The Legend of Zelda at 40: Why Modern Game Design is Still Chasing Nintendo’s Masterpiece

The Legend of Zelda is turning 40 this month, and, in four decades of history, the franchise has managed to become more than one of the main, powerful jewels on Nintendo’s Infinity Gauntlet – it has become the heartbeat of the gaming industry.

It is literally nearly impossible to find a gamer who hasn’t played at least one of the many misadventures of Link, the Hero of Time, or at least felt the ripples of their influence. I mean, up to this point, I have already encountered a bunch of non-gamers who know the franchise, despite not even knowing how to hold a Nintendo 64 controller properly.

That’s the magic behind The Legend of Zelda saga: it simply transcends barriers with every generation. And maintaining that level of relevance for 40 years isn't just luck, far from it.

Across 21 mainline entries (or more than 40 titles, if you also want to consider spin-offs), the franchise has perfected a daring and distinct art: the ability to reinvent itself entirely while keeping its soul intact. By doing that, the legend remains with every chapter, but the mechanics, genres, and boundaries are pushed to their limits.

Now, add this formula to Nintendo’s relentless drive to outthink competitors with more creative experiences (instead of raw processing power), and we have a saga that managed to innovate in ways that define modern gaming. But to better understand all of this and deliver a proper tribute to The Legend of Zelda, we have to pull the Master Sword from its pedestal and go back in time.

The Beginning of a Legend

It all began in 1986 with the original The Legend of Zelda on the Famicom Disk System (and 1987 on the NES). At a time when most games were defined by high scores and linear levels, Nintendo decided to go further, beyond challenging gameplay (the main focus at the time).

By blending action, adventure, and RPG elements, the original Zelda captivated thousands of players around the world with a simple yet deep tale of an ancient legend that endures through generations (well, doesn’t that sound familiar?).

And its true legacy, which still beats and lives on today, was freedom – what we now call a more elegant term in gaming: the player agency. Without a linear path to follow, players were dropped onto a massive map with unknown threats and mysteries and encouraged to simply explore wherever their hearts pointed.

This freedom was so radical that you could even skip picking up your sword at the very start and blaze your own trail. Beyond that, the very first Zelda also introduced another revolutionary “mechanic” that changed video games: the save feature – a concept we take for granted today, but back then, it was a godsend compared to clunky password systems.

All of that boldness turned it into an instant titan at the time, kicking off one of the most powerful legacies in entertainment, likely before Nintendo even realized what they had on their hands.

The Legend of Legacy and Innovation

Since then, we have seen 20 more mainline games, each with its own identity – and truly, not just any franchise can say it stayed alive for so long and so consistently, without a single literal stumble (okay, maybe one with a certain 2D sequel, but we don’t talk about it).

For instance, A Link to the Past perfected the 2D formula on the SNES, introducing staples like the Master Sword and parallel worlds that became recurring concepts in the franchise. Link’s Awakening proved that epic, melancholic adventures can fit in the palm of your hand, and don’t necessarily have to deliver what the player is expecting.

Then, the leap to 3D was where the franchise undoubtedly reached its apex, since Ocarina of Time was not just a game – it instantly became a blueprint for 3D exploration at the time, and that is still looked up to today.

While most competitors were chasing “mature” aesthetics and themes, Nintendo was busy building a world that felt alive, filled with little secrets everywhere and imaginative enemies starring the iconic trio of Zelda, Link, and Ganondorf. Furthermore, just like the first Zelda, the Nintendo 64 gem also introduced a mechanic that became a reference for the industry: the "Z-targeting" system.

And this one basically solved the industry-wide 3D camera crisis. By introducing context-sensitive buttons and eschewing a dedicated jump command, they created a fluid, intuitive experience that remains a gold standard – and to be honest with you, it is practically a necessity for me in 3D action games today; when it’s missing, it just feels weird.

However, the innovation didn't stop there! Majora’s Mask gave us a dark, psychological loop with deep NPC schedules that brought an even greater complexity. The Wind Waker dared to be a cartoon when everyone was searching for realistic graphics, and it was a masterpiece. Twilight Princess embraced the wolf within with a darker mythology of the legend we know.

We also can't forget to mention the most recent games, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which both reinvented the open-world structure by returning to the raw, unguided essence of the 1986 original, adding even greater freedom in terms of mechanics that became an immediate reference for the genre now.

Way More Than Just a Game

In the end, the history of The Legend of Zelda over the last 40 years is what makes it so special. We have seen Link in countless forms, across countless worlds, and yet the charm never fades, since there is a specific kind of magic in Zelda that goes beyond the screen.

It is in the theories about the timeline, the iconic melodies we hum in our sleep, the debates around whether the franchise should have a live-action movie or not, and even the shared trauma of struggling through the Water Temple.

As we stand in 2026, looking back at four decades of Hyrule, I find myself wondering: what does the future hold for this land? The truth is, nobody knows... and that’s the best part! I can’t wait to be surprised all over again, just like I was the very first time I picked up a controller and heard that legendary theme. Here’s to 40 years of courage, wisdom, and power.