Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • GTA 6 pre-orders
  • Summer Preview
  • New Games 2026
  • Best gaming tech
  • Tennocon 2026
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Action
  3. The Legend of Zelda

12 reasons Link is kind of a jerk

Features
By John_Learned, Matt Bradford
Published 1 December 2013

Taking a hard look at Hyrule's beloved "hero"

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Are we really in good hands?

To put it bluntly, Links really kind of a dick, and with the new Legend of Zelda on Wii U on everyone's minds, the truth has to come out about Hyrule's savior. What follows is a list of personality quirks that are more fitting for a sociopath than a mythical superstar. Maybe this is what we get for letting small, elfin children play with explosives. Or, maybe hes just born a jerk. Follow along and decide...

He gives everyone the silent treatment

Seriously, a lot of problems in the Legend of Zelda games could have been easily solved with a simple inquiry about how to, say, complete the Water Temple. Instead, Link's idiotic, aloof nature cost you both hours that youll never get back trying to solve it on your own.

He'll ditch his hero duties for pretty much anything

Link isn't the only hero that has trouble prioritizing. Not by a long shot. Side quests have led adventurers astray since the dawn of the adventure genre. But where other heroes have whole armies to pick up the slack in their absence, Link usually carries 99.9% of the responsibility in any given Zelda title. Surely he's aware of the stakes. He must know he's kind of a big deal. Given this, you'd think he'd stop farting around and get to business. But he won't. Why? Is it merely undiagnosed ADHD?

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

He has no concept of personal space

--AHHH WHO IS THAT KID IN THE GREEN TUNIC AND WHATS HE DOING BARGING IN HERE? No, I dont know him! AND NOW--oh, hell--NOW JUST THROWING ALL OF MY POTS AGAINST THE WALLS AND TAKING MY MONEY! Ok, go ahead, you little elf snot, take the cash! LORD KNOWS THAT SEXY BEAR RUGS ARE JUST LAYING AROUND AND...

...oh, where you going, baby?

You may like
  • Close up of the Proplica Master Sword by Bandai sitting on a white desk. The best Legend of Zelda merch to gear up for Ocarina of Time, chosen by two lifelong fans
  • Link in The Legend of Zelda movie Link's leaked look from The Legend of Zelda movie is Twilight Princess-coded, with a bold new design choice
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild artwork of Link looking over his shoulder as he stands on a hilltop overlooking Hyrule The best Zelda games of all-time

He'll rob you blind without a second thought

True, heroes need money as much as regular folks. But judging by his habit of completely ignoring important quests for days, he could at least pick up a part time job to earn his rupees honestly like everyone else. At the very least, he can stick to slicing grass or exploring dungeons for cash like a respectable adventurer. All in all, there's no good reason Link needs to terrorize the good people of Hyrule for rupees. Unless... oh yeah... he's a dick.

Photo: WoodenNickelShorts

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Hell burn your roof just to see if youre inside:

There are other ways to satiate your domestic curiosity, Link. First step: knocking.

Photo: Legendary Elf Quest: Burning Bush

He'll terrorize your livestock for kicks

There is the odd time Link that legitimately needs to borrow a cucco to help snag an item or complete an impossible jump. That's when his chicken abuse is warranted. At least it's for the greater good and blah, blah, blah. But where a gentleman might take a few seconds to return said chick--er, cucco to their rightful owner, Link prefers to toss them aside willy-nilly and hope they find their way back home. What's that Link? Cuccos are fed up with your crap and finally attacking you en masse? Good. Dick.

You may like
  • Close up of the Proplica Master Sword by Bandai sitting on a white desk. The best Legend of Zelda merch to gear up for Ocarina of Time, chosen by two lifelong fans
  • Link in The Legend of Zelda movie Link's leaked look from The Legend of Zelda movie is Twilight Princess-coded, with a bold new design choice
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild artwork of Link looking over his shoulder as he stands on a hilltop overlooking Hyrule The best Zelda games of all-time

Hes probably macking on your girlfriend right now

Now, look, there's nothing wrong with flaunting it if you got it, and if two consenting adults want to rock the sheets, then que sera sera. But do you think for one second that he cares about the repercussions of those actions? Not a chance, friend. The dudes left Hyrule a sea of broken homes and crushed relationships, and all for the sake of a little siesta. World savior? Maybe. Dirt bag lothario? Absolutely.

He'd rather blast your wall then fix it

We get it; Link is saving the world and sacrifices have to be made. What we don't get is why Link can't peak in first to see if the damage is worth it, or at the very least chip in for repairs. After all, given his habit of chucking bombs wherever he damn well pleases, we're pretty sure Hyrule's insurance companies don't cover acts of Link. And heaven help you if you've invested in Goron real estate because you might as draw a target on every wall.

Hes always screwing with your sleep schedule

Found in the Ocarina of Time, the time-shifting tune freely grants Link the ability to change night into day whenever he feels like it. In his mind, our Alaskan brethren have it best with bright, constant sunlight for six months in a row, and if he can make it this way all the time, you can be damn sure he will. So what if the average Hyrulian farmer is unlucky enough to live through any sort of Ganondorf-led crisis? If Link cant sleep while saving the kingdom, neither will any poor schmuck residing in the same hemisphere. Sure, lack of sleep may explain a lot of Tingles hallucinogenic dialogue. Still, dick move, man.

He treats children like collectable trophies

No, Link picks him up by his feet and presents him to whatever god is controlling the whole shebang. He then deftly stuffs the child into his inventory sack like a burrito that he found in a dumpster. A class act, this guy.

He has no respect for the dead

Link's blatant disregard for the dead even extends to crypts and underground caverns. Again, Hyrulians have a weird habit of storing extremely useful items inside sacred places, but you'd think a "hero" would seek a family's blessing before desecrating Uncle Fitzroy's grave (or at the very least pay to bury him again). But not el-dicko, here. Frankly, we're surprised he doesn't spit on their corpses while he's at it.

But hes a smug, whiney child

Yes, the weekly animated Legend of Zelda television show existed, and essentially personified the worst offenders on this entire list making them horrifyingly manifest. Possibly the most terrible offense is that they took our largely mute hero and turned him into a person you wouldnt mind punching in the mouth during even your most Zen-like meditative states. Constantly whining and complaining while swiping what was once a legitimately funny catchphrase from Steve Martin makes us miss Link's blank stares. Even as dumb kids we could tell this show was bad, while today Link's annoying, animated characterization makes his other, more sociopathic flaws seem a lot more forgivable.

It's time to make a stand

Think about it.

This feature is paid for by the Moblin Foundation for the Return of Ganon. For more information, visit The Legend of Zelda memes: The best Zelda jokes and images we've seen.

CATEGORIES
Wii-u Nintendo Platforms
PRODUCTS
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Matt Bradford
Social Links Navigation

Matt Bradford wrote news and features here at GamesRadar+ until 2016. Since then he's gone on to work with the Guinness World Records, acting as writer and researcher for the annual Gamer's Edition series of books, and has worked as an editor, technical writer, and voice actor. Matt is now a freelance journalist and editor, generating copy across a multitude of industries. 

Read more
Close up of the Proplica Master Sword by Bandai sitting on a white desk.
Toys & Collectibles The best Legend of Zelda merch to gear up for Ocarina of Time, chosen by two lifelong fans
 
 
Link in The Legend of Zelda movie
Live Action Movies Link's leaked look from The Legend of Zelda movie is Twilight Princess-coded, with a bold new design choice
 
 
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild artwork of Link looking over his shoulder as he stands on a hilltop overlooking Hyrule
The Legend of Zelda The best Zelda games of all-time
 
 
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker screenshot of Link conducting
The Legend of Zelda Eiji Aonuma believed it was his "fault" that The Wind Waker wasn't as meaty as other Zelda games
 
 
Link looks shocked in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
The Legend of Zelda Shigeru Miyamoto decided Zelda dungeons aren't "really that much fun" while making Ocarina of Time
 
 
Batman Arkham Asylum cover
Action Games 17 years later, Batman: Arkham Asylum is still the best game for Batman fans
 
 
Latest in The Legend of Zelda
Link looking out over Hyrule during The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead dubs Breath of the Wild "absolute masterclass" in open-world dev
 
 
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake shot showing an updated Link lying on a straw bed in his house in Kokiri Forest
The Legend of Zelda After 10 years, unofficial Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake ends development
 
 
Link looks shocked in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
The Legend of Zelda Shigeru Miyamoto decided Zelda dungeons aren't "really that much fun" while making Ocarina of Time
 
 
Ocarina of Time remake Link sleeping
The Legend of Zelda Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake more like the 1998 original than Breath of the Wild, fans theorize
 
 
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda Legend of Zelda fans eagerly await Ocarina of Time remake's take on the game's best freaks
 
 
Ocarina of Time remake Link sleeping
The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time remake teaser fell flat with Zelda fans because of leaks, ex-marketing leads say
 
 
Latest in Features
Sonic looks shocked in a screenshot for Sonic Pico Park, surrounded by the GamesRadar+ Summer Preview badge
Sonic the Hedgehog Even Takashi Iizuka wasn't sure about Sonic Pico Park at first, but Sega's learned a lot from indies
 
 
Death Stranding Norman Reedus and baby
Games PlayStation killing discs is bad for everyone, whether you care about physical games or not
 
 
The key visual for the Black Myth: Wukong Global Concert in North America
Action Games Black Myth: Wukong is taking another Journey to the West as it moves from game screens to the global stage
 
 
Batman Arkham Asylum cover
Action Games 17 years later, Batman: Arkham Asylum is still the best game for Batman fans
 
 
X-Men '97 season 2
Marvel TV Shows What are the X-Force and X-Factor in X-Men '97 season 2?
 
 
Guild Wars 3 promotional screenshots
MMO Games Guild Wars 3 may have cracked the MMO code for tired millennials
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Three men in medieval outfits sit in a castle-like environment, playing the Kingdom Come: Deliverance board game
    1
    Kingdom Come Deliverance board game revealed, with all the gritty RPG elements fans love
  2. 2
    The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender movie is seemingly getting shadow dropped last minute after full movie leak
  3. 3
    The Ghost in the Shell director confirms no GenAI was used in the remake
  4. 4
    "Am I going back to the PS4 days?" - Former PlayStation president Shuhei Yoshida shares a very mixed Steam Machine review
  5. 5
    A Kang variant is in X-Men '97, which means the supervillain isn't completely off the table in MCU's future

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...