# The Legend of Zelda

18 Hacker News commenters recommended The Legend of Zelda and 5 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 7 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** People recommend it for its sense of wonder, large connected world to explore, and games that have aged well. Critics say the older entries feel dated and the game design is sometimes lacking.

## Why people recommend it

- Freedom to explore a seamless world (2 comments): "My favorite slight of hand was that all the dungeons and caves were part of a single rectangular map." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46584542)) "It's the first game I ever played with that much freedom to explore." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46596432))
- Good games that age well (3 comments): "the Zelda franchise ages like good wine" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50142561)) "they are just that : good games" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50142503)) "They exist. They are good." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46305022))
- Nintendo's long-running, well-kept series (2 comments): "Nintendo does have their Zelda and Mario that they have taken care of well for decades" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45914254)) "Nintendo came out with originals like Super Mario Brothers and Zelda" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48845073))
- Better with PC mods (2 comments): "I have however enjoyed the last two Zelda titles on my PC where I was able to play them with performance and quality mods." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50195037)) "They're fine, I'd rather have zelda with modding." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50196315))

## What people warn about

- Obtuse, frustrating design (2 comments): "unreasonably obtuse... Legend of Zelda's final dungeon's location" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48651171)) "then I get frustrated trying to do it in game" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46814395))
- Older games feel dated (2 comments): "That 90's Zelda does nothing for me anymore" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48554480)) "I haven't enjoyed them since N64" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46978230))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Halo](https://hackerapproved.com/p/halo.md): 24 recommend
- [Pokémon video games](https://hackerapproved.com/p/pokemon.md): 23 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Legend of Zelda", https://hackerapproved.com/p/legend-of-zelda/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).