The Legend of Zelda - Hub Post
‘Whenever there is a meeting, a parting is sure to follow. However, that parting needs not last forever. Whether a parting be forever or merely for a short time… that is up to you.’ The Legend of Zelda franchise, starting in 1986 on the NES, follows a recurring cycle of a green-clad hero named Link, Princess Zelda as guardian of sacred power, and a malevolent force like Ganon seeking domination over Hyrule. Key recurring elements include the Triforce (split into Power, Wisdom, and Courage, granting wishes when united but splitting for impure hearts), the creator goddesses Din, Nayru, and Farore who left the Triforce with Hylia, and characters like Link (reincarnation of the hero’s spirit bearing Courage), Zelda (bearing Wisdom, often Hylia’s descendant), Ganon/Ganondorf (reincarnation of Demise’s hatred bearing Power), Impa (Sheikah protector), and Epona (Link’s horse). The timeline begins with world creation, Hylia’s battle against Demise, and spans games like Skyward Sword (Link slays Demise, curse of hatred born), The Minish Cap and Four Swords (Vaati threats), Ocarina of Time (Ganondorf’s rise, timeline split into three branches: Downfall leading to A Link to the Past, Oracle games, Link’s Awakening, A Link Between Worlds, Tri Force Heroes, original Zelda games; Child leading to Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks; Adult leading to Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess, Four Swords Adventures), with Breath of the Wild unplaced but referencing multiple timelines.
Canon Games - Link
- Hero of the Skies in Skyward Sword (source) (/u/rangernumberx)
- Hero of Time in Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask (source) (/u/rangernumberx)
- Hero in The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link (source) (/u/rangernumberx)
- Hero of Twilight in Twilight Princess (source) (/u/rangernumberx)
- Hero of Winds in Wind Waker (source) (/u/Cacciator)
- Chosen by the Ocean King in Phantom Hourglass (source) (/u/Cacciator)
- Hero of Trains in Spirit Tracks (source) (/u/Cacciator)
- Hero of the Wild in Breath of the Wild (source) (/u/TheMightyBox72)
Canon Games - Supporting Characters
- Impa in Skyward Sword (source) (/u/HighSlayerRalton)
- Zelda in Ocarina of Time (source) (/u/rangernumberx)
- Midna in Twilight Princess (source) (/u/gliscor885)
- Zelda in Spirit Tracks (source) (/u/Cacciator)
Canon Games - Villains
- Ghirahim in Skyward Sword (source) (/u/rangernumberx)
- Demise in Skyward Sword (source) (/u/rangernumberx)
- Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time (source) (/u/rangernumberx)
- Majora’s Mask in Majora’s Mask (source) (/u/rangernumberx)
- Zant in Twilight Princess (source) (/u/rangernumberx)
- Ganondorf in Twilight Princess (source) (/u/rangernumberx)
Canon Games - Composite
- Composite Link (source) (/u/Cacciator)
- Composite Ganondorf (source) (/u/tidderreddittidd)
- Composite Tingle (source) (/u/seoila)
Other Games
- Link in Hyrule Warriors (source) (/u/Nagamori)
- The Great Fairy in Hyrule Warriors (source) (/u/rangernumberx)
- Link in Super Smash Bros. (source) (/u/Cleverly_Clearly)
Manga
- Link in Ocarina of Time manga (source) (/u/backstreetfan)
- Link in Majora’s Mask manga (source) (/u/backstreetfan)
- Link in A Link to the Past manga (source) (/u/backstreetfan)