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The Legend of Zelda is a media franchise, video game series created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo; some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flags ...
'' is a
video game franchise This is a list of video game franchises, organized alphabetically. All entries include multiple video games, not counting ports or altered re-releases. 0–9 *''1080° Snowboarding'' *''1942'' *''3D Ultra Minigolf'' *'' 3-D Ultra Pinball'' *'' ...
created by
video game designers Video game design is the process of designing the rules and content of video games in the pre-production stage and designing the gameplay, environment, storyline and characters in the production stage. Some common video game design subdiscipli ...
Shigeru Miyamoto is a Japanese video game designer, video game producer, producer and Creative director#Video games, game director at Nintendo, where he has served as one of its representative directors as an executive since 2002. Widely regarded as one o ...
and
Takashi Tezuka is a Japanese video game designer, director, and producer. He is a senior officer in Nintendo's Entertainment Planning & Development division and is an Executive Officer at Nintendo itself. Tezuka was the right-hand man to Shigeru Miyamoto an ...
and mainly developed and published by
Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto. It develops, publishes, and releases both video games and video game consoles. The history of Nintendo began when craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi ...
. The universe of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series consists of various lands, the most predominant being The franchise is set within a
fantasy world A fantasy world or fictional world is a world created for fictional media, such as literature, film or games. Typical fantasy worlds feature magical abilities. Some worlds may be a parallel world connected to Earth via magical portals or items ...
reminiscent of
medieval Europe In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
which consists of several recurring locations, races and creatures. The most prominent race in the series are the Hylians, a humanoid race with elfin features identifiable by their long, pointed ears. The series' lore contains a
creation myth A creation myth or cosmogonic myth is a type of cosmogony, a symbolic narrative of how the world began and how people first came to inhabit it., "Creation myths are symbolic stories describing how the universe and its inhabitants came to be. Cre ...
, several fictional alphabets, the most prominent being Hylian, and a fictional universal currency, the rupee. Most games in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series follow a similar storyline, which involves the protagonist Link battling monsters to save
Princess Zelda is a Character (arts), character in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto for the original 1986 game ''The Legend of Zelda (video game), The Legend of Zelda''. As one of the central characters ...
and defeat a villain, which is often the series' main antagonist,
Ganon is a character and the main antagonist of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series and franchise, as well as the final Boss (video games), boss in many ''Zelda'' titles. In his humanoid Gerudo form, he is known as A massive and male ...
. Nintendo developed the series' lore into a
timeline A timeline is a list of events displayed in chronological order. It is typically a graphic design showing a long bar labelled with dates paralleling it, and usually contemporaneous events. Timelines can use any suitable scale representing t ...
that spans thousands of years across its history. Hyrule was created as the original setting for ''
The Legend of Zelda is a media franchise, video game series created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo; some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flags ...
'' and has remained the main environment for successive games in the series. Inspired by dungeon crawlers, Miyamoto and Tezuka developed a
high fantasy High fantasy, or epic fantasy, is a subgenre of fantasy defined by the epic nature of its setting or by the epic stature of its characters, themes, or plot. Brian Stableford, ''The A to Z of Fantasy Literature'', (p. 198), Scarecrow Pres ...
world in the form of a 2D map filled with
monsters A monster is a type of imaginary or fictional creature found in literature, folklore, mythology, fiction and religion. They are very often depicted as dangerous and aggressive, with a strange or grotesque appearance that causes terror and fe ...
, puzzles and dungeons. Hyrule transitioned to a 3D environment with the development of ''
Ocarina of Time is a 1998 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. The game was the first in the '' Legend of Zelda'' series with 3D graphics. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998 and in PAL regi ...
''. For ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. Set at the end of the Zelda timeline, ''Zelda'' timeline, the player controls an amnesiac Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he sets out to save Princess Zelda and prevent ...
,'' released in 2017, Nintendo developed Hyrule into a seamless
open world In video games, an open world is a virtual world in which the Gamer, player can approach objectives freely, as opposed to a world with more linear and structured gameplay. Notable games in this category include ''The Legend of Zelda (video game ...
. Since the launch of the original game, the series has been a commercial and critical success and introduced landmark innovations in world design that have influenced numerous developers in the video game industry.


Overview

The ''
Legend of Zelda is a media franchise, video game series created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo; some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flags ...
'' series is set in a fantasy world that first appeared in the original ''
The Legend of Zelda is a media franchise, video game series created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo; some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flags ...
'', which was developed and published by
Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto. It develops, publishes, and releases both video games and video game consoles. The history of Nintendo began when craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi ...
. The game introduced Hyrule as the series' primary setting and series protagonist Link, a Hylian boy or young man who is the
player character A player character (also known as a playable character or PC) is a fictional Character (arts), character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game whose actions are controlled by a player rather than the rules of the game. The characters tha ...
. The storyline of each game varies, but follows a common overarching plot that involves Link travelling through Hyrule to rescue
Princess Zelda is a Character (arts), character in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto for the original 1986 game ''The Legend of Zelda (video game), The Legend of Zelda''. As one of the central characters ...
and save the world from evil, which is typically the series' main villain,
Ganon is a character and the main antagonist of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series and franchise, as well as the final Boss (video games), boss in many ''Zelda'' titles. In his humanoid Gerudo form, he is known as A massive and male ...
. A recurring plot element in the games is Ganon's attempts to obtain the
Triforce The is a fictional artifact (archaeology), artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game franchise. It first appeared in the original ''The Legend of Zelda (video game), The Legend of Zelda'' video game (1986) and has app ...
, a mystical artifact that will enable him to possess ultimate power. Although Link and Zelda have similar appearances in each game, they are different characters who reappear whenever evil threatens the world. ''
Skyward Sword is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A mainline entry in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, ''Skyward Sword'' is the first game in the ''Zelda'' timeline, and details the origins of the Master Sword, a ...
'' was established as the beginning of the series' history and involves the antagonist Demise cursing the first incarnations of Link and Zelda so their descendants appear in an endless cycle to protect Hyrule from evil.


Hyrule


Concept and design

Japanese video game designer
Shigeru Miyamoto is a Japanese video game designer, video game producer, producer and Creative director#Video games, game director at Nintendo, where he has served as one of its representative directors as an executive since 2002. Widely regarded as one o ...
conceived the land of Hyrule as the setting for the original ''
The Legend of Zelda is a media franchise, video game series created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo; some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flags ...
,'' describing it as "a miniature garden that you can put into a drawer and revisit anytime you like". He drew his inspiration from the
Kyoto Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...
countryside that he had explored in his childhood and wanted to recreate the experience of adventure and discovery. Alongside writer
Takashi Tezuka is a Japanese video game designer, director, and producer. He is a senior officer in Nintendo's Entertainment Planning & Development division and is an Executive Officer at Nintendo itself. Tezuka was the right-hand man to Shigeru Miyamoto an ...
, Miyamoto created a fantasy world in the style of fantasy authors like
Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlinson ...
, which was viewed from a
top-down perspective A variety of computer graphic techniques have been used to display video game content throughout the history of video games. The predominance of individual techniques have evolved over time, primarily due to hardware advances and restrictions ...
. It was populated with colourful characters, monsters and dungeons for the player to explore.


