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When many people think of The Legend of Zelda, Link sporting his famous outfit comes to mind. With 30-plus years of history, Link and the magical world of Hyrule are cultural icons. There’s plenty to enjoy in the games, but there’s one hot topic feature with each game: the dungeons. With the upcoming release of Tears of the Kingdom, we’re looking back to find 10 of the best dungeons of all time in The Legend of Zelda series.
The 10 Best Dungeons from The Legend of Zelda Series
Dungeons are an iconic part of The Legend of Zelda. They offer puzzles that challenge you in different and exciting ways. There’s frustration thrown in too, which makes them even more enjoyable. By the time you beat the dungeon, there’s no denying those feelings of relief, joy, and triumph.
But which of the dozens of dungeons across The Legend of Zelda series stand out as the best or just in the top 10? Well, that can be tough to answer due to player bias. Still, we’ll try to break down all these Zelda game dungeons as best as possible to find our favorite 10 of all time. It’s a fun way to prepare for the eagerly-awaited release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
10. Earth Temple (The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker)
Wind Waker saw The Legend of Zelda series take a new turn in terms of location and overall presentation. Initially, the artwork proved divisive for fans. However, many have come to appreciate the stylish cartoon-like appearance.
With its dungeons, the Earth Temple deserves a spot among the 10 best dungeons in The Legend of Zelda. Fan-favorite Medli is a must-have in the dungeon. Plus, you’ll get the Mirror Shield to solve puzzle mechanics. You’ll need to bounce beams of light to activate the various switches. The aesthetic stands out in the Earth Temple as well. It balances the mystery of the dungeon alongside the creepy factor due to the undead Redeads.
9. Hyrule Castle (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)
Hyrule Castle’s appearance in Breath of the Wild isn’t its first venture in the franchise. However, this appearance places it as one of the best dungeons of all time in the Zelda series. The dungeon’s difficulty depends on when you decide to venture in. Did you go early? Sneak into the back because you knew the famous Hylian Shield lay inside? Well, you may be in for a rude awakening.
Part of the fun of Hyrule Castle is getting destroyed because you weren’t ready for all the enemies lurking inside. But if that’s too rage-inducing, you can always wait until you’re stronger. Concerning looks, the Castle appears worn down and overrun by evil forces. Malice grows around the castle walls. Minions roam the halls. All of it (along with an incredible soundtrack) leads up to the throwdown with Calamity Ganon.
8. Sandship Dungeon (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword)
Sandship perfected the art of exploring a dungeon through different periods of time in Skyward Sword. When you venture inside, prepare your problem-solving skills since this has some of the most challenging puzzles in the Zelda franchise. It’s all about time-bending. Once you have your bow, you’ll cycle through time.
This feature offers some of the most visually-compelling designs that make this dungeon stand out. It transforms back and forth from the stunning ship in its prime situated in a beautiful sea to a hopeless, sand-filled ruin of a ship. What makes this even more challenging is the fact that it’s a multi-floor layout. So, you won’t always note the changes you’re making between the times.
7. Ancient Cistern (Skyward Sword)
Among the 10 best dungeons in The Legend of Zelda, the Ancient Cistern claims the title as one of the most aesthetically pleasing dungeons. It is distractingly beautiful, and it seamlessly combines two elements. First, you have a water-centric dungeon in an area inspired by Hindu mythology. Then, on the other hand, the lower level transforms into more of a shadow dungeon. It’s dark, and the once-clear water is contaminated.
It all contrasts perfectly. Plus, you get the whip in this dungeon, one of the most enjoyable items in Skyward Sword. The whip plays into the combat and the puzzle mechanisms in fun ways. There’s no way you won’t find yourself at the edge of your seat when facing Koloktos.
6. Shadow Temple Dungeon (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
The dungeons in Ocarina of Time focus on building that perfect atmosphere. Our favorite is the Shadow Temple. It has a macabre setting with themes centered around death. The walls are blood-stained, and you can figure that the dungeon held tortured prisoners. It’s unsettling, to put it mildly.
Of course, horrifying monsters are waiting at every turn. There are even hidden walls you can discover to lead to different paths. It climaxes to a thrilling experience battling the creepy Bongo Bongo. We don’t blame you if this boss leads to some frustration or even rage-quitting, but it’s worth the challenge.
Related:
All Legend of Zelda Games In Order: Release and Chronological
5. City in the Sky Dungeon (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)
As we determine the 10 best dungeons in The Legend of Zelda series, you can’t go wrong with City in the Sky. As the name indicates, this dungeon floats in the sky. The area is more like a labyrinth, with how vast it is. Plus, it makes for a solid conclusion to Link’s journey in Twilight Princess.
It is a lovely balance of puzzles, traps, and ruthless enemies. You can explore inside and outside the dungeon, giving you plenty to keep busy. Besides, who doesn’t love zipping around the air like Link is a superhero?
4. Arbiter’s Grounds (Twilight Princess)
If you want to get creepy in The Legend of Zelda, head to Arbiter’s Grounds. This dungeon will leave you with a chill with the vast amount of undead you face. The creatures aren’t the only things that plague you. There is also the issue of the host of incredible traps just waiting to cut down your health. It keeps you on the edge of your seat.
There’s some connection with the overall story that will delight any lore-loving fan. Aribter’s Grounds even offers a fun time utilizing Link and his Wolf Link form to make it through. The feature helps put it near the top of the best 10 dungeons of all time in The Legend of Zelda series.
3. Snowpeak Ruins (Twilight Princess)
Snowpeak Ruins is one of the most uniquely designed dungeons across the franchise. The dungeon is a solitary and oversized mansion out in a snowy landscape. It’s easy to feel isolated from the rest of civilization here as all that keeps Link company is the abominable couple Yeto and his wife, Yeta. Link is tasked with some fetch quests as he searches for the Mirror Shard.
The boss battle is when things take a heartbreaking turn to make Snowpeak Ruins one of the dungeons to pull on a player’s emotions. But as a bonus, you get to use the ball and chain tool, arguably one of the more fun items in the series.
2. Forest Temple (Ocarina of Time)
The Forest Temple offers a great transition between child and adult Link in Ocarina of Time. It has the perfect aesthetic for the setting; it’s dark, chilling, and mysterious. Inside this massive dungeon are classic puzzles blended with distinct ones for the game. For instance, you can enjoy the traditional stepping switches. However, you’ll also experience innovative obstacles like the twisting hallway.
Battling the Poe sisters and the main boss Phantom Ganon is perfect, as it teaches you how to utilize Link’s new arsenal. The fights are all entertaining and challenging, especially with Phantom Ganon in the art gallery. You can even enjoy the haunting and beautiful score as you play.
1. Stone Tower Temple Dungeon (The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask)
The Stone Tower Temple makes the cut as the best out of the 10 dungeons in The Legend of Zelda series. It is a dungeon that rewards you for paying close attention to your surroundings since the Stone Tower Temple turns upside down. If you aren’t, it’s easy to lose track of where you’re going.
It’s a dungeon that is rewarding to all your arsenal too. You’ll have to use most of what you’ve gathered throughout the game. You can even take on Twinmold in various ways. Want to fight him full-sized? Put on the Giants Mask and get to work. Or, if you want to stay at Link’s usual size, you can focus your attacks elsewhere.
And that’s the list of our favorite dungeons in The Legend of Zelda series. There’s always a chance for things to change in the future. Until then, enjoy the wait for the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for the Nintendo Switch.