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Start with The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past if you want the closest follow-up in spirit: an overhead world, item-driven progression, and traditional dungeons in a more streamlined format. Choose The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time if you want to experience the series’ defining move into 3D. Choose The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask if you want a darker, more experimental adventure. You do not need to follow release or timeline order; the best next game depends on whether you want continuity of viewpoint, a historical change in format, or a different kind of Zelda structure.
Quick answer: which Zelda game should you play next?
These are the strongest routes after Zelda II: The Adventure of Link:
- Best direct 2D follow-up: A Link to the Past. It returns to a top-down perspective and builds a polished overworld-and-dungeon adventure around exploration, items, and progression.
- Best bridge into 3D: Ocarina of Time. It shows how Zelda’s exploration, combat, puzzles, and dungeons were adapted to three dimensions.
- Best experimental and darker choice: Majora’s Mask. It uses a distinctive setting and time-based structure rather than repeating a conventional heroic journey.
- Best compact handheld adventure: Link’s Awakening. It is a self-contained, portable-style Zelda with a smaller scope.
- Best major visual change: The Wind Waker. Its bright presentation and ocean travel make it a deliberate stylistic departure.
- Best serious traditional 3D adventure: Twilight Princess. It offers a darker tone and a conventional 3D dungeon-focused structure.
If you are undecided, play A Link to the Past first. If you specifically want to understand the series’ historical transition from 2D to 3D, play Ocarina of Time instead.
What Zelda II gives you—and what the next game should provide
Zelda II is unusual within the series because it combines an overhead map with side-scrolling action screens, experience points, spell use, lives, and more direct combat. That means “the next Zelda” can mean two different things. You may want another game that preserves the overhead exploration and item progression, or you may want to see the design ideas that Zelda developed after its side-scrolling experiment.
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A Link to the Past is the best answer to the first interpretation. It keeps the broad adventure rhythm—explore, obtain an item, reach new areas, and solve dungeons—without making you repeat the exact side-scrolling format. Ocarina of Time is the best answer to the second: it changes the camera and movement model while retaining the series’ emphasis on a connected world, puzzle rooms, equipment, and dungeons.
Comparison of the best follow-up games
| Game | Camera and movement | Tone and structure | Original release | Timeline context | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | Top-down 2D | Traditional overworld, items, and dungeons | 1991, Super Famicom (Nintendo) | Branch associated with the split after Ocarina of Time | Players wanting the closest classic 2D follow-up |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | Top-down 2D | Compact, self-contained handheld adventure | 1993, Game Boy (Nintendo) | Timeline placement not stated in the supplied official history summary | Players wanting a shorter portable-style experience |
| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | 3D third-person | Traditional Zelda exploration and dungeons translated to 3D | 1998, Nintendo 64 (Nintendo) | Key point associated with the Child and Adult eras | Players ready for the series’ major format change |
| The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask | 3D third-person | Darker, experimental, time-centered structure | 2000, Nintendo 64 (Nintendo) | Child-era branch | Players who value atmosphere and unusual systems |
| The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | 3D third-person | Bright visual style and ocean travel | 2002, GameCube (Nintendo) | Adult-era branch | Players seeking a strong stylistic change |
| The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | 3D third-person | Serious tone and conventional dungeon adventure | 2006, Wii/GameCube (Nintendo) | Child-era branch | Players wanting darker traditional 3D Zelda |
The release years and original platforms in this table come from Nintendo’s official Zelda history. “Best” is an editorial recommendation based on each game’s format, tone, and structure; no authoritative player survey or comparative ranking establishes a single objectively best choice.
A Link to the Past: the best direct 2D follow-up
Why it is the safest recommendation
A Link to the Past is the natural next step if the part of Zelda II you enjoyed was seeing Link move through an overhead world, finding equipment, and using that equipment to open new routes. It is not a sequel that copies the side-scrolling combat model. Instead, it concentrates the series around a cleaner top-down view and a more consistent dungeon-and-overworld loop.
