An ode to Link’s cameos in other game worlds

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Throughout all of the mainline Zelda games, Link has been the star, taking the fight to Ganon (or other villains) and saving the world in the process. But Link’s heroics haven’t always been limited exclusively to The Legend of Zelda series.

No, Link has been on many adventures outside the lands of Hyrule too, into entirely different game worlds. Some are within the Nintendo universe, and others — including maybe his most famous guest appearance — come from other companies.

So as we celebrate a new adventure for Link, I wanted to look back at the various times he’s appeared in other games. To be clear, this is not a recollection of every green tunic or vaguely Link-like character; these are, largely, the genuine article.

Though Link wouldn’t get involved in the actual gameplay of Donkey Kong Country 2, he does appear as a potential placing in Cranky’s Video Game Heroes alongside the likes of Mario and Yoshi. What’s more, this sees Link take on a more dimensional look than we’ve seen from his traditionally top-down games up to this point.

Saving Hyrule is tiring work, alright? So in this Square RPG imagining Mario on a grand journey, it’s nice that Link gets to take a little nap at the Rose Town Inn. He isn’t the only Nintendo hero catching Z’s either, as you can also find Samus taking a nap in Super Mario RPG too. In full Power Armor, too.

Here’s a classic but overlooked Link cameo. I’m not sure why Link would show up at an F1 race (maybe he’s studying up for a cameo later down this list) but here he is, cheering you on at the start of a challenge course. I’m not sure those weapons should be allowed on the course.

Link has been a part of the core Smash cast since the original game on the Nintendo 64. And as the years went