearest cult classic in the series.

      Source ↗
    6 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  7. 6

    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

    95 from critics and 8.85M Wii plus GameCube copies, the best seller between Ocarina and Breath of the Wild, but only 38/40 from Famitsu.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Nemotron, Kimi, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta, Wenxin.

    In their lists: Claude: 6 · ChatGPT: 7 · Gemini: 7 · Nemotron: 5 · Kimi: 6 · DeepSeek: 5

    What each AI noted 6
    • Claudeplace 6

      8.6 million copies, the best seller between Ocarina and Breath of the Wild, but 38/40 at Famitsu and 95 from critics.

    • ChatGPTplace 7

      Its 95 critic score came from a darker, more traditional adventure released across two Nintendo systems.

    • Geminiplace 7

      Rode the Wii hardware wave to 8.85 million sales as the best-seller of the classic era, despite critics docking points for safe formula retreads.

    • Nemotronplace 5

      Critic 95 (GC/Wii), user 9.2, 8.85M combined — highest user score of the 3D Zeldas.

    • Kimiplace 6

      The best-selling classic-era Zelda at 8.85 million across two discs — and players' 9.0 — but no perfect score anywhere: Famitsu held it to 38/40.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 5

      8.85M buyers and a 95 critic score, but its 8.9 user score shows players liked it, not loved it, relative to Ocarina.

    6 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  8. 7

    The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

    Its 95 belongs to the 2002 GBA re-release because the 1991 SNES original predates Metacritic. 4.61M SNES copies; Famitsu 39/40 (one history says 38).

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Nemotron, Kimi, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta, Wenxin.

    In their lists: Claude: 7 · ChatGPT: 5 · Gemini: 6 · Nemotron: 7 · Kimi: 7 · DeepSeek: 7

    What each AI noted 6
    • Claudeplace 7

      6.5 million copies, level with the original Zelda, and the Metacritic 95 belongs to its 2002 GBA re-release.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 5

      Its 95 Metascore belongs to a 2D adventure that remains a reference point for the series.

      Source ↗
    • Geminiplace 6

      Established the structural blueprint for all future 2D and 3D installments with 4.61 million 16-bit cartridges sold and a near-perfect 39/40 Famitsu.

      Source ↗
    • Nemotronplace 7

      No original Metacritic; GBA port scores 95 critic, 9.1 user. SNES original sold 4.61M; GBA 2.82M.

      Source ↗
    • Kimiplace 7

      It has no Metacritic score at all — the site didn't exist — but Famitsu's 39/40 made it the series' benchmark for seven years until Ocarina.

    • DeepSeekplace 7

      A 95 critic score and 7.47M lifetime across SNES/GBA, yet modern player scores still put it below the 3D giants.

      Source ↗
    6 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  9. 8

    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

    Famitsu 40/40 and 93 from critics, but players give 8.3 (8.1 in other snapshots), the widest critic-player gap of any 3D Zelda. 3.67M on Wii.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Nemotron, Kimi, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta, Wenxin.

    In their lists: Claude: 8 · ChatGPT: 9 · Gemini: 9 · Nemotron: 9 · Kimi: 10 · DeepSeek: 9

    What each AI noted 6
    • Claudeplace 8

      A Famitsu 40/40 but the weakest Wii-era user score at 8.3, which is why it is the most 'critic-liked' of the 3D games.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 9

      Its motion-control design divided players more sharply than its strong critic reviews suggest.

      Source ↗
    • Geminiplace 9

      Awarded a flawless 40/40 by Famitsu, but divisive motion controls sank its user score to an 8.1 and capped Wii sales at 3.67 million.

      Source ↗
    • Nemotronplace 9

      Critic 93, user 8.0, 3.67M sales — motion controls polarized players; HD remake added 2.45M.

      Source ↗
    • Kimiplace 10

      Famitsu gave it a perfect 40/40 while players gave it 8.1 — the biggest critic-player split in series history — and its 3.67 million is the weakest of any 3D Zelda.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 9

      Famitsu gave it a rare 40/40 and critics 93, but users gave it 8.3 — the biggest critic-to-player drop among 3D Zeldas here.

