The Legend of Zelda series is host to a ton of fun, wacky, and memorable characters. Despite passing as a somewhat serious series, many of the recurring characters and races are goofballs based in humour. That is especially true for the Gorons, a race of rock-eating, mountain-dwelling creatures that have appeared many times.
The Gorons made their first appearance in Ocarina of Time and have popped up in many games since. They’re typically found in volcanic regions, though they’re known to inhabit other areas as well. They also usually have fun loving attitudes and playful demeanors.
12 Four Swords Adventures
One of the most underrated games in Zelda history is Four Swords Adventures — a level-based game where four Links must work together to overcome various trials and tribulations. One of these trials is the invasion of the Helmaroc King in the Goron’s territory.
The four Links work with the Gorons to repel the Helmaroc King and restore the mountain pass and make their way up to the Tower of Flames. The Gorons here are a bit bland, mostly just being a helpless group that are kind of clumsy.
11 Wind Waker
The events of the Wind Waker take place a long time after Ocarina of Time and much has changed. The Zora have evolved into the Rito race, and the Gorons seem to have vanished entirely. However, keep your eyes peeled and you can still spot one here and there. The Gorons in Wind Waker function as traveling merchants, hiding their identity from prying eyes. They’re fun, but there are only a couple.
10 Skyward Sword
There are five “Surface tribes” in Skyward Sword — races that dwell on the Surface and help form the early iteration of Hyrule. One of them is the Gorons, though only a couple of them actually appear.
Despite there only being a few of them present in the game, their design is fantastic. They’re large, in charge, and covered in tattoos & ruggedness all around.
9 Spirit Tracks
There are a few different train cars to add to your train in Spirit Tracks, and the Gorons are happy to provide one. They’ll help Link attach his new freight car, which he can then use to bring some ice to their village and remove some fire in the way. Then, he’ll be able to access the Fire Sanctuary.
These Gorons are pretty cool, and it’s nice to see them in a game such as Spirit Tracks, but they don’t do much to expand on their previous appearances.
8 Minish Cap
The developers of the Zelda series seem to love putting only a couple of Gorons in many games. In The Minish Cap, this is true again, with only eight Gorons appearing in the entire game. Their main purpose is to appear as the result of a Kinstone Fusion to dig out new areas for Link, but a merchant and the classic Biggoron also make an appearance.
7 Oracle Of Seasons
Once again, the population of Gorons in this game is low. The population of Holodrum pales in comparison to Oracle of Seasons’ counterpart game, Oracle of Ages.
In this game, though, the Gorons reside inside the caves of their mountain, since the season-based chaos has subjected their home to extreme winters. Biggoron is too large to go inside, so he has caught cold and requires some help from Link.
6 Hyrule Warriors
In Hyrule Warriors, the Gorons serve as one of the potential armies that can follow the player into battle on certain levels. They come in the hundreds like most of the other armies in this game. They’re typically led by their leader, Darunia, from Ocarina of Time. Interestingly, the Gorons here serve as the merchants in the Bazaar. The best part of the Gorons in this game is when they provide the player with gigantic Bombchus.
5 Breath Of The Wild
The Goron race makes its return in Breath of the Wild, serving as an important tribe for taking down Calamity Ganon. One of their kind, Daruk, is selected to be the Champion of Divine Beast Vah Rudania.
The Gorons in this version of Hyrule are pretty cool, living near the top of Death Mountain in Goron City. They’re diverse in appearance & personality, and seeing them around Hyrule in different areas than they’d typically be found is a nice touch.
4 Oracle Of Ages
The Gorons in Oracle of Ages are much more populous — and a lot more fun — than their counterparts in Seasons. They are playful, with many games & pastimes, and are known for their fun dancing.
Link is subjected to (or permitted to, depending on your viewpoint) participate in many of their mini-games as part of the game’s story. This dance alone is enough to rocket these Gorons toward the top of the list. It’s fun, zany, and proves how cool the Gorons of Labrynna are.
3 Majora’s Mask
Despite Majora’s Mask taking place in a completely new region, Termina, Links find the Gorons here with their original appearance in the game before. However, these Gorons are being subjected to a frigid winter from Snowhead Temple, which Link can save them from.
The Gorons here are basically the same as their counterparts in Ocarina, but the snowy setting gives them a different vibe. They should lose points for the annoying crying Goron baby, but luckily Link can soothe it and quiet it down.
2 Twilight Princess
In Twilight Princess, the Gorons take on a much edgier look, like that of Hyrule and its inhabitants. This works well for them. Since they eat rocks and essentially live in a volcano, one would expect them to be rugged and tough. These Gorons are covered in tattoos, rocky “hair” and engage in strength-based sports like sumo wrestling.
1 Ocarina Of Time
While the fun-loving Gorons have appeared many times over the years, nothing can compare to their original role in Ocarina of Time. Here, they’re rolling, laughing, joking creatures that are very optimistic and take an immediate liking to Link. Their leader, Darunia, turns out to be the Sage of Fire, and his jovial dancing is enough to make him a fan-favorite character for many.
NEXT: 10 Breath Of The Wild Mysteries That Still Aren’t Solved
