1) Ocarina of Time/Majora's Mask
Wow, I know, really generic answer lol but I think it's one of those games that you really had to be -there- for when it was released, and it was amazing. I still remember it, like every single minute of playing this for the first time. I mean, all landmark achievements aside for this game, for a very young Malia, the transition from 2D Z games, to 3D, the gorgeous environments, the music, and just seeing the world of Zelda come to life in a way I hadn't seen before blew me the **** away. I mean, I play it now and even with my srs luv for the game, I can see how dated it is lmao, but I am basing this entirely on the first impression I got with it, and it is by far the biggest one of all the Zelda games I've played.
Also I refuse to put MM as no. 2 lol. They're ranking even for me. In the total opposite direction of OoT, this isn't a game I'm listing for first impression; I'm listing it for its long-lasting impression that I grew to love over time. I mean, I also remember the reception to the game when it was first released; people were piiiisssed because they wanted another OoT, but got this 3-day cycle game where you start out as a lowly Deku Scrub. Tbh it was a little hard for me to swallow to going from an epic Z adventure to something else--don't get me wrong, I liked it! But the transition was a tad difficult if you had been part of the mind-boggling 2D-to-3D thing.
While I enjoyed the game the first time I played it, it was in going back a few years later, after I had a chance to play a few more Z games that basically had the same formulaic set-up as OoT, and seeing just how incredibly lucky we were to have MM as part of the series whether we're talking about emotional depth, char development, the dark nature of the story, all that good stuff. And having played it again, and again, years later, and understanding just how fantastic the game is, it's now pretty much ranked my no. 1 game with OoT.
'64 bias yiiiisssss.
2) A Link to the Past
This is actually the game that nailed it for me in making me a die-hard Zelda fan haha. I was a very, very young Malia when I first got my hands on it, and I was just amazed at the story-telling, music and vast adventure of it all. It prob still has some of my favourite music to date for a Z game (Dark World theme <3).
3) A Link Between Worlds
I... didn't expect this game to even register for my Top 5 when I first picked it up because, tbh, I've been a bit eeehhh @ Z handhelds since after the Oracle games. They aren't bad, but I started looking more to console Z than anything else. So I got me a copy of aLBW and wasn't sure what to expect because, in my head, aLttP was a masterpiece that I worried would get ruffled up if we touched it too much, but I still got excited at the prospect of playing something related to it. So I played it. And I was legit impressed that it expanded upon what was originally built, and did it wonderfully. It's the first handheld Z game I've absolutely adored in a very long time.
4) The Legend of Zelda
The original game~! Now THIS game I played when I was incredibly young, and I still remember being amazed by the amount of control I had over Link--I could go anywhere I wanted to! And there was this huge world to explore. I think it's prob the game that nailed it for me with loving huge maps in games.
5) The Windwaker
You know, having gone through the release of most Z games, it's funny how you can remember how every game is going to be the worst game ever because of x lmao. Like, the reactions to Link's (now staple) design xDD people were so OFFENDED by it! But now, looking at the game, it's look is still very appealing and that's because it's all cel-shaded/toon-ish, and that sorta look is prob always gonna be timeless, kinda like Okami. That aside, I'm particularly happy with how charismatic Link was with his facial expressions, and I adored Zelda as Tetra (in that I think Tetra might be my fave reincarnation of Zelda).
6) Link's Awakening
I think I was in melancholy for a week after I beat it lol. It's a great story, has some super-cool music and fun dungeons. Also Windfish, dat bad-*** Windfish.
7) Adventure of Link
I actually LIKE the difficulty of this game :3 a lot. It's why it's in my top 10. Also the Temple Theme is one of my fave Z themes of all time.
8) Twilight Princess
Hilariously, I had a big talk with some friends last night about this game. It's not without its flaws, I know that, like there are some glaring plot holes that are so huge, it'd take 50 King Zoras to fill it, but I.loved.the.boss.battles. They weren't hard, no, but **** they were FUN and reminded me so much of Shadow of Colossus. I've never really been a fan of Z bosses, I mean, yeah okay they're there, but none of 'em ever made me feel all too excited to fight them. But i really enjoyed the fights in TP. I loved climbing, chasing, dragging them down, stabbing 'em, ah, good stuff. Also I like Midna :3
9) Skyward Sword
Groose. End of review.
10) The Oracle Games
Just really basic Z fun, like I'm not sure I can say much else beyond that.