      Source ↗
    6 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  10. 9

    The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019)

    The lowest critic score here (87), yet the Switch remake sold 6.46M, more than the 1993 Game Boy original (3.83M) and DX (2.22M) combined.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Nemotron, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta, Kimi, Wenxin.

    In their lists: Claude: 10 · ChatGPT: 8 · Gemini: 8 · Nemotron: 8 · DeepSeek: 8

    What each AI noted 5
    • Claudeplace 10

      6.63 million sold, more than The Wind Waker and Skyward Sword HD combined, on a Metascore of 87.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 8

      The remake sold over 6 million copies while turning a Game Boy classic into a miniature diorama.

      Source ↗
    • Geminiplace 8

      A pocket spin-off that crossed 10.29 million copies across Game Boy and Switch, out-selling half of the mainline home console chapters.

      Source ↗
    • Nemotronplace 8

      Remake critic 87, user 8.5, sold 6.46M — outsold original GB (3.83M) and DX (2.22M) combined.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 8

      12.68M lifetime across Game Boy, DX and Switch, but the 2019 remake's 87 critic score is the lowest in this top 10.

      Source ↗
    5 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  11. 10

    The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

    91 from critics and 8.9 from players, level with Twilight Princess, yet only 4.26M copies on 3DS.

    Included it: Claude, Kimi, DeepSeek. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nemotron, Wenxin.

    In their lists: Claude: 9 · Kimi: 9 · DeepSeek: 10

    What each AI noted 3
    • Claudeplace 9

      Only 2,031 players rated it, yet they gave 8.9, matching Twilight Princess's 8.9 from a much larger base.

      Source ↗
    • Kimiplace 9

      The highest-rated handheld original (91, Famitsu 38/40) quietly sold 4.26 million — more than Ocarina's N64 run on a far smaller installed base.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 10

      A 91 critic score and 8.9 user score, yet only 4.26M sales — the best-reviewed Zelda that most buyers skipped.

      Source ↗
    3 AIs put it here
    Source ↗

02More about the top three

The ranking is above. Here is more about the three places at the top: what they are, why they are here, and what is worth knowing.

Critic scores, player scores and sales are different measures, and some sales counts include remakes while others cover only the original release.

1The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

No. 1 — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. On the lists of 6 of 8 AIs; median place there: 1. The AIs put it first because its 99 Metascore and first-ever Famitsu 40/40 make it the critics' champion, despite modest sales.

Did you know

  • Ocarina's Z-targeting came from a ninja stage show. Director Toru Osawa said the team ducked in to escape the heat. A ninja's chain circled a samurai, which inspired the invisible link that lets Link orbit an enemy.

    Source ↗
What it is
A 1998 N64 adventure that brought Zelda into 3D.
Its edge
Highest critic score of the three: 99 on Metacritic.
Who should know
Useful for anyone who wants to know which game critics rate highest ever.
  • Critic score vs sales99 Metacritic, 7.6M copies

Wikipedia · Wikidata

Why it is here

  • Famitsu gave Ocarina of Time 40/40, and it was the first game ever to receive that score. — TechCrunch

    Source ↗
Keep in mind

  • The Ringer says the game's flaws show more today than at launch: "There's no doubt the seams in the game are more apparent today than they were 20 years ago." It also says the fixed camera can feel claustrophobic.

    Source ↗
Where to go further

  • Open the 3DS remake page first. It describes the glasses-free 3D look, the touch inventory and gyro aiming that make the 1998 N64 game feel new. Note: eShop purchases ended in 2023.

    Source ↗

Video: 100 Lore & Story Secrets in Ocarina of Time · Zeltik

Compare the top three ↓

2The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

No. 2 — The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. On the lists of 6 of 8 AIs; median place there: 2. The AIs rank it second because it is the best seller by far, with a 97 from critics, though players rate it lower.