2D world design

Miyamoto and Tezuka started working on ''The Legend of Zelda'' during the development of ''
Super Mario Bros is a 1985 Platformer, platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It is the successor to the 1983 arcade game ''Mario Bros.'' and the first game in the ''Super Mario'' series. It was origi ...
''. Initially, the game did not feature an overworld. In ''
Hyrule Historia ''The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia'' is a collector's book about Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, published in English by Dark Horse Comics. The 276-page book reveals the official timeline of the fictional events in the series, fo ...
'', Miyamoto said that Nintendo aimed to develop a launch title for the
Famicom Disk System The commonly shortened to the Famicom Disk System, is a peripheral for Nintendo's Family Computer (Famicom) home video game console, released in Japan on February 21, 1986. The system uses proprietary floppy disks called "Disk Cards" for more ...
. An early game was initially designed to make use of the Disk System's ability to rewrite data, allowing players to create dungeons and explore other players' creations. He explained: "We made a one-player game with dungeons under mountains that surrounded Death Mountain, but we couldn't shake that "I want to play above ground, too!" feeling, so we added forests and lakes, and eventually Hyrule Field". The first specifications were drawn up on a whiteboard by Miyamoto and then copied onto a document on 1 February 1985. The document detailed early concepts for items and enemies that would later feature in the game, such as a compass, bows and arrows and a boomerang, and "Hakkai", an early name given to
Ganon is a character and the main antagonist of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series and franchise, as well as the final Boss (video games), boss in many ''Zelda'' titles. In his humanoid Gerudo form, he is known as A massive and male ...
. This was developed into rough sketches for various items and enemies within the following two weeks. The name for the game had not yet been decided, so the title was simply labelled "Adventure". Long paper was used to create the first land map of Hyrule, which was developed by Tezuka and Miyamoto sitting side by side and drawing together. Miyamoto said that the name "Hyrule" seemed like the perfect choice during a discussion to find a name for a high-fantasy region. In Japan, ''The Legend of Zelda'' game was released as ''The Hyrule Fantasy'', which was almost chosen as the name for the entire franchise, but was dropped after the first game. Miyamoto said this could have been due to the name being too similar to ''
Final Fantasy is a Japanese fantasy Anthology series, anthology media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi which is owned, developed, and published by Square Enix (formerly Square (video game company), Square). The franchise centers on a series of fanta ...
'', which was released soon afterwards. The original Hyrule map was designed to encourage exploration and discovery, requiring up to several hours to navigate. The map is
nonlinear In mathematics and science, a nonlinear system (or a non-linear system) is a system in which the change of the output is not proportional to the change of the input. Nonlinear problems are of interest to engineers, biologists, physicists, mathe ...
, so players are free to choose from several unmarked paths, with just a few areas being inaccessible at the start. Miyamoto was influenced by ''
The Black Onyx is a 1984 role-playing video game released in Japan, developed by Bullet-Proof Software, with development led by Henk Rogers. It was originally released for the NEC PC-8801, and ported to several other platforms. The Famicom version featured co ...
'' and ''
Ultima Ultima may refer to: Places * Ultima, Victoria, a town in Australia * Pangaea Ultima, a supercontinent to occur in the future * ''Ultima'', the larger lobe of the trans-Neptunian object 486958 Arrokoth, nicknamed ''Ultima Thule'' Companies and ...
'', two games that centre around fantasy
dungeon crawling A dungeon crawl is a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games (RPGs) in which heroes navigate a labyrinth environment (a " dungeon"), battling various monsters, avoiding traps, solving puzzles, and looting any treasure they may find. Video ...
. The ''Zelda'' world was defined by its mazes, hidden rooms and treasures. The game's nine dungeons were designed to be difficult to locate, forcing players to uncover the secrets of the map with little help. In addition to its underworld, the Hyrule map consists of a large overworld created out of a grid structure that is much larger than can be displayed on a single screen. It is 16 blocks wide and eight blocks high and comprises 128 areas. Miyamoto said that maps for the game were included in North America: "The maps included various hints, but to be honest, I thought it would be more enjoyable to play the game without any help. So we sealed the map, with a message reading 'You should only use the map and strategic tips as a last resort'". Players were required to begin their adventure in the centre of Hyrule and use instinct alone to find an old man inside a cave who gives Link a sword and declares, " It's dangerous to go alone!". While navigating Hyrule's overworld and its many dangerous enemies, players must eventually find the dungeons, which each feature various enemies, items and a
boss Boss may refer to: Occupations * Supervisor, often referred to as boss * Air boss, more formally, air officer, the person in charge of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier * Crime boss, the head of a criminal organization * Fire boss, ...
. The concept of a
role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out ...
was a new experience for players in the 1980s. The gameplay diverged from the fast-paced games typically found in arcades like ''Super Mario Bros'', by offering players an open world to explore, puzzles to solve and a fantasy story that centres on a protagonist embarking on an adventure to save a princess from an evil villain and bring peace to Hyrule. The new game concept caused concern with Nintendo's management. In 2003, Miyamoto stated in an interview for Superplay magazine: "I remember that we were very nervous, because ''The Legend Of Zelda'' was our first game that forced the players to think about what they should do next. We were afraid that gamers would become bored and stressed by the new concept". During the testing phase, players complained about getting lost inside the game's dungeons, but rather than making the game more simplistic, Miyamoto decided to make it more challenging by removing Link's sword at the beginning of the game and forcing players to locate it. He wanted to encourage players to communicate with each other while solving the game's puzzles.


Transition to 3D

Hyrule continued to evolve over the course of successive games. The transition from a 2D to 3D world occurred with the release of ''
Ocarina of Time is a 1998 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. The game was the first in the '' Legend of Zelda'' series with 3D graphics. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998 and in PAL regi ...
'', due to the capabilities of the
Nintendo 64 The (N64) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1996, in North America on September 29, 1996, and in Europe and Australia on March 1, 1997. As the successor to the Super Nintendo E ...
, which gave players the opportunity to experience a more realistic game environment. The 3D world was also accompanied by an expanding fictional lore that laid the foundation for other games in the series within an official fictional timeline. The game's dungeons were each unique and connected to a specific area of Hyrule and its inhabitants. Several recurring races, such as the Gorons, Zora and Gerudo were introduced and given a distinct history and culture. Hyrule Field, an expansive open grassy area, was positioned at the centre of Hyrule, acting as a hub that connects other areas to create the illusion of a vast world. The game's time travel mechanic also introduced a dark version of Hyrule Kingdom, a land corrupted by Ganondorf's influence, with Hyrule Castle Town in ruins and Redead zombies as its inhabitants. Due to concerns about the limitations of the Nintendo 64, Miyamoto initially conceived the game taking place within a central hub in the confines of Ganon's Castle, similar to Peach's Castle in ''
Super Mario 64 ''Super Mario 64'' is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan and North America in 1996 and PAL regions in 1997. It is the first ''Super Mario'' game to feature 3D gameplay, combini ...
''. He described ''Ocarina of Time'' as a "huge project" due to the fact that it involved making the game environment from 3D
polygons In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure made up of line segments connected to form a closed polygonal chain. The segments of a closed polygonal chain are called its '' edges'' or ''sides''. The points where two edges meet are the polygon' ...
and was larger in scale than anything that he had previously worked on. He said that he had approached the game by first focusing on what types of characters he wanted to include, rather than on the story or the game functions. ''Ocarina of Time'' was designed with several innovations to help the player navigate the expansive 3D world and interact with the environment. The camera system was designed to integrate with the 3D world of Hyrule, giving the player a sense of perspective and tracking the movements of Link. The game's Z-targeting system was created to provide the player with a simple way to lock on and interact with objects, characters and enemies in the game world. The game also made use of context sensitive controls by using the A button for a range of interactions, such as mounting a horse or opening a treasure chest. These features were landmarks for Nintendo and influenced 3D world development within the games industry. During development, the staff spent less time on developing the dungeons. According to Miyamoto: "Instead of mapping your way through a maze, I think what's more important is a sense of dread, a sense of pressure, and of course an opportunity for finding secrets and solving puzzles—we should be pursuing an emotional immediacy, the sense that you are really there". Hyrule and its characters in ''Ocarina of Time'' were depicted in an art style that drifted towards Western fantasy, although Miyamoto said there was no intentional replication of cultural elements from one specific country. Hyrule's fantasy characters were partially inspired by the American television series ''
Twin Peaks ''Twin Peaks'' is an American Surrealist cinema, surrealist Mystery film, mystery-Horror film, horror Drama (film and television), drama television series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch. It Pilot (Twin Peaks), premiered on American Broad ...
''. In an interview, Takashi Tezuka said he had used the series as inspiration when creating ''
Link's Awakening ''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening'' is a 1993 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It is the first installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series to be released on a handheld game console. ''Link's A ...
'': "After that, in ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' and ''The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask'', all kinds of suspicious characters appeared". Many assets and character models in the game were later reused for ''
Majora's Mask is a 2000 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was the second ''The Legend of Zelda'' game to use 3D computer graphics, 3D graphics, following ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Ocarina of Time' ...
'', both for stylistic purposes and to save development time.


