Saving

One of the most unique features from was the built in battery capable of saving a game in progress. A save function has since been in every game. In most cases, the save function can be accessed at anytime during gameplay from the start menu. In addition to retaining the game data, the save function allowed for the player to name the protagonist of the story.

The Legend of Zelda
The option to save from The Legend of Zelda appears after losing all Life energy. This same menu can also be accessed by pressing Up on the Control Pad and the A Button simultaneously on the second controller while the game is paused (doing so will warp Link back to the starting screen).

Link's Awakening
included a save system similar to that of the first Legend of Zelda title. There were three save files, in which a player could enter their choice of name. The player could access the save menu by pressing A, B, Start, and Select Buttons, or by death in-game.

Majora's Mask
deviated from the standard saving system immensely. The ability to save from anywhere and anytime during gameplay had been removed.

In Majora's Mask, the player can save the game by playing the "Song of Time" to return to the start of the First Day. Players can also quicksave at Owl Statues, a temporary save that allows players to save their progress partway through the three-day cycle or just before entering a dungeon. In the Japanese version of the Nintendo 64 release (and its Virtual Console release), Owl Statues cannot be used to quicksave; this function was added in the international release of the Nintendo 64 release (at the expense of the game having two save files rather than three), and was also added to the Japanese release of Majora's Mask in.

In, the "Song of Time" no longer saves the game. Instead, Owl Statues permanently save the game; additionally, Quill Statues were added, which allow saving like Owl Statues but cannot be warped to with the "Song of Soaring". The game also has three save files, like the original Japanese release.

Four Swords Adventures
saving system departed from the typical manner of The Legend of Zelda series. Saving was automatically done upon the completion of a level throughout the game.

Twilight Princess
Saving is performed from the pause menu like normal. introduces the ability to save Link's progress to any of the three save files at will, rather than having to copy a save file beforehand if the player wishes to keep multiple states of progress from the same adventure. This ability was removed from subsequent games.

Skyward Sword
Saving in SS undefined works similarly to Majora's Mask, using Bird Statues scattered throughout the map; however, these saves are permanent, rather than the temporary save states of the Owl Statues. Because this is the one and only way to save in Skyward Sword, the bird statues are much more numerous than Majora's Mask's' Owl Statues, with some even found in dungeons.

A Link Between Worlds
In, Link can save by using Weather Vanes. Once a sleeping Weather Vane is found, Link must talk to it in order to wake it up. Weather Vanes can be found in both Hyrule and Lorule. They are also seen flapping their wings and moving around in a panicked manner after Link has completed a large task, or has spent a considerable amount of time doing things since his last save, trying to indicate that now may be the time to save.

Tri Force Heroes
In saving is performed at a statue in the center of Hytopia Village, referred to as the Tri Force Heroes Statue or the Tri Hero statue. This statue, surrounded by a small fountain, features Hytopia's three legendary heroes in a Totem formation. The raised sword atop the statue will shimmer when Link saves his journey's progress, similarly to a charged Skyward Strike. If Link proceeds to the Castle without saving first, then the Bearded Baron, who is standing nearby, will implore Link to "give thanks" to the statue and comment on his resemblance to the heroes.

Link's progress is also saved automatically at the conclusion of each Level, whether the Links successfully complete the Level, die in action, fail the Drablands Challenge, or are disconnected from a multiplayer game. If a Link intentionally leaves the game, he will simply return to Hytopia Castle without having his progress saved. Automatic saving also occurs after each completed battle in the Coliseum and after each completed Zone in the Den of Trials.

Tri Force Heroes is the only canon game in the series that does not allow for multiple save files, likely due to the amount of memory taken up by the adventurer's photo album.

Breath of the Wild
In, the saving function is with in the pause menu screen, similar to Ocarina of Time and older Legend of Zelda titles. Unlike other previous titles however, this game can have multiple save files so that Link can go back to a further save file to redo or undo a certain event if he so wishes. The game also automatically Autosaves occasionally if Link dies without manually saving very recently.

In Master Mode, Link is only allowed one save file and one autosave file to work with.

Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland
In, the game can be saved by accessing a Tingle Tuner-like device found within Tingle's house. There are three save files which can be selected at the start of the game, with Tingle holding up the respective number of fingers for the file icon.

Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love
In, Tingle has the ability to save his game in one of three files by accessing a save point, and tapping on a three-dimensional spinning pig. Unlike the previous Tingle Series installment, the player can choose to save the game to any of the three files while playing. Once the game is completed, the file image icons will replace the three images of Tingle with the likes of Kakashi, Buriki, and Lion, respectively.