Did you know

  • Korok Seeds began as plain rocks hidden around the map. Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi said the team found that "simply placing rocks somewhere isn't intriguing or challenging enough to be rewarding," so the rocks became Korok Seeds.

    Source ↗
What it is
An open-world Zelda for Switch and Wii U, released in 2017.
Its edge
Sold the most copies: 34.06 million, over four times Ocarina.
Who should know
Useful for anyone curious which Zelda most people actually bought.
  • Critic score vs sales34.06M copies, 97 Metacritic

Wikipedia · Wikidata

Why it is here

  • Metacritic lists Breath of the Wild at 97 for Nintendo Switch and 96 for Wii U, close to Ocarina of Time’s 99. — Metacritic

    Source ↗
History

  • In 2016, Nintendo decided to bring Breath of the Wild to Switch as well as Wii U. Producer Eiji Aonuma said the team had to rethink the controls for a single screen, but found the change easier than expected. — (voice only)

    Source ↗
Keep in mind

  • The main complaint is breakable weapons. The same bit-tech review says they break "with a nearly alarming regularity" and calls the durability "a touch on the weak side." It adds that you can disarm enemies, which helps.

    Source ↗
Where to go further

  • Read the premise: after a 100-year slumber, Link wakes up alone and must regain his memories before Hyrule is lost. Then explore freely, since the world is open from the start.

    Source ↗
Claude put it first. What they saw in it

  • Claude: 34.06 million copies: more than four times Ocarina's 7.6 million, with a 97 from critics and a perfect Famitsu 40.

Video: Why Revali is One of The Legend of Zelda's Best Characters · LinkedWolf

Compare the top three ↓

3The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

No. 3 — The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. On the lists of 6 of 8 AIs; median place there: 4. The AIs place it third for its 96 from critics, 9.0 from players and Famitsu 40/40, held back by low GameCube sales.

Did you know

  • While designing Toon Link's huge eyes, the team joked about shooting beams from them. Takizawa said "we even talked about having beams come out of those eyes!" Beams were not really an option, and the eyes needed a reason to exist.

    Source ↗
What it is
A cartoon-style, sea-sailing Zelda first released on GameCube.
Its edge
Strong on both critic and player scores, but weakest in sales.
Who should know
Useful for anyone wondering why a loved game can still sell little.
  • Critic score vs sales96 critics, 4.6M copies

Wikipedia · Wikidata

Why it is here

  • Metacritic lists the original GameCube release at 96, just below Breath of the Wild’s 97 and Ocarina of Time’s 99. — Metacritic

    Source ↗

  • Famitsu gave Wind Waker a perfect 40/40 review score. — TechCrunch

    Source ↗
Did you know

  • The Wind Waker's cartoon look was first disliked by many fans. It is the example the team gives of a Zelda that fans first doubted and later came to love.

    Source ↗
Keep in mind

  • Sailing and the Triforce hunt are the usual complaints. Game Revolution says the sea "is massive and unavoidable" and that the hunt "still takes a couple hours of back and forth traveling" even in the HD version.

    Source ↗
Where to go further

  • Look at the Hero Mode text: enemies deal double damage and health hearts are missing. The page is for Wii U, and its purchases ended on 27/03/2023.

    Source ↗

Video: The Incredible Speedrun History of Zelda: The Wind Waker · Lowest Percent

Compare the top three ↓

The top three side by side

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
In the AIs' lists6 / 86 / 86 / 8
Critic score vs sales99 Metacritic, 7.6M copies34.06M copies, 97 Metacritic96 critics, 4.6M copies
Put first byChatGPT, Gemini, Nemotron, Kimi, DeepSeekClaude—

Places with the same number of AIs are ordered by their average place in the AIs' own lists.

More ratings

03Worth knowing

What the AIs noticed while building the list.

Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have sold a combined 56.77M copies, more than the next four best-selling Zelda games put together.