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The result is a strong continuation of classic Zelda design without requiring you to learn a wholly new control concept. Exploration remains central, but the game’s progression is easier to read: new items generally have clear uses in combat, traversal, or puzzle solving, and dungeons are built around finding a map, a key, and a signature item before confronting a boss.
Who should choose it
- Choose it if you want another 2D Zelda immediately after Zelda II.
- Choose it if side-scrolling sections were your least favorite part of Zelda II.
- Choose it if you prefer a conventional heroic journey over an experimental structure.
Nintendo lists the original Japanese release as a 1991 Super Famicom title. The official history places it in a branch associated with the timeline split that follows Ocarina of Time, so its release order and its in-universe placement are different questions.
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Ocarina of Time: the best bridge into 3D Zelda
What changes
Ocarina of Time is the right choice when your main question is, “How did Zelda become a 3D adventure?” The camera, movement, targeting, combat spacing, and puzzle presentation all change, but the underlying design language remains recognizable: explore a field or dungeon, obtain a new tool, and use it to reach places that were previously inaccessible.
Its importance is not simply that it uses polygons. It establishes how a Zelda game can communicate depth, enemy positioning, platforming distance, and object interaction in a three-dimensional space. If you want to understand why later 3D entries feel different from the overhead games, this is the clearest historical bridge.
Why timeline readers start here
Nintendo identifies Ocarina of Time as the key point connected to the Child and Adult eras. The official Zelda overview explains that the timeline splinters after Ocarina of Time. That makes it useful as a chronological pivot, although you do not need to treat the timeline as a required play order.
Nintendo lists the original Japanese release as 1998 on Nintendo 64. Its current 40th-anniversary page also highlights Ocarina of Time among featured Zelda products: Nintendo’s Zelda 40th-anniversary page.
Who should choose it
- Choose it if you are comfortable with a major camera and control change.
- Choose it if you want the historical starting point for the later 3D branches.
- Choose it if dungeon exploration and lock-on combat appeal to you more than maintaining a 2D viewpoint.
Majora’s Mask: the darker, experimental route
How it differs from the usual Zelda formula
Majora’s Mask is a strong choice after Zelda II if you value mood, unusual rules, and a world that feels distinct from a standard rescue-the-princess adventure. It is often best approached after Ocarina of Time, because its controls and 3D foundation build on that game, but it can also work directly after Zelda II for players who want the most dramatic change in structure.
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The game’s identity comes from its time-centered design and its darker atmosphere. Rather than presenting a straightforward journey through a familiar kingdom, it asks you to understand a place, its inhabitants, and the consequences of a repeating schedule. That makes the adventure feel more experimental than the traditional progression in A Link to the Past.
Who should choose it
- Choose it if atmosphere and character-driven world design matter more than a conventional quest.
- Choose it if you want a darker Zelda without abandoning 3D exploration.
- Choose it after Ocarina of Time if you want to see that foundation pushed in a stranger direction.
Nintendo lists the original Japanese release as 2000 on Nintendo 64 and places it in the Child-era branch. The timeline label explains where it sits in Nintendo’s history; it does not mean you must complete every earlier game before starting it.
Link’s Awakening: a compact handheld alternative
Link’s Awakening is the best pick when you want the core top-down Zelda rhythm in a smaller, self-contained package. It is a useful contrast with the broader scope of A Link to the Past: the appeal here is portability and a concentrated adventure rather than a large statement about the series’ next console era.
Its top-down perspective makes it approachable for someone coming from Zelda II, while its self-contained setting gives it a different feel from a story centered on the familiar geography of Hyrule. Choose it when you want a focused game that can sit alongside, rather than replace, the larger 2D and 3D landmarks.
Nintendo lists the original version as a 1993 Game Boy release. The supplied official history summary does not establish a specific current edition, regional availability, price, or a definitive timeline explanation for every version, so check the edition available in your region before buying.
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The Wind Waker: the strongest stylistic change
Why its presentation matters
The Wind Waker is the choice for players who want Zelda to look and feel different. Its bright visual identity and ocean travel replace the more grounded presentation associated with darker entries. The change is not merely cosmetic: the sea becomes the connective space between destinations, giving exploration a different rhythm from walking across a continuous land map.
