The Mind-Bending, Unraveled Mystery Behind The Legend of Zelda Timeline
The Legend of Zelda timeline is a perplexing labyrinth of intertwined paths and divergent storylines, leaving fans bewildered Unravel the enigma behind its convoluted nature, revealing the primary factor that contributes to its complexity
Highlights
The Legend of Zelda timeline is notoriously convoluted, with fans struggling to make sense of the various games and their connections.
Nintendo released the Hyrule Historia book in 2011, attempting to establish the first official timeline for the Zelda games. However, even this publication is occasionally perplexing and illogical. The absence of an initial roadmap and the independent nature of the early Zelda games both play a role in the complex nature of the series' timeline.
The Legend of Zelda, which first debuted in 1986, has been a fixture on every Nintendo console over the years, including the NES, N64, GameCube, Game Boy, DS, and Nintendo Switch. With a total of 29 games, most of which are considered part of the official canon, Zelda's timeline is notoriously complex and puzzling in the world of video games.
For many years, fans had no official confirmation or understanding of how the Zelda games were connected, if at all. However, in 2011, Nintendo published the Hyrule Historia book, which provided the first official timeline for the Legend of Zelda series. It revealed three separate storylines, adding to the confusion and making it difficult for even the most devoted fans to comprehend.
Although newer entries in the series have attempted to align more smoothly with the timeline, the main reason for the eternal confusion surrounding the Legend of Zelda timeline is the lack of an early plan from Nintendo.
The Biggest Reason Why The Legend of Zelda Timeline is So Convoluted
The Legend of Zelda timeline is notoriously difficult to unravel, with numerous YouTube essays failing to do so in less than an hour. To simplify, here is an abridged version. The official Zelda timeline starts with Zelda: Skyward Sword, in which the goddess Hylia is reborn as Zelda and the Master Sword is forged. The Minish Cap and Four Swords follow, but the crucial point arrives in Zelda: Ocarina of Time, where the timeline splits into three paths.
The first path, known as the "The Hero is Defeated" timeline, shows the Sages attempting to seal Ganon away, leading to the Imprisoning War. A Link to the Past is the first game in this path, and the final two Zelda games occur here. The second and third paths both belong to the "The Hero is Triumphant" timeline, but one depicts Link as a child, while the other keeps Link as an adult. To further complicate matters, Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom take place thousands of years after the rest of the series, with their placement in a specific timeline branch subject to interpretation.
The Legend of Zelda timeline remains incredibly complex, even with official breakdowns in Nintendo-approved books like Hyrule Historia. The official descriptors often seem forced as they attempt to connect all the dots. The main reason for this convoluted timeline is that Nintendo initially had no plans to connect the franchise. The first few Legend of Zelda games were simply individual video games with shared characters, setting, and gameplay. Although The Legend of Zelda 2 introduced narrative elements like the Triforce and Sages, they were not originally created with the intention of being vital to the future growth of the franchise. The Legend of Zelda began as a standalone game and the concept of a long-lasting multi-decade franchise was non-existent at the time. Consequently, the timeline for The Legend of Zelda is regarded as one of the most confusing in the gaming world.