Noticed by:
Included it: Gemini, Kimi, DeepSeek. Did not include: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta, Nemotron, Wenxin.
Source ↗

Famitsu has given five Zelda games a perfect 40/40: Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Majora's Mask, the players' favourite, got only 37.

Noticed by:
Included it: Claude, Gemini, Kimi. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, Nemotron, DeepSeek, Wenxin.
Source ↗

Skyward Sword shows how far critics and players can split on one game: Famitsu gave it 40/40 and Metacritic critics 93, while players give it 8.1–8.3, the lowest of any 3D Zelda.

Noticed by:
Included it: Claude, Gemini, Kimi, DeepSeek. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, Nemotron, Wenxin.
Source ↗

Ocarina of Time's 99 rests on only 22 reviews from 1998 and will not change, because Metacritic does not add reviews written after release.

Noticed by:
Included it: Claude, Kimi. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nemotron, DeepSeek, Wenxin.
Source ↗

Nintendo Life's combined staff and reader ranking put Breath of the Wild first and Ocarina of Time second.

Noticed by:
Included it: Claude. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nemotron, Kimi, DeepSeek, Wenxin.
Source ↗

04Questions people ask

What is the best Zelda game ranked?

Critics put Ocarina of Time first with Metacritic's top score of 99. Breath of the Wild is the best seller at 34.06 million copies, and Majora's Mask has the top player score at 9.2.

Source ↗
What is the best Zelda game in the world?

By critics it is Ocarina of Time (99, and Famitsu's first 40/40). By sales it is Breath of the Wild, with 34.06 million copies against 22.71 million for Tears of the Kingdom.

Is Zelda the best game ever?

Ocarina of Time's 99 is the highest Metacritic score of any game. Breath of the Wild (97) and Tears of the Kingdom (96) are also among the top-rated games.

Source ↗
Why do Zelda sales figures differ between sources?

Some sources count only the original platform and others add re-releases. Ocarina of Time is 7.6M on N64 but about 14.0M with the 3DS version, and Breath of the Wild has been reported at 31–35M depending on the date.

Source ↗

05How we counted

In plain words, no formulas.

1The question

Top 10 Zelda Games: Critics' Scores vs Players' Scores vs Lifetime Sales

2Why this topic

For each Zelda game you see what critics, players and buyers each say, and where they disagree. No single site or sales chart shows all three.

3Where it applies

global, The Legend of Zelda series

4What we looked at

  • Metacritic critic score (original release)
  • Metacritic user score
  • Lifetime copies sold (official Nintendo figures)
  • Famitsu review score
  • Gap between the critics' rank and the players' and buyers' ranks
  • Metacritic (critic Metascore) — Weighted average of professional reviews per game and platform; Ocarina of Time's 99 comes from 22 reviews
  • Metacritic (user score) — Average player rating out of 10; a live value that moves over time and differs by platform
  • Nintendo investor relations — Official lifetime worldwide units for top Switch titles, as of June 30, 2026

5Who ranked

The leading AIs, each building its own list of ten independently and naming a source for every place: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nemotron, Kimi, DeepSeek, Wenxin.

6How the places were set

The same entry written differently by different AIs was counted as one. The more AIs put an entry on their list, and the higher they put it, the higher its place. "AI agreement" shows how many of the AIs had it on their own list. Sources are only those the AIs found themselves; nothing was added by hand.

06Each AI's own list

🇺🇸 Claude10 places · 2 notes

The same question, answered by Claude alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.

  1. 1
    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)

    34.06 million copies: more than four times Ocarina's 7.6 million, with a 97 from critics and a perfect Famitsu 40.

    Source ↗
  2. 2
    The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

    The highest Metacritic score of any game (99), but 7.6 million copies on N64 put it only fourth in Zelda sales.

    Source ↗
  3. 3
    The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)

    22.71 million sold and 10 million in the first three days, yet players score it a notch below Breath of the Wild (8.8 against 8.9).

    Source ↗
  4. 4
    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2003)

    A 96 from critics, a 9.0 from players and a Famitsu 40, but only 4.6 million buyers, a third of Twilight Princess's rank-ordered neighbours.

