The Legend of Zelda has given me some of my favorite moments in gaming—epic battles, unforgettable music, and worlds I never wanted to leave. But even in a legendary franchise like this one, not every game is flawless. Some entries, while loved by many, just don’t hit the same mark for everyone. And today, we’re diving into those games—the ones that fans themselves say might be a little too overhyped.

Now, calling a Zelda game “overrated” doesn’t mean it’s bad. In fact, most of the games mentioned in this video are still well-made, incredibly ambitious, and important to the series’ evolution. But “overrated” means something else—it’s about how the conversation around the game sometimes overshadows the actual experience. The nostalgia, the critical acclaim, the fan devotion—it can all build a reputation that not every player agrees with.

So this isn’t just my opinion. I went looking for what Zelda fans had to say. The people who’ve played these games, loved them, hated them, and in some cases—still don’t understand the hype. From divisive dungeon design to forgettable music, bloated quests to frustrating mechanics, these are the games that—even in the eyes of devoted fans—may not deserve the pedestal they’ve been placed on.

Thanks to the Triforce Times community for submitting their comments, we’re going to get into the details now.

Breath of the Wild

When Breath of the Wild launched in 2017, it was hailed as a masterpiece—revolutionary, genre-defining, and the future of open-world games. Critics gave it near-perfect scores. Fans spent hundreds of hours exploring every mountain, every shrine, and every Korok seed. But in the years since, a growing number of Zelda fans have started to ask a tough question: Is it actually as great as we all said it was?

Some fans feel Breath of the Wild sacrificed what made previous Zelda games truly magical. As @sparklefulpaladin put it, “Yeah, it was fine and I mostly enjoyed it, but in my opinion, it lost a lot of the magic of what made a Zelda game great.” One of the biggest criticisms centers around the shrines, which many found repetitive and soulless. While some were clever, others felt like filler—mechanical puzzles with little atmosphere or connection to the world. And when it came to the Divine Beasts, what should’ve been memorable dungeon experiences felt strangely interchangeable. “All the Divine Beasts felt the same,” @sparklefulpaladin added, echoing a sentiment shared across the community.

Another major point of disappointment? The music. Zelda has always used music not just as background, but as storytelling—Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, Majora’s Mask, and Skyward Sword all put instruments at the heart of the experience. Breath of the Wild… didn’t. For players like @sparklefulpaladin, this absence was especially painful: “Music being important is honestly one of my favorite parts of the other Zelda games.”

Even the much-praised exploration and freedom weren’t immune from critique. Many players felt that the rewards for venturing off the beaten path were underwhelming, and the sheer volume of Korok seeds—900 of them—felt like busywork rather than meaningful content. “75% of Breath of the Wild is just playing hide n seek with a bunch of meaningless Korok seeds,” said @ShadowWizard224. The dungeons and boss fights also drew criticism for lacking in variety, with @GamingReinvented summing it up like this: “It’s a good solid open world game… but it’s deeply flawed.”

To be clear, these fans aren’t saying Breath of the Wild is a bad game. Far from it. What they’re saying is that, for all its innovation, it left behind core Zelda traditions that many players deeply value—structured dungeons, strong musical identity, and a sense of narrative momentum. It’s not that Breath of the Wild is unworthy of praise, but rather, that the conversation around it has sometimes drowned out its legitimate flaws.

Ocarina of Time

It’s impossible to talk about Zelda without mentioning Ocarina of Time. Often cited as one of the greatest games ever made, it revolutionized 3D action-adventure gameplay and shaped the blueprint for dozens of titles that followed. But as time has passed, a number of fans have started to re-examine Ocarina’s legacy—and not everyone is convinced it still deserves the universal praise.

One fan, @ggbetz, didn’t hold back: “Absolutely Zelda 64. It dismisses yet co-ops all of ALttP’s achievements (yet brings nothing to the table)… its graphics and story are 100,000% mid.” For players like this, Ocarina feels like a downgrade from its 2D predecessor A Link to the Past—a game that many consider tighter, more polished, and more imaginative. Even beyond comparisons, some players just don’t find it engaging. “It has never held my attention to even get to the first dungeon,” @ggbetz continued.

This isn’t an isolated opinion. @frankJaegar54 echoed the sentiment, saying, “Ocarina of Time was boring to me back then and it’s boring now.” For some, the game’s pacing is too slow, the early hours too tedious, and the world—while groundbreaking in its time—feels sparse by modern standards.

Still, fans of the game were quick to jump to its defense. @ShadowWizard224 countered: “Saying it didn’t introduce anything is kinda silly when it literally introduced Z-targeting as well as the introduction of Ganondorf, Epona, the Gerudo, peaceful Zoras, and the Gorons.” It’s a fair point—Ocarina was incredibly innovative for its time. But that’s exactly what some critics argue: that much of its praise comes from what it represented in 1998, not how it plays today.

