History Franchise / TheLegendOfZelda

The franchise is, in essence, a mythos in the classical sense of the word. Link and Princess Zelda, respective wielders of the Triforces of Courage and Wisdom are the eternal heroes destined to be reborn in an endless cycle of reincarnation to defeat Ganon, the evil wielder of the Triforce of Power, in his quest to destroy the kingdom of Hyrule.

* ''Literature/NintendoAdventureBooks'': Two {{gamebooks}} titled ''The Crystal Trap'' and ''The Shadow Prince''

* KingKoopaCopy: Ganon started out as one of these. In the first couple of games, he was a beastly PigMan overlord who kidnapped Princess Zelda and tried to take over the land of Hyrule. However, when his human form, Ganondorf, was introduced, he went through DivergentCharacterEvolution from Bowser and became more of an intelligent, refined villain.
* LadyOfWar: Applies to Zelda in later games (''Ocarina of Time'', ''Twilight Princess'', etc.)

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'': ''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages'' (UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor, 2001[[labelnote:Sequel?]]While ''Hyrule Historia'' (2011) states that they're direct interquels between ''A Link to the Past'' and ''Link's Awakening'', ''Zelda Encyclopdia'' (2018) says the ''Oracle'' games are not connected to the others and take place well after them. In the games themselves, there's no hard evidence for a specific placement on the timeline, though all four share the same art style and the ''Oracle'' ending has Link get on a boat that could be connected to the shipwreck that starts ''Link's Awakening''.[[/labelnote]]).: Two games, one journey! Over the course of both games, Link travels to the realms of Holodrum and Labrynna, where he must rescue the Oracles of Seasons and Ages, Din and Nayru (respectively).

** ''The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Encyclopedia''

* {{Interquel}}: According to ''Hyrule Historia'', ''Twilight Princess'' is this to ''Majora's Mask'' and ''Four Swords Adventures''. ''A Link Between Worlds'' is somewhere between the ''Oracle'' games and the original NES game.[[note]]''Hyrule Historia'' stated the ''Oracle'' games were this to ''A Link to the Past'' and ''Link's Awakening'', but "Hyrule Encyclopedia" retconned these games to take place after ''Link's Awakening'' with a new Link.[[/note]])

* {{Retcon}}: ''The Legend of Zelda Hyrule Encyclopedia'' published alongside ''Breath of the Wild'' retconned certain things stated by ''Hyrule Historia'', such as shifting ''Link's Awakening''[='=]s place on the Downfall timeline, and stating that [[spoiler:Demise's curse in ''Skyward Sword'' did not start Ganondorf's cycle of reincarnation, but that Ganon himself was responsible through his own hatred and power]].

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTriForceHeroes'' (UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, 2015; direct sequel to ''A Link Between Worlds''[[note]]While there's no in-game evidence of this, WordOfGod stated its connection to ''Between Worlds'' at its release.[[/note]]): In the kingdom of Hytopia, the fashionable Princess Styla has been cursed to become unfashionable! It is up to Link, Link, and Link to use the power of different outfits to right this heinous wrong.

** ''The Legend of Zelda: Literature/HyruleHistoria'', a 25th anniversary book that is part ConceptArtGallery and part UniverseCompendium that notably gave an [[WordOfGod official]] [[AllThereInTheManual answer]] to the long-debated timeline ContinuitySnarl.[[note]]Per [[http://www.hyrulehistoria.com/information/ HyruleHistoria.com]], "Though ''Hyrule Historia'' provided the fans with an official timeline, the creators mention that [[BellisariosMaxim various details had to be overlooked]] and that [[MST3KMantra fans should just enjoy the series and the new timeline]]. It is said that the order of events and the details within the timeline change according to who is weaving the tales, and additionally, history is still being spun. Therefore, it may be safe to assume that, years down the road, various aspects of ''Hyrule Historia'' may become obsolete as new information could take its place."[[/note]] The book was authored by Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto and Eiji Aonuma.[[/index]]

* AlternateTimeline: According to [[WordOfGod Eiji Aonuma]], ''Ocarina of Time'' split the timeline in two, with one timeline leading into ''The Wind Waker'' and the other into ''Majora's Mask'' (and ''Twilight Princess'' 100 years later). The [[AllThereInTheManual Hyrule Historia]] revealed it actually split the timeline into ''[[http://www.zeldauniverse.net/zelda-news/official-zelda-timeline-100-complete-translated/ three]]''. The third branch leads into ''A Link To The Past'' followed by ''Link's Awakening'', the ''Oracle'' games, and the original NES ''Zelda'' games. This branch is the result of Link being defeated by Ganon in ''Ocarina.''