    Source ↗
  5. 5
    The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000)

    The highest user score in the series (9.2, above Ocarina's 9.1) with only a 37/40 from Famitsu.

    Source ↗
  6. 6
    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)

    8.6 million copies, the best seller between Ocarina and Breath of the Wild, but 38/40 at Famitsu and 95 from critics.

  7. 7
    The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)

    6.5 million copies, level with the original Zelda, and the Metacritic 95 belongs to its 2002 GBA re-release.

    Source ↗
  8. 8
    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)

    A Famitsu 40/40 but the weakest Wii-era user score at 8.3, which is why it is the most 'critic-liked' of the 3D games.

    Source ↗
  9. 9
    The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013)

    Only 2,031 players rated it, yet they gave 8.9, matching Twilight Princess's 8.9 from a much larger base.

    Source ↗
  10. 10
    The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019 Switch remake)

    6.63 million sold, more than The Wind Waker and Skyward Sword HD combined, on a Metascore of 87.

    Source ↗

What Claude noticed

Majora's Mask has the series' highest user score (9.2) and a Famitsu 37/40, below the 40/40 given to Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. It is loved more than the magazine scored it.

Source ↗

Ocarina of Time is Zelda's most-reissued classic. It came to 3DS in 2011 (94 on Metacritic, 9.1 from users) and is now being rebuilt for Switch 2.

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🇺🇸 ChatGPT10 places · 2 notes

The same question, answered by ChatGPT alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.

  1. 1
    The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64, 1998)

    The series’ 99 Metascore still stands above its later open-world entries.

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  2. 2
    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch, 2017)

    Its 97 critic score helped launch a new formula that sold more than 30 million Switch copies.

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  3. 3
    The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch, 2023)

    It sold over 20 million copies despite some players arguing it feels too much like its predecessor.

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  4. 4
    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube, 2002)

    A once-divisive cartoon look became one of the series’ most recognizable identities.

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  5. 5
    The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES, 1991)

    Its 95 Metascore belongs to a 2D adventure that remains a reference point for the series.

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  6. 6
    The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (Nintendo 64, 2000)

    A three-day loop and a darker mood made it a cult favorite rather than the easiest crowd-pleaser.

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  7. 7
    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii, 2006)

    Its 95 critic score came from a darker, more traditional adventure released across two Nintendo systems.

  8. 8
    The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Switch, 2019)

    The remake sold over 6 million copies while turning a Game Boy classic into a miniature diorama.

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  9. 9
    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii, 2011)

    Its motion-control design divided players more sharply than its strong critic reviews suggest.

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  10. 10
    The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Switch, 2024)

    A mainline adventure led by Zelda reached 4.09 million sales in its first reported fiscal period.

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What ChatGPT noticed

Ocarina of Time has the highest critic score here, but Nintendo’s recent sales tables do not offer a clean all-platform lifetime comparison for its 1998 release.

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Tears of the Kingdom’s 96 critic score is below Breath of the Wild’s 97, while its player reception and sales remain strong—an example of a small critic-score gap obscuring a larger debate about sequel fatigue.

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🇺🇸 Gemini10 places · 2 notes

The same question, answered by Gemini alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.

  1. 1
    The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

    Holds the untouchable 99 Metascore record and Famitsu's inaugural 40/40, yet sold less than a quarter of Breath of the Wild's copies.

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  2. 2
    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)

    Redefined modern open worlds and shifted 33.55 million units, generating more retail sales than the previous four 3D entries combined.

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  3. 3
    The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)

    Cleared 10 million units in 72 hours at a contested $70 price tag while matching its predecessor's perfect Japanese review tally.

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  4. 4
    The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000)

    Sold under half of Ocarina's volume on N64, yet commands the series' highest retrospective cult reverence and a 9.0 player score.

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  5. 5
    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)

    Weathered the notorious 'Cel-da' preview storm to earn a 40/40 Famitsu mark, though hardware limits capped its GameCube run at 4.43 million.

