Polygon has reaffirmed that "It's dangerous to go alone! Take this," the line spoken by an old man to Link at the start of 1986's The Legend of Zelda, remains the greatest video game quote of all time, 40 years after the game's release. The verdict follows a wider Polygon project earlier this year in which contributors compiled and debated a list of the 100 greatest video game quotes across all eras, with this line emerging as the clear top pick.

The article explains why the quote endures: delivered without any preceding explanation of the story, it instantly sets the tone for the perilous journey ahead and offers reassurance through the sword handed to the player. The phrase has since become a cultural touchstone, widely used in everyday conversation, memes and references in other games, and it takes on a different, more nostalgic resonance for players returning to the game's harder second quest.