RPGFan Ranks 20 Zelda Games in Two-Part Retro Encounter Podcast Tier List

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda franchise, the outlet RPGFan has dedicated a two-part episode of its Retro Encounter podcast to ranking 20 games from the beloved series.

Spanning Episodes 490 and 491, the retrospective features a four-person panel consisting of Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love, Mike Salbato, and Matt Wardell. Over the two episodes, the hosts debate the merits of various entries to construct a collective "Frankenstein list" ranking the franchise's history.

Part I: The First Nine Picks

Released on July 16, 2026, Retro Encounter 490 kicked off the tier list. Because of the thorough and strongly contested opinions among the panelists, the recording had to be split into two parts. The first episode prioritizes and ranks the first nine games of their selection, comparing notable titles like Zelda II: The Adventure of Link against modern giants like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Part II: Finalizing the Rankings

The follow-up episode, Retro Encounter 491, was released on July 30, 2026. This episode tackles the remaining 11 games on their list and establishes the final overall rankings. Part II explores how less popular entries, such as the Nintendo DS title The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, compare to established classics like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Production and Distribution

Both episodes of the tier list special were edited by Zach Wilkerson, with opening and ending music provided by Miles Morkri. The episodes are available to stream and download across major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Podbean, Podcast Addict, and Player FM.