The Legend of Zelda is a high fantasy action adventure franchise created by Nintendo. The first title released in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The franchise centers around various incarnations of Link as he rescues Princess Zelda and the Hyrule Kingdom from evil forces, primarily Ganon. As of March 2022, The Legend of Zelda franchise has sold over 136.38 million copies worldwide.
Games
Main series
| Year | Platform | Title | Sales (millions) |
Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda | 7.29 | |||
| 1986 | NES | The Legend of Zelda | 6.51 | [1] |
| 2004 | GBA | Classic NES Series: The Legend of Zelda | 0.780* | [2][3][4] |
| Zelda II: The Adventure of Link | 4.971 | |||
| 1987 | NES | Zelda II: The Adventure of Link | 4.38 | [1] |
| 2004 | GBA | Classic NES Series: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link | 0.591* | [2][3][5] |
| The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | 7.43 | |||
| 1992 | SNES | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | 4.61 | [1] |
| 2002 | GBA | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords | 2.82 | [1] |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | 11.54 | |||
| 1993 | GB | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | 3.83 | [1] |
| 1998 | GBC | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX | 2.22 | [1] |
| 2019 | Switch | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | 5.49 | [1] |
| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | 13.94 | |||
| 1998 | N64 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | 7.60 | [1] |
| 2011 | 3DS | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D | 6.34 | [1] |
| The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | 6.72 | |||
| 2000 | N64 | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | 3.36 | [1] |
| 2015 | 3DS | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D | 3.36 | [1] |
| Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages | 3.99 | [1] | ||
| 2001 | GBC | The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Ages | 3.99 | [1] |
| The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | 6.78 | |||
| 2003 | GCN | The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | 4.43 | [1] |
| 2013 | Wii U | The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD | 2.35 | [1] |
| The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures | 0.758 | |||
| 2004 | GCN | The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures | 0.758* | [2][3][6] |
| The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap | 1.76 | |||
| 2004 | GBA | The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap | 1.76 | [1] |
| The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | 10.00 | |||
| 2006 | Wii/GCN | The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | 8.85 | [7][8] |
| 2016 | Wii U | The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD | 1.15 | [1] |
| Phantom Hourglass & Spirit Tracks | 7.72 | |||
| 2007 | DS | The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass | 4.76 | [1] |
| 2009 | DS | The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks | 2.96 | [1] |
| The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | 7.58 | |||
| 2011 | Wii | The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | 3.67 | [1] |
| 2021 | Switch | The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD | 3.91 | [9] |
| A Link Between Worlds & Tri Force Heroes | 5.57 | |||
| 2013 | 3DS | The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds | 4.21 | [1] |
| 2015 | 3DS | The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes | 1.36 | [1] |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 28.25 | |||
| 2017 | Switch | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 26.55 | [10] |
| Wii U | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 1.70 | [1] | |
| 2022 | Switch | The sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | ||
| Total | 124.299 | |||
Spin-offs
| Year | Platform | Title | Sales (millions) |
Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | DS | Freshly-Picked: Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland | 0.234JPN | [2] |
| 2007 | DS | Tingle's Balloon Fight DS | Unknown | |
| Wii | Link's Crossbow Training | 5.79 | [1] | |
| 2009 | DSiWare | Too Much Tingle Pack | Unknown | |
| DS | Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love | 0.108 | [2] | |
| 2014 | Wii U | Hyrule Warriors | 1.00 | [11] |
| 2015 | 3DS | Hyrule Warriors Legends | 0.49* | [12] |
| 2016 | 3DS eshop | My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | Unknown | |
| 2018 | Switch | Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition | 0.46* | [13] |
| 2019 | Switch eshop | Cadence of Hyrule | Unknown | |
| 2020 | Switch | Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity | 4.00 | [14] |
| Total | 12.082 | |||
Games
The Legend of Zelda
Appearing in 1986 (JPN) and 1987 (USA), the Legend of Zelda was a bestseller for Nintendo. About 1,690,000 were sold in Japan.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Despite being the dark horse of the franchise, The Adventure of Link sold very well on the NES since its debut in 1987 (JPN) and 1988 (USA). Over 4.38 million copies of Zelda II have been sold worldwide. About 1,610,000 were sold in Japan.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
A Link to the Past is one of the best-selling SNES games, with 4.61 million units sold worldwide. It was re-released as a Player's Choice title in North America, indicating that it has sold a minimum of one million copies there. About 1,160,000 were sold in Japan.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
The original release of Link's Awakening for the Game Boy has sold approximately 3.83 million units worldwide, including 2.24 million in the Americas.[42] In addition, Link's Awakening DX has sold 2.22 million worldwide, making the total over 6 million for both games. About 540,000 were sold in Japan.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time sold 2 million copies during the first 39 days it was available in 1998, and became the best-selling game of that year. During its lifetime, it sold 7.6 million copies worldwide, excluding ports and re-releases, making it the highest selling game on a single platform. About 300,000 were sold in its first week of sales in Japan.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Majora's Mask sold approximately 314,000 copies in its first week of sales in Japan and has sold 3.36 million copies worldwide. About 601,539 were sold in Japan. Majora's Mask is the direct sequel to the second best selling title, Ocarina of Time in the Zelda franchise. Factors, including its significant difference in comparison to the rest of the series, it's release near the end of the N64's lifetime and because it's requirement of the Expansion Pak, caused sales to be lower than other Zelda titles.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/Four Swords
The game received positive reviews and sold over 1.81 million units, including 293,989 in Japan.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
As of July 2006, it's the fifth best-selling GameCube title in Japan, with 742,000 units.
