By no means thoughts Ganon, anybody who has ever been courageous sufficient to look will inform you that the true Darkish Beast of the Zelda franchise is its timeline. Up till Skyward Sword, many people had been blissful sufficient to type our personal theories about how the video games slotted collectively, or simply play blissfully unaware of the intricacies of how one flowed into the subsequent. Then the Hyrule Historia got here alongside in 2011 and shook every little thing up.
As a substitute of 1 cohesive timeline, this official tie-in e book means that there are in truth three separate strands to maintain monitor of after the occasions of Ocarina of Time — ‘The Hero is Defeated’ and ‘The Hero is Triumphant (Little one and Grownup eras)’. And this does not account for any of the video games that launch after Skyward Sword, so we’ve solely been in a position to speculate on the place the likes of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom slot into the combo. Merely put, it will get actually difficult, actually quick.
Fortuitously, we’re right here to assist attempt to make sense of all of it. We have now pored over official Hyrule chronologies from the books, appeared for clues within the video games, and browse via sufficient theories to make a Zonai go zany, all within the title of attempting to work out the place Tears of the Kingdom (and Breath of the Wild) fall on the order of occasions.
We’ll do a quick recap of the ‘official’ timeline earlier than we delve into this newest era simply in order that we’re all on the identical web page. And sure, we will probably be discussing set occasions and plot factors from nearly all Zelda video games on this one (although we’ve gone simple round Tears of the Kingdom for now), so do be ready for spoilers forward.
Notepads on the prepared. Let’s do some (ocarina of) time travelling…
The Zelda Timeline, Defined
The Timeline In accordance To Hyrule Historia
We’re going to be very transient with our summaries right here, so maintain on tight.
The Legend of the Goddesses and the Hero
Hyrule and the Triforce are created by three goddesses (Din, Nayru, and Farore) and are left within the management of one other goddess known as Hylia. Struggle shortly breaks out after an evil being known as Demise makes an attempt to get the Triforce however is sealed away by Hylia and her armies. Hylia lifts the Triforce and people into the sky on an enormous floating island known as Skyloft.
Hylia is reborn as a human (Zelda) who’s kidnapped by one in every of Demise’s servants and pulled to the floor in an try to get the Triforce. She is saved by her good friend Hyperlink, who defeats Demise, however not earlier than the villain curses the pair, swearing that his quest for vengeance will probably be everlasting, and a model of his evil will eternally hunt these with the blood of the goddess — spooky stuff.
Years go. The individuals of Skyloft return to the floor and title it Hyrule. There’s some nasty enterprise with a mage known as Vaati, who’s finally sealed into a robust Picori blade often known as The 4 Sword.
After some years of peace, Hyrule descends into Civil Struggle. A child is entrusted to the Nice Deku Tree to be raised as a Kokiri, rising as much as turn into Hyperlink. Hyperlink meets a brand new model of Princess Zelda (there’s going to be a variety of this reincarnation enterprise, to be clear) and the pair be taught that an evil Gerudo known as Ganondorf is making an attempt to steal the Triforce, and Hyperlink travels forwards seven years in time in order that he can wield the legendary Grasp Sword and defeat the evil.
Video games included:
The Twilight Realm and the Legacy of the Hero (The Hero is Triumphant — little one timeline)
Having defeated Ganondorf on the finish of Ocarina of Time, Hyperlink is distributed again in time to reside out his childhood. He locations the Grasp Sword again in its pedestal, warns Zelda of Ganondorf’s plans and flees with the Ocarina in order that the Gerudo can by no means open the Seal of Time simply in case he manages to flee punishment (spoiler: he does).
Hyperlink visits a parallel world, fights a scary moon, and returns to Hyrule to reside out the remainder of his days unremembered as a hero — it is all very unhappy, and the video games do not go into all of it that a lot.
100 years go, Ganondorf escapes his execution (who would have thought it?!) and is banished to the Twilight Realm the place he builds his energy and finally kidnaps Princess Zelda. A direct descendent of the Hero of Time (additionally known as Hyperlink) goes on a quest to avoid wasting the Princess. He kills Ganondorf, saves Hyrule, and the gateway between the 2 realms is shattered.
Ganondorf is reincarnated and frees Vaati from the 4 Sword, however Hyperlink makes mild work of them each.
Video games included:
The Hero of Winds and a New World (The Hero is Triumphant — grownup timeline)
Rewind to the top of Ocarina of Time. Hyperlink defeats Ganondorf (who’s sealed away by the sages) and is distributed again in time, so what occurs to the timeline with out Hyperlink? Nicely, carnage.
Ganondorf escapes the seal and takes over Hyrule. With no hero there to guard them, the king of Hyrule leaves the destiny of the world to the gods who swiftly flood the lands, letting solely a choose few survive.
Years go and Ganondorf escapes from his watery grave (yep, as soon as once more). Hyperlink gathers collectively the damaged shards of the Triforce, repowers the Grasp Sword, and descends to the underside of the ocean to place an finish to Ganondorf for good — he stabs the sword into his head, turning the Gerudo to stone (this one is severe). On the desires of the King of Hyrule, the Triforce, Ganondorf, and Hyrule itself are washed away within the hopes of a greater future.
Hyperlink and Zelda (right here known as Tetra) go on a quest to discover a new Hyrule. There are some shenanigans with a Ghost Ship alongside the best way, however they finally discover a new land (and it even has its personal railway community). Lots of of years later, Zelda and Hyperlink (reincarnated) free the land from evil and so they reside fortunately ever after…
Video games included:
The Decline of Hyrule and the Final Hero (The Hero is Defeated)
Again to the top of Ocarina, however this time Hyperlink is defeated by Ganondorf. The Demon King takes the Triforce and is sealed away within the Sacred Realm by the seven Sages, corrupting it into the Darkish World. The Sages seal off the Darkish World fully.
Ganondorf’s energy grows and a hero known as Hyperlink (shock shock) ventures to the realm to defeat him. He’s profitable and takes management of the Triforce, wishing for peace and entrusting the logo to the royal household.
There are a variety of adventures within the ensuing years, with varied reincarnations taking the starring function. These contain fish islands, flame resurrections, and hopping between worlds. The quick model is that there is some household drama with the royals and Zelda is put into an everlasting coma.
Ganon is resurrected once more however is defeated by Hyperlink. Hyperlink regains the complete Triforce, makes use of it to awaken the sleeping Zelda, and peace is restored to Hyrule.
