Unveiling the Enigmatic Zonai: How Games After Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Could Harness Their Ancient Power

Highlights

The inclusion of the Zonai tribe in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has greatly influenced the franchise, specifically in terms of gameplay and storytelling elements. This addition offers a fresh perspective on Zelda's overarching lore.

The Zonai, an enigmatic tribe originating from above Hyrule, hold great potential for diverse roles in upcoming Zelda games. With their mysterious essence and ability to shape history, they present a captivating and intriguing addition to the Zelda universe.

In future Zelda games, the Zonai could be depicted as a distinct and isolated group, setting them apart from the rest of the world and establishing their own remarkable presence. Furthermore, they could assume pivotal positions in Zelda's historical narratives, serving as guardians of the Triforce or representing an advanced civilization, among numerous other possibilities.

The impact of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on the Zelda franchise remains undiminished, even after years of anticipation. While features like Ultrahand and player expression and physics interactions contribute to its success, Tears of the Kingdom also brings significant advancements to Zelda's storytelling. It presents a fresh interpretation of familiar plot elements, often recreating scenes from previous games. This reimagining offers an alternate perspective on Zelda's lore, with the integration of the enigmatic Zonai tribe at its core.

Originating from the distant skies above Hyrule, the history of the Zonai is shrouded in mystery. Within the plot of TotK, only two living members of this tribe are known, and a third is hinted at elsewhere. According to the story, by the time Rauru and Mineru played their roles in establishing Hyrule's foundation, these siblings were the sole survivors of their race. Aside from references to the Zonai's Secret Stones and speculation about their divine ancestry, little else is currently known about them. Nevertheless, this leaves ample room for future Legend of Zelda games to explore and expand upon the Zonai's fascinating narrative.

Zonai Are Mysterious Enough To Play Any Zelda Role

The Zonai, as they are presented, seamlessly fit into the existing tribes of Tears of the Kingdom. This game already includes familiar groups such as Gerudo, Gorons, Sheikah, Zora, Rito, and Koroks from The Wind Waker. The Zonai bear resemblances to the Oocca as they are a unique race primarily dwelling in the skies, and they hold a mystical and influential role in history, similar to the Twili and Minish. It is possible that these animalistic beings are essential to the lore of Tears of the Kingdom, making their reappearance significant. Conversely, it cannot be dismissed that there may be unknown Zonai residing elsewhere.

If any other Zelda game were set in the world of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the involvement of the Zonai would be highly likely. Whether a prominent character from this species is introduced or not, the exploration of their race as a whole feels inevitable. However, Nintendo's hesitance to venture beyond Hyrule, and to define too much of a Zelda game's setting, cosmology, and history, could potentially limit the further development of the Zonai. It is possible that players have already witnessed the extent of their original incarnation. Nevertheless, new Zelda games often bring fresh perspectives to familiar concepts.

Future Zelda Games Could Have Distinct Takes On The Zonai

In a unique rendition of The Legend of Zelda, different from Tears of the Kingdom, the Zonai could exist as a distinct tribe, isolated from the outside world. A member of the main cast could be an engineer similar to Mineru, or perhaps a mage like Rauru. Whichever path Nintendo chooses, incorporating a Zonai presence would ensure the continuation of features like Ultrahand in The Legend of Zelda.

Though a few other Zonai individuals may occasionally make appearances, the majority of this race would reside in their own region, possibly in the sky, in order to differentiate them from other Hyrulean tribes. Alternatively, the Zonai may not physically appear, but could be featured in Zelda's historical texts as integral figures. They could be depicted as guardians of Zelda's legendary Triforce or equivalents, as servants of the gods, or as a highly advanced civilization. The undefined nature of the Zonai allows them to fulfill any role in future Legend of Zelda titles.

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