Over the years, the timeline of The Legend of Zelda has sparked countless debates and theories among fans. In a recent development, Nintendo has decided to officially include the latest installment, Echoes of Wisdom, into this complex timeline.
According to Nintendo, Echoes of Wisdom takes its place in the ‘Hero is Defeated’ timeline, coming after Tri Force Heroes and just before the ‘Decline of the Hyrule Kingdom’. Here’s how Nintendo describes this addition:
“The hero Link embarks on a mission to save Princess Zelda from Ganon’s clutches. Despite defeating Ganon in an intense battle, Link is suddenly engulfed by a mysterious rift as though he’s been spirited away. These rifts are not isolated incidents; they are appearing all over Hyrule, snatching its inhabitants. Even the king and his advisors aren’t immune to these vanishing acts. Now, it’s up to Princess Zelda to go on a quest to rescue her father, the citizens of Hyrule, and Link himself.”
The official page clarifies that this timeline follows the scenario in Ocarina of Time where the Hero of Time loses to Ganondorf. Conversely, if Link triumphs, it leads to the ‘Hero is Triumphant’ timeline, which splits into ‘child’ and ‘adult’ eras.
Additionally, as shown in the accompanying images, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are placed separately within the timeline.
Nintendo has previously stated that they incorporate the Zelda timeline only to a certain degree when developing new games. Recently, producer Eiji Aonuma shed light on this approach, explaining that in the Zelda series, gameplay often takes precedence over the storyline.
What do you think of these changes in the timeline? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Liam Doolan, a seasoned writer with more than 15 years of experience, provided the information for this piece. Liam is a dedicated fan of gaming franchises like Mario and Master Chief.