The Legend of Zelda: Oracles of Seasons and Ages
Oracle of Seasons and Ages were critical and commercial successes, selling nearly 4 million copies combined. About 375,000 were sold in Japan.
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Four Swords Adventures was the third best-selling game of June 2004 in North America with 155,000 units, and has since sold 250,000 copies, becoming a part of the Player's Choice line.[20] The game also sold 127,399 units in Japan.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Minish Cap opened with 96,981 in Japan and sold 235,400 in its lifetime. Worldwide, it moved more than a million copies.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Wii version of Twilight Princess sold over one million copies in the Americas, 14,068 during its first two days in Japan, and 240,000 during its first weekend in Europe. During its first week, the game was sold with three of every four Wii purchases and passing one million Wii units sold in North America within three months. In its first month of availability, the GameCube version sold 32,900 units, and briefly outsold the Wii version. After three months of availability, the GameCube version sold over one million units worldwide, and after four months of availability, the GameCube version sold over one million units in North America. The game has sold 5.23 million copies on the Wii as of March 1, 2008, and 1.59 million on the GameCube as of March 31, 2007.
In spite of the game's success in North America and Europe, Miyamoto has publicly expressed disappointment with Twilight Princess' modest sales in Japan and commented: “Well, I think a lot of people who bought the Wii are not necessarily the types of people who are interested in playing that kind of game. And a lot of the people who would want to play it [due to chronic shortages of the console] can't find a Wii! But mostly, I think it's that there are fewer and fewer people who are interested in playing a big role-playing game like Zelda."
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Phantom Hourglass shipped 400,000 copies to Japanese retailers, and over 350,000 of those sold in the first week. These sales on par with The Wind Waker's release (around 350,000) in Japan, and just behind Ocarina of Time (500,000) and Majora's Mask (400,000) as the third best opening week for a Zelda title. In its United States release, the game was the fifth best-selling of October 2007, with 262,800 copies sold. As of December 31, 2007, Phantom Hourglass has sold 4.13 million copies worldwide, with 910,000 of those copies being sold in Japan. As of now it is the best selling handheld Zelda title.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild sold 130,000 units (96,000 on the Nintendo Switch and 34,000 on the Wii U) opening day in France.[15] In Japan the game sold 190,060 in the first 72 hours.[16]
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
As of December 2020, Age of Calamity has sold 3.50 million units[14], of which 2.84 million were outside of Japan[17].
Notes
- * include VGChartz numbers
- Classic NES Series: The Legend of Zelda - 0.217 (JPN) [Famitsu], 0.373 (NA) [NPD], 0.19 (EU/Other) [VGChartz]
- Classic NES Series: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - 0.139 (JPN) [Famitsu], 0.302 (NA) [NPD], 0.15 (EU/Other) [VGChartz]
- The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures - 0.127 (JPN) [Famitsu], 0.451 (NA) [NPD], 0.18 (EU/Other) [VGChartz]
- JPN currently only Japanese sales number available
- Two games based on The Legend of Zelda were converted into Game & Watch systems: Zelda (Game & Watch) and The Legend of Zelda Game Watch.
- Freshly-Picked: Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland was only released in Japan and Europe.
- Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love was only released in Japan.
- My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was released as a My Nintendo award.
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 Nintendo software and hardware sales data from 1983 to present, Updated as of December 2021
- [https://www.cesa.or.jp/survey/book/hakusho/detail001_2021.html CESA Games White Papers. Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association. 2021. https://www.cesa.or.jp/survey/book/hakusho/detail001_2021.html.] Cite error: Invalid
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- [https://www.cesa.or.jp/survey/book/hakusho/detail001_2021.html CESA Games White Papers. Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association. 2021. https://www.cesa.or.jp/survey/book/hakusho/detail001_2021.html.] Cite error: Invalid
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/game-search
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://www.npd.com/industry-expertise/video-games/ As of December 2008 for GBA games, as of February 2007 for The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
- ↑ hihttps://www.vgchartz.com/game/26551/classic-nes-series-the-legend-of-zelda/sales
- ↑ https://www.vgchartz.com/game/3266/classic-nes-series-zelda-ii-the-adventure-of-link/sales
- ↑ https://www.vgchartz.com/game/2397/the-legend-of-zelda-four-swords-adventures/sales
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/titles/20010000019307
- ↑ As of Dec. 2014-
Wii: 7.26
GC: 1.43 - ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2022/220510_6e.pdf
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2022/220203_3e.pdf#page=16
- ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (January 27, 2015). Koei Tecmo Releases Awesome Hyrule Warriors Wallpapers to Celebrate One Million Units Shipped. Archived from the original on January 27, 2015. Retrieved on January 27, 2015.
- ↑ https://www.vgchartz.com/game/85766/hyrule-warriors-legends/sales
- ↑ https://www.vgchartz.com/game/220630/hyrule-warriors-definitive-edition/sales
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 https://twitter.com/zelda_musou/status/1478539711203676161
- ↑ http://www.lefigaro.fr/secteur/high-tech/2017/03/07/32001-20170307ARTFIG00195-la-nintendo-switch-bat-tous-les-records-de-ventes-en-france.php
- ↑ https://www.famitsu.com/news/201703/07128430.html
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2021/210201_3e.pdf
| Best selling franchises | |
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| Mario · Pokémon · FIFA · Grand Theft Auto · Call of Duty · Wii Series · Lego · The Sims · Minecraft · Final Fantasy · Assassin's Creed · Need for Speed · Sonic · Madden NFL · The Legend of Zelda · Star Wars · Resident Evil · Pro Evolution Soccer · Tetris · NBA 2K · (more) See also: Best selling games · Best selling games worldwide · Highest grossing franchises |