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  6. 6
    The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)

    Established the structural blueprint for all future 2D and 3D installments with 4.61 million 16-bit cartridges sold and a near-perfect 39/40 Famitsu.

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  7. 7
    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)

    Rode the Wii hardware wave to 8.85 million sales as the best-seller of the classic era, despite critics docking points for safe formula retreads.

  8. 8
    The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (1993 / 2019)

    A pocket spin-off that crossed 10.29 million copies across Game Boy and Switch, out-selling half of the mainline home console chapters.

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  9. 9
    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)

    Awarded a flawless 40/40 by Famitsu, but divisive motion controls sank its user score to an 8.1 and capped Wii sales at 3.67 million.

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  10. 10
    The Legend of Zelda (1986)

    Sold 6.51 million golden cartridges without contemporary Metascores, launching a multi-billion dollar franchise with unprecedented open-world freedom.

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What Gemini noticed

Japanese critical reception via Weekly Famitsu has awarded The Legend of Zelda more perfect 40/40 scores (5 entries: Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom) than any other intellectual property in gaming history.

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Majora's Mask and The Wind Waker suffered commercial backlash or hardware limitations during their initial home-console launches, yet both maintain 9.0 Metacritic user ratings that surpass modern multi-million unit blockbusters.

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🇺🇸 Nemotron10 places · 2 notes

The same question, answered by Nemotron alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.

  1. 1
    The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

    Only game with 99 Metacritic critic score and 40/40 Famitsu; 3DS remake sold 6.4M vs original 7.6M.

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  2. 2
    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)

    Critic 97, user 8.7, but runs away with sales: 31.15M — 4× Ocarina's total.

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  3. 3
    The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)

    Critic 96, user 8.6, 20.28M sold in first year — fastest-selling Zelda ever.

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  4. 4
    The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000)

    Critic 95, user 9.1, but only 3.36M sales — cult favorite that critics and players rate higher than buyers.

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  5. 5
    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)

    Critic 95 (GC/Wii), user 9.2, 8.85M combined — highest user score of the 3D Zeldas.

  6. 6
    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2003)

    Critic 96, user 9.0, but only 4.6M sales — cel-shaded art split buyers; HD remake added 2.3M.

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  7. 7
    The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)

    No original Metacritic; GBA port scores 95 critic, 9.1 user. SNES original sold 4.61M; GBA 2.82M.

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  8. 8
    The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019, Switch)

    Remake critic 87, user 8.5, sold 6.46M — outsold original GB (3.83M) and DX (2.22M) combined.

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  9. 9
    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)

    Critic 93, user 8.0, 3.67M sales — motion controls polarized players; HD remake added 2.45M.

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  10. 10
    The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007)

    Critic 90, user 8.3, 4.76M sales — touchscreen experiment; highest-selling handheld Zelda until Link's Awakening Switch.

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What Nemotron noticed

Ocarina of Time holds the highest Metacritic critic score ever recorded (99) but Breath of the Wild outsells it 4:1.

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Majora's Mask has the largest gap between player love (9.1 user) and commercial performance (3.36M) — a cult classic that sells like a niche title.

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🇨🇳 Kimi10 places · 3 notes

The same question, answered by Kimi alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.

  1. 1
    The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 1998)

    The only 99 in Metacritic history, frozen on just 22 reviews, and the first game ever to get Famitsu's 40/40.

  2. 2
    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch/Wii U, 2017)

    Best-selling Zelda ever at roughly 34-35 million — nearly 5x Ocarina — while players rate it below every classic 3D Zelda.

  3. 3
    The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch, 2023)

    10 million copies in three days — the fastest-selling game in Nintendo's history at launch — with a player score that still trails the N64 classics.

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  4. 4
    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube, 2003)

    Famitsu's second-ever 40/40 and a 96, yet it sold only 4.6 million — 60% less than Ocarina — before its reputation was rebuilt by the HD remaster.

