The final dungeons in The Legend of Zelda have a tendency to trigger a wide variety of emotions within us. Sometimes they touch our hearts, other times they touch our walls when we want to throw our console across the room. Over the years, the famous series has brought us memorable, timeless dungeons while others are just straight-up forgettable.
In the end, whether a dungeon is good or bad is up to the player's experience. There are so many games in the series now, that it really and truly varies. This is every single main dungeon in Legend of Zelda, ranked.
17 Death Mountain - The Legend of Zelda
People say the Water Temple in Ocarina of Time is a nightmare. Yet, it's nothing compared to the final part of the original Legend of Zelda. Long, confusing, and difficult, the stage feels a bit like being in purgatory with its bright grey-white tones. On top of that, it's scientifically impossible to get through without a map. Still, we have to give Death Mountain credit because without it, the style of dungeons in Zelda games today probably wouldn't exist.
16 Ganon's Tower - The Wind Waker
There's no doubt that Wind Waker is an excellent game that is beloved by many and continues to be popular to this day. However, its last dungeon definitely leaves something to be desired. The miniboss rush feels anticlimactic and lazy. As for the others, the pattern is tedious. There's nothing wrong with a long-drawn-out dungeon, but there should be an emphasis on keeping it interesting, and that just isn't the case here. For a final dungeon in a game that was very hyped in its day, it definitely underwhelms.
15 Tower Of Spirits - Spirit Tracks
The final chapter of Spirit Tracks was an interesting concept, but not executed so well in gameplay. Players found it difficult and clunky in conjunction with the touchscreen.
Many of the puzzles were detail-specific, which didn't always mesh well with the touch controls, an issue similar to the one seen in the original Skyward Sword. While we love the concept of having Princess Zelda as a companion, this dungeon just doesn't live up to expectations.
14 Lorule Castle - A Link Between Worlds
Lorule Castle isn't a particularly memorable dungeon because of its repetitive mechanics and lack of novelty. It isn't a bad dungeon either, but it doesn't offer any new items that enrich the player's experience. For example, it's quite easy to associate the Master Sword with the Temple of Time or Lake Hylia with the treasures of the Zora. Lorule Castle has nothing of this context. Still, it earns credit for having an amazing song as well as the ability to move on walls.
13 Temple Of The Ocean King - Phantom Hourglass
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is a sequel to Wind Waker and shares a similar art style. It breaks a lot of bad sequel stereotypes, being comparable to its predecessor. Despite that, it definitely isn't remembered for its final dungeon. While it's not quite the worst game dungeon in existence, it might be pretty pesky, depending on your patience threshold. This dungeon has puzzles that require you to repeat going back to the same rooms, making it a really tedious final dungeon, taking away from the climax.
12 The Moon - Majora's Mask
If you prefer Zelda games that are straightforward, Majora's Mask may not be the game for you, because it emphasizes completing side quests and minigames as its main content.
The last part, where Link goes to the Moon does this too, having a ton of optional sections and masks to collect before you get to the final boss. In a sense, this dungeon can be your angel or devil. It's an acquired taste, but one that lays out its mechanics well.
11 Vaati's Palace - Four Swords
Four Swords is a multiplayer feature included on a port of A Link to The Past. Its theme consisted of Link and his three other selves going on a quest to save Princess Zelda from the evil wind mage, Vaati. The multiplayer aspect blends perfectly with the story and was fitting to play with friends. Vaati's Palace, the last part of Four Swords, had a fascinating layout because it seemed to be randomized. In each playthrough, the map was different. Whether this was intentional or not, it really adds a challenging aspect by testing your ability to adapt, making it one of the best final dungeons.
10 Dark Hyrule Castle - The Minish Cap
The Minish Cap is the definition of too much isn't always a good thing. This is a very puzzle-heavy game, to the point of being overbearing. Some of them are pretty complex and will definitely make you want to throw your game at the wall. Those struggles are definitely worth it though, for the experience of the final dungeon. The boss fight with Vaati is one of the best boss fights to complete because it isn't just a one-and-done deal.
Instead, you'll be fighting them more than once, because a villain like Vaati does not go down without a challenge. He's a worthy opponent that makes this dungeon memorable.
9 Ganon's Castle - Ocarina Of Time
Ocarina of Time is not a perfect game by any means, but its storytelling is hard to beat, even compared to today's games. Because of this, the last part feels incredibly satisfying.
