The Minish Cap is the greatest Zelda

[Dogg Thang]

Never knew that. They're certainly designed to work in either order so that must be an oversight. Not sure I'd say the combat progresses. One is more combat heavy and the other is a bit more puzzle heavy. So the case could be made that the puzzles progress the other way. But if there's an inaccessible part going Ages first then it makes sense to begin with Seasons.