Open air concept

Producer
Eiji Aonuma is a Japanese video game designer, director, and producer at Nintendo. He is a senior officer within their Nintendo EPD division and serves as the producer of the ''The Legend of Zelda, Legend of Zelda'' franchise. Career Aonuma was born as on ...
approached ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. Set at the end of the Zelda timeline, ''Zelda'' timeline, the player controls an amnesiac Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he sets out to save Princess Zelda and prevent ...
'' by breaking the conventions of previous games. He explained that in ''Ocarina of Time'', the game world featured "routes" to help players navigate the 3D environment without getting lost, but that certain handholding and blockages had caused players to feel frustrated. By contrast, ''Breath of the Wild'''s Hyrule was designed to allow the player to explore a vast world in any way they liked. Nintendo's senior product marketing manager
Bill Trinen Bill Trinen (born William Trinen on August 21, 1972) is the Vice President, Player & Product Experience of Nintendo of America. He is also a professional Japanese-to- English translator who has worked on the localization of numerous Nintendo-pu ...
described the game as "open air": "I look at this game and I see a world that is fully integrated into the exploration and the adventure. It's not just a world that you're passing through. It's sort of a world that you're a part of". The game world benefited from advancements in Nintendo hardware. Earlier games had been restricted by the available technology, creating the need to separate Hyrule into individual connecting areas, but the game world could now be experienced as a seamless environment. The concept of an "open air" environment began during work on ''
The Wind Waker is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, it was released in Japan on December 13, 2002, in North America on March 24, 2003, and in Europe on May 2, 2003 ...
''. Aonuma said that he wanted to remove the small connecting areas of ''The Wind Waker'' and replace them with open expanses, but the world ended up feeling smaller than he intended. ''Breath of the Wild''s open world was inspired by other video games. The game's director
Hidemaro Fujibayashi is a Japanese video game designer at Nintendo. He has directed several games in the ''Legend of Zelda'' series, including '' Skyward Sword'', ''Breath of the Wild'', and ''Tears of the Kingdom''. Fujibayashi worked at Capcom prior to joining Nint ...
named ''
Minecraft ''Minecraft'' is a 2011 sandbox game developed and published by the Swedish video game developer Mojang Studios. Originally created by Markus Persson, Markus "Notch" Persson using the Java (programming language), Java programming language, the ...
'' and ''
Terraria ''Terraria'' ( ) is a 2011 action-adventure sandbox game developed by Re-Logic and published by 505 Games. The game features exploration, combat, crafting, building, and mining inside a procedurally generated 2D computer graphics, 2D world. ...
'' as his inspirations for "the sense of adventure, exploration and how it inspired curiosity". Aonuma also mentioned several other games that he had played, including ''
The Witcher ''The Witcher'' (, ) is a series of 9 fantasy novels and 15 short stories by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The series revolves around the eponymous witcher, Geralt of Rivia. Witchers are monster hunters given superhuman abilities for the ...
'', ''
Far Cry ''Far Cry'' is an anthology franchise of first-person shooter games published by Ubisoft. The first game, '' Far Cry'', was developed by Crytek to premiere their CryEngine software, and released in March 2004. Subsequently, Ubisoft obtained ...
'' and '' The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim''. He also cited ''
Skyward Sword is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A mainline entry in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, ''Skyward Sword'' is the first game in the ''Zelda'' timeline, and details the origins of the Master Sword, a ...
'' as the basis for many of the world's mechanics, such as the ability to climb and explore between areas. The development team began ''Breath of the Wild'' by working on a 2D prototype of Hyrule to test interactions between objects. This was developed into a complex physics and chemistry engine that would present a higher level of realism. The chemistry engine allowed for elements, such as fire, water and electricity to interact with each other and objects in the game world. This was designed to provide the player with a more interactive gameplay that was coined "chemical reaction play". Hyrule in ''Breath of the Wild'' was depicted using an art style that was based on the stylised visuals of ''The Wind Waker'' but developed into a more realistic, detailed style. The civilization of the Hylians was developed with a focus on their castle in the style of
medieval Europe In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
to return to the roots of the series, while the ancient technological features of the Sheikah were inspired by the
Jōmon period In Japanese history, the is the time between , during which Japan was inhabited by the Jōmon people, a diverse hunter-gatherer and early agriculturalist population united by a common culture, which reached a considerable degree of sedentism an ...
of Japanese history. Fujibayashi stated that the layout of Hyrule in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. Set at the end of the Zelda timeline, ''Zelda'' timeline, the player controls an amnesiac Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he sets out to save Princess Zelda and prevent ...
'' was inspired in part by his hometown of Kyoto: "I took a map of Kyoto and overlaid it on the game world, and I tried to imagine going to places that I know in Kyoto. I'd think 'It takes this much time to get from point A to point B, so how does that translate to the game?' And that's how we started mapping out the world in ''Breath of the Wild''". The development team used landmarks in Kyoto as a way of comparing the distance between landmarks in the game world, which helped staff during the development of the game. This measurement of distance allowed Hyrule to be scaled up to an enormous world that appears twelve times the size of its predecessor in ''
Twilight Princess is a 2006 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii. Originally planned for release exclusively on the GameCube in November 2005, Nintendo delayed the release to refine the game, add more content and po ...
''. For ''
Tears of the Kingdom is a 2023 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. The player controls Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he searches for Princess Zelda and fights to prevent Ganondorf from destroying Hyrule. ''Tears ...
'', Aonuma used the same map of Hyrule as the one players experienced in ''Breath of the Wild'' to create a continuation of the same world. Hyrule was extensively expanded, by introducing Sky Islands to the map to place emphasis on vertical gameplay. In addition to its sky expansion, the game introduced the Depths, a vast pitch-black area beneath the surface of Hyrule. Aonuma said the development team had learned lessons from ''Skyward Sword'', where Link was restricted by the hardware to descend from particular points. He explained that the team had wanted to create the ability to "traverse a world that's not only horizontally connected in a single world, but vertically connected as well", noting the sense of freedom the player experiences by diving into that.


Depiction

The a
medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
-based fantasy land, is the main setting of the series, which first appeared in ''
The Legend of Zelda is a media franchise, video game series created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo; some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flags ...
''. Many of its areas have appeared throughout the series, such as Hyrule Castle, the Lost Woods, Kakariko Village, Death Mountain and Lake Hylia. Hyrule was formed by three goddesses: and It is established in ''
Ocarina of Time is a 1998 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. The game was the first in the '' Legend of Zelda'' series with 3D graphics. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998 and in PAL regi ...
'' that Din created the physical
geography Geography (from Ancient Greek ; combining 'Earth' and 'write', literally 'Earth writing') is the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. Geography is an all-encompassing discipline that seeks an understanding o ...
of the realm, Nayru created the
physical law Scientific laws or laws of science are statements, based on repeated experiments or observations, that describe or predict a range of natural phenomena. The term ''law'' has diverse usage in many cases (approximate, accurate, broad, or narrow) ...
s to govern it, and Farore created the races to uphold the law and the
flora Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for f ...
and
fauna Fauna (: faunae or faunas) is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding terms for plants and fungi are ''flora'' and '' funga'', respectively. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively ...
that inhabit the world. After the goddesses completed their tasks, they departed for the heavens, leaving behind three golden triangles containing their power to govern all things; this relic became known as the
Triforce The is a fictional artifact (archaeology), artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game franchise. It first appeared in the original ''The Legend of Zelda (video game), The Legend of Zelda'' video game (1986) and has app ...
. The creation myth was elaborated upon in '' Echoes of Wisdom'', with the goddesses creating the world to be a prison for a primordial
chaos Chaos or CHAOS may refer to: Science, technology, and astronomy * '' Chaos: Making a New Science'', a 1987 book by James Gleick * Chaos (company), a Bulgarian rendering and simulation software company * ''Chaos'' (genus), a genus of amoebae * ...
entity named Null that had previously consumed anything that tried to form within the void. ''Skyward Sword'' expanded on this history by detailing the rise of Demon King Demise and his dark forces, who attempt to take the Triforce and destroy the world. The goddess Hylia stays to protect the Triforce and leads an army of free people into battle to weaken Demise and seal him away from the world. The realm was eventually named Hyrule after its dominant race, the Hylians, who established a kingdom across the land. The kingdom is ruled by the Royal Family of Hyrule, into which the various incarnations of
Princess Zelda is a Character (arts), character in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto for the original 1986 game ''The Legend of Zelda (video game), The Legend of Zelda''. As one of the central characters ...
are often born. The Hylian alphabet is a
cipher In cryptography, a cipher (or cypher) is an algorithm for performing encryption or decryption—a series of well-defined steps that can be followed as a procedure. An alternative, less common term is ''encipherment''. To encipher or encode i ...
of either English or Japanese that first appears in ''
A Link to the Past is a 1991 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was released in 1991 in Japan and 1992 in North America and Europe. The ...
'', where it is identified as "the ancient language of the Hylians" and is composed of symbols that Link must translate to progress. In Japan, an explanation of the Hylian alphabet was written on the back of the instruction manual for ''
The Wind Waker is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, it was released in Japan on December 13, 2002, in North America on March 24, 2003, and in Europe on May 2, 2003 ...
'' with a phonographic writing system, or
syllabary In the Linguistics, linguistic study of Written language, written languages, a syllabary is a set of grapheme, written symbols that represent the syllables or (more frequently) mora (linguistics), morae which make up words. A symbol in a syllaba ...
, like the Japanese language. Since its first appearance, five more Hylian scripts have been developed and deciphered: the Old Hylian Syllabary used in ''Ocarina of Time'', the Modern Hylian Syllabary used in ''The Wind Waker'', the Hylian Alphabet used in ''Skyward Sword'', the Hylian Alphabet used in ''A Link Between Worlds'', and the Hylian Alphabet used in ''Twilight Princess''. The first three are used for transcribing Japanese, while the latter three are used to transcribe English, totaling six variations of written Hylian. Additional languages have subsequently appeared in the series. The language of the Gerudo was introduced in ''Ocarina of Time'', a written and spoken language that is similar to Hylian and is written in elongated, wispy letters. The Sheikah language was introduced in ''Breath of the Wild'' and consists of a complete alphabet of square-shaped symbols. Players have deciphered these languages to translate numerous signs and inscriptions commonly found around Hyrule. The universal
currency A currency is a standardization of money in any form, in use or circulation as a medium of exchange, for example banknotes and coins. A more general definition is that a currency is a ''system of money'' in common use within a specific envi ...
of Hyrule is the rupee. Although it shares its name with the real-world currency, Miyamoto said in an interview that this was not intentional and that he chose the word because it seemed cute and sounded like "rubies". Rupees resemble
hexagon In geometry, a hexagon (from Greek , , meaning "six", and , , meaning "corner, angle") is a six-sided polygon. The total of the internal angles of any simple (non-self-intersecting) hexagon is 720°. Regular hexagon A regular hexagon is de ...
al
crystal A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macros ...
s or
gem A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, semiprecious stone, or simply gem) is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut or polished, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. Certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli, opal, an ...
s and come in various colors that determine their value. In the manual for the original game, the currency was called rubies, but this was changed to rupees in later games. Subsequent games introduced more colors and sizes for rupees, each denoting a specific value. Generally, green rupees have the least value, while gold and silver rupees have the most.


