The Top 5 Best Legend Of Zelda Temples

The Legend of Zelda’s many temples are the meat and potatoes of the series’ gameplay, filled with monsters, puzzles, and treasures to find. Temples also come in a great variety of shapes and sizes, which makes them exciting to explore each time. They’re a major part of why the series is so popular today, but which The Legend of Zelda temples are best?

There’s no shortage of quality temples in the Zelda franchise to choose from, and they mostly got their start in Ocarina of Time. Every Zelda game has lots of dungeons, sure, but it wasn’t until the 3D Zelda era that they got their iconic “temple” name. The official distinction between temples and dungeons isn’t quite clear, but they frequently seem to be more thematically unique than other dungeons in the series. “Temple” has even become a loosely interchangeable term for “dungeon” among some Zelda fans, so they have clearly proven themselves to be memorable.

This best temples list will only focus on Zelda dungeons that use the word “Temple” in their name. Dungeons like Link to the Past‘s Ice Palace are great for what they are, but they won’t be included on this list. With that simple rule out of the way, here are the top five best temples in The Legend of Zelda.

#5 Earth Temple – Zelda: The Wind Waker

The Wind Waker isn’t exactly remembered for its dungeons and temples, but there’s always an exception to every rule. This is the first dungeon in the game to see Link accompanied by a partner, Medli, for its entirety. Medli can’t fight, but she offers an extension to Link’s abilities. With her reflective harp and Link’s Mirror Shield, the Earth Temple contains many satisfying puzzles that take advantage of bouncing light between the two. It’s held back by being a relatively linear temple, but it’s still fun and memorable, regardless.

#4 Temple of Time – Zelda: Twilight Princess

While it’s ironically even more linear than the previous temple, Twilight Princess‘ Temple of Time has such a unique twist in its second half that it’s hard to dislike. The Temple of Time is a climb up a massive tower filled with all kinds of traps and monsters. Players need to finesse their way through some tricky puzzles to get to the top floor, but they’re rewarded with the Dominion Rod after defeating a mini-boss there. This grants Link control of a giant statue, which players must then lead all the way back to the bottom floor. Its hammer annihilates enemies and smashes through many of the obstacles that were once a nuisance. It’s extremely satisfying to knock everything to pieces after such an intense ascent.

#3 Forest Temple – Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The Forest Temple is the first actual temple in Ocarina of Time, and it’s a fantastic introduction to what’s to come. The main objective of this temple is to locate and defeat four ghosts in order to re-light four torches in a large, central room. Doing so unlocks the path to Phantom Ganon, one of Zelda‘s best bosses, revealing the boss was just out of reach for the entire dungeon experience. The Forest Temple’s atmosphere is also haunting throughout, and it’s the perfect balance of challenging and intuitive for players of any skill level to enjoy.

#2 Great Bay Temple – Zelda: Majora’s Mask

Water-themed temples have always been some of the most controversial dungeons in the Zelda series. They’re almost always the most labyrinthian, with lots of opportunities to get lost among the many interconnected rooms and pathways. The Great Bay Temple is no different, but its central mechanic takes advantage of water currents and the improved underwater agility of Link’s Zora Mask. Players need to pull different valves to manipulate the circular water current in the central room, which grants them access to new paths. It confusing and complex, making it a phenomenal test of the players’ ability to remember what the various switches do, and that’s why it’s extremely rewarding to complete.

#1 Stone Tower Temple – Zelda: Majora’s Mask

Majora’s Mask is typically known for some of the Zelda series’ best side quests, but it also has truly great temples, too. Two Majora’s Mask temples top the list because of their incredible concepts that no temple has yet to match. The Stone Tower Temple can be flipped upside down, a mind-bending mechanic that’s integral for solving many of its puzzles. Players need to be aware of the locations they can flip the temple from and to know what to do once it’s been flipped. As if that wasn’t enough, it has a gorgeous view of the sky and some of the catchiest dungeon music in the series. While the other The Legend of Zeldatemples on this list are fun, the Stone Tower Temple has it all.

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