After 40 years, no Zelda game has influenced the series quite like this one (and it's not Ocarina of Time)

It's hard to believe, but we've officially made it The Legend of Zelda40th year as a franchise with the anniversary landing on February 21, 2026, exactly four decades to the day after the very first NES game was released. That said, Nintendo continues to release new items today that achieve critical success Zelda maintains its place in the exclusive club of only a handful of IPs that have lasted as long as it has. Much of this is due to how faithful Nintendo has been to the franchise's development formula, regardless of how comfortable its most dedicated fans are with where it was before. Despite how much it has evolved since its inception, The Legend of Zelda it still rests on its most influential entry—and it doesn't Ocarina of Time.

When discussing what is most important Zelda the game is, the simple answer is Ocarina of Time. After all, it's not only responsible for influencing the gaming industry as a whole with its storytelling, exploration, and gameplay mechanics, but it's also the current Guinness World Record holder for the best game ever created.

But the truth is that it is likely Ocarina of Time it wouldn't have succeeded if it hadn't stood on the shoulders of a record released less than a decade before it. Although it became a blueprint for the next generation Zelda the games that followed relied heavily on the foundation established by the SNES classic: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Zelda wouldn't be what it is without a connection to the past

Several Zelda games like Ocarina of Time and even Breath of the Wild have have been recognized for their innovation and setting new standards for the franchise, but none of them even come close A link to the past when narrowing down which item really had the most impact. Released on the SNES in 1991, this defining title was Nintendo's answer to the disaster that was Zelda 2: The Adventure of Linkwhich tried to take the series into RPG territory and failed in its execution. What finally came about A link to the past such an important entry was how it introduced a number of elements that the franchise still uses today – elements that even seminal titles like Ocarina of Time were based on.

Everything Zelda: A Link to the Past introduces what has become a staple of the series

• THE MASTER SWORD — First appearance in the series, introduced as a legendary blade bound to fate and rank.
• DUAL WORLD SYSTEM — The first use of a parallel overworld that directly mirrors and changes gameplay and progression.
• THE SACRED EMPIRE — Introduced as a divine plane associated with the Triforce and the corruption of evil.
• THE TRIFORCE DIVIDED INTO STRENGTH, WISDOM AND COURAGE — A link to the past was the first to define the Triforce as three virtues with thematic meaning.
• KAKARIKO VILLAGE — A link to the past was the first game in the series to feature a core village that still appears today.
• SOME ICONIC ITEMS — Hookshot, Pegasus Boots, Fire Rod, Ice Rod, Magic Mirror and Book of Mudora.
• GANONDORF AS THE ORIGIN OF GANON — Introduced via backstory as a Gerudo thief who becomes Ganon, establishing the villain's mythology.
• HEART COLLECTIBLE PIECES — First appearance of Heart Pieces as optional fragments that permanently increase health.
• DUNGEON-GATE NARRATIVE PROGRESSION — Multi-dungeon story arcs that limit progression through token objectives and saves.
• VISUALLY UNIQUE THEMATIC DUNGEONS — A link to the past introduced dungeons with visually distinct themes.
• CHANGE OF THE GLOBAL STATE CONNECTED WITH THE NARRATIVE — The Dark World visually and mechanically reflects the result of Ganon's corruption.

A reference to the past was a much needed course correction

When A link to the past launched in 1991, it did not mark itself as the most important Zelda game ever made, simply because its influence had not yet been felt in subsequent titles. Instead, it was seen as a much-needed course correction for a franchise that had briefly lost its footing. We start from the dividing reception Zelda 2expectations were naturally cautious, and Nintendo was under pressure to prove the series still had life in its bones. First review A link to the past it wasn't necessarily a reinvention so much as a relief, with critics praising the game for returning to the original top-down perspective while drastically improving it, as well as its scope, progression, and overall design. It was widely considered a true sequel to the first Zelda game on the NES, and that in itself meant a lot at the time.

As a result, the games sold millions, became one of the standout SNES releases, and were often bundled with the system, putting them into the hands of gamers who might not even be looking for the game. Zelda game first. Much of its reputation spread organically, with players talking about it at school, sharing secrets they found, and slowly realizing how deep it was. A link to the past-the big rabbit hole goes. But despite all the praise, A link to the past it wasn't immediately untouchable, nor was it considered a once-in-a-generation leap like later entries were. Rather, it regained confidence Zelda fans long enough to carry the streak into the next game, Link's Awakening to the Game Boy and then to the next, Ocarina of Time on Nintendo 64.

Link to the Past is for Zelda What is Epona for linking

Link can walk on his own and always has. But when his faithful steed Epona enters the game, his path changes. She gets him where he needs to go faster, opens up paths that would otherwise seem remote or impractical, and has proven to be a reliable presence that Link can rely on when he can't find solid ground. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past it serves the same purpose for the whole Zelda the series itself. The franchise could have continued without her, but it wouldn't have gone nearly as far or as effectively without what she offered.

This is the game that gave Zelda his eternal plan. It's where the Master Sword first entered the picture, not just as a simple weapon upgrade, but as an essential element of the series' narrative. That's where Kakariko Village was introduced, and even though it's had a lot of awkward moments in the franchise's history, the fact that it's still around is comforting in itself. A link to the past is also where Ganon was given his true identity as Ganondorf, turning him from a mere final boss into a character whose corruption defined the very world of Hyrule. Essentially, A link to the past made it easy for every future Zelda game to go further.

Even Zeldaprogression and space were based in the SNES icon. The concept of visually distinct themed dungeons was a first for the series in A link to the pastand the series returned to this philosophy time and time again, where each location had a clear identity tied to mechanics and story. Zelda: Ocarina of Timeon the other hand, he did not so much invent this structure as take it to the next level. Zelda: The Wind Waker stretched the same idea across the open sea and Tears of the Kingdom after reviving the traditional dungeon format Breath of the Wild he ruled it out and faced backlash for it – again, albeit indirectly, he confirmed A link to the past as the most influential Zelda game ever made.

Ocarina of Time he deserves his place in history; that cannot be denied. But if you look at how Zelda she was able to evolve, reinvent herself and still feel like Zelda 40 years later, the trend is still firmly rooted in 1991. A link to the past he didn't save the franchise after it was betrayed by its predecessor. Rather, it gave the series a reliable horse to ride and Zelda he's been covering ground with it ever since.

Systems

Released

April 13, 1992

ESRB

E For everyone due to mild violence

Developers

Nintendo EAD

Publishers

Nintendo