* {{Foil}}: On a meta level, the game series, as a whole, intentionally serves as a foil to ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros''. According to WordOfGod, even [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI the first game in this series]] was designed to contrast ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'' in terms of game mechanics. They also serve as foils in a different way: While the ''Mario'' games focuses more on gameplay than story (to the point of most ''Mario'' games having an ExcusePlot and [[NegativeContinuity little continuity between them]]), the ''Legend of Zelda'' games, in contrast, focuses on world building and are thus, rich in story with a strong sense of continuity between games (to the point where an official ([[AlternateTimeline split]]) timeline was [[{{Retcon}} retroactively applied]] just so that the contradicting stories would make more sense)..

* HeroicAmbidexterity: Link has traditionally been left-handed; but in the earliest games, because of technical limitations, his sprite would switch hands depending on which way it was facing, and in later games, to accommodate motion controls, he reverted to being right-handed in order to match the majority of players (although handedness doesn't actually affect gameplay). WordOfGod decided that he's ambidextrous in order to smooth over the inconsistencies.

* LegacyCharacter: Due to the sprawling (and branching) timeline of the series, WordOfGod has it that there are multiple Links and Zeldas. In the case of Zelda, this is simply because ''all'' princesses of Hyrule are named Zelda; Link is more of a wild card, and seems to appear by lucky happenstance (or, more likely, divine intervention).
** There's also a viable option presented by ''Skyward Sword'': Demise's curse means that Ganondorf will always be there to haunt Link and Zelda. So while there's always a Zelda, the fates don't allow Ganondorf to reappear until a new Link appears, which itself appears to be by chance.

** WordOfGod says the titular princess is named after Creator/FScottFitzgerald's wife.

* PeterPanParody: WordOfGod confirms that Link's iconic green tunic and elf ears is a send-up to Peter Pan. This is further emphasized by later games giving him a FairyCompanion, and the introduction of Dark Link is more than likely inspired by Peter's troubles with his own shadow.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'' (UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, 2013; distant sequel to ''A Link to the Past''): The wicked sorcerer Yuga is turning the people of Hyrule into paintings! It is up to Link to stop him on a journey across not only the breadth of Hyrule, but also the dark alternate dimension of Lorule, ruled over by the dark Princess Hilda!
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTriForceHeroes'' (UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, 2015; direct sequel to ''A Link Between Worlds''[[note]]While there's no in-game evidence of this, WordOfGod stated its connection to ''Between Worlds'' at its release.[[/note]]): In the kingdom of Hytopia, the fashionable Princess Styla has been cursed to become unfashionable! It is up to Link, Link, and Link to use the power of different outfits to right this heinous wrong!
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' (UsefulNotes/WiiU and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, 2017; distant sequel to all prior games(?)[[note]]WordOfGod[[invoked]] and an in-game monument state that the game takes place in the far future of the series, but with multiple {{Alternate Timeline}}s in play the devs [[ShrugOfGod explicitly did not choose WHICH far future]]. ''Tears of the Kingdom'' later throws even this into doubt, seeming to contradict prior continuity on several points, leading to speculation that it's a ContinuityReboot.[[/note]]): Link awakens 100 years after the rise of the Calamity Ganon, which has destroyed the kingdom of Hyrule. With no memories of what happened before and only a few clues to go on, he sets out across the radically altered realm to find Princess Zelda and finish the fight that began a century ago.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, 2023; direct sequel to ''Breath of the Wild''): While exploring the depths underneath Hyrule Castle, Link and Zelda encounter the reawakening Demon King! Robbed of his strength and his Master Sword, and with Zelda lost in time, Link must prepare to finish the fight the ancient founders of Hyrule started in a bygone era.