Hyrulean geography

Although the geography of Hyrule varies from game to game, it typically features several recurring geographical landmarks, which appear in different locations relative to each other depending on the game. * is a large volcanic mountain located in northern Hyrule. It first appeared in the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' and has appeared through the series up to ''Breath of the Wild''. ''
Twilight Princess is a 2006 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii. Originally planned for release exclusively on the GameCube in November 2005, Nintendo delayed the release to refine the game, add more content and po ...
'' reveals it is part of the Eldin Mountains, a mountain range in the Eldin Province. The main inhabitants of Death Mountain are the Gorons, a race of rock-eating
golem A golem ( ; ) is an animated Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic being in Jewish folklore, which is created entirely from inanimate matter, usually clay or mud. The most famous golem narrative involves Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the late 16th-century ...
s that mine the mountains in search of food; the mountains are littered with caves as a result of their
mining Mining is the Resource extraction, extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agriculture, agricultural processes, or feasib ...
activities. * is Ganon's fortress, which has acted as the battleground between him and Link in several games. In ''Ocarina of Time'', when Link travels to the future, it has been built in place of Hyrule Castle. * is the home of Hyrule's royal family, which first appeared in ''
A Link to the Past is a 1991 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was released in 1991 in Japan and 1992 in North America and Europe. The ...
''. It is a symbol of the power of the Hyrulean monarchy and is frequently the main target of Hyrule's enemies, particularly Ganon. It is often a central area that Link visits during his quest. * is a village that first appears in ''A Link to the Past'' and has since reappeared in ''Ocarina of Time'', ''
Four Swords Adventures ''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures'' is a 2004 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the eleventh installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. It was released in 2004 in Japan on March 18, ...
'', ''
Twilight Princess is a 2006 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii. Originally planned for release exclusively on the GameCube in November 2005, Nintendo delayed the release to refine the game, add more content and po ...
'', ''
A Link Between Worlds ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds'' is a 2013 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is the 17th in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is a sequel to the 1991 title '' The Legend of Z ...
'', ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. Set at the end of the Zelda timeline, ''Zelda'' timeline, the player controls an amnesiac Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he sets out to save Princess Zelda and prevent ...
'' and ''
Tears of the Kingdom is a 2023 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. The player controls Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he searches for Princess Zelda and fights to prevent Ganondorf from destroying Hyrule. ''Tears ...
''. Kakariko Village is often portrayed as a small, prosperous town that was originally founded by the Sheikah. In ''Twilight Princess'', Shadow Beasts have kidnapped most of the villagers, making the town resemble a ghost town. In ''Breath of the Wild'', the village has survived the Great Calamity and is inhabited by the Sheikah. * is the largest freshwater lake in Hyrule. It commonly features collectible items and dungeons, and is often where Link encounters members of the Zora race. * The is a large
enchanted forest In folklore and fantasy, an enchanted forest is a forest under, or containing, magic (fantasy), enchantments. Such forests are described in the oldest folklore from regions where forests are common and occur throughout the centuries to modern wor ...
that appears in various games, starting with ''
The Legend of Zelda is a media franchise, video game series created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo; some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flags ...
''. It is home to the Kokiri,
Korok ''The Legend of Zelda'' is a List of video game franchises, video game franchise created by Video game design, video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka and mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the ''Legend ...
s and Fairies, and its maze-like structure leads travelers in circles unless they take the correct path through the forest. Rumors state that those who become lost are turned into
Stalfos ''The Legend of Zelda'' is a video game franchise created by video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka and mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series consists of various lands, the m ...
. In several games, the Great Deku Tree and/or the Master Sword can be found in a shrine there. * is a location consisting of two large rock formations next to each other that resemble a pair of eyeglasses. It housed the final dungeon in the original game. It is usually associated with Death Mountain, but is located in the Gerudo Highlands in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. Set at the end of the Zelda timeline, ''Zelda'' timeline, the player controls an amnesiac Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he sets out to save Princess Zelda and prevent ...
''. Spectacle Rock also appears in '' Zelda II: The Adventure of Link'', ''
A Link to the Past is a 1991 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was released in 1991 in Japan and 1992 in North America and Europe. The ...
'', and ''
A Link Between Worlds ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds'' is a 2013 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is the 17th in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is a sequel to the 1991 title '' The Legend of Z ...
''. * is the temple that houses the Master Sword in several games. It is also used to traverse time, most notably in ''
Ocarina of Time is a 1998 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. The game was the first in the '' Legend of Zelda'' series with 3D graphics. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998 and in PAL regi ...
'', where it allows the player to travel between the past and future. In some games, it serves as a dungeon.


Objects


Triforce

The also called the "Power of the Gods" and the "Golden Triangle", is a triangular sacred
relic In religion, a relic is an object or article of religious significance from the past. It usually consists of the physical remains or personal effects of a saint or other person preserved for the purpose of veneration as a tangible memorial. Reli ...
left behind by the three Golden Goddesses after they created Hyrule. It is made up of three smaller triangles known as the
Triforce of Power The is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game franchise. It first appeared in the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game (1986) and has appeared in every subsequent game in the series. It consists ...
, the
Triforce of Wisdom The is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game franchise. It first appeared in the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game (1986) and has appeared in every subsequent game in the series. It consists ...
, and the
Triforce of Courage The is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game franchise. It first appeared in the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game (1986) and has appeared in every subsequent game in the series. It consists ...
. These embody the essences of their respective goddesses, and present a power struggle and balance of morality between the central characters, Ganon, Zelda and Link. The Triforce first appeared in the original game as a focal point of the plot, which involves Ganon stealing the Triforce of Power and Link searching for the scattered pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom to stop him and protect Hyrule from evil. The Triforce of Courage was introduced in ''
The Adventure of Link ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
'' as the third piece. When united, the Triforce allows the person who touches it to make a wish that usually lasts until they die or the wish is granted. If the person who finds it does not possess a balance of the three virtues it represents, the pieces will split into its three components, leaving the finder with the one that represents the characteristic they value most.


Master Sword

The also known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", the "Sword of Resurrection", or the "sword that seals the darkness" is a
divine Divinity (from Latin ) refers to the quality, presence, or nature of that which is divine—a term that, before the rise of monotheism, evoked a broad and dynamic field of sacred power. In the ancient world, divinity was not limited to a singl ...
,
magic sword In mythology, legend or fiction, a magic sword is a sword with magical powers or other supernatural qualities. Renowned swords appear in the folklore of every nation that used swords.Josepha Sherman, ''Once upon a Galaxy'' p 113 In some tra ...
and Link's signature weapon. It is one of the few weapons capable of harming
Ganon is a character and the main antagonist of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series and franchise, as well as the final Boss (video games), boss in many ''Zelda'' titles. In his humanoid Gerudo form, he is known as A massive and male ...
and acts as a key to the Sacred Realm. It was first introduced in ''
A Link To The Past is a 1991 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was released in 1991 in Japan and 1992 in North America and Europe. The ...
'', it has the power to "repel evil", which enables it to overcome powerful dark magic and slay evil and
demon A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in folklore, mythology, religion, occultism, and literature; these beliefs are reflected in Media (communication), media including f ...
ic beings that cannot be harmed by conventional weaponry. ''
Skyward Sword is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A mainline entry in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, ''Skyward Sword'' is the first game in the ''Zelda'' timeline, and details the origins of the Master Sword, a ...
'' reveals that it was originally known as the Goddess Sword, which is inhabited by a sentient female spirit named Fi. Near the end of the game, the Goddess Sword transforms into the Master Sword after being infused with the Three Sacred Flames, with Fi's spirit form ceasing to be after the Master Sword absorbs
Demise Demise is an Anglo-Norman legal term (from French ''démettre'', from Latin ''dimittere'', to send away) for the transfer of an estate, especially by lease. It has an operative effect in a lease, implying a covenant "for quiet enjoyment". The ...
's remains. The sword traditionally rests in a stone pedestal hidden in
sacrosanct Sacrosanctity () or inviolability is the declaration of physical inviolability of a place (particularly temples and city walls), a sacred object, or a person. Under Roman law, this was established through sacred law (), which had religious connot ...
locations indigenous to Hyrule, such as the Temple of Time or the Lost Woods. Like the Sword in the Stone, the Master Sword can only be removed by someone who is worthy of wielding it.


