Zelda characters make for some of the most familiar faces in gaming, which is hardly surprising considering the franchise is nearly 40 years old, debuting on the NES and continuing to release new games today. While Link and Zelda are two of the most iconic characters in videogames, there are other characters on this list that can give the heroes a run for their money in the popularity department.
If, like us, you long to see two of the greatest Zelda games on Nintendo Switch, check out our guides speculating on potential Twilight Princess Switch and Winder Waker Switch ports. However, if a grand-scale adventure doesn’t tickle your fancy or your youngsters are craving some more gaming action, check out our picks for the best Switch games for kids.
Here’s our thoughts on the best Zelda characters:
The King of Hyrule
It’s hard to pick just which king of Hyrule (the world Legend of Zelda often takes place in) is our favorite. Whether it’s King Rhoam from Breath of the Wild, a controversial character where most of what is wrong with the land of Hyrule when you start your adventure comes down to his faulty decisions and avarice.
Or maybe you prefer the jolly, lighthearted King Harkinian, who warms your day with a welcoming “My boy!” you probably know this Zelda patriarch better from his influence on internet culture when YouTube was on the rise. Or maybe you prefer him as a boat. That’s cool, too.
Tingle
The map-giving, balloon-floating clown of Hyrule and self-proclaimed fairy, Tingle, comes soaring in as our next entry. He’s as flamboyant as he is floaty, often putting a humorous spin on a dark situation to the point where his involvement in a game can seem controversial if not clashing with the design and setting.
With a sparkly dance and song, Tingle assists Link, more often than not, with a helpful map or treasure chart. Just try to forget that we found him in jail in Wind Waker. Just what was he locked up for?
Impa
Impa is a member of the Sheikah tribe, a group with ties to the Hyrule royal family, serving as their bodyguards and sometimes maidens. Impa offers wise guidance to Link on his adventures, often detailing the point of his quest and the stakes at hand. Impa has many interpretations, but her appearances in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Hyrule Warriors, and Age of Calamity are our favorites.
While Impa being the wise instructor is interesting, her involvement as a cool, kickass warrior who lives up to the Sheikah name is always much more appealing.
Tetra
When the land of Hyrule and the kingdom is all but forgotten, the sassy pirate captain Tetra enters the scene in The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker as a descendant of Princess Zelda. The amount of sass she gives Link while he tries to save his sister makes her such a memorable character and a nice change of pace to the generic “princessy” vibe Zelda usually comes with.
The biggest shame of her character is that when Tetra embraces her role as Princess Zelda, she sits on the sidelines with a severe lack of sass for the remainder of the game. A bit of a waste if you ask me.
Ganon
There are only a few instances where Ganon, or Ganondorf, isn’t the main antagonist. He’s so recognizable with such a fierce reputation that you know exactly what you’re in for when he enters the fray. He’s a cruel individual who continually resurrects in his goal to take over the world.
That is when he’s not kidnapping a princess like another certain Nintendo villain we all know and love, bringing all that is good and true to ruin unless you stop him. Whether he’s a giant pig monster or a Gerudo with a jawline that won’t quit, Ganon is the villain that every gamer knows.
Princess Zelda
The stoic princess of Hyrule has gone from a damsel in distress to a powerful warrior who is wise beyond her years. It’s hard to ground where Zelda stands as a character sometimes, but she’s always there and faithful to the forces of good when push comes to shove. Though her character in one of the latest mainline Zelda titles, Breath of the Wild, shows a young wide-eyed princess with a lot to learn, which translates into some interesting moments in the sequel, The Tears of the Kingdom.
Link
The hero of time himself, Link, is one of the most iconic videogame protagonists of all time. Wielding the triforce of courage, one of Link’s best character traits is that you can consider him a blank slate to implicate yourself upon. Such as in Wind Waker, where Link is a no-name descendant, reluctant to adventure.
Or in Breath of the Wild, where Link holds a high position of responsibility as the personal guard of Princess Zelda. The story of each individual game often leans into who Link is as a person and a hero and builds from there. Whether he lives up to the expectations of his ancestors is on you. To learn even more about him, pop by our BotW Link article.
If you want to know how this famous protagonist fares in his latest adventure, make sure you check out our The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review, where we claim that “there’s nothing like it on the Switch.”
Sheik
A strange warrior watches over and assists Link on his adventure in Ocarina of Time, setting him off on his adventure, teaching Link songs on their trusty harp. Sheik is there to direct Link whenever he’s in need of it on his adventure through Hyrule. It’s not just the in-game features of Sheik that make them interesting, it’s also the mystery surrounding the character throughout, as we have no idea who this person is in Ocarina of Time with no prior mention of them.
The mystery remains until the game’s finale, where Sheik reveals themself to be Princess Zelda in disguise. It’s a very interesting twist that not only benefits Zelda as a character but also makes Sheik stand out in one of the best Zelda titles ever released.
Purah
Purah looks a lot older in Tears of the Kindom than you may remember her being in Breath of the Wild, and that’s because, at some point between the two games, she perfects her anti-aging rune. Don’t get me wrong, she looks young still, except she’s a young woman rather than a small child.
She’s quite an important character in BotW, upgrading your sheikah sensor, remote bomba, and stasis runes, which is vital if you want to be successful on your journey. Come to the events of Tears of the Kingdom, she’s the head of Lookout Landing, and we have to admit, she has a certain authority about her – no doubt because she doesn’t resemble a toddler anymore.
Zant
Villains are arguably better than the heroes; more often than not, they’re more entertaining, for better or worse. Zant is one of the better villains in the Zelda universe, besides Ganon, of course. He debuted in Twilight Princes, being the main antagonist that Link needs to overcome. While some enemies in Zelda can be intimidating, none come so close to being a horror villain as Zant.
This guy is genuinely creepy. I wouldn’t want to run into him in a dark alley or even a daisy field full of sunshine and rainbows, to be honest. Zant is one of the most controlling individuals you’ll meet, with a calm and collected demeanor to match. He’s intimidating, with a sinister side that makes him one of the best Zelda characters.
Revali
Talk about arrogance. Revali is dripping head to toe with it, and he’s especially boastful about his abilities in front of Link. If you ask me, it’s a bit unfair to have a sword-measuring contest in front of a silent protagonist; how is Link supposed to shut Revali down? Still, there’s no denying his prowess as an archer. As for what games Revali appears in, he’s in Breath of the Wild and Age of Calamity, though he also appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Fi
It should come as no surprise to fans of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword that Fi is on this list, the fairy spirit leaves quite the impression throughout your adventure. She’s a highly intelligent being with a formal aura, and she’s here to help guide you on your adventure, ensuring you defeat the evil Demon Lord.
Sidon
Sidon first appears in Breath of the Wild, going on to show up in Age of Calamity and Tears of the Kingdom. His appearance is based on a hammerhead shark, and that’s honestly reason enough to have him on this list. Another reason is his impeccable choice of weapon, using a lightscale trident, which looks totally badass. We also can’t help but admire his love for life; he has an infectious enthusiasm that we can’t help but find a little charming.
There you have it, our favorite Zelda characters from the iconic Nintendo series. If you’re ready to dive into the new Zelda game, Echoes of Wisdom, make sure you check out our The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom amiibo guide, in which we detail what rewards you get for using them. We also have a The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review if you want to learn about the first main game in which you play as Zelda.