This is the part where people used to scream into pillows. But now it’s easy. Ready?
Every Zelda Game In Timeline Order – All Zelda Games – JFNK
Timeline A: The “Link Wins as a Kid” Path
In this branch, Link returns to his childhood. He warns the princess about Ganondorf, and he gets arrested. This leads to Majora’s Mask (where Link chases a creepy moon), then Twilight Princess (where Link turns into a wolf—yes, a wolf), and finally The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures.
It’s the “dark and gritty” timeline. Think of it as the emo phase of Hyrule history. Lots of shadows, lots of drama.
Timeline B: The “Link Wins as an Adult” Path
Here, Link stays an adult and defeats Ganon. Hyrule is flooded? Yep. That’s right: The Wind Waker takes place in a giant ocean because the kingdom was flooded to stop evil. You sail around in a boat looking like a cartoon, but the story is actually heartbreaking.
After that comes Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. These are the “chill sailing and choo-choo train” games. Very fun, very underrated. It’s the timeline where Link gets a vacation—sort of.
Zelda Timeline Chart Updated Zelda Timeline Has Strange Spots For
Timeline C: The “Link Lost and Got Smashed” Path
This is the wildcard. In Ocarina of Time, if Link loses to Ganon, a whole new timeline is born. It’s called the “Downfall Timeline,” and it’s the most tragic. Here we get A Link to the Past, Link’s Awakening, the Oracle games, and the original Legend of Zelda on NES.
These games are the classic, top-down old-school ones. They’re the root beer floats of Zelda—simple, satisfying, and impossible to hate. The hero always wins eventually, but it’s a rougher road.