Exploring the typography of The Legend of Zelda series reveals a fascinating blend of official and fan-made fonts that have contributed to the franchise’s iconic visual identity. These typefaces not only define the game’s aesthetic but also offer fans creative tools to engage with Hyrule’s rich design language.
Official Fonts:
ITC Zapf International Demi by Hermann Zapf
In the early titles, such as The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, the word “Zelda” prominently features the ITC Zapf International Demi typeface. This font’s classic and elegant design set the tone for the series’ branding during its inception.
Charlemagne Bold by Carol Twombly
As the series progressed, Charlemagne Bold became a staple for the phrase “The Legend of” in several game logos, including A Link to the Past, Link’s Awakening, and Ocarina of Time. Its refined and timeless appearance contributed to a consistent and recognizable brand identity.
Trajan by Carol Twombly
For titles like Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, the series employed the Trajan typeface for “The Legend of,” lending a classical and authoritative feel to the branding. This choice underscored the games’ epic narratives and adventurous spirit.
FOT-Greco Std B by Fontworks Inc.
In The Wind Waker, Four Swords Adventures, and Phantom Hourglass, the phrase “The Legend of” is rendered in FOT-Greco Std B. This font’s distinctive style complements the whimsical and maritime themes of these installments.
Ravenna by David Nalle
The subtitle “Twilight Princess” in the eponymous game utilizes the Ravenna typeface. Its ornate and gothic characteristics align with the game’s darker and more mature themes, enhancing the overall aesthetic.
Fan-Made Fonts:
Dedicated enthusiasts have developed fonts inspired by the series, allowing fans to incorporate Hyrule’s script into their own projects:
Triforce
The Triforce font replicates the style used in the original Legend of Zelda logo, capturing the essence of the series’ branding. This font is widely used across various fan sites and projects.
Hylia Serif
Designed by Artsy Omni, this font mirrors the signage from Breath of the Wild, featuring a full Latin alphabet suitable for various design applications.
Gerudo Typography Font
Appearing in Ocarina of Time’s Spirit Temple, the Gerudo script consists of 26 characters directly based on the modern Latin alphabet. It has been used in subsequent titles like Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild.
Ravenna Font
The Ravenna font is utilized in the logo of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the “Twilight Princess” subtitle. Designed by David Nalle, it contributes to the game’s distinctive visual identity.
Return of Ganon Font
This font is a TrueType conversion of the text used in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for in-game dialogue and item descriptions. It captures the classic 16-bit aesthetic of the game.
Sherwood Font
Employed in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker logo, the Sherwood font adds to the game’s whimsical and adventurous feel.
Skyward Sword Ancient Hylian Font
In Skyward Sword, an ancient version of the Hylian language is presented. Although initially described as too ancient to translate, fans have deciphered it and created a corresponding font.
The Wild Breath of Zelda
Created by Chequered Ink, this typeface draws inspiration from the Breath of the Wild logo, capturing the game’s unique visual style.
Twilight Princess Hylian Font
Twilight Princess introduces a Hylian script based on the English alphabet. Notably, the Wii version features a mirrored version of this script due to the game’s orientation.
Gamecube Version: Download TPHylian-GCNRegular.otf
Wii Version: Download TPHylian-WiiRegular.otf
Hylian 64
Based on the in-game text from Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, this font offers an authentic replication of the Hylian script used during the Nintendo 64 era.
Ancient Hylian
Reflecting the script from titles like The Wind Waker and Four Swords Adventures, this font provides fans with the means to recreate the game’s distinctive alphabet.
Handheld Zelda Font
This font is used for in-game text in older handheld Zelda titles, including Link’s Awakening and the Oracle series, maintaining consistency across these portable adventures.