The Legend Continues: Unveiling the Epic Threequel to Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Highlights

Potential for a True Trilogy: The Legend of Zelda Moving Forward

As the Legend of Zelda franchise evolves with its latest installments, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, there is an exciting possibility for these games to form a cohesive trilogy in the future.

The Zelda franchise has a rich history of producing numerous sequels, creating a robust lineup of games that define their era. This can be observed with iconic titles like Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.

Within the vast universe of Breath of the Wild, there are still numerous unexplored details and intriguing plot hooks waiting to be uncovered. These include delving into the origins of the Master Sword, unraveling the mysteries surrounding the enigmatic Zonai tribe, and delving deeper into the implications of the Goddess Hylia and the legendary Triforce.

Furthermore, the potential for future Zelda games to venture into new territories is enticing. Perhaps an urban setting could be explored, injecting a fresh and modern feel into the franchise. Alternatively, incorporating more secretive and challenging dungeons could provide players with an exhilarating and unique gaming experience.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which has been with players since the Nintendo Switch's launch in 2017, may finally be reaching its conclusion. With the spin-off game Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and the upcoming sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it seems that the current iteration of Zelda has reached its peak. Nintendo has expressed that open-world Zelda is still the franchise's focus, but Tears of the Kingdom showcases the extent of Nintendo's ideas for this particular Zelda world.

The future of the franchise is uncertain, as it is unusual for a single Zelda setting to last as long as this one has. With potentially over ten years of development, it is not surprising that Nintendo may want to explore a different version of Hyrule, whether it be a classic top-down adventure or a modern-day Legend of Zelda. However, the story of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom doesn't necessarily have to end here, so Nintendo should keep the possibility of turning these games into a true trilogy in mind.

There’s Precedent For Zelda Games With Multiple Sequels

The Zelda franchise is no stranger to having multiple games that serve as direct sequels and feature the same protagonist, Link. Hyrule Historia reveals one of the most notable examples to be Ocarina of Time, which is followed by Majora's Mask, and further augmented by the appearance of the same Link's shade in Twilight Princess. Each timeline branch contains numerous interconnected games, allowing for the creation of a solid lineage of games even with the presence of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which seemingly take place in the distant future.

When comparing the Breath of the Wild games to the established timeline, it becomes apparent that they form a concise timeline chart of their own, leaving plenty of room for additional installments. Breath of the Wild takes place after a lengthy yet vaguely defined Era of Myth, while parts of Tears of the Kingdom delve into or even predate this era to establish the foundation of its Hyrule. On the other hand, Age of Calamity represents a significant divergence in the timeline before the events of Breath of the Wild. The world of Breath of the Wild's setting is teeming with unexplored history, both within and surrounding the existing entries, providing ample opportunities for further exploration of its captivating plot hooks.

How A Tears of the Kingdom Sequel Could Work

There are numerous compelling reasons to develop another installment of Breath of the Wild, primarily due to the abundance of unexplored details. The origin of the Master Sword in this timeline is now uncertain due to the time-traveling in Tears of the Kingdom, despite the inclusion of Skyward Sword's Fi. Additionally, the whereabouts of the Zonai tribe, aside from Rauru and Mineru, remain unknown. The references to the Goddess Hylia and the Triforce have been made, but it is unclear if Skyward Sword's explanations still hold true. Furthermore, with the multiple apparent resurrections of Calamity Ganon, there is ample potential for further exploration of the Hyrule world.

As an alternative, an urban Legend of Zelda installment could be set after Tears of the Kingdom. With Tears of the Kingdom showcasing the highest level of public technology in the franchise, besides Spirit Tracks, it is plausible that a more modern civilization could emerge within a few generations. This would provide a justification for the Guardians returning as guards and service machines, and also introduce a new Ultrahand equivalent in a future Zelda game. By incorporating more secrets or dungeons in the Depths or the skies, a Zelda title set after Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom could offer the same freshness and excitement as a completely new entry.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now for the Nintendo Switch.