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  5. 5
    The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64, 2000)

    Players' joint-favourite Zelda (9.1 user score, #1 on Metacritic's open-world user chart) — yet only 3.36 million people bought it, less than half of Ocarina.

  6. 6
    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GameCube/Wii, 2006)

    The best-selling classic-era Zelda at 8.85 million across two discs — and players' 9.0 — but no perfect score anywhere: Famitsu held it to 38/40.

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  7. 7
    The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES, 1991)

    It has no Metacritic score at all — the site didn't exist — but Famitsu's 39/40 made it the series' benchmark for seven years until Ocarina.

  8. 8
    The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS, 2011)

    The 94-rated remaster sold 6.44 million — 85% of the original's lifetime total — the rare remake that nearly matched its own classic on sales.

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  9. 9
    The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS, 2013)

    The highest-rated handheld original (91, Famitsu 38/40) quietly sold 4.26 million — more than Ocarina's N64 run on a far smaller installed base.

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  10. 10
    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii, 2011)

    Famitsu gave it a perfect 40/40 while players gave it 8.1 — the biggest critic-player split in series history — and its 3.67 million is the weakest of any 3D Zelda.

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What Kimi noticed

Critics and players tell opposite stories across eras: every classic 3D Zelda holds 95-99 with critics AND ~9.0-9.1 with players, while Breath of the Wild (8.6-8.7) and Tears of the Kingdom (8.8) sit lower with players despite out-selling them 4-5x — the Switch games are bought far more than they are personally rated above the old favourites.

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Ocarina of Time's 99 can never change: Metacritic doesn't add post-release reviews, so the 1998 score — based on only about two dozen reviews — is frozen forever as the site's all-time #1.

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Famitsu has given Zelda five perfect 40/40 scores — Ocarina, Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom — yet Skyward Sword is simultaneously the players' least-loved 3D Zelda (8.1): Japanese critics and worldwide players measured the same game almost inversely.

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🇨🇳 DeepSeek10 places · 3 notes

The same question, answered by DeepSeek alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.

  1. 1
    The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

    The only game here with a 99 Metascore and a Famitsu 40/40, yet it is only third in lifetime sales — the purest critics' champion.

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  2. 2
    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)

    The buyers' champion: 34.06M lifetime, more than double Ocarina's 14.04M, but its 8.9 user score sits below Majora's 9.2.

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  3. 3
    The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)

    A 96 critic score and 22.71M sales make it the fastest-selling Zelda, yet players rank it behind four older entries.

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  4. 4
    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2003)

    Critics 96 and players 9.0, but only about 6.8M lifetime — the widest love-to-sales gap in the top five.

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  5. 5
    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)

    8.85M buyers and a 95 critic score, but its 8.9 user score shows players liked it, not loved it, relative to Ocarina.

  6. 6
    The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000)

    Players' No. 1 at 9.2, critics only No. 5 at 95, and sales No. 8 at 6.82M — the clearest cult classic in the series.

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  7. 7
    The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)

    A 95 critic score and 7.47M lifetime across SNES/GBA, yet modern player scores still put it below the 3D giants.

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  8. 8
    The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019)

    12.68M lifetime across Game Boy, DX and Switch, but the 2019 remake's 87 critic score is the lowest in this top 10.

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  9. 9
    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)

    Famitsu gave it a rare 40/40 and critics 93, but users gave it 8.3 — the biggest critic-to-player drop among 3D Zeldas here.

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  10. 10
    The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013)

    A 91 critic score and 8.9 user score, yet only 4.26M sales — the best-reviewed Zelda that most buyers skipped.

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What DeepSeek noticed

Majora's Mask is the players' No. 1 at 9.2, but critics rank it only fifth at 95 and lifetime sales are about 6.82M — the series' clearest cult classic.

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The Wind Waker scores 96 with critics and 9.0 with players, yet its lifetime total is only about 6.8M — a top-four review score with a bottom-half sales rank.

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Skyward Sword has a Famitsu 40/40 and 93 critics but only 8.3 users, the widest critic-to-player drop among the 3D entries here.

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