Related
Nintendo’sThe Legend of Zeldais one of the longest - fly the coop serial publication in gaming , and it ’s accumulated quite a complicated in - macrocosm history over the years . Despite each secret plan ’s perpetual re - recounting of standardised events ( connection beats Ganon with the service of , or in rescript to save , Zelda ) , allLegend of Zeldagames take place in a connected timeline . Still , it ’s not quite as simple as locate one after the other , as the timeline splits into multiple paths and survey an now and again surprising social club . Thanks to its complicated chronology , theZeldaseries did n’t have a public timeline for tenner .
Nintendo first published an officialZeldatimeline in 2011’sHyrule Historia(which received its first English edition in 2013 ) , 25 age afterThe Legend of Zelda ’s 1986 Japanese vent ( single game below are listed with their North American liberation dates ) . Being the first non - sequelZeldagame to release sinceHyrule Historia , much conjecture was had about whereBreath of the Wildfit in the timeline , and Nintendo finally revealedBreath of the Wild ’s timelineplacement in mid-2018 . The ensue chronology is a mess hall of events , figure , and branches , confounded by reincarnations , a timeline rent , and a timeline convergence . Here ’s each part of theZeldaseries timeline , as told byHyrule Historia , The Legend of Zelda : Encyclopedia , and the games themselves .
bear on : Legend of Zelda Timeline : How To Play All Games In Order
Legend Of Zelda Timeline: Creation & Division
At theZeldatimeline ’s very beginning , three goddess - Din , Nayru , and Farore - descend from the heavens and produce the world . They leave behind the Triforce , an artifact that can deed over a deadly being ’s wish . Another goddess , Hylia , serves as the steward of the Triforce , until a demon called Demise attempts to take it from her . Hylia sends the universe ’s hoi polloi to live safely in the floating islands of Skyloft and seals Demise away , weakening herself greatly . She transpose her soulfulness into a mortal girl key out Zelda , enable her to utilise the Triforce ’s power to varnish Demise off again , and creates the spirit - imbued Goddess Sword equal to of bestowing itself upon a hero .
Skyward Sword (2011)
InSkyward Sword , theZeldatimeline ’s first game chronologically , Hylia ’s prediction comes dependable - Demise break his seal , returning to bring destruction to the man . He is eventually defeated by Zelda and her heroic friend Link , but Demise bestow a curse on them before his demise , promising his vicious spirit will haunt those of the"blood of the goddess and the spirit of the hero . “This lay into motion the bike of conflicts pitting good versus wickedness regard in almost everyZeldagame .
The spirits from theZeldauniverse ’s initiation story become the serial ' central characters , destined to play out different version of the same battle and continually manifesting themselves ( whether by reincarnation or verbatim descent ) in different version of the same beingness . Demise ’s hatred manifests as Ganon and Ganondorf , Hylia is reincarnated as Zelda , and the spirit of the grinder is inherit by reincarnations of Link , wield the Master Sword with the hibernating Goddess Sword heart at heart .
These net two natural event have been obfuscated by the release ofTears of the Kingdom , which has seemingly made theofficialZeldatimeline something of a paradox . tear of the Kingdomreveals that Hyrule ’s first king was a Zonai named Rauru , even thoughBreath of the WildandTOTKare the first two game to remark the Zonai race . InTears of the Kingdom , the Temple of Time appears to have been built by the Zonai , come out on one of the plot ’s Sky Islands , though there are ruin of another Temple of Time on Hyrule ’s Surface .
The Minish Cap (2004)
Not much of significance to the overall timeline happens inTheMinish Cap , other than the creation of the Four Sword - which can split its wielder into four copies - and the founding of evil fiend Vaati , who is defeated but returns in subsequent games .
Four Swords (2002)
Vaati returns inFour steel , only to be kill by Link once again .
Ocarina of Time (1998)
Ocarina of Time ’s version of Link is resurrect by the Great Deku Tree and Kokiri people . Ganondorf , Demise ’s spiritreincarnated into a Gerudo world , maledict the Great Deku Tree in an attempt to slip from it one of the three ghostly Stones needed to get at the Master Sword , which would allow him to break the seal on the Sacred Realm . In their effort to foil him , Link and Zelda unknowingly attend to Ganondorf in gain the power he seeks , and Link is sealed away for seven years , allowing Ganondorf to take control of Hyrule and plow the Sacred Realm into the Evil Realm .
This seven - year time leap , meld with Link ’s time - journey Ocarina , creates three separate branches for theZeldaseries timeline , each of which is discussed below .
Legend Of Zelda Timeline: The Hero Is Defeated Branch
The " Hero is get the better of " timeline , as the officialZeldawebsite refers to it , is an contingency in which Ganondorf defeats Link during the course ofOcarina of Time , give him free rein to rule the world . This timeline comprise of unceasing reincarnation , defeats , and resurrections of Demise ’s spirit , and it ’s therefore the most repetitive and nonsensical of theZeldatimeline leg , being constituted of the series ' early titles , where continuity seemingly was n’t a principal concern .