It's a long game with two separate arcs, and for the second one, Hyrule Castle becomes a place where you cannot go for about 90 percent of the story. By the time you get there, you've experienced so much in the game that there's a unique feeling of satisfaction to be able to finally face the man who ruined your life.
8 Wind Fish Egg - Link's Awakening
If you want to try a Zelda game that has very cut-and-dry gameplay with a modestly sized map, look no further than the original Links Awakening. This game is great for players who aren't fans of Breath of the Wild-style games where there's a lot of playing freedom. In Links Awakening, you are basically instructed on what to do and where to go but not to the point of hand-holding, which makes it a classic. The final dungeon, which is inside the egg of the wind fish, is very emotional to complete, as it signifies something vital in the plot that will affect the whole island. It's as influential as it is challenging.
7 Sky Keep - Skyward Sword
There are a lot of mixed opinions on Skyward Sword. For one thing, it is far more linear than most Zelda titles. The game wasn't very user-friendly on the Wii, with motion controls that were difficult to use. Regardless, if we take that variable out of the equation, it's a very solid installment. The dungeons themselves feel very clean and to the point, feeling like a no-frills path that is good for Zelda beginners. The final dungeon does this very well, along with being quite challenging, which works excellent with the game's lore.
6 The Great Palace - Zelda 2: The Adventure Of Link
The original Zelda games may not be nearly as graphically appealing as the modern ones, but they certainly have their place. For some, they were even their first experience with the series. In Zelda 2, the last dungeon was the Great Palace. It's one of the few Zelda dungeons that doesn't have a final boss, but it doesn't need to, because it's extremely challenging on its own. Here, the boss isn't one figure - it's navigating through the dungeon and its many enemies. If you can beat it, you're a true Zelda pro.
5 Hyrule Castle - Breath Of The Wild
Technically, Hyrule Castle isn't the last dungeon in Breath of the Wild because the game isn't set up like that. Due to the open world formula, you can go here whenever you like. So, it's difficult to judge it as a traditional final dungeon per se. Still, it can definitely be considered an end-game area because it is difficult to explore and isn't recommended until you have significant playing experience. The castle is filled with monsters and enemies of all kinds but is worth exploring for the treasures it holds. It's one of the coolest areas in Breath of the Wild to go to.
4 Hyrule Castle - Twilight Princess
Twilight Princess was very different from other Zelda games because it was dark and gritty, having an almost horror-film-like element to it. It also does something else traditionally iconic in the series different. Normally, Hyrule Castle, or an equivalent, is the last dungeon that the hero visits. In Twilight Princess, it's actually one of the first places you go to, experiencing it a total of three times, each in very different contexts.
The last one is a completely different, full-bodied experience, almost feeling like a DLC rather than part of the regular game - with how much content it has - making it a very memorable experience. The game itself is so emotionally heavy that getting to the last part feels incredibly accomplished. Somehow at the same time, the dungeon doesn't feel overburdened.
3 Ganon's Tower - A Link To The Past
If you have only ever played the 3D Legend of Zelda games and want to check out one of the 2D style titles, A Link to The Past is the best place to start. This is the game that introduced many signature features of the series, such as Master Sword. A Link to The Past isn't just considered one of the best Zelda games, it’s known as one of the best games in history.
The final part of the game doesn't disappoint either, being chock-full of challenging puzzles over seven floors. Rather than just being full of larges hordes, the dungeon has small groups of enemies that contribute to its challenging layout. The enemies count, which makes this dungeon fantastic.
2 Ancient Tomb - Oracle Of Ages
Since it is inspired by the Triforce of Wisdom, Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages is themed around puzzles. What makes the dungeons in this game unique is that they teach the player how to strategize when it comes to puzzle-solving. Each of them is part of a larger concept lesson in all the dungeons. The game executes problem-solving in a way that is fun yet challenging.
Sadly, it fails to implement this in a vital place by making the last boss combat based. It is a fight that feels like a random curveball in the sense that nothing you learned in the game prepares you for it, which is the only place where this dungeon misses a step.
1 Onox's Castle - Oracle Of Seasons
Oracle of Seasons takes a little more of a traditional approach to Zelda games than Ages does in being themed around combat. While Ages might be a better game in some ways, the lore of Seasons exudes everything that makes Zelda a beautiful series. It concentrates on the message that adventures are about the journey, not the destination.
Thus, the final dungeon itself is fairly short, focusing on fighting the very difficult General Onox and his second form. It does well what Oracle of Ages does not, making the final enemy worth everything you experienced throughout your journey.