The Legend of Zelda ​​​​​​games are some of the best on the Nintendo platform. Classics like A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword are still near and dear to many hearts today. Arguably, what made these games so great was that they followed the typical Zelda formula: explore dungeons, solve puzzles, collect the usual weapons, fight bosses, and save the princess and Hyrule, usually alongside a companion like Navi or Midna.

Yet, what truly makes Zelda special is not the formula itself but the sense of adventure and discovery the games have always captured. Even when the franchise breaks away from its formulaic roots, as it did with Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the Zelda universe is still just as magical and captivating.

The Zelda Formula Is Great, But Using It As A Blueprint Isn’t

Iconic Zelda Features Don't Need To Be In Every Game

For years, the Zelda formula has helped create some of the best games ever made. Ocarina of Time set the standard for action-adventure games and is still one of the best in the Zelda franchise. Later games like Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword followed the same path. These games had a very clear structure and formula that they followed, and it worked well, making Zelda instantly recognizable.

While the typical dungeon-and-boss formula worked well for these earlier Zelda titles and helped the franchise make a name for itself, following the same formula too closely limits creativity. If all Zelda games stuck to the same pattern, it would become too predictable and stale. These earlier Zelda games certainly laid the foundation for the series' success. Then things changed with Breath of the Wild, which broke the typical Zelda formula and gave players a new way to explore and experience adventure.

While BOTW is known for its open-world innovation, it is heavily inspired by the original The Legend of Zelda, which similarly left players to explore with very little direction.

Instead of repeating the past trends that got Zelda to where it was, Breath of the Wild focused on freedom and discovery. The vast open world and exploration components contributed to it being the most popular and best-selling Zelda game of all time. It was a much-needed break from the mold, proving that innovation and risk-taking could breathe new life into the beloved franchise.

Zelda’s Sense Of Discovery Can’t Be Put Into A Box

Zelda Is All About Exploration And Discovery

The best Zelda games make players feel like they're on a real adventure. The classic Wind Waker is proof of that, as players get to experience sailing across the open sea and discovering new islands. Breath of the Wild took it a step further, allowing players to explore an open world at their own pace.

Exploring the unknown has always been one of the best selling points of the Zelda series and is what has made the franchise so special. Fighting bosses and solving puzzles is part of the experience, but the excitement and thrill of discovering something new is what truly makes the games magical. Older Zelda games had a more structured approach to exploration. They guided players through paths and dungeons and basically pointed players in the direction they needed to go. This worked well for a long time but began feeling too predictable. It became a routine: complete a dungeon, get a new item, and move on to a new area.

Some fans miss the old Zelda style and want the series to go back to it, which is understandable considering the significant departures BOTW and TOTK made. However, change is what keeps Zelda fresh and exciting. If Ocarina of Time had just copied A Link to the Past without adding new ideas, it wouldn’t have been so groundbreaking. Zelda has always been at its best when it takes risks and evolves.

Breath of the Wild did away with the usual blueprint and embraced an open world, letting players create their own adventure and redefining Zelda. Players have the freedom to explore however they want. Instead of following a set path, players can climb mountains, find hidden shrines, and uncover secrets in their own way. This freedom made the game feel fresh and exciting.

The problem with sticking to a set formula is that new games can start feeling like copies instead of something new. Zelda has always been about adventure and discovery, and forcing every game into the same structure could take that away. When a game sticks to a strict formula, exploration can feel boring because players know what’s coming. Zelda is best when it surprises players, like with hidden caves or new ways to interact with the world. The goal is to make players feel like they’re discovering secrets on their own, not just ticking off tasks.

Classic Features Should Only Return When They’re Needed

Classic Zelda Features Still Have Their Place

Zelda has a lot of iconic features, including typical dungeons and puzzles, special items, mini-bosses, and big boss challenges. There are also many familiar weapons, like the Master Sword and Hookshot, and gameplay mechanics like swimming, climbing, and horseback riding. Several titles even pair Link up with a companion who helps guide him on his quest to save Hyrule.

Every game in the series also has its own mechanics. In Majora's Mask, Link can transform into different species using various masks, and in Twilight Princess, Link can transform into a wolf with different abilities. Ocarina of Time gives Link the ability to control time and play melodies that alter the world around him, and in Wind Waker, Link uses the eponymous wand to control the wind and sail across the sea to different islands.

Even when these games include many Zelda series staples, they have also given players something new to look forward to. Yet, that hasn't always been enough to keep things feeling fresh and exciting. Iconic features in the Zelda universe shouldn't be included just for tradition's sake, either. Bringing something back just because it was in past games doesn’t always make sense.

Zelda’s identity isn’t tied to any one feature. The series has changed a lot over the years, but it has always stayed true to its spirit of adventure. Future games should focus on what makes sense to the story and world, rather than feeling obligated to check off a list of classic gameplay mechanics and formulas. That doesn’t mean classic Zelda elements should disappear. Dungeons, unique items, and puzzles still have their place, but they should only return if they truly fit the game.

The reason Zelda has remained exciting for nearly 40 years is because it’s always willing to try new things. Sticking to a formula would make the games feel repetitive, but experimentation keeps them fresh. The best Zelda games take risks, even if that means leaving some beloved features behind. A formula should be a guide, not a rulebook. As long as The Legend of Zelda stays true to its core ideas of adventure, mystery, and discovery, then it can keep evolving in exciting ways without being trapped by the past.