Structurally, it remains a recognizable 3D Zelda adventure, so it is less alien than an entirely experimental spin on the formula. Its distinctive art direction and maritime setting are the reasons to choose it, not a desire for the most direct continuation of Zelda II.
Timeline and release context
Nintendo lists the original Japanese release as 2002 on GameCube and places the game after the Adult-era split. This makes it a useful follow-up to Ocarina of Time if you want to explore that branch through a very different visual and geographic identity.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Twilight Princess: a darker traditional 3D option
Twilight Princess is aimed at players who want the 3D structure of Ocarina of Time with a more serious tone. It favors a conventional adventure framework: a substantial world, puzzle-focused dungeons, equipment-based progression, and a darker presentation than The Wind Waker.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →It is not the best first choice if your priority is seeing the original 2D-to-3D transition, because Ocarina of Time performs that historical role more directly. It is a better choice when you already know you want 3D Zelda and prefer a dramatic, traditional presentation over a bright or highly experimental one.
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Nintendo lists the original release as 2006 on Wii and GameCube and places it in the Child-era branch. The two original platforms do not by themselves establish which current version is easiest to obtain; availability depends on region and edition.
Release order versus timeline order
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is listed by Nintendo as a 1987 Family Computer Disk System release. A Link to the Past followed in 1991, Link’s Awakening in 1993, Ocarina of Time in 1998, Majora’s Mask in 2000, The Wind Waker in 2002, and Twilight Princess in 2006. Those dates describe original Japanese releases and are useful for understanding how the series evolved, but they are not a mandatory play sequence.
Nintendo’s official overview says the timeline splinters after Ocarina of Time, with Child and Adult eras associated with that turning point. In practical terms:
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches- For gameplay continuity: go from Zelda II to A Link to the Past.
- For historical series development: go from Zelda II to Ocarina of Time.
- For the Child-era path: play Ocarina of Time, then consider Majora’s Mask or Twilight Princess.
- For the Adult-era path: play Ocarina of Time, then consider The Wind Waker.
Nintendo describes the series as a connected history—“Each game in the Legend of Zelda series tells an important part of the history of Hyrule”—but that does not require a newcomer to solve the chronology before enjoying an individual game. See Nintendo’s official Zelda overview for the series’ own timeline framing.
How to choose in under a minute
Choose by camera
- Want overhead 2D? Pick A Link to the Past, or Link’s Awakening for a more compact adventure.
- Want 3D? Pick Ocarina of Time as the foundational transition, then choose among the later 3D styles.
Choose by tone
- Bright and adventurous: The Wind Waker.
- Neutral, classic, and focused: A Link to the Past or Ocarina of Time.
- Darker: Majora’s Mask for experimentation or Twilight Princess for a traditional structure.
Choose by structure
- Traditional item-and-dungeon progression: A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, or Twilight Princess.
- Unusual systems and a different sense of place: Majora’s Mask.
- Compact, self-contained play: Link’s Awakening.
- Exploration built around a large body of water: The Wind Waker.
Buying and edition checks
The documented original platforms and years do not prove which editions are currently sold in your country. Before purchasing a physical copy or downloading a version, verify the region, platform compatibility, edition, stock, price, and whether the release includes the content you expect.
For product searches, use the exact title The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask are also precise search phrases. Nintendo’s anniversary page includes links to official merchandise, but it does not establish an affiliate program, commission, tracking URL, or guaranteed product availability.
Final recommendation
Play A Link to the Past next if you want the most natural continuation of Zelda II’s exploration-and-progression ideas in a refined 2D format. Play Ocarina of Time if your real goal is to see the series’ landmark move into 3D and understand the timeline’s major split. After that, choose Majora’s Mask for experimentation, The Wind Waker for a bright oceanic change, Twilight Princess for darker traditional 3D Zelda, or Link’s Awakening for a compact handheld-style adventure.
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