Summary

Endings are often bittersweet. The evil is defeated and the kingdom is saved, but the journey is over. Will you ever see the friends you met along the way again? Or will you all go your separate ways?The Legend of Zeldaseries embodies these kinds of endings, leaving a lasting impression on you as the credits roll.

The best endings in the series fill you with all kinds of emotions as your adventure comes to a close, and tie everything up in a neat bow. A good ending makes a good game even better, so which Zelda games have the absolute best finales in the series?

10Breath Of The Wild

Breath of the Wild’s ending is more subdued compared to others in the series, but it still leaves a strong impression. If you successfullyfreed the Divine Beasts, the Champions will come to your aid when fighting Calamity Ganon, not only taking a good chunk out of his health, but also filling you with determination to finish off the task.

After you defeat this boss, he becomes Dark Beast Ganon, and you finally get to see Princess Zelda in the flesh. She tells Link, “Courage need not be remembered, for it is never forgotten.” This gives him the last burst of encouragement he needs to finally defeat Calamity Ganon. When it’s all finally over, Zelda asks Link if he really remembers her, and he rushes towards her. It’s a subtle ending, but one that fits Breath of the Wild’s atmosphere perfectly.

If you collect all of Link’s memories prior to defeating Calamity Ganon, there is an extra scene where Zelda and Link discuss the future of Hyrule.

9Ocarina Of Time

Ocarina of Timehas one of the most tragic endings in the Zelda series when you think about the consequences of Zelda sending Link back to the past. After defeating Ganon together with Link, Zelda sends Link back in time so he can be a child again and live the youth he missed out on.

It’s a touching and selfless moment for Zelda, as she is now alone in the Adult Timeline but did this for Link’s benefit. Link, however, has to face the fact he is more grown-up now. His trusty companion Navi leaves him, her purpose now fulfilled, and he must figure out what to do in a kingdom that doesn’t know of his heroic deeds and sacrifice.

A Link to the Past has perhaps the happiest ending in the Zelda series, but that’s what makes it so satisfying. After Link defeats Agahnim and Ganon,he gets the Triforce himself, allowing him to make a wish. He wishes for everyone to come home safe from the Dark World, and for his uncle to come back to life.

Seeing Link’s uncle alive again in the ending scene is an unforgettable moment, especially after the sadness of his death earlier in the game. It’s a classic happily ever after ending, but it works perfectly for this story.

7Tears Of The Kingdom

Tears of the Kingdom’s ending is one of the most action-packed in the series. It has lots of memorable moments, from Ganon’s health bar extending far beyond what you could have imagined to him swallowing the Secret Stone andturning into a dragon.

It also has the best reunion between Link and Zelda. Link has been tirelessly trying to find Zelda after she was sent to the past in the game’s prologue, and eventually discovers she was turned into an immortal dragon. When she returns to her human form, thousands of feet in the air, he catches her, and they fall to the ground together. With Ganon finally defeated, Link, Zelda, and the new Sages can start to rebuild Hyrule.

6The Wind Waker

The ending of The Wind Waker is all about hope for the future. Just before Ganondorf is about to make his wish on the Triforce to rule the world, the King of Hyrule interrupts him, and makes his own wish instead. He wishes for Link and Tetra to have a bright future, and for the Goddesses to wash Ganondorf away.

Link and Tetra fight Ganondorf together, with Link landing the final blow - the Master Sword right into Ganondorf’s skull. you may’t get more of a memorable final hit than that. With Ganondorf defeated, Link and Tetra sail off onto a new adventure, filled with hope for their futures thanks to the King.

5Skyward Sword

Skyward Sword’s ending is simultaneously a beginning in a way. Just as Link is about to defeat the evil monstrosity that is Demise, Demise curses Link’s and Zelda’s bloodlines, so they will always be haunted by his hatred given form - aka Ganon.

To seal Demise completely, Link must put the Master Sword in its pedestal at the Sealed Temple, which leads to a tearful goodbye between him and Fi, who has grown to feel close to her master. It’s a very bittersweet ending that added a lot to the series’ lore.

While the trope ‘and it was all a dream…’ is very cliche now,Link’s Awakeninguses it well to create a sad farewell to Koholint Island. Link awakens the Wind Fish by playing the Ballad of the Wind Fish, which causes Koholint Island and all of its inhabitants to disappear, as they were a part of the Wind Fish’s dream.

Link finds himself drifting in the ocean once again, just like in the game’s intro. If you managed to complete the game without dying, you’ll also be treated to seeing Marin in the sky, referencing her dream of becoming a seagull. Though everyone Link met was part of a dream, the memories he created and everything he felt was real - just like you playing the game, really.

3Majora’s Mask

The impact of Majora’s Mask’s ending depends on how many quests you complete in the game, which is what makes it so great. The NPCs you helped throughout Link’s journey show up, happy that the Moon is no longer going to fall down on Termina.

The best part of Majora’s Mask’s ending, though, is Skull Kid. Throughout the game, you learn how he was ostracised by the Giants. In the end, they make up and are friends again. The final scene of the game is an adorable drawing made by Skull Kid on a tree stump, showing Link, Skull Kid, and their friends. Despite the game itself having a more dark atmosphere, the ending is uplifting and leaves you feeling happy.

2Twilight Princess

Link and Midna’s relationship is the highlight ofTwilight Princess, which is what makes the game’s ending so effective. After Link defeats Ganondorf, Link, Zelda, and Midna return to the Mirror of Twilight, where Midna is restored to her true form as the titular Twilight Princess.

She returns to the Twilight Realm and destroys the Mirror of Twilight, severing the connection between Hyrule and the Twilight Realm. Both kingdoms are safe, but Link and Zelda can never see Midna again. It’s the most bittersweet ending in the series, and beautiful for that exact reason.

Following in the footsteps of A Link to the Past, A Link Between Worlds has a happy ending thanks to wishing on the Triforce. Hilda finally sees the error of her ways and apologises for sacrificing Hyrule so she could restore Lorule. She and Ravio agree to rebuild Lorule the right way this time.

With the Triforce in their possession, Link and Zelda agree that they both have the same wish: to see Lorule’s Triforce restored so their kingdom can thrive again. Link and Zelda make their wish, and both kingdoms are able to have their happy ending. It’s a perfect, feel-good ending where everything ties together.