One of the most iconic game franchises of all time,The Legend Of Zeldais known for its epic landscapes, incredible soundtracks, and exciting, lived-in towns and cities. Just about all of the games that make up theLegend of Zeldafranchise have hub towns and cities that provide plenty of action and adventure to players.
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These settlements usually provide players with the opportunity to stock up on items, meet new NPCs, start new quests, and more. But, with so many awesome hub towns and cities to choose from, which are the best? This list covers 10 of the most iconic hub cities inthe Legend of Zelda.
10Lynna Village/City (Oracle Of Ages)
Lynna Village inOracle of Agesis one location where the game’s time travel mechanic truly comes to life. The village changes dramatically depending on what time period Link visits it in, truly deepening the immersion of the experience.
What’s more, decisions made by players in Lynna Village in the past impact its future, which is fascinating to see play out in real-time. Players also see Lynna Village evolve into Lynna City in the future. Combine this with its iconic Black Tower and Maku Tree and it’s easy to see why the settlement has become so beloved.
9Horon Village (Oracle Of Seasons)
Found on the southern coast of Holodrum, the Charming Horon Village is the central hub city inOracle of Seasonsand is a location that Link returns to fairly often throughout the game.
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Horon Village is home to a handful of shops, entertaining side quests, and the game’s Maku Tree, which is one of its major characters. Additionally, the village is the only place in theOracle of Seasonswhere the seasons change on their own.Oracle of Seasonsis probably one of the very first games to feature a cycle of seasons, making Horon Village a location of significance in video game history, too.
8Mercay Island (Phantom Hourglass)
Located on the Southwestern Sea of the World of the Ocean King, Mercay Island is one of the main hub cities inPhantom Hourglass. Not only is it the first location in the game, but it’s home to a host of quirky characters and helpful shops.
Sailing is a massive part ofPhantom Hourglass, and Mercay Island is where players can find a shipyard to repair and work on their ship. Home to the largest population of any of the islands ofPhantom Hourglass, Mercay Island is also the island that Link has to visit most often in the title.
7Windfall Island (Wind Waker)
The gorgeous Windfall Island is the largest town inWind Wakerand is also a thriving town with a market, coffee bar, Ferris Wheel, and lighthouse.
Found in the Great Sea, Windfall Island is the site of fun side quests and plenty of narrative exposition. It even has buildings of pretty serious significance, like an Auction House and School. It’s also a location that Link needs to often multiple times throughout the game, so players should take the time to truly explore the iconic town and see everything it has to offer.
6Skyloft (Skyward Sword)
Also known under the name Isle of the Goddess, Skyloft isSkyward Sword’smain hub settlement and takes the form of a group of islands floating in the sky.
Skyloft’s main island is home to the bustling Skyloft Bazaar, as well as residences, a bathhouse, the Knight Academy, and a boarding school that both Link and Zelda are required to attend. What’s more, Skyloft is home to plenty of memorable side quests, and the location is also in constant change throughout the course of the game’s narrative, making it a thrilling place to visit again and again.
5Kakariko Village (Breath Of The Wild)
Kakariko Village is a location that crops up in multipleZeldagames, and this entry is for the iteration found inBreath Of The Wild. While countless Zelda fans likely preferA Link To The Past’sversion of the settlement, it’s hard to fault the wayBreath Of The Wildhas breathed new life into Kakariko Village and made it a true joy to explore.
The village is home to plenty of side quests and shops. Compare this with its unique mountain atmosphere and charming architecture and it’s clearly a charming, memorable location in the game.
4Kakariko Village (A Link To The Past)
Compared to the newer version of Kakariko Village found inBreath Of The Wild, the Kakariko Village players explore inA Link To The Pastis smaller, simpler, and certainly less visually impressive.
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However, it’s impossible to deny how iconic and important the original Kakariko Village has been to theZeldafranchise more generally. It’s arguably the first true hub city in the game and is the site of some of the title’s most important narrative moments. It’s also clear to see how Kakariko Village has inspired otherZelda-like games' towns and villages, too, with thePokemonfranchise being just one example.
3Castle Town (Twilight Princess)
The dramatic, epic Castle Town is easily one of the most visually impressive settings in any of the Zelda games and is one ofTwilight Princess’most important locations.
Both the capital and most populous city inHyrule, Castle Town is divided into four districts and is also where Hyrule Castle is found. Populated by bustling crowds and a decent number of side quests, Castle Town maintains a genuinely impressive city atmosphere and makes a welcome change from many of the simpler, smaller village locations that are more typical ofZeldatitles.
2Clock Town (Majora’s Mask)
One of the central locations and hub settlements inMajora’s Mask, Clock Town is also the most economically significant city in Termina.
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Not only that, but Clock Town has arguably been highly influential on video games more generally due to how the location handles the passing of time. The inhabitants of Clock Town have their own daily routines, which massively adds to the immersion that players feel in the area. While this is somewhat commonplace now in RPGs in particular, it’s a huge achievement that only adds to the already iconic status that Clock Town has.
1Hyrule Castle Town (Ocarina Of Time)
The charming and gorgeous iteration of Hyrule Castle Town found inOcarina Of Timeis an absolute achievement for the time period the game was created in.
Hyrule Castle Town is a key location in the Zelda franchise due to its geopolitical significance, as well as being one of the most populated and cosmopolitan towns in Hyrule. When Link first visits the town he is able to see it in all its glory, but, upon his return with the Master Sword in hand, he finds the town razed to the ground in the wake of the invasion ofGanondorf.