Ultimately, the claim that Ocarina of Time is overrated isn’t about denying its historical importance — it’s about whether that legacy still holds up under scrutiny. For some longtime players, Ocarina feels more like a relic than a relevant masterpiece.

Majora’s Mask

For many Zelda fans, Majora’s Mask is the dark horse of the franchise—a cult classic praised for its emotional depth, surreal atmosphere, and time-based mechanics. It’s often called “underrated,” especially compared to its more conventional sibling, Ocarina of Time. But in recent years, a growing group of players have begun to push back on that narrative, arguing that Majora’s Mask might actually be overrated—a great idea wrapped in a frustrating execution.

One of the most common complaints is that Majora’s Mask simply isn’t fun to play. The time-loop mechanic, while thematically brilliant, creates anxiety and repetition. “Love the story and music,” @domcruise admits, “but it’s a bit of a chore to play.” That tension between concept and gameplay shows up repeatedly. @snowelf893 confesses, “I feel so bad about this because it’s not a terrible game overall… but once I start, I find I’d rather just go watch a video about it for the vibe instead.”

The early game, particularly the first dungeon, seems to be a major stumbling block. “I’ve tried playing it several times and never got further than the first dungeon,” says @timg2727. “I just don’t think it’s fun to play a Zelda game on a timer, and I’ve also never been a big sidequest person.” That’s a key issue: much of Majora’s Mask’s charm is tucked away in optional content, meaning if you’re not into tracking NPC schedules or scouring Termina for mask-based rewards, the main quest can feel surprisingly thin.

Even those who like the game conceptually often struggle to enjoy it moment-to-moment. “I do love the story,” writes @snowelf893, “but it’s so easy to miss something for a side quest that it’s frustrating.” The game’s rigid three-day cycle—requiring you to constantly reset time—can lead to repetitive gameplay and lost progress, especially for those unprepared or exploring without a guide.

That’s not to say fans don’t admire the game’s ambition. Many still praise its haunting tone, rich symbolism, and emotional storytelling. But as more players revisit Majora’s Mask or play it for the first time through the lens of modern Zelda standards, some are realizing it’s a lot more polarizing than its reputation suggests. It’s a game you respect more than you replay—a title whose cult status may be partly fueled by its uniqueness, rather than its accessibility or enjoyment.

Other Zelda games

While Breath of the Wild, Ocarina of Time, and Majora’s Mask tend to dominate conversations about Zelda’s most overrated entries, other games in the franchise aren’t immune to criticism either. Both Twilight Princess and Wind Waker, despite their passionate fanbases, have their detractors—some of whom believe these titles are praised more for their presentation or nostalgia than their actual gameplay.

Take Twilight Princess, for example. Often described as the “gritty” Zelda, it was designed in direct contrast to the bright, cartoony style of Wind Waker. But that tonal shift didn’t work for everyone. As @dustybees6308 puts it, “While I know three people who claim it’s their favorite, it’s likely my least favorite of the 3D Zeldas.” Their main issue? Pacing. “Its pacing is far too stop-and-go due to the Twilight Realm and Wolf Link.” Many players found that switching back and forth between wolf and human forms interrupted the flow of the game, making it feel disjointed and sluggish. For a title that was meant to feel epic and mature, it instead left some feeling bogged down and disconnected.

Then there’s Wind Waker, a game that’s undergone something of a reputation glow-up in recent years. Once criticized for its cartoon visuals, it’s now beloved for that very style—but not everyone is on board. “I’ve played Wind Waker for the first time recently,” says @Romulus879. “In all rankings I’ve seen, it was ranked very high… but I didn’t like it much. It was pretty mediocre.” Their biggest frustration? The sailing. “There is far too much sailing where you just wait and do nothing.” Others echoed that complaint, noting that the game often fails to clearly guide players, turning progression into a guessing game. That slow traversal and vague direction, while immersive to some, felt tedious and empty to others.

Despite these criticisms, it’s worth noting that neither Twilight Princess nor Wind Waker are seen as failures. In fact, both have deep emotional cores, standout dungeons, and memorable characters. But for fans who didn’t grow up with them or who prefer tighter, more directed gameplay, the praise can feel outsized. These are the fans who look past art style or nostalgia and ask the harder question: Does the gameplay still hold up—or are we just remembering how it made us feel?

These criticisms aren’t hating on the Zelda fanchise — they’re love filtered through high expectations. Shows how the Zelda community doesn’t agree on what the “core” of Zelda even is anymore: Is it puzzles? Exploration? Lore? No Zelda game is bad—but some may not deserve the pedestal they’re on. Which Zelda game do YOU think is the most overrated?

Let me know in the comments.