The Legend of Zeldahas again hit popular consciousness, with Nintendo announcing the latest franchise installment,The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, at the Nintendo Direct in June 2024. The game is the first in the series to feature a playable Zelda rather than Link. Despite this, Nintendo has confirmed that Link will be playable in some capacity.
The Master Sword, named by many as the Sword that Seals the Darkness, is a weapon of god-like power that was first forged as the Goddess Sword by Hylia. Although fans have assumed Link will don his infamous master sword inEchoes of Wisdom, this may not be the case. Here are a few examples of games where the famed sword did not make an appearance.
Alternative: Lokomo Sword
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
For the first time in the history of The Legend of Zelda series, Princess Zelda is leaving the villainous clutches of the underworld behind and joining the adventure with Link. In The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, the spirit of Zelda accompanies Link on his quest to save Hyrule.Directly impacting game play like never before, Zelda’s spirit can take control of hulking suits of armor known as Phantoms, allowing the player to direct both Link and these new allies as they battle enemies, solve puzzles and uncover secrets. Zelda also rides alongside Link on his customizable train, offering wisdom that will help players find new areas, storylines and items.The team of Link and Zelda presents countless new storyline details for fans to enjoy, including a closer look at Princess Zelda herself, one of the most iconic video game characters of all-time.
One of the key features ofSpirit Tracksis the ability to traverse Hyrule using a customizable spirit train. Unlike other games in the series, enemy battles use travel-based mechanics to deliver a fresh and uniqueZeldaexperience. Cragma, a fan-favorite boss battle, is one example of employing these mechanics to improve level design with players using a moving rail cart to fire projectiles.
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracksalso features a new sword, the Lokomo Sword. The weapon is one of the game’s primary weapons and a key tool in the fight againstDemon lordMalladus. During the final battle against the Demon lord, players use the sword to deflect oncoming meteorites and assist Zelda in delivering the final blow to the Demon lord by piercing the enemy’s skull.
Alternative: Phantom Sword
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Phantom Hourglass wraps the standard Zelda formula in an innovative and fun control scheme that gives new life to several of the series' age-old concepts. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker closed with Link and Tetra setting sail for waters unknown…but their story was just beginning, and it continues on the Nintendo DS. When a mysterious fog waylays their band of pirates and leaves Link alone on a strange island, an all-new adventure begins!Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda series comes to the DS with Phantom Hourglass. The stylus makes controlling link easier than ever. Tap on the screen to make link move or sweep the stylus around him to swing the sword. Players can even draw a path for his boomerang and send it flying into hard-to-reach targets; players can stash the map on the top screen for quick reference or drop it to the touch screen to make notes, study enemies or chart a path for their boat to follow while they man the cannons; compete with a friend over a local wireless connection: guide link through special dungeons to capture the triforce or command the forces that oppose him.
A predecessor toSpirit Trackson the Nintendo DS,Phantom Hourglasswas the firstLegend of Zeldagame released on the DS and is a greatbeginner-friendly choice.Phantom Hourglasswas a direct sequel toTheLegend of Zelda: The Wind Wakeron the Nintendo 64 and featured similar traversal, such as using a boat to explore remote islands.
Much like its successor,Spirit Tracks,Phantom Hourglasshas its alternative to the Master Sword, the Phantom Sword. Tasked with forging the blade to defeat the ocean king Bellum, Link must travel to various islands to gather materials to build it.
The Phantom Sword has properties similar to the Lokomo Sword in that it can critically injure enemies known as Phantoms. While the Lokomo Sword can stun Phantoms, the Phantom Sword can directly kill them.
One ofTheLegend of Zeldafranchise’s most contentious titles,Majora’s Maskturned the series on its head when it was released on the Nintendo 64 in April 2000.Majora’s Maskhad players race against time to save the world from destruction,where time is the enemy.Players had to collect masks to stop the moon from crashing down in three days, a concept alien to franchise fans.
Majora’s Mask’surgency and somber tone created a uniquely original apocalyptic setting andone of Nintendo’s darkest games. It does not feature the Master Sword, but despite this, it does feature other swords, such as the famed Gilded Sword.
