The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Released for the Nintendo GameCube, The Wind Waker marked a bold shift in tone and style for the Zelda series. Set hundreds of years after the events of Ocarina of Time, the game follows a new incarnation of Link as he sails a vast, open sea dotted with islands, ancient ruins, and buried secrets. Players explore the flooded Hyrule, solve puzzles, and engage in real-time combat, all wrapped in a distinctive cel-shaded art style that sparked controversy at launch.
Despite initial skepticism, The Wind Waker has since been praised for its emotional storytelling, atmospheric world design, and innovative mechanics like the Wind Waker baton, used to control the wind itself. Today, it’s seen as one of the most daring and beloved entries in the Zelda franchise.