* GoodMorningCrono: In every game since ''A Link to the Past'', Link begins the game asleep. Or at least, he is first able to be controlled after he wakes up. Apart from the CD-i games, but nobody counts those, and we all [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain try to forget those]]. Eiji Aonuma even lampshaded during E3 2016 that for as many conventions of the series as ''Breath of the Wild'' breaks, it does keep that one.

** ContinuityCreep: Zigzagged. Early in the series' history, every game's place in the timeline was explicitly defined in relation to the others: ''Zelda II'' was a sequel to the first game, ''A Link to the Past'' was a prequel, and ''Link's Awakening'' was a sequel to ''A Link to the Past'' (while leaving room for the possibility of adventures taking place between those two games). It wasn't until ''Ocarina of Time'' that things started to get confusing, particularly with the unclear placement of the ''Oracle'' games and the introduction of the parallel timelines, as well as having fewer official statements of each game's placement. Later games would start to make things clearer. Of course, ''Breath of the Wild'' then further complicated matters as a DistantSequel with references to and elements from all timelines, with queries of whether it takes place at the end of a particular timeline or [[MergedReality all of them]] being met with a ShrugOfGod.

* VideoGameTools: Many of the iconic items are these: Boomerang, Bombs, Bow and Arrow.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'' (UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, 2013; distant sequel to ''A Link to the Past''): The wicked witch Yuga is turning the people of Hyrule into paintings! It is up to Link to stop her on a journey across not only the breadth of Hyrule, but also the dark alternate dimension of Lorule, ruled over by the dark Princess Hilda!

[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere It's Dangerous to Describe The Legend of Zelda Here Alone! Take This.]]

** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'': Prisons. [[MiscarriageOfJustice Wrongful imprisonment]]. Guilt and innocence, and how [[TyrantTakesTheHelm abuse of power]] can blur the line between the two. [[ToBeLawfulOrGood Having to choose between doing the right think or obeying the law]].

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, 2002; distant sequel to ''Ocarina of Time'')
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, 2004; sequel[[note]]Originally implied, though not outright stated, to be a direct sequel; but ''Hyrule Historia'' classifies it as a distant sequel.[[/note]] to ''Four Swords''): In a Hyrule radically changed by a great flood, Link joins forces with the pirate captain Tetra, and a sentient ship known as the King of Red Lions, to rescue his kidnapped sister.

* {{Foil}}: On a meta level, the game series, as a whole, intentionally serves as a foil to ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros''. According to WordOfGod, even [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI the first game in this series]] was designed to contrast ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'' in terms of game mechanics. They also serve as foils in a different way: While the ''Mario'' games focuses more on gameplay than story (to the point of most ''Mario'' games having an ExcusePlot and [[NegativeContinuity little continuity between them]]), the ''Legend of Zelda'' games, in contrast, focuses on world building and are thus, rich in story with a strong sense of continuity between games (to the point where an official ([[AlternateTimeline split]]) timeline was [[{{Retcon}} retroactively applied]] just so that the contradicting stories would make more sense).
* FourElementEnsemble: The Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind elements from ''The Minish Cap'', ''Four Swords'', and ''Four Swords Adventures''.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'': ''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages'' (UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor, 2001[[labelnote:Sequel?]]While ''Hyrule Historia'' (2011) states that they're direct interquels between ''A Link to the Past'' and ''Link's Awakening'', ''Zelda Encyclopdia'' (2018) says the ''Oracle'' games are not connected to the others and take place well after them. In the games themselves, there's no hard evidence for a specific placement on the timeline, though all four share the same art style and the ''Oracle'' ending has Link get on a boat that could be connected to the shipwreck that starts ''Link's Awakening''.[[/labelnote]]).: Two games, one journey! Over the course of both games, Link travels to the realms of Holodrum and Labrynna, where he must rescue the Oracles of Seasons and Ages, Dinn and Nayru (respectively).

