You just bought the Nintendo Switch Online expansion or maybe you’re dusting off an old Game Boy Color. You’ve got two icons staring back at you: the blue one and the red one. Deciding whether to play Oracle of Ages or Seasons first feels like a high-stakes life choice. It isn't. But also, it kind of is.
Back in 2001, Flagship (a Capcom subsidiary) and Nintendo did something weird. They released two interconnected Zelda games simultaneously. They weren't just "versions" like Pokémon Red and Blue. These were entirely different maps, items, and bosses. If you play one and then the other using a Link System password, you get the "true" ending.
So, where do you start? Honestly, there is no wrong answer, but there is definitely a preferred path depending on what kind of gamer you actually are.
The Logic Behind Starting With Oracle of Seasons
Most purists will tell you to start with Oracle of Seasons. Why? Because it feels like home. It’s basically a massive, beautiful love letter to the original Legend of Zelda on the NES.
If you like hitting things with a sword, start here. Seasons is combat-heavy. The bosses require faster reflexes. The General Onox storyline is straightforward. You’re saving the Oracle Din, and the world of Holodrum is falling into seasonal chaos. It’s visceral.
The Rod of Seasons is the main gimmick. You stand on a stump, swing the rod, and the environment shifts. Winter freezes lakes so you can walk across them. Autumn fills pits with leaves. Summer grows vines so you can climb cliffs. It’s satisfying in a very "video gamey" way.
There's also the Subrosians. They’re these weird little hooded guys living underground in lava. They have their own currency (Ore Chunks) and their own weird culture. If you start with Seasons, you’re getting a high-octane introduction to the mechanics of the GBC era.
Why Some People Swear by Oracle of Ages First
Then there’s the blue camp. Oracle of Ages is the "smart" one. If Seasons is the brawn, Ages is the brain.
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The puzzles in Ages are notoriously difficult for a handheld Zelda. We’re talking about "I need to look this up on GameFAQs" levels of complexity. The game uses a time-travel mechanic similar to Ocarina of Time, but more localized. You jump between the Past and Present of Labrynna.
Starting with Oracle of Ages or Seasons first often comes down to your patience level. In Ages, you’re constantly manipulating the environment across centuries. Plant a seed in the past, see it as a tree in the future. It’s a bit more "questy." You spend more time talking to NPCs and solving their domestic problems than you do slaying dragons.
Veran, the villain, is also much more interesting than Onox. She possesses people. She messes with the timeline. It feels a bit more personal.
The Secret Link System Factor
Here is the thing most people forget: the games change based on the order you play them.
When you finish your first game, you get a "Labrynna Secret" or "Holodrum Secret" code. You put that into the second game. Now, the second game is no longer a standalone experience. It’s a "Linked Game."
- Characters from the first game show up in the second.
- You can find "secrets" to bring back to your first save to upgrade your items.
- The final boss is only accessible in the second game of your chosen order.
- You get an extra heart container.
If you play Ages first, the difficulty curve of the puzzles in the "Linked" version of Seasons stays relatively manageable. However, if you play Seasons first and then do a Linked Ages run, you are walking into some of the most brutal dungeon layouts in the history of the 2D franchise. Be ready to think. Hard.
Let’s Talk About the Items
The items are actually a big deal in the Oracle of Ages or Seasons first debate. Seasons gives you the Slingshot (boring) but also the Magnetic Glove, which is one of the coolest items in Zelda history. You’re basically Magneto. You pull yourself toward metal poles or push enemies away.
Ages gives you the Seed Shooter, which lets you bounce seeds off walls at 45-degree angles to hit switches. It also gives you the Switch Hook. This thing is a masterpiece. You fire it at a pot or an enemy, and you swap places with them. It leads to some genuinely mind-bending room navigation.
If you want the "classic" Zelda item feel, go Seasons. If you want weird, experimental stuff, go Ages.
The Animal Companions
You get a buddy. There’s Ricky the kangaroo (he punches things), Moosh the winged bear (he ground-pounds), and Dimitri the dodongo (he swims up waterfalls).
Who you get depends on where and when you buy a certain flute. In a Linked Game, your companion from the first game usually carries over. Personally? Moosh is a nightmare to control. Ricky is the GOAT. But that’s a debate for another day. Just know that your choice of which game to start with will influence how much time you spend with these guys.
The Narrative Flow
If you care about the "True Ending," you’re going to be fighting Twinrova and Ganon regardless of your choice. But the narrative feels slightly more cohesive if you start with Seasons.
Think of it like a movie. Seasons is the upbeat, action-packed first act. It establishes the stakes. Ages is the darker, more complex second act where everything gets complicated before the big finale.
The "Hero's Cave" is also different. In a Linked Game, this extra dungeon gets way more complex.
Technical Differences and Visuals
Honestly, they look almost identical because they used the same engine as Link’s Awakening DX. But the color palettes are distinct. Seasons is vibrant. Reds, oranges, bright greens. Ages is moody. Lots of purples, blues, and dark teals.
If you’re playing on a modern OLED screen, Seasons pops more. It’s eye candy. Ages feels more atmospheric and somber.
Making the Final Call
Still stuck? Look at your favorite Zelda game.
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Is it A Link to the Past? Go with Seasons. You’ll love the fast pace and the overworld exploration.
Is it Link’s Awakening? Go with Ages. It captures that melancholic, slightly weird vibe where the world feels like a giant puzzle box you’re trying to untangle.
Most veterans of the series eventually land on a specific "intended" path: Seasons then Ages. This path gives you a smoother transition from combat to puzzles. It also feels "correct" to have the more difficult puzzles in the back half of your 40-hour journey.
But hey, if you want to get the hard stuff out of the way first so you can breeze through the action later, start with Ages. Nobody is going to stop you.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
- Pick your vibe. Choose Seasons for action/classic feel or Ages for puzzles/story.
- Commit to the Link. Do not just play one and stop. You are missing 25% of the content, including the actual ending of the story.
- Write down your passwords. Seriously. Take a photo of the screen. If you lose that 20-character string of gibberish, your first 20 hours of progress won't carry over to the second game.
- Talk to the Red Snake. In the Vasu Jewelers shop, there’s a red snake. He’s the key to moving your Rings (collectible power-ups) between games. Rings are the "RPG" element of these games and they make the endgame much easier.
- Don't use a guide for the first three dungeons. Let yourself get lost. The joy of these games is the "Aha!" moment when you realize how a new item interacts with a screen you passed three hours ago.
Once you finish your first game, immediately start the next one as a "Linked Game." Don't start a "New Game" on the second cartridge/file, or you'll be playing a standalone version without the crossover content. Enter the password you got from the Maku Tree at the end of game one. That is the only way to see the true face of the enemy behind Onox and Veran.
Enjoy Holodrum and Labrynna. They don't make Zelda games like this anymore.