How many links from Legend of Zelda are there?

Answer 1

As you might already know, Nintendo has released an official timeline for the Zelda series. Looking at this as a reference I'll explain which Links are who. The first is obviously from Skyward Sword. This next one is questionable though since in the intro to The Minish Cap, the game explains how a hero from the past used the power of the Minish to fend off evil. This is not Skyward Sword Link because The Minish or Picori made no appearance in this game. So if you want to count this one you can but no game of the series stars this "hero of man". The next Link we know we can count is Minish Cap Link. But, in this game, Link uses the Picori Blade which becomes the Four Sword with the power to split him into four different Links. You can count these Links, or you can decide not to. The next game is Four Swords for the Game Boy Advance. This Link could be the same from the Minish Cap, but presumably not. Link once again uses the Four Sword to defeat Vaati, leaving it to you to decide whether you're counting these clones or not. After this Ocarina of Time's events take place. There is a mini boss in the water temple, shadow Link. Although it's not clarified if this is just a mirage or not, you may take into consideration counting this Link. Apparently if the hero of time dies in the last fight with Ganon the events of A Link to the Past take place, adding yet another Link to the series. This Link is the very same Link as the Links from The Oracle games as well as Link's Awakening. Then, another Link becomes a hero and stars in both The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II The Adventure of Link for the Nintendo Entertainment System as the same person. Going back to Ocarina of Time, if Link succeeds in defeating Ganon he rerturns to the past, creating a timeline in the past as well as the future. In the past, the same Link searches for Navi and he eventually ends up in Termina in Majora's Mask. This same Link makes an appearance in Twilight Princess as the ghost of the hero of time and teaches the Link from Twilight Princess many different sword techniques. After Twilight Princess in the past timeline comes Four Swords Adventures for the Game Cube. If you want to get picky, you can again count the shadow Link that Ganondorf created with the Mirror of Darkness as well as the Four different clones of Link in this game. These are the Links in the past timeline but in the future timeline The WindWaker Link is the same as Phantom Hourglass Link. And finally Spirit Tracks Link is the last Link from the series. There's also the Link from the Philips CD-i games and the Link from the Short Television series from the 80's. I would guess these Links are the same as the Links from Zelda 1 and 2 though since they came out around the same time and share the same design. So in the end it depends on opinion weather certain Links count or not. I personally count 10.

Answer 2

There are 15 link games, the 16th one will be released sometime this year, the very first one was released in 1986.

Answer 3

from 15 to 20