Key Takeaways
- The Legend of Zelda follows a consistent structure, with Link and Princess Zelda facing the same conflict throughout different games due to a curse by Demise.
- The different incarnations of Princess Zelda have varying roles and abilities, ranging from damsel in distress to active participant in the final battle.
- The timeline of the Zelda games is split into three main branches: Child Timeline, Adult Timeline, and Fallen Hero Timeline. Breath of the Wild's placement in the timeline is debatable.
The Legend of Zelda has been one of Nintendo's flagship franchises since the days of the original Nintendo Entertainment System, and the legacy of the series has lasted into the modern day. With the massive success and positive reception to Tears of the Kingdom earlier this year, The Legend of Zelda has proven itself as a lasting force within the realm of gaming.
The Zelda titles all follow a similar structure that sees Link as the protagonist involved in a quest with Princess Zelda somehow, a formula that would have led many to believe the series is somewhat anthological in nature. There are several parallels between the Zelda releases over the years on different consoles, but there's actually a canon explanation for these similarities. As shown in the events of Skyward Sword, Demise cursed the descendants of Zelda and Link to forever repeat the same conflict, an overarching narrative that connects the disparate time periods seen throughout different games. The namesake of the series as a whole, Princess Zelda has been reincarnated time and time again, with some versions of her even defying her traditional royal archetype.
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Unified Timeline
Skyward Sword - This version of Zelda is the goddess Hylia herself in mortal form, created so that the Triforce could be used to stop Demise. Predating the existence of Hyrule, this Zelda would go on to start the royal family as a whole after being cursed to be reincarnated into the same conflict with Ganondorf and Link
The Minish Cap - This version of Zelda is the classic damsel in distress, as she spends most of the game trapped in stone by Vaati, an evil sorcerer. While not a direct reincarnation of the original Zelda, this princess is still connected to her as a member of the royal family.
Four Swords - In the follow-up to The Minish Cap, a very similar scenario plays out with Link having to save Zelda from Vaati once again. Despite the similarities between them, this Zelda is a different descendant than the one featured previously.
Ocarina of Time - Featuring yet another direct descendant of the royal family its version of Zelda, Ocarina marks a shift in the series chronology. Meeting Link during the game, she enlists his help in stopping the first known incarnation of Ganondorf. When her plans fail and Link is trapped in the Sacred Realm for seven years, she trains to become the character known as Sheik during this time. Enlisting Link's help once again, the two are able to stop the reincarnated demon king in all scenarios but one, creating the split "Fallen Hero Timeline". To make up for his lost childhood, the princess sent Link back seven years and allowed him to actually live through the seven years he lost. This created the "Child Timeline" in which Link returned as a kid, and the remaining "Adult Timeline" that was now left with his absence following his victory.
Child Timeline
Twilight Princess - The young ruler of Hyrule until its invasion by the forces of the Twilight Realm, this version of Zelda ends up imprisoned within her own Hyrule Castle. She ends up transferring her soul to help Link's new companion Midna, and her body is then possessed by this version of Ganondorf to become an enemy known as Puppet Zelda. Returning to normal and helping Link in the final battle, this Zelda sees a dark world heal in the end.
Four Swords Adventures - A similar incarnation to her previous appearance in Four Swords, this version of Zelda is exploited by the evil Shadow Link in a plot to see the return of Vaati. In an adventure that eventually sees Ganon himself returning, this Zelda is one of the few who actively engaged in the final battle alongside Link.
Adult Timeline
The Wind Waker - Set in a Hyrule that became flooded after it lost its hero, this game introduced one of the most unique takes on Zelda ever. A pirate girl named Tetra who has no idea that she is connected to the royal bloodline, she eventually comes to accept her role as the princess of Hyrule and helps Link face a new incarnation of Ganondorf directly in the end.
Spirit Tracks - The granddaughter of Tetra, this version of Zelda was directly playable in her quest to stop Malladus alongside engineer Link.
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Fallen Hero Timeline
A Link to the Past - The first version of her in this timeline, this Zelda is trapped inside the Dark World by Ganon's evil wizard Agahnim before being freed and helping Link save the land of Hyrule.
A Link Between Worlds - Running the kingdom of Hyrule by herself despite her young age, this Zelda is turned into a painting by the evil sorcerer Yuga before he resurrects and fuses with Ganon. With the help of this game's Link, she is returned to normal and the pair are able to bring balance to the dark mirror world of Lorule.
The Legend of Zelda - While not the first in the series timeline, this Zelda is the first to appear in the entire series as a whole. Imprisoned by Ganon for splitting the Triforce of Wisdom into eight fragments, she doesn't appear until after his defeat at the very end of the game.
The Adventure of Link - In the sequel to the original that is generally considered a low point of the series as a whole, Zelda is a princess cursed to remain asleep, receiving practically no screen time until the very end of the game where she awakes from her slumber.
Breath of the Wild Timeline
Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom - The version of the princess to appear in the most recent games in the series, this Zelda's status in the overall timeline is as controversial as that of the games she originates from. While players who seek connections will posit Breath of the Wild takes place millennia after the other games in an almost timeline unifying move, others believe it to be a new one of its own. She may travel back in time and appear in different forms between these two games, but she is Princess Zelda all the same.
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