A Link to the Past (1992)
soon after Link ’s defeat inOcarina of Time , the powerful Seven Sages who assisted Link inOcarinaseal Ganondorf inside the Sacred Realm , which he corrupts into what becomes known as the Dark World . InA Link to the Past , Ganon ( a more brutish incarnation of Demise ’s spirit than Ganondorf ) attempts to realize control of both the Dark World and Hyrule by delude Hyrule ’s people in the form of a wizard name Agahnim . He is eventually defeated by Link in the Dark World , and Link use the Triforce to restore the ruin Hyrule back to normal .
Link’s Awakening (1993)
The same Link fromA Link to the Pastembarks on an adventure on Koholint Island inLink ’s wakening , only to discover it was all a dream .
Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages (2001)
TheOraclegames star the same Link fromA Link to the past times , once again . He is transported to the lands of Holodrum and Labrynna by the Triforce , where he defeats an even beastlier Ganon revived by two crone . At some point following theOraclegames , theTriforce is splitinto three parts - the Triforces of Courage , Wisdom , and Power .
A Link Between Worlds (2013)
The story ofA Link Between Worldsclosely mirror that ofA Link to the yesteryear , but it takes place long afterward . Hyrule start to be overcome by an encroachment from Lorule , a morose variant of Hyrule that resembles theLink to the PastDark World , but is actually a freestanding place . Lorule ’s princess , Hilda , attempts to slip Hyrule ’s Triforce to touch on Lorule to its former gloriole , but she is unsuccessful . connection and Zelda come back the Triforce to Hyrule , and Link wishes for both Hyrule and Lorule to get public security and successfulness .
Tri Force Heroes (2015)
In what is probably the least consequential of mainlineZeldagames , Tri Force Heroestakes the Link fromA Link Between Worldsto the land of Hytopia for a way - filled journeying .
The Legend of Zelda (1987)
long time afterA Link Between Worlds , a worried king of Hyrule carve up the three division of the Triforce and obscure them away . The Billie Jean King ’s girl , a particular reincarnation of Zelda , is put into a magical sleep after failing to inform her crony of the Triforce of Courage ’s location . Without the full mightiness of the Triforce , Hyrule declines until it is"reduced to a small , regional power . “Later still , Ganon returns once again in the originalThe Legend of Zeldaand steal the Triforce of Power . A 2d Princess Zelda , descended from the first princess ' brother , splits the Triforce of Wisdom into eight pieces to protect it from Ganon . A new Link then recovers these Triforce of Wisdom pieces and defeats Ganon .
The Adventure of Link (1988)
The same Link fromThe Legend of Zeldahears of that game ’s first , long - slumbering Princess Zelda and sets out to recover the Triforce of Courage and save her . He does so , and peace is brought to Hyrule .
Legend of Zelda Timeline: The Hero Is Triumphant Branch - Child Era
Both branches of the " Hero is Triumphant " timeline - the so - called " Child earned run average " and " Adult Era " - fall out after the trueending ofOcarina of Time . Link ’s adult anatomy successfully shoot down Ganondorf , and Zelda revert Link to his puerility to let him go out his lose years in peace . The game inZelda ’s Child Era timeline research what happens in a reality where Ganondorf never controlled Hyrule but still populate on , his initial plan inOcarina of Timethwarted by Link warning the Royal Family beforehand .
Majora’s Mask (2000)
InMajora ’s Mask , theOcarina of TimeLink leave Hyrule on a search for his fairy ally Navi , who departed at the end ofOcarina . He come in a land call Termina , which he lay aside from Skull Kid ’s return lunar month . This Link ’s decease is never shown , but his ghost later appear as the Hero ’s Shade , who teach combat tactical manoeuvre toTwilight Princess’Link .
Twilight Princess (2006)
Although he never rise to great power , the start back in clip atOcarina of Time ’s conclusion meant that game ’s Ganondorf last to see the events ofTwilight Princess . The Seven Sages were aware of his evil spirit and his future - timeline crimes , however , so they attempted to execute him . But the god had granted Ganondorf the Triforce of Power , enabling him to survive the execution , and the Sages were force to or else banish him to the Twilight Realm .
While in the Twilight Realm , Ganondorf grant his powers to Zant , a Twili descendant of the magician the Spirits of Light banished to the Twilight Realm afterSkyward Sword . Zant takes the Twili commode from Princess Midna , who travels to Hyrule and seeks Link ’s help . The two defeat the invading Twilight Realm Shadow Beasts , Zant , and Ganondorf , and Midna shatters the Mirror of Twilight that connects the two realm .
Four Swords Adventures (2004)
recollective afterTwilight Princess , another Ganondorf is reincarnate inFour Swords Adventures . He uses the Dark Mirror ( different from the Mirror of Twilight ) to create an army of fiend , causing Link to unknowingly set the demon Vaati innocent when drawing the Four Sword from its base . Link then destroy Vaati and seals Ganondorf in the Four Sword .
