Zelda Font

On this page

1. 01 About the Zelda font
2. 02 History of the Zelda lettering
3. 03 Where the Zelda font is used
4. 04 Free fonts similar to Zelda
5. 05 Try the Zelda look-alike fonts
6. 06 How to make Zelda-style text
7. 07 FAQ
8. 08 Related fonts on DaFont Online
9. 09 Sources

Quick answer: Nintendo has not named a typeface for the Zelda logo. A fan site says the bold Zapf International is used in the NES-era ZELDA and LINK logos. Free look-alikes on this page: Cinzel and Marcellus.

About the Zelda font

The Legend of Zelda is a 1986 action-adventure game by Nintendo. It launched on the Famicom Disk System on 21 February 1986 (Wikipedia).

Zelda Universe, a fan site, says the Hylian, Gerudo and Sheikah scripts appeared in Ocarina of Time in 1998, and the NES-era ZELDA logo uses a bold Zapf International (Zelda Universe).

History of the Zelda lettering

• 21 February 1986: The Legend of Zelda launches on the Famicom Disk System in Japan (Wikipedia).
• 22 August 1987: the game is released in North America for the NES (Wikipedia).
• 1998: Ocarina of Time introduces the Hylian, Gerudo and Sheikah scripts, according to a fan site (Zelda Universe).

Where the Zelda font is used

• The NES-era ZELDA and LINK logos, per a fan site (Zelda Universe).
• Fan-made ‘Triforce’ style fonts that imitate the NES lettering (Zelda Central).

Free fonts similar to Zelda

Cinzel

Carved capitals that suit the Hyrule title cards.

Marcellus

A gentle, flared serif, good for subtitles and menus.

Cormorant Garamond

Elegant and light, like old storybook text.

Almendra

Warm, calligraphic and old-fashioned.

Uncial Antiqua

A rounded medieval hand for scrolls and items.

Each download is the original file from Google Fonts, shared under its open license (SIL Open Font License or Apache 2.0). You can use these 5 fonts free in personal and commercial projects.

Try the Zelda look-alike fonts

How to make Zelda-style text

• Use pale gold or cream text on a deep teal or dark green background.
• Keep the letters wide with plenty of spacing.
• Add a thin gold border or a faint glow, but leave the rest plain.
• For Sheikah-style writing, look for a font built for it. Be aware those fonts have their own licenses.

Try your own text in our font generator, or browse more free design tools.

FAQ

What font is the Zelda logo?

Nintendo has not named one. A fan site says the NES-era logo uses bold Zapf International.

Is the Zelda font free?

Zapf International is commercial. Cinzel and Marcellus are free Google Fonts that give a similar Roman look.

What is the Triforce font?

A fan-made face that imitates the angular NES lettering, according to a fan site (Zelda Central).

Related fonts on DaFont Online

• Nintendo Font
• Kirby Font
• Animal Crossing Font
• Splatoon Font
• Super Mario Font

Sources

1. Wikipedia: The Legend of Zelda (video game)
2. Zelda Universe: fonts (fan site)
3. Zelda Central: fonts (fan site)