Daily Debate: Do You Enjoy the Stealth Missions in Zelda?

Sneaking around the Gerudo Fortress, hiding in the shadows of the Yiga Clan Hideout, and even freezing in place under a barrel in The Forsaken Fortress are just some of the heart-pounding stealth missions in the Zelda series. To be honest, I actually love stealth missions. I know they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s something about the added tension of Link not being able to defend himself that really raises the stakes for me!

I have a lot of favorite stealth missions throughout the series. One favorite moment is the segment of Eldin Volcano in Skyward Sword after the eruption. Link is captured and loses all of his gear to Bokoblins. The mood and atmosphere of this part of the game really doesn’t match the rest of the adventure, and you can feel the desperation Link feels in trying to navigate the territory without getting spotted! I also love the courtyard section in Ocarina of Time when Link is trying to make his way to Princess Zelda. The whimsical sneaky music and the guards’ sporadic movements always brings me a sense of nostalgia. And, I still get the heebie-jeebies in that first visit to The Forsaken Fortress in The Wind Waker where Link is just a small child, completely at the mercy of patrolling Moblins. As frustrating as that dungeon was for me a child, its tension really added depth to the story.

All in all, I love stealth missions in this series. It divides up the puzzle-solving and baddie-besting and teaches you a whole new way to strategize. With the lack of stealth segments in Tears of the Kingdom, I can only hope that there are more to come in Echoes of Wisdom!

Do you enjoy the stealth missions in Zelda games? What is your favorite or least favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Chakell Herbert

Chakell (pronounced shuh-kell) is an associate editor for Zelda Dungeon! She has loved The Legend of Zelda series since she was a little girl because of its equal mix of princesses, besting bad guys, and heartfelt stories. Chakell lives in the overall tame state of Utah, but holds onto her childhood hopes to find an adventure in her backyard one day. She has a degree in English and is a full-time editor for a magazine. You can usually find her gaming (obviously), laughing with her husband, taking a long time to tell stories because she keeps getting distracted; getting sucked into books and podcasts; or snuggling her cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.