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'' (UsefulNotes/{{N|intendoEntertainmentSystem}}ES, 1986)
* ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'' (UsefulNotes/{{N|intendoEntertainmentSystem}}ES, 1987; direct sequel to ''The Legend of Zelda'')
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'' (UsefulNotes/{{S|uperNintendoEntertainmentSystem}}NES, 1991; distant prequel to the NES games)
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening'' (UsefulNotes/GameBoy, 1993; direct sequel to ''A Link to the Past'')
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' (UsefulNotes/Nintendo64, 1998; distant prequel to all prior games)
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' (UsefulNotes/Nintendo64, 2000; direct sequel to ''Ocarina of Time'')
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'': ''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages'' (UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor, 2001[[labelnote:Sequel?]]While ''Hyrule Historia'' (2011) states that they're direct interquels between ''A Link to the Past'' and ''Link's Awakening'', ''Zelda Encyclopdia'' (2018) says the ''Oracle'' games are not connected to the others and take place well after them. In the games themselves, there's no hard evidence for a specific placement on the timeline, though all four share the same art style and the ''Oracle'' ending has Link get on a boat that could be connected to the shipwreck that starts ''Link's Awakening''.[[/labelnote]]).
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwords'' (the multiplayer mode for the ''A Link to the Past'' GBA port; UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, 2002)

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, 2004; sequel[[note]]Originally implied, though not outright stated, to be a direct sequel; but ''Hyrule Historia'' classifies it as a distant sequel.[[/note]] to ''Four Swords'')
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'' (UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, 2004; distant prequel to ''Four Swords'')
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, 2006; distant sequel to ''Ocarina of Time''[[note]]Yes, the same designation as ''Wind Waker''. This is where the ContinuitySnarl trouble really starts.[[/note]])
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, 2007; direct sequel to ''The Wind Waker'')
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, 2009; distant sequel to ''Phantom Hourglass'')
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' (UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, 2011; distant prequel to all prior games)
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'' (UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, 2013; distant sequel to ''A Link to the Past'')
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTriForceHeroes'' (UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, 2015; direct sequel to ''A Link Between Worlds''[[note]]While there's no in-game evidence of this, WordOfGod stated its connection to ''Between Worlds'' at its release.[[/note]])
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' (UsefulNotes/WiiU and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, 2017; distant sequel to all prior games(?)[[note]]WordOfGod[[invoked]] and an in-game monument state that the game takes place in the far future of the series, but with multiple {{Alternate Timeline}}s in play the devs [[ShrugOfGod explicitly did not choose WHICH far future]]. ''Tears of the Kingdom'' later throws even this into doubt, seeming to contradict prior continuity on several points, leading to speculation that it's a ContinuityReboot.[[/note]])
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, 2023; direct sequel to ''Breath of the Wild'')

* NamedAfterFirstInstallment: The first game was simply titled ''Videogame/TheLegendOfZelda''.[[note]]Except for Japan, where ''The Legend of Zelda'' was a subtitle and the full title was ''Hyrule Fantasy: The Legend of Zelda''[[/note]] The second game, ''Videogame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'', included ''Zelda'' in the title, but using ''The Legend of Zelda'' as the series title was firmly established beginning with ''Videogame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast''.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'': ''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages'' (UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor, 2001[[labelnote:Sequel?]]While ''Hyrule Historia'' (2011) states that they're direct interquels between ''A Link to the Past'' and ''Link's Awakening'', ''Zelda Encyclopdia'' (2018) places them as distant sequels to ''Link's Awakening''. In the games themselves, there's no hard evidence for a specific placement on the timeline, though the ending hints towards immediate prequels to ''Link's Awakening''.[[/labelnote]]).

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' (UsefulNotes/WiiU and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, 2017; distant sequel to all prior games(?)[[note]]WordOfGod[[invoked]] and an in-game monument state that the game takes place in the far future of the series, but with multiple {{Alternate Timeline}}s in play the devs [[ShrugOfGod explicitly did not choose WHICH far future]], the most popular interpretation being that [[InSpiteOfANail it's the inevitable result of all three]]. ''Tears of the Kingdom'' later throws even this into doubt, seeming to contradict prior continuity on several points, leading to speculations that it's a ContinuityReboot.[[/note]])

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'': ''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages'' (UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor, 2001[[labelnote:Sequel?]]While ''Hyrule Historia'' (2011) states that they're direct interquels between ''A Link to the Past'' and ''Link's Awakening'', ''Zelda Encyclopdia'' (2018) places them as direct sequels to ''Link's Awakening''. In the games themselves, there's no hard evidence for a specific placement on the timeline, though the ending hints towards immediate prequels to ''Link's Awakening''.[[/labelnote]]).

