28 Years Later, This Legend Of Zelda Dungeon Remains Undefeated In Video Game History

Published Aug 30, 2026, 6:30 AM EDT Chris is a Gaming Editor at ScreenRant. He has been a professional writer since 2009, and has written for top TV, comics, movie, and video game outlets like Engadget, Polygon, Destructoid, and more. He brings with him an expertise in every game genre, no matter how niche or mainstream. You may know him as the former Managing/Reviews Editor of Destructoid, where he published hundreds of game reviews across every genre, including MMOs, sports games, and Metroidvanias. Find Chris on Twitter @_SRChris. If someone even mentions the word "dungeons," odds are many of you will immediately go to The Legend of Zelda. They've been part of the series' DNA since the start, and in later games, the team really started to nail down the classic "Zelda formula," with heavily themed, complex labyrinths. You really started to see that cohesive feel starting with The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, and Nintendo slowly built upon that foundation game after game. Some dungeons in The Legend of Zelda series are still gold standards for what the genre can hope to achieve, and we've seen countless inspirations based on those designs. Everyone has a "favorite dungeon," and many of those stand out above the rest. While each Zelda has its own standout, this particular puzzle stands out among the entire franchise. The Temples Are Still Mesmerizing Throughout The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, you'll literally travel through time and experience the game from the eyes of both Young and Adult Link. All the early game is spent as Young Link, as you slowly adventure through Hyrule, complete several dungeons with few abilities and items at your disposal. Making your way to the Temple of Time, Link will then warp into adulthood, and you'll take on your first Adult Link challenge: The Forest Temple. While the name is unassuming, the Forest Temple is one of the trickiest dungeons in Ocarina of Time, especially if it's your first time experiencing it. Even getting in is unconventional (you have to scale some vines to get the key), and once you're in, the action kicks off immediately, as four ghosts known as the Poe Sisters complicate things. To progress through the dungeon, you'll need to track down the four sisters (Amy, Beth, Meg, and Joelle) individually, with multiple paths at your disposal. It's not just a blast to figure it all out yourself the first time through; it's also fun to replay, which is a virtue of a great Zelda dungeon. Phantom Ganon Is An All-Timer If I close my eyes and think of a Zelda boss, odds are I'm going to picture Phantom Ganon. Everything from his intro to his battle is spot on, and you'll recall him long after you roll credits on Ocarina of Time. Once you enter the final chamber of the Forest Temple, you'll enter an ominous room of paintings. Bars raise up from the ground, and the camera dramatically pans behind you to show that Ganondorf is right there on horseback. It's a massive jump scare, and the reveal that it's not actually Ganondorf, but a shadow impostor of sorts in Phantom Ganon, is a treat. The impostor rips off his face to reveal that he's Phantom Ganon, subsequently retreating into the magical paintings surrounding the room. In a hexagonal battlefield, you'll have to take on the phantom as he gallops through paintings, tasking you with finding the real one before he jumps out and hits you with a lightning attack. The second phase starts after three hits, and sees Phantom Ganon leaping off his horse to take you on directly. His staff will blast magical balls at you, forcing a deadly game of "Dead Man's Volley," a classic Zelda combat style where Link and an enemy volley projectiles at each other until someone misses. It's a blast in any Zelda game, but the higher stakes of Phantom Ganon make it extra tense. The clever layout of the dungeon itself and the iconic Phantom Ganon boss fight coalesce into one of the best Legend of Zelda dungeons of all time. Movie(s) The Legend of Zelda (Live-Action) TV Show(s) The Legend of Zelda Video Game(s) The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Hyrule Warriors, Hyrule Warriors Legends (3DS), Cadence of Hyrule, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity First TV Show The Legend of Zelda First Game The Legend of Zelda Character(s) Link, Princess Zelda, Ganon The Legend of Zelda franchise follows the adventures of Link, an elf-like Hylian, and Princess Zelda as they protect the land of Hyrule from the evil warlord-turned-demon king Ganon. The series is known for its mix of action, adventure, and puzzle-solving elements, often revolving around the collection of the Triforce, a powerful relic left by the goddesses who created Hyrule.