The Legend of Zelda: A Comprehensive Look at the Timeline of the Beloved Franchise

The Legend of Zelda is a beloved video game franchise that has been captivating audiences for nearly 40 years. With its rich world-building, intricate lore, and iconic characters, it’s no wonder that fans have been drawn to the adventures of Link, the mute green-clad knight sworn to protect the kingdom of Hyrule and Princess Zelda from the evil clutches of Ganon. In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at the timeline of The Legend of Zelda, exploring the various games and their place in the continuity of the series.

First, it’s important to note that the Zelda timeline is not a straightforward linear progression. Instead, it branches off into multiple timelines after the events of Ocarina of Time. These timelines include the Child Timeline, the Adult Timeline, and the Fallen Hero Timeline. The Calamity Timeline, which starts with Breath of the Wild, is a separate timeline that renders the others a myth.

Let’s begin with the Early History Timeline, which sets the stage for the events that follow. The first game in this timeline is The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. This game takes place thousands of years after the Ancient Battle in the Era of the Goddess Hylia and is set on the floating island of Skyloft, where knowledge of the surface world below is nonexistent. In Skyward Sword, Link forges the Master Sword from the Goddess Sword with the help of Fi as he rescues Zelda from the demon lord Ghirahim in order to revive his master, Demise.

The next game in the Early History Timeline is The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Developed by Capcom, this game follows Link as he accompanies Zelda to the Picori Festival to celebrate tiny people who call themselves Minish. It’s here that sorcerer Vaati, the first reincarnation of Demise, seeks the Light Force as he believes it hides the Picori Blade. After Vaati unleashes a horde of monsters from breaking the sword’s seal and turns Zelda to stone in the process, Link sets off to reforge the Picori Blade with the help of Ezlo, the eponymous Minish Cap who has the power to shrink the wearer down to the size of the Minish.

The Minish Cap is a prequel to Four Swords, which is the first multiplayer game in the series. In Four Swords, Link splits into four copies himself — green, red, blue, and purple — and they all have to work together to defeat various foes to get to Vaati, reseal him in the Four Sword, and rescue Zelda.

Now let’s move on to the Child Timeline. This timeline follows Link back to his own time after he is sent back by Zelda using the Ocarina of Time. The first game in this timeline is The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. In this direct sequel to Ocarina of Time, Link runs into the Skull Kid, who wears the titular mask and steals Link’s horse, prompting the hero to chase him into the parallel world of Termina. The mask itself is inhabited by a demon named Majora, and corrupts the Skull Kid to the point where he plots to destroy Termina by bringing down the Moon.

The next game in the Child Timeline is The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages. These games are linked together, with the events of one game affecting the other. In Oracle of Seasons, Link travels to the land of Holodrum to stop the evil sorcerer Veran from taking over the land. In Oracle of Ages, Link travels to the land of Labrynna to stop the evil sorceress Twinrova from resurrecting Ganon.

The next game in the Child Timeline is The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. This game is a prequel to Ocarina of Time, taking place 100 years before the events of that game. In A Link to the Past, Link sets out to stop Agitha, who has been possessed by the sorcerer Onox, from opening the Dark Realm and releasing the evil witch Agitha.

The Adult Timeline is the third major timeline in The Legend of Zelda. This timeline splits off after the events of Ocarina of Time, with Link disappearing from Hyrule and Zelda using the Ocarina of Time to send him back to his own time. In this timeline, Ganon defeats Link, and the Master Sword is placed back in the Pedestal of Time by Zelda. The first game in this timeline is The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. In this game, Link is drawn into the Twilight Realm by the evil Ganondorf, who has taken on the form of the king of Hyrule, Zant. Link must team up with Midna, the Twilight Princess, to defeat Ganondorf and save Hyrule.

The next game in the Adult Timeline is The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. In this game, Link sets out to find the Sword of the Sages to defeat the pirate king Bellum, who has stolen the Triforce of Wisdom. Along the way, he teams up with Princess Zelda, who has been turned into a Phantom by Bellum.

The final game in the Adult Timeline is The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. In this game, Link sets out to stop the evil Malladus, who has stolen the Spirit Train and is using it to spread darkness throughout Hyrule. Along the way, he is joined by Princess Zelda, who appears as a ghostly figure to help him on his quest.

The Fallen Hero Timeline is the fourth major timeline in The Legend of Zelda. This timeline splits off after the events of Ocarina of Time, with Ganon defeating Link and Link disappearing from Hyrule. In this timeline, the Master Sword is placed back in the Pedestal of Time by Zelda. The first game in this timeline is The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures. In this game, Link and his friends team up to defeat the evil Twinrova, who has split into two and is attempting to resurrect Ganon.

The next game in the Fallen Hero Timeline is The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. In this game, Link sets out on a quest to find the legendary hero of legend, the Hero’s Shade, who is said to be the only one who can defeat Ganon. Along the way, he teams up with Tetra, who is revealed to be Zelda in disguise.

The final game in the Fallen Hero Timeline is The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD. This is a remaster of the Wii game Twilight Princess, which takes place in the Adult Timeline but was originally released in the Fallen Hero Timeline. In this game, Link is drawn into the Twilight Realm by the evil Ganondorf, who has taken on the form of the king of Hyrule, Zant. Link must team up with Midna, the Twilight Princess, to defeat Ganondorf and save Hyrule.

The Calamity Timeline is the fifth and final major timeline in The Legend of Zelda. This timeline starts with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and renders the other timelines a myth. In this game, Link wakes up in a mysterious shrine and sets out on a quest to defeat Calamity Ganon, who has corrupted the Champion’s Divine Beasts and is threatening to destroy Hyrule.

In conclusion, The Legend of Zelda is a complex and intricate franchise with a rich history and a complex timeline. From the Early History Timeline to the Calamity Timeline, each game adds to the lore and the world-building of the series, making it a beloved and enduring franchise that continues to captivate audiences to this day. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer to the series, there’s never been a better time to explore the world of Hyrule and the adventures of Link and Princess Zelda.