Alternative: Magical Sword
The Legend of Zelda
The epic series The Legend of Zelda began here, with the heroic Link on a hazardous journey through the fantastic world of Hyrule. Using your sword, your shield and your wits, retrieve the eight fragments of the Triforce and save Princess Zelda.This groundbreaking game introduced innovative ideas that are still present in Zelda games more than 25 years later. Not only is Link’s original adventure action-packed, it also features puzzling dungeons to explore and a myriad of secrets to discover.
The originalThe Legend of Zelda, the foremost game in the franchise, did not feature the legendary Master Sword when it was released in 1986.
Instead, the game featured the Magical Sword, a weapon of similar qualities to the Master Sword. The Magical Sword can be found by players when exploring a graveyard in the game’s first quest, given by an old man in return for having beefy 12-heart containers. The weapon is the most powerful sword in the game and is often seen as a precursor to the Master Sword.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
This direct sequel to the original The Legend of Zelda is famed for taking the series in a new direction, while also introducing elements that would become standard in future Zelda games. In Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Link must seek the Triforce of Courage and awaken Princess Zelda from a sleeping spell. Meanwhile, Ganon’s minions are trying to resurrect their master. Zelda II uses a side-scrolling view and overworld map, and features role-playing aspects that are unique to the series.
Zelda 2, the second game in the series andone of the franchise’s most underrated games, follows Link’s journey across Hyrule to wake Zelda from a deep sleep by recovering the lost Triforce piece known as the Triforce of Courage. The game introduces new mechanics such as side-scrolling movement, combat, and improved graphical fidelity through distinguished environments.
The Magical Sword, wielded by Link from the start of the adventure, is present in the game’s box art and is used by Link throughout the game. The weapon was later adapted into the Master Sword in its successor,The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, in 1991, where it debuted.
Alternative: Sword Master Suit
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
A Legendary Team!In the visual style of the critically-acclaimed The Legend of Zelda™: A Link Between Worlds game comes a new adventure. In this journey, three players team up– each as Link – to cooperatively make their way through inventive dungeons and battle bosses. Use the new Totem mechanic to stack three Links on top of each other to reach higher grounds and solve puzzles. Collect loot to create wearable outfits, each with a different boost or ability.
Tri Force Heroeswas the first game in the series to feature online co-op. Featuring classicZeldaaction,the best music in the series, and cooperative puzzles for players to enjoy, the game offered a fresh take on series mechanics through the lens of collaborative play. The game featured massive boss battles, such as the giant snake-like creature Blizzagia, found in the game’s ice dungeon.
Tri Force Heroesdid not include the Master Sword but rather outfits that empowered players' characters. Notably, the game featured the Sword Master Suit, which gave Link new sword attacks and powers, such as sword beams characteristic of the Master Sword.
Released in 2004on the Game Boy Advance,The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Captook Link on a quest to save Zelda, who was turned to stone by the evil sorcerer Vaati. Link used the powerful Minish Cap to shrink in size to save the princess.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Capfeatures a sword known as the Picori Blade, a sacred sword, much like the Master Sword, with similar colors and designs. Originally created by the Minish people to defend the lands of Hyrule, the weapon was kept secret by the Hyrule royal family with Link sent on a quest to rebuild the blade and save Princess Zelda as part of the game’s main story.
Alternative: Four Sword
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Multiplayer Zelda! In just two words, we’ve summed up why this game should make you very excited indeed. In The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, play with up to three friends (or go solo, with the help of the computer) as you cooperate and compete with your fellow colour-coded Links on the TV and Game Boy Advance. Walk into a cave on-screen and witness your character re-appear on your GBA screen! Or band together as a force of four to push a heavy obstacle out of the way, then make a mad dash to be the first to grab handfuls of Rupees. Featuring familiar elements from the Zelda universe, plus bags of new surprises, Four Swords Adventures is a must for any self-respecting Zelda fan.
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventuresis another title inThe Legend of Zeldaseries that does not feature the Master Sword. Hence, its name, the game instead features the sacred Four Sword Blade.
The Four Sword is a powerful weapon Link uses to create four copies of himself and defeat some of the series' most villainous enemies, such as Ganon and Vaati.
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventurescan be played with up to four players and features a campaign mode that can be played cooperatively. At the end ofFour Swords Adventures,Ganon is sealed away in the blade after his defeat by Link, acting as a prison for him.