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' (UsefulNotes/WiiU and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, 2017; distant sequel to all prior games?[[note]]WordOfGod[[invoked]] and an in-game monument state that the game takes place in the far future of the series, but with multiple {{Alternate Timeline}}s in play the devs [[ShrugOfGod explicitly did not choose WHICH far future]], the most popular interpretation being that [[InSpiteOfANail it's the inevitable result of all three]]. ''Tears of the Kingdom'' later throws even this into doubt, seeming to contradict prior continuity on several points, leading to speculations that it's a ContinuityReboot.[[/note]])

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' (UsefulNotes/WiiU and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, 2017; distant sequel to all prior games[[note]]WordOfGod[[invoked]] and an in-game monument state that the game takes place in the far future of the series, but with multiple {{Alternate Timeline}}s in play the devs [[ShrugOfGod explicitly did not choose WHICH far future]], the most popular interpretation being that [[InSpiteOfANail it's the inevitable result of all three]]. ''Tears of the Kingdom'' later throws even this into doubt, seeming to contradict prior continuity on several points.[[/note]])

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' (UsefulNotes/WiiU and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, 2017; distant sequel to all prior games[[note]]WordOfGod[[invoked]] and an in-game monument state that the game takes place in the far future of the series, but with multiple {{Alternate Timeline}}s in play the devs [[ShrugOfGod explicitly did not choose WHICH far future]]. ''Tears of the Kingdom'' later throws even this into doubt, seeming to contradict prior continuity on several points.[[/note]])

A given game typically goes like this: an evil [[SorcerousOverlord wizard]]/[[EvilOverlord king]]/[[DesertBandits thief]]/[[HumanoidAbomination monster]]/[[EldritchAbomination thing]] named [[BigBad Ganon]] (or [[WasOnceAMan Ganondorf]], but [[FandomEnragingMisconception not Gannon]]) has cast a great evil over the [[TheGoodKingdom land of Hyrule]], and a [[TheHero young]] [[TheChosenOne boy/man]] in a sort of green WesternAnimation/PeterPan[=/=]Myth/RobinHood costume must save Hyrule by [[PlotCoupon recovering powerful artifacts]] that rest in [[TempleOfDoom places tainted]] [[DungeonCrawling by Ganon]], typically by traveling across the game's overworld between a series of complex, puzzle-like dungeons that he must successfully navigate to reach the artifact at their end. [[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething Princess Zelda]] is his resourceful ally and sometimes [[ImpliedLoveInterest ambiguous love interest]]. He either must [[SaveThePrincess rescue her]] or is guided by her, if not both at once.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, 2006; alternate distant sequel to ''Ocarina of Time'')

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' (UsefulNotes/WiiU and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, 2017[[labelnote:Reboot?]] WordOfGod with this game and information revealed in its sequel make its place in the canon very vague; it is either a SoftReboot in the form of a very distant sequel to any of the the timelines that split off from ''Ocarina of Time'', or the start of a ContinuityReboot set in a completely different timeline.[[/labelnote]])

[-Due to the ContinuitySnarl about the series timeline, "prequel" and "sequel" labels are based only on information that's in the game or in its promotional material; ignoring later {{Retcon}}s found in ''Literature/HyruleHistoria'' and other sources (though they are noted in ambiguous cases). "Direct" means it features the same incarnation of Link as the game it's a sequel or prequel to, "distant" means it's a different Link from a later or prior generation.-]

* ''The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition'' (CompilationRerelease of ''The Legend of Zelda'', ''The Adventure of Link'', ''Ocarina of Time'' and ''Majora’s Mask'', UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, 2003)