The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda is shielded by nostalgia so thick that even mediocre entries like Skyward Sword and Tri Force Heroes get a free pass, but its average Metacritic score across 19 mainline games is 85—not the flawless 90+ lore suggests. Breath of the Wild was revolutionary, selling 30 million copies, but claiming every entry is a masterpiece ignores that Skyward Sword sits below Halo's average across all titles. Outperforming #6 Halo in nostalgia leverage, Zelda still relies on a golden age that ended with Ocarina of Time.