Legend of Zelda Timeline: The Hero Is Triumphant Branch - Adult Era
The Adult Era ofZelda ’s The Hero is Triumphant has a name that is a bit misleading . Since Link is always send back to his childhood at the end ofOcarina of Time , there ’s no interpretation of that story where adult Link carries on after vote down Ganondorf . Rather , the Adult timeline explores what happens in the reality grownup Link left behind - one where Ganondorf corrupted Hyrule but was varnish aside in the Sacred Realm , and one where there ’s no more hero to be reincarnate .
The Wind Waker (2002)
With Link returning to his childhood in a different reality , the hero ’s liveliness terminate to be passed down to other Links , so there is no one to break Ganon from escaping the Sacred Realm . He finally does so , and he uses the Triforce of Power to corrupt Hyrule , forcing the God to glut the kingdom to seal him away beneath the sea . This creates the Great Sea and the island that constellate it .
InThe Wind Waker , Ganondorf egress from his sea sealing wax , and Link - a heroic Hylian son not descended from the Hero of Time but still able-bodied to wield the Master Sword - embarks on a pursuance to shoot down him . finally , Ganondorf is vanquished , and the sunken Hyrule is washed aside forever . tie and a regal - blood Zelda , disguise as Tetra , then travel the ocean to find a new continent to settle down .
Phantom Hourglass (2007)
InPhantom Hourglass , Link and Zelda ’s ocean trip is interrupted when they arrive in the World of the Ocean King . There , they finally kill the demonic Bellum , turn back the Ocean King ( who may be one ofBreath of the Wild ’s leviathan frame ) to his rightful form , and continue on their pursuance .
Spirit Tracks (2009)
At some spot , Link and Zelda find out New Hyrule , a continent encompass in the power train track that giveSpirit Tracksits name . One hundred eld after their find , a unlike Zelda and Link defeat a scoundrel named Malladus , who possess Zelda ’s dead body after separate her purport from it . Peace is then doctor to New Hyrule .
Legend Of Zelda Timeline: Breath Of The Wild & Tears Of The Kingdom
Nintendo ’s reveal of whereBreath of the Wildfits into the timelineanswered the lingering questions of many fans . It also come with its share of confusedness , however , as Nintendo announcedBreath of the Wild , and subsequentlyTears of the Kingdom , takes position at the very closing of all three timeline branch . This includes the confusedness relating to Rauru and the Temple of Time refer above , as well as the closed book of how the three separate timelines managed to converge .
Many theories have emerged followingBOTW ’s release attempting to excuse its place in theZeldatimeline . These let in look at all previous games as Hyrulean myths or fable ( the series is namedThe Legend of Zeldaafter all ) , or even deliberate the spacious implications of a snag timeline , which create the possibility for innumerable parallel realism . In any type , Nintendo has yet to render a vindicated picture on how the timeline has evolved sinceHyrule Historia ’s interlingual rendition was write in 2011 , and since it took over two decades for that edition to come forth , it seems improbable another will come presently .
Breath of the Wild (2017)
DespiteBreath of the Wildhaving no verbatim interaction with prior game on theZeldatimeline , it still depicts a round in the endless conflict between Link , Zelda , and Ganondorf . Breath of the Wild ’s own self - stop narration manages to span roughly 10,000 years . This interlingual rendition of Hyrule is plagued by Calamity Ganon , a materialization of Ganon comprised of double-dyed Malice , who has given up on attempts at deathly reincarnation . 10,000 twelvemonth beforeBOTWbegins , Calamity Ganon is frustrate by a torpedo , a princess wielding the power of the goddess , and an army of machines created byThe Legend of Zelda ’s Sheikah Tribe .
Roughly 100 old age beforeBOTW , Calamity Ganon ’s return is impendent , and Hyrule fix about excavating the ancient Sheikah machines , include four brawny weapon sleep together as the Divine Beasts . However , during the Second Great Calamity , Ganon take control of the machines and stamp out the Champions piloting the Divine Beasts . nexus is mortally wounded and taken to the Shrine of Resurrection , and Zelda , power of the goddess finally awaken , seal herself inside Hyrule Castle to hold Ganon at bay until Link can re - egress . After a century , Link does so , clean the Divine beast , and defeats Ganon alongside Zelda .
Tears of the Kingdom (2023)
fortuitously , the placement ofBreath of the Wildproveds a well-defined linguistic context for hte station ofTears ofthe Kingdomin theZeldatimeline . Link and Zelda spend geezerhood followingBOTWhelpting to reconstruct the kingdom of Hyrule . bust of the Kingdom , however , get it clear that not all is as simple as it seemed . A Gloom that seems to be concentrate beneath the palace is threatening the land , and an awakened Ganondorf seems to bring back the remnants of a sky civilization , resound the earliest parts of the timeline , which set out to fall across Hyrule .
The events ofTears of the Kingdomtake place a few twelvemonth afterBreath of the Wild , offering an unusuallydirect sequel for aZeldagame . After so many game with complicated link , follow one narrative at the ending of the timeline makes for a significant change from what fans are mostly used to . Perhaps Hyrule ’s cyclical death and rebirth is so real and so perpetual that it repeat long enough to convey all three timeline into the same , terminal world . And perhaps that means it will before long be clock time forThe Legend of Zelda ’s Ganon to be defeated once and for all , too .
Source : Zelda
