Link

Link is the main protagonist of The Legend of Zelda series and the playable character in every game of the series, starting with the titular The Legend of Zelda. He is usually depicted as wearing a green tunic and a sword and a shield for his main weapon. Many incarnations of Link, as well as Princess Zelda, appear throughout the series. Each incarnation of Link is part of the Hylian race, and in the games, he is either a child, a teenager, or a young adult.

All of Link's adventures involve him trying to stop a force of evil, usually the series' main antagonist, Ganon. The game is usually set in Hyrule, where Link travels around an expansive overworld and endures trials within dungeons, each having a boss at the end. As he progresses in his journey, Link obtains more items and weapons that help him along the way. At the final boss, who is usually Ganon, Link is usually required to use a legendary weapon (such as the Master Sword or Silver Arrows). Sometimes Link has to rescue a damsel in distress, such as Zelda.

One of Link's main attributes is his courage. In many games, a mark of the Triforce appears on Link's hand, showing that he bears the Triforce of Courage.

The Legend of Zelda
In the backstory for The Legend of Zelda, Ganon and his minions invade the Kingdom of Hyrule. Princess Zelda sends her nursemaid Impa to find someone with the courage to save Hyrule. During her travels, Impa gets cornered by Ganon's minions. Link suddenly appears and rescues her from Ganon's minions. Impa explains about Ganon's invasion of Hyrule. Link goes on an adventure to rescue Zelda and the Kingdom of Hyrule.

Link goes on an adventure to recover the eight fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom, which he must collect to gain enough strength to fight Ganon, Death Mountain. From the overworld, Link fights enemies and travels into the labyrinths. At the end of each labyrinth, Link must fight a boss, and by defeating it, he obtains one of the Triforce fragments.

After recovering every unit of the Triforce of Wisdom, Link goes to Death Mountain in a final showdown against Ganon. Link shoots a Silver Arrow at Ganon and defeats him. He recovers the Triforce of Power from Ganon's ashes and rescues Zelda. The game ends with Link and Zelda holding up each of the Triforces.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
A young man who has the crest of Hyrule appear on the back of his hand. He solves the mystery of the Great Palace, obtains the Triforce of Courage, and awakens Princess Zelda.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Link is a descendant of the Knights of Hyrule who guard the royal family, and he lives with his uncle. He defeats Ganon with the Master Sword and wishes for the Triforce to return things as they were. Afterwards, he sets out on a journey of training.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
A young man out on a ship. It runs ashore on Koholint Island in a storm. Link is caught up in an adventure to save the Wind Fish.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
In this game, Link is seen in both his child and adult iterations. He is born to a Hylian family during a time of war. During the war, his mother was driven from their home and, clutching her baby, fled into the Kokiri Forest. The Great Deku Tree proclaimed that Link was fated to save Hyrule, and Link was raised as a Kokiri in the Kokiri Forest. Link sets out on a journey with the fairy Navi and becomes the "Hero of Time" who carries the Triforce of Courage. After seven years of sleep, Link battles Ganon with the Master Sword in hand. Link defeats Ganon and returns to his original time. This is also the debut of Link's horse, Epona. Link starts out as a character with little to no extraordinary traits, as a regular Hylian who happens to end up awakening as the chosen hero.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
This Link is the same Link as in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. After Link returns to his original time with the Triforce of Courage, he strays from Kokiri Forest into a parallel world called Termina while searching for Navi. He saves Termina, along with the help of the fairy Tatl. Some sources say that after his death, he becomes the Hero's Shade in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
Link is a young boy who is guided to Hyrule Castle, where the Triforce transports him to the distant lands of Holodrum and Labrynna. He thwarts Twinrova's attempts at fully reviving Ganon. Afterwards, he sets sail for training.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Link is a boy who grew up on Outset Island. He lives with his grandmother and his younger sister, Aryll. Link boards a talking boat, the King of Red Lions. He obtains the Triforce of Courage, which had sunk to the bottom of the Great Sea, and battles Ganondorf, earning the title "Hero of Winds."

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
Link is a young boy who, using the Four Sword, splits into four versions of himself to defeat the demon Vaati.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Link is a childhood friend of Princess Zelda, who uses the Four Sword to split into four and defeat Vaati and reseal Ganon.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Link is a childhood friend of Princess Zelda and an apprentice blacksmith. Link ends up wearing Ezlo, a Minish who was transformed into a cap, on his head. Wielding the Four Sword, he battles Vaati to save Princess Zelda. In the end, Ezlo gifts Link a green cap shaped like himself.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Link is a ranch hand from Ordon Village, who is fascinated by swordsmanship and horse riding. He inherits the Triforce of Courage. He ends up transforming into a wolf. With help from Midna, princess of the Twilight Realm, Link obtains the Master Sword and defeats Ganon. He returns to Ordon Village with the children of the village.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Link is the same Link from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Link gets caught up in the mystery of a Ghost Ship. Link goes on an adventure with the fairy Ciela, the Spirit of Time and Courage, which unfolds in the Temple of the Ocean King. In real time, Link's adventure only lasts ten minutes. Afterwards, Tetra's pirates discover a new continent. It is unclear whether Link settles there.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Link is an engineer in training. Riding on the Spirit Tracks, Link defeats the Demon King Malladus with the help of Princess Zelda's disembodied spirit. Link ends up becoming an engineer as planned, but also a swordsman to help protect Princess Zelda.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Link is a student of the Knight Academy. Link is a childhood friend of fellow student Zelda, who plays the part of the goddess Hylia for that year's Wing Ceremony. Link is chosen by the goddess Hylia. He tempers the Master Sword, guided by Fi, the spirit of the sword, and seals away Demise. It is implied that he settled on the surface world with Zelda.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Link is an apprentice blacksmith. Utilizing his ability to go inside of walls, Link recovers the Triforce from Lorule.

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
Link is one of three heroes who goes to Hytopia. Link becomes one of the legendary Tri Force Heroes, lifting Lady Maud's curse on Princess Styla.

Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda
In Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda, Link is one of three main playable characters. Near the beginning of the game, Cadence has the choice to awaken Link or Zelda. If Link is awakened from Octavo's spell, he will become the next playable character; if Zelda is awakened, he can be found asleep in Kakariko Village later in the game. Like Cadence, Link, utilizes a shield, and can also use the Spin Attack. Regardless of the player's action, he appears during the final confrontation with Ganon.