Other lands and worlds

Hyrule is the main recurring setting of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, but several games are set outside Hyrule in other lands, realms and parallel worlds. The geographical relationship between Hyrule and these other worlds is not clearly defined. * The is a parallel world to Hyrule that appears in ''
A Link to the Past is a 1991 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was released in 1991 in Japan and 1992 in North America and Europe. The ...
''. It is a darker version of Hyrule, which is referred to as the Light World. * The is the setting of ''
The Wind Waker is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, it was released in Japan on December 13, 2002, in North America on March 24, 2003, and in Europe on May 2, 2003 ...
'' and ''
Phantom Hourglass is a 2007 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is the fourteenth installment in The Legend of Zelda, ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and the direct sequel to the 2002 GameCube ...
'', formed after a
deluge A deluge is a large downpour of rain, often a flood. The Deluge refers to the flood narrative in the biblical book of Genesis. Deluge or Le Déluge may also refer to: History *Deluge (history), the Swedish and Russian invasion of the Polish-L ...
flooded Hyrule. Only a few mountaintops are still visible above the water, which form the islands and
archipelago An archipelago ( ), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands. An archipelago may be in an ocean, a sea, or a smaller body of water. Example archipelagos include the Aegean Islands (the o ...
s of the Great Sea. Due to the relatively small size of these islands, the large expanses of ocean between each island require the player to use charts to navigate between them. * is a land that Link travels to in ''
Oracle of Seasons ''The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons'' and ''The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages'' are 2001 action-adventure games developed by Flagship and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. They are the seventh and eighth installments in ''Th ...
'', where Din finds him and is subsequently captured by the General of Darkness, Onox, causing the four seasons in Holodrum to fall into chaos. Holodrum is protected by a huge tree called a Maku Tree. Link eventually dispels the darkness using a Huge Maku Seed. * is a kingdom that is the main setting of '' Tri Force Heroes.'' It is ruled by Princess Styla, who has been cursed to wear a drab jumpsuit. * is the setting of ''
Link's Awakening ''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening'' is a 1993 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It is the first installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series to be released on a handheld game console. ''Link's A ...
'', which Link washes ashore on after a storm and which has a giant egg atop its highest peak. To escape the island, Link must awaken the Wind Fish, which he later discovers will cause the island to disappear, as it exists in its dreams. He ultimately achieves this goal, but the island ceases to exist. * is a land that appears in ''
Oracle of Ages ''The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons'' and ''The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages'' are 2001 action-adventure games developed by Flagship (company), Flagship and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. They are the seventh and eighth ...
''. In a similar storyline to that of Holodrum, the land of Labrynna is thrown into chaos after Nayru is possessed by the sorceress Veran, causing the flow of time to be disrupted. * is a parallel world to Hyrule that appears in ''
A Link Between Worlds ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds'' is a 2013 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is the 17th in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is a sequel to the 1991 title '' The Legend of Z ...
''. It is similar to Hyrule in geography and is ruled by Princess Zelda's Lorulean counterpart, Princess Hilda. Like Hyrule, Lorule originally had its own Triforce, which was the source of various conflicts. However, the Royal Family of Lorule decided to destroy the Triforce in an attempt to put an end to conflict, only to bring calamity to their world as a result. * is a kingdom founded by Link and Tetra following the events of ''Phantom Hourglass'' which appears in ''Spirit Tracks''. New Hyrule is home to the titular Spirit Tracks, magical train tracks created by the Spirits of Good, the guardian deities of the country. The Tracks connect the four sections of the continent and allow for travel by train between them. * is a collection of large floating islands in ''
Skyward Sword is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A mainline entry in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, ''Skyward Sword'' is the first game in the ''Zelda'' timeline, and details the origins of the Master Sword, a ...
'', which were created when the Goddess Hylia used the last of her power to raise what was left of the surviving Hylians along with a plot of land that was still free during the Great War with Demise. Below the clouds lies "the Surface". * is a parallel world to Hyrule that serves as the main setting of ''
Majora's Mask is a 2000 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was the second ''The Legend of Zelda'' game to use 3D computer graphics, 3D graphics, following ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Ocarina of Time' ...
''. Link enters it through a portal deep within the Lost Woods. The land and its citizens are very similar to that of Hyrule. Termina is split into four distinct regions, guarded by four giant deities: the
swamp A swamp is a forested wetland.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p. Swamps are considered to be transition zones because both land and water play a role in ...
y Woodfall, home of the Deku Scrubs, to the south; the icy Snowhead Mountains of the Gorons to the north; Great Bay, home of the Zora to the west; and the undead wastelands of Ikana Canyon to the east. Its capital, Clock Town, lies in the center. * The is a parallel world to Hyrule that appears in ''
Twilight Princess is a 2006 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii. Originally planned for release exclusively on the GameCube in November 2005, Nintendo delayed the release to refine the game, add more content and po ...
,'' which is inhabited by the Twili. Its ruler
Midna is a fictional character in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, introduced as one of the main protagonists in '' Twilight Princess''. She is a member of the magic-wielding Twili who joins forces with Link to prevent the kingdom of Hyru ...
was overthrown by antagonist Zant, who seeks to gain power over the Twilight Realm and transforms the Twili into Shadow Beasts. Link and Midna work together to cleanse the twilight from Hyrule and defeat Zant. * The World of the Ocean King is the setting of ''
Phantom Hourglass is a 2007 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is the fourteenth installment in The Legend of Zelda, ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and the direct sequel to the 2002 GameCube ...
'', which takes place after the events of ''The Wind Waker.'' Its world is similar to the Great Sea, with several islands located on the ocean. * The Depths is the underworld of ''Tears of the Kingdom'', which is scattered with ruins and mirrors the surface of Hyrule. It is connected to the surface by the chasms across Hyrule and receives very little light, being pitch-black until Link activates the Lightroots located across it. * The Still World is another world that appears in '' The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom'', which is connected to Hyrule through rifts that each lead to a different section of it. People, objects, and terrain transported there are frozen in time.


Characters

Despite most games in the series nominally taking place centuries apart, ''The Legend of Zelda'' often features many recurring characters. The
silent protagonist In video games, a silent protagonist is a player character who lacks any dialogue for the entire duration of a game, with the possible exception of occasional interjections or short phrases. In some games, especially visual novels, this may extend ...
Link and the
princess Zelda is a Character (arts), character in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto for the original 1986 game ''The Legend of Zelda (video game), The Legend of Zelda''. As one of the central characters ...
are reincarnated in most ''Zelda'' games, while the antagonistic force
Ganon is a character and the main antagonist of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series and franchise, as well as the final Boss (video games), boss in many ''Zelda'' titles. In his humanoid Gerudo form, he is known as A massive and male ...
, the final boss of most ''Zelda'' games, born from the primordial evil "Demise", repeatedly returns in a new form as well. Other figures who reappear across the series include Zelda's caretaker
Impa is a high-fantasy video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments have been outsourced to Capcom, Vanpool and ...
and the fairy-obsessed man Tingle. In many ''Zelda'' games, Link obtains a horse named
Epona In Gallo-Roman religion, Epona was a protector of horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules. She was particularly a goddess of fertility, as shown by her attributes of a patera, cornucopia, ears of grain, and the presence of foals in some sculpture ...
. Link is frequently accompanied by a companion in ''Zelda'' games, starting with Navi in '' The Ocarina of Time''. Characters like Navi,
Midna is a fictional character in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, introduced as one of the main protagonists in '' Twilight Princess''. She is a member of the magic-wielding Twili who joins forces with Link to prevent the kingdom of Hyru ...
, and Fi serve a tutorial function in their respective games and comment on events as they transpire in the story. The supporting cast of ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. Set at the end of the Zelda timeline, ''Zelda'' timeline, the player controls an amnesiac Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he sets out to save Princess Zelda and prevent ...
'', featuring characters such as
Mipha is a high fantasy, high-fantasy List of video game franchises, video game series created by Japanese Videogame designer, game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some port ...
, Prince Sidon, and
Urbosa is a fictional character from Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. She first appeared as one of the major characters in ''The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,'' where she is the leader of the Gerudo and one of the four Champions who he ...
, has proven to be popular among fans of the series.


Races

Since the release of the original game, the series has featured several races. Alongside the Hylian race, which established the land of Hyrule, there are various other prominent races, such as the Gorons, Gerudo, Rito and Zora. * Ancient Robots are a prehistoric mechanical race that appear in ''Skyward Sword'', who Link encounters in the Lanayru Desert. They were created by the Thunder Dragon Lanayru, but their land eventually became a barren desert and they rusted away. However, they can be revived using a Timeshift Stone to change the present to the past. Although the designers expressed concern about including advanced technology in ''Skyward Sword'', they decided that they did not look out of place with a "softer" design resembling the
Dogū are small humanoid and animal figurines made during the later part of the Jōmon period (14,000–400 BC) of prehistoric Japan. ''Dogū'' come exclusively from the Jōmon period, and were no longer made by the following Yayoi period. There are ...
, which was more befitting of fantasy. * Dragons are a recurring race that usually appear as benevolent guardians or powerful enemies. In ''Ocarina of Time'', Link must slay Volvagia, a dragon boss in the Fire Temple. In ''The Wind Waker'', the Sky Spirit Valoo acts as the godlike dragon and the patron deity of the Rito tribe. When Link arrives on Dragon Roost Island, he defeats the boss Gohma by damaging Valoo's tail. In ''Twilight Princess'', Link encounters the dragon Argorok, who is the boss of the City in the Sky. In ''Skyward Sword'', Link is aided by the three dragons Faron, Eldin and Lanayru, which guard the three regions of the Surface. In ''Breath of the Wild'' and ''Tears of the Kingdom'', the three dragons and can be found in several locations around Hyrule. ''Tears of the Kingdom'' features a fourth dragon, the , which is later revealed to be Zelda transformed after undergoing the process of draconification to restore the shattered Master Sword through sacred power. * Fairies are magical creatures that appear as small, winged
humanoid A humanoid (; from English ''human'' and '' -oid'' "resembling") is a non-human entity with human form or characteristics. By the 20th century, the term came to describe fossils which were morphologically similar, but not identical, to those of ...
s often obscured by light. They tend to be shy and can be found hiding in many places throughout Hyrule, mainly at fairy fountains or fairy springs. In most games in the series, fairies will heal Link if he manages to catch one; he can also put them in empty bottles to have them heal him later. If Link dies while he has a bottled fairy in his possession, the fairy will automatically resurrect him. Great fairies are powerful, high ranking fairies that use their magic to enchant Link's items into more powerful versions. In ''Ocarina of Time'', the Kokiri form a symbiotic relationship with their guardian fairies, who act as companions and mentors. One of these is Navi, who serves as Link's sidekick and helps him learn about the world outside Kokiri Forest. * The are a race of human warrior-
thieves Theft (, cognate to ) is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal short ...
indigenous to the Gerudo Desert, which bears their name. Their physical traits include scarlet hair,
aquiline nose An aquiline nose is a human nose with a prominent bridge, giving it the appearance of being curved or slightly bent. The word ''aquiline'' comes from the Latin word ' ("eagle-like"), an allusion to the curved beak of an eagle. While some have ...
s, gold or green eyes, round or pointed ears, and bronzed skin. Like the
Amazons The Amazons (Ancient Greek: ', singular '; in Latin ', ') were a people in Greek mythology, portrayed in a number of ancient epic poems and legends, such as the Labours of Hercules, Labours of Heracles, the ''Argonautica'' and the ''Iliad''. ...
, the race consists entirely of women, apart from a single Gerudo male who is born every century and is lawfully crowned king of the tribe, and worshipped like a
God king God king, or God-King, is a term for a deified ruler or a pagan deity that is venerated in the guise of a king. In particular, it is used to refer to: *the Egyptian pharaohs *Devaraja *a sacred king in any other polytheistic faithWilfred L. Guerin, ...
. When there is no male present to be king, leadership is instead entrusted to female chiefs.
Ganon is a character and the main antagonist of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series and franchise, as well as the final Boss (video games), boss in many ''Zelda'' titles. In his humanoid Gerudo form, he is known as A massive and male ...
dorf, the main antagonist of the series, is king of the Gerudo. The Gerudo appear as pirates in ''
Majora's Mask is a 2000 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was the second ''The Legend of Zelda'' game to use 3D computer graphics, 3D graphics, following ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Ocarina of Time' ...
'', where they live in the ocean at Great Bay. In ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. Set at the end of the Zelda timeline, ''Zelda'' timeline, the player controls an amnesiac Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he sets out to save Princess Zelda and prevent ...
'', they are traders and merchants. As men are not permitted in Gerudo Town, Link must
crossdress Cross-dressing is the act of wearing clothes traditionally or stereotypically associated with a different gender. From as early as pre-modern history, cross-dressing has been practiced in order to disguise, comfort, entertain, and express onesel ...
as a female to enter. * The are a race of mountain-dwelling rock people who first appeared in ''
Ocarina of Time is a 1998 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. The game was the first in the '' Legend of Zelda'' series with 3D graphics. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998 and in PAL regi ...
''. They have the ability to roll along the ground and have a round rock-like physical appearance. Goron culture revolves around brotherhood and strength, usually referring to each other and those they deem strong as "Brother" or "Big Brother". Gorons show high regard for individuals who display great strength and bravery and enjoy matching their strength with others in competition such as
sumo wrestling is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a '' rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring ('' dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by ...
and
racing In sports, racing is a competition of speed, in which competitors try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed to reach a specific g ...
. They live in tribes headed by a
patriarch The highest-ranking bishops in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Roman Catholic Church (above major archbishop and primate), the Hussite Church, Church of the East, and some Independent Catholic Churches are termed patriarchs (and ...
, such as in ''Ocarina of Time''. They mainly inhabit mountainous areas, such as Death Mountain, and are resistant to intense heat and lava. They also consume rocks and minerals, which they mine from the earth. * are an
elf An elf (: elves) is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic peoples, Germanic folklore. Elves appear especially in Norse mythology, North Germanic mythology, being mentioned in the Icelandic ''Poetic Edda'' and the ''Prose Edda'' ...
-like race of humans that predominantly make up the population of Hyrule, most prominently Link and Zelda, in which they established an organized civilization resembling that of
medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
. They were created as the first race of Hyrule by the goddess Hylia, born with magic-infused blood said to be a gift from the goddesses that grants them psychic powers and magical skill. Their long pointed ears are said to allow them to hear messages sent by the gods. In ''Skyward Sword'', Hylians live on the floating island of Skyloft and are accompanied by bird-like creatures called Loftwings. Hylians are a fairly diverse species, having variations in skin, hair and eye colour. Due to repeated attacks from enemies, such as Ganon, large Hylian armies exist to protect Hyrule. * The are a
pixie A pixie (also called pisky, pixy, pixi, pizkie, piskie, or pigsie in parts of Cornwall and Devon) is a mythical creature of British folklore. Pixies are speculated to be particularly concentrated in the high moorland areas around Devon and Cor ...
-like race who inhabit the Kokiri Forest, who branched off from the Hylians due to wanting to live a more natural life as Hyrule continued to industrialize. They are guarded by the Great Deku Tree, whose power causes them to not age once they grow up into kids, and who considers them to be his children. They are cautious and secretive, believing that they will die if they leave the forest. Each one receives a small fairy who serves as their lifelong friend, guardian, and teacher. Link was raised as a Kokiri in ''Ocarina of Time'', but was not born to them, as his Hylian mother entrusted him to the Great Deku Tree when he was an infant. * The are plant-like beings that first appeared in ''The Wind Waker'' and are said to have been transformed from the Kokiri following the Great Flood. They are small creatures with wood-like bodies and masks made from leaves, with their light weight allowing them to travel by using sprouts as propellers. They leave their home, the "Forest Haven", to plant seeds from the Great Deku Tree all over the world, and return once a year to hold a ceremony and obtain more seeds. In ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. Set at the end of the Zelda timeline, ''Zelda'' timeline, the player controls an amnesiac Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he sets out to save Princess Zelda and prevent ...
'', Koroks can be found all over Hyrule and their seeds can be traded with Hestu, a large Korok, to upgrade weapon inventory slots. Koroks are difficult to find despite being numerous and are best protected in Korok Forest, a hidden location in the Lost Woods. * The are a race of birds with long necks and human-like faces that appear in ''Twilight Princess''. They live in the an airborne city that is the seventh
dungeon A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably derives more from the Renaissance period. An oubliette (fr ...
in ''Twilight Princess'' and which Link reaches by launching himself out of an enormous cannon''.'' A female Oocca, can warp the player back to the entrance of the game's dungeons, and her son, warps the player to Ooccoo's location. In ''Twilight Princess'', they are mentioned to be closer to the gods than the Hylians. Some in Hyrule theorize that the Oocca actually evolved into the Hylians, or that they created Hylians and a city in the sky for them to live in. Ooccoo has also appeared in other Nintendo games, such as ''
Super Smash Bros. Brawl ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' is a 2008 crossover fighting game developed by Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Wii. The third installment in the '' Super Smash Bros.'' series and the successor to '' Super Smash Bros. Melee'', it wa ...
'' and ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a 2014 hack and slash game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The ...
''. * Minish, referred to in their native language as are small humanoid sprites no bigger than a human thumb that live in secret, who first appear in ''The Minish Cap''. They are only visible to children and tend to live in forests, but also appear inside of buildings and holes in and around various spots of Hyrule. There are three variations of the Minish, which are distinguished by their attire: Forest Minish, Town Minish and Mountain Minish. Most Minish are helpful and like to hide valuable objects for others to find, although one Picori, became evil after becoming obsessed with human nature. * The are a race of
raptor Raptor(s) or RAPTOR may refer to: Animals The word "raptor" refers to several groups of avian and non-avian dinosaurs which primarily capture and subdue/kill prey with their talons. * Raptor (bird) or bird of prey, a bird that primarily hunt ...
-like humanoids first introduced in ''The Wind Waker'' who evolved from the Zora. In ''The Wind Waker'', they live on Dragon Roost Island, an island on the Great Sea, and have a tribal elder and elaborately dressed guards. They are initially flightless, as they are born without wings; throughout a young Rito's childhood, they are called a Fledgling. After a child reaches a certain age, they must visit their guardian, the Sky Spirit, Valoo, in a coming-of-age ceremony to receive one of his scales, which enables them to grow wings. Most Rito can fly for great distances and hover in place, but some struggle to fly for long periods of time. In ''Breath of the Wild'', the Rito reside in the Hebra region in northwest Hyrule and tolerate cold climates. These Rito feature a much more prominent avian design that includes wings and are able to fly using updrafts. Prominent Rito characters include Revali, the Rito Champion, and Kass, a wandering minstrel who displays the Rito's appreciation of music through song. * The are ancient and mysterious
ninja A , or was a spy and infiltrator in pre-modern Japan. The functions of a ninja included siege and infiltration, ambush, reconnaissance, espionage, deception, and later bodyguarding.Kawakami, pp. 21–22 Antecedents may have existed as ear ...
-like warriors commonly distinguished by their red eyes and white hair, whose most prominent recurring representative is Zelda's nursemaid and bodyguard
Impa is a high-fantasy video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments have been outsourced to Capcom, Vanpool and ...
. They have a divinely ordained role to protect the royal family of Hyrule. Despite their physical resemblance to Hylians, they are a different race with great technological prowess, as seen in ''Breath of the Wild'' with the Guardians, Shrines, and Towers, as well as the Sheikah Slate. They are physically stronger than other races and are among the most potent magic wielders in Hyrule. Their symbol, the Eye of the Sheikah, which is a single eye with three triangles above and a teardrop beneath, is commonly seen in the series, even in games where the Sheikah are not present. * are a race that inhabit the Twilight Realm and appear in ''
Twilight Princess is a 2006 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii. Originally planned for release exclusively on the GameCube in November 2005, Nintendo delayed the release to refine the game, add more content and po ...
''. They come from a group referred to as the Interlopers, who used extraordinary magic to dominate a war between Hylians for the Triforce and the Sacred Realm. After witnessing this, the Golden Goddesses ordered the Light Spirits to seal their magic in the Fused Shadow; the Interlopers were then banished to the Twilight Realm, a dark mirror world of Hyrule, where they adapted and evolved into the Twili. The most prominent members of their race are , the titular Twilight Princess, and who overthrew her with Ganondorf's help to become king of the Twilight. * The Zonai are an ancient race that appear in ''
Tears of the Kingdom is a 2023 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. The player controls Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he searches for Princess Zelda and fights to prevent Ganondorf from destroying Hyrule. ''Tears ...
''. Initially referenced through various ruins in ''Breath of the Wild'', they are established in ''Tears of the Kingdom'' as the tribe that originally founded Hyrule, with Rauru being the first king alongside his wife Sonia. In the game, Zonai technology is prominent across Hyrule in the form of Shrines, ruins, Constructs, and other Zonai devices. They also created the Geoglyphs, which Link investigates during the Main Quest "The Dragon's Tears" along with their respective Dragon's Tears in order to learn more about Zelda's disappearance. In the ancient past, they were created around the Dragon's Tears by individuals who viewed the memories within them. In '' Creating a Champion'', the Zonai are described as magic users who worship the Triforce. * The are a race of aquatic
piscine humanoid Aquatic humanoids appear in legend and fiction. "Water-dwelling people with fully human, fish-tailed or other compound physiques feature in the mythologies and folklore of maritime, lacustrine and riverine societies across the planet." Myth "An ...
s that inhabit Zora's Domain or Lake Hylia. In the original game and ''Link to the Past'', Zora were enemies that attacked Link from the water with projectiles, though in ''A Link to the Past'' the giant Zora King aids Link by selling him a pair of flippers, allowing him to swim and use the network of whirlpools that link far corners of Hyrule. By ''Ocarina of Time'', their role in most stories changed to a neutral or friendly race. Zora government is
monarchical A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, reigns as head of state for the rest of their life, or until abdication. The extent of the authority of the monarch may vary from restricted and largely symbolic (constitutio ...
, either ruled by a king, such as King Dorephan in ''Breath of the Wild,'' Sidon in ''Tears of the Kingdom,'' and King Zora De Bon XVI in ''Ocarina of Time'', or queen, such as Queen Oren in ''A Link Between Worlds'' and Queen in ''Twilight Princess''. Two different branches exist: "River Zora" are more violent and can shoot fire, while "Sea Zora" are generally passive. Zora have long lifespans and lay
egg An egg is an organic vessel grown by an animal to carry a possibly fertilized egg cell (a zygote) and to incubate from it an embryo within the egg until the embryo has become an animal fetus that can survive on its own, at which point the ...
s to reproduce, which must be kept in cold, clean water to develop healthily, and eggs from the same clutch must be kept together to hatch. Newborn Zora have the appearance of a
tadpole A tadpole or polliwog (also spelled pollywog) is the Larva, larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully Aquatic animal, aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial animal, ...
.


Enemies

The appearance of some creatures varies across different titles of the series: * are animated statues built to guard ancient ruins that come to life and attack when disturbed. They have monstrous appearances and carry a sword and shield. If Link approaches, they will chase after him. They first appeared in ''The Legend of Zelda''. * are a race of
goblin A goblin is a small, grotesque, monster, monstrous humanoid creature that appears in the folklore of multiple European cultures. First attested in stories from the Middle Ages, they are ascribed conflicting abilities, temperaments, and appearan ...
-like creatures, that first appeared in ''The Wind Waker''. Bokoblins come in a variety of colors. They often appear as standard enemies and wield boko sticks, machetes and clubs. Though their appearance varies from game to game, the one thing that remains consistent is they wear loincloths with a single skull. In ''Twilight Princess'', they are less common and their role as standard enemies is largely taken over by the Bulblins. In ''Skyward Sword'', Bokoblins are common monsters that serve the Demon Tribe, under Demon Lord Ghirahim and the
Demon King Demise is a high-fantasy video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments have been outsourced to Capcom, Vanpool and Gr ...
. The game also introduces Technoblins and Cursed Bokoblins, undead Bokoblins that can curse Link. In ''Breath of the Wild'' and ''Tears of the Kingdom'', Bokoblins are low-level, comical enemies that commonly appear across Hyrule living in camps. * are jelly-like creatures with squat, translucent bodies, stalk-eyes, and a smiling mouth. They mostly move by bouncing around. ChuChus appear in various colours and some possess specific abilities. Once they are defeated, they will drop ChuChu jelly, which can be used by Link as an ingredient and for upgrading armour. * are large armored knights armed with swords and shields. They first appeared in ''The Legend of Zelda'' but are recurring foes that appear in ''Twilight Princess'' and other games. * are wooden plant-like creatures introduced in ''
Ocarina of Time is a 1998 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. The game was the first in the '' Legend of Zelda'' series with 3D graphics. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998 and in PAL regi ...
'' that appear mostly in the
overworld An overworld or a hub world is, in a broad sense, an area within a video game that interconnects all its levels or locations. They are mostly common in role-playing games, though this does not exclude other video game genres, such as some pla ...
and dungeons. Deku are small creatures that have leaves sprouting out from their heads, red glowing eyes and tube-like mouths that can shoot Deku Nuts. They can fly by using large leaves to glide, and some can use the leaves on their head to fly indefinitely after taking off from a Deku Flower. There are four types of Deku depicted in the series: Deku Scrubs, Mad Scrubs, Business Scrubs, and Royal Scrubs. * and Wallmasters are ghostly manifestations of giant hands that drag adventurers back to the entrance of a dungeon. Floormasters split up into smaller versions when the original is attacked. Wallmasters first appeared in ''The Legend of Zelda'' while Floormasters first appeared in ''Ocarina of Time''. Floormasters also appear in ''The Wind Waker'' and ''The Minish Cap''. * are undead creatures wrapped like
mummies A mummy is a dead human or an animal whose soft tissues and Organ (biology), organs have been preserved by either intentional or accidental exposure to Chemical substance, chemicals, extreme cold, very low humidity, or lack of air, so that the ...
. They resemble ReDeads in regards to their slow and zombie-like movement; in some games, setting a Gibdo's bandages alight will reveal a Stalfos or a ReDead underneath. They first appeared in ''The Legend of Zelda''. * are recurring boss monsters which typically resemble giant arthropods with a single eye. The eye serves as their weak point. The original Gohma first appeared in ''The Legend of Zelda'' game. * Guardians are large mechanical foes that can blast enemies with a powerful laser from their single eye. They appear in ''Breath of the Wild''. Guardian Stalkers roam Hyrule by moving on their mechanical legs, whilst Guardian Skywatchers use propellers for locomotion. Producer Eiji Aonuma said that they were based on the octoroks that appear in the original game. * are a recurring enemy and sub-boss in the Legend of Zelda series. The Hinox's single eye is its most vulnerable place, dealing the most damage to it when hit. They are
cyclops In Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, the Cyclopes ( ; , ''Kýklōpes'', "Circle-eyes" or "Round-eyes"; singular Cyclops ; , ''Kýklōps'') are giant one-eyed creatures. Three groups of Cyclopes can be distinguished. In Hesiod's ''Th ...
-like
ogres An ogre (feminine: ogress) is a legendary monster depicted as a large, hideous, man-like being that eats ordinary human beings, especially infants and children. Ogres frequently feature in mythology, folklore, and fiction throughout the world. ...
and have appeared in ''
A Link to the Past is a 1991 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was released in 1991 in Japan and 1992 in North America and Europe. The ...
'', ''
Link's Awakening ''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening'' is a 1993 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It is the first installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series to be released on a handheld game console. ''Link's A ...
'', ''
Four Swords Adventures ''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures'' is a 2004 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the eleventh installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. It was released in 2004 in Japan on March 18, ...
'', ''
Phantom Hourglass is a 2007 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is the fourteenth installment in The Legend of Zelda, ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and the direct sequel to the 2002 GameCube ...
'', ''
A Link Between Worlds ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds'' is a 2013 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is the 17th in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is a sequel to the 1991 title '' The Legend of Z ...
'', '' Tri Force Heroes'', ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. Set at the end of the Zelda timeline, ''Zelda'' timeline, the player controls an amnesiac Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he sets out to save Princess Zelda and prevent ...
'', and most recently ''
Tears of the Kingdom is a 2023 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. The player controls Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link as he searches for Princess Zelda and fights to prevent Ganondorf from destroying Hyrule. ''Tears ...
''. In ''Breath of the Wild'' and ''Tears of the Kingdom'', Hinoxs can be either red, blue or black, depending on their strength. They are the largest monster found within the game and will uproot nearby trees to use as weapons against the player if provoked. Stalnox are skeletal versions of Hinox that appear in ''Breath of the Wild'' and ''Tears of the Kingdom''. * are
bat Bats are flying mammals of the order Chiroptera (). With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most birds, flying with their very long spread-out ...
monsters that often lurk in dark places such as caves, waiting to dive bomb unwary travelers attempting to bite off chunks of flesh. Some Keese have the ability to pick up elements they fly through and there are fire, ice, cursed, and electric variants. They first appeared in ''The Legend of Zelda''. * are yellowish cylindrical monsters that can suck in creatures as large as humans and consume items they carry. They are known for swallowing the shields and tunics that Link uses. Like Likes dissolve into a puddle when killed, leaving the stolen items. They first appeared in ''The Legend of Zelda''. * are swift and cunning
anthropomorphic Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology. Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics to ...
lizards Lizard is the common name used for all squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The ...
that often attack in pairs and can parry and dodge oncoming attacks. They first appeared in ''The Adventure of Link''. In ''Breath of the Wild'', Lizalfos can throw weapons and dash toward their target. * are large, strong
centaur A centaur ( ; ; ), occasionally hippocentaur, also called Ixionidae (), is a creature from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse that was said to live in the mountains of Thessaly. In one version o ...
-like creatures with a head of a
lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
and horns that first appeared in ''The Legend of Zelda''. This creature has multiple variations including red, blue, white, and silver, with each color denoting the Lynel's strength. In ''Breath of the Wild'', Lynels are extremely powerful foes that are resistant to attacks. * are
orc An orc (sometimes spelt ork; ), in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy fiction, is a race of humanoid monsters, which he also calls "goblin". In Tolkien's ''The Lord of the Rings'', orcs appear as a brutish, aggressive, ugly, and malevol ...
-like monsters that serve as Ganon's footsoldiers. In ''The Legend of Zelda'' and ''The Adventure of Link'', Moblins resembled
bulldog The Bulldog is a British breed of dog of mastiff type. It may also be known as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog. It is a stocky, muscular dog of medium size, with a large head, thick folds of skin around the face and shoulders and a rel ...
s, but are
pig The pig (''Sus domesticus''), also called swine (: swine) or hog, is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is named the domestic pig when distinguishing it from other members of the genus '' Sus''. Some authorities cons ...
-like in more recent games. They commonly wield spears, swords, bows, or occasionally massive clubs. They are one of the most common enemies in the games and are considered "mighty", but also "dumb". They are described as greedy, self-possessed creatures, and the major antagonist will commonly use them as mercenaries or summoned monsters. * are
octopus An octopus (: octopuses or octopodes) is a soft-bodied, eight-limbed mollusc of the order Octopoda (, ). The order consists of some 300 species and is grouped within the class Cephalopoda with squids, cuttlefish, and nautiloids. Like oth ...
monsters that have appeared in almost every ''Legend of Zelda'' game (except for ''Twilight Princess''). Octoroks produce rocks within their body that they can fire from their snout via compressed air with the force of a
musket A musket is a muzzle-loaded long gun that appeared as a smoothbore weapon in the early 16th century, at first as a heavier variant of the arquebus, capable of penetrating plate armour. By the mid-16th century, this type of musket gradually dis ...
shot. Some species of Octorok are land-dwelling while others are mostly aquatic. Big Octos are a very large ocean-dwelling breed sometimes known to attack ships. They first appeared in ''The Legend of Zelda''. * are lantern-carrying
ghost In folklore, a ghost is the soul or Spirit (supernatural entity), spirit of a dead Human, person or non-human animal that is believed by some people to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely, from a ...
s formed from concentrated hatred toward the living that freely roam graveyards and other haunted locales. They always carry their signature lanterns. In some editions, they can go invisible when Link is doing a certain action or in a certain form. In ''Tears of the Kingdom,'' they appear in the Depths as obtainable items and a currency for Bargainer Statues. They first appeared in ''The Legend of Zelda''. * are undead creatures resembling zombies with dark brown skin and flat mask-like faces that can paralyze enemies with a scream, and cling to them to drain health away. They first appeared in ''Ocarina of Time''. * are giant
spider Spiders (order (biology), order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight limbs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude spider silk, silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and ran ...
s, named for the bony plate in the shape of a human
skull The skull, or cranium, is typically a bony enclosure around the brain of a vertebrate. In some fish, and amphibians, the skull is of cartilage. The skull is at the head end of the vertebrate. In the human, the skull comprises two prominent ...
that forms their
carapace A carapace is a dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the unde ...
. They are most commonly found in dark places, such as forests, caves, and dungeons but can also sometimes be found in towns at night. Skulltulas and Giant Skulltulas hang from ceiling surfaces, suspended by a strand of silk waiting to drop on unwary prey. * are animated skeletons mostly from the remains of dead warriors who still have a strong will to fight, and serve evil powers such as
Ganon is a character and the main antagonist of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series and franchise, as well as the final Boss (video games), boss in many ''Zelda'' titles. In his humanoid Gerudo form, he is known as A massive and male ...
or
Vaati is a high-fantasy video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments have been outsourced to Capcom, Vanpool and Gr ...
. In ''Ocarina of Time'', by using the Mask of Truth, the player learns from a Gossip Stone that humans that get lost while in the Lost Woods will become Stalfos. They first appeared in ''The Legend of Zelda''. * are cyclopean four-legged
insect Insects (from Latin ') are Hexapoda, hexapod invertebrates of the class (biology), class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (Insect morphology#Head, head, ...
oid creatures who use their powerful legs to leap upon and attack prey. Blue Tektites can walk on water, and both Blue and Red Tektites can jump up cliffs. They first appeared in ''The Legend of Zelda''. * are magician-like creatures that wear wizard robes and often use fire and ice magic. They first appeared in ''
The Legend of Zelda is a media franchise, video game series created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo; some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flags ...
''. ''Breath of the Wild'' introduced elemental Wizzrobes, who use various magical rods to summon elemental attacks, elemental enemies and even change the weather accordingly. The regular types are the Fire, Electric and Ice Wizzrobes, but each has a more powerful variant. These are known as Meteo and Thunder Wizzrobes, and Blizzrobes respectively.


Reception

In their January 2010 issue, ''
Nintendo Power ''Nintendo Power'' was a video game news and strategy magazine from Nintendo of America, first published in July/August 1988 as Nintendo's official print magazine for North America. The magazine's publication was initially done monthly by Ninte ...
'' listed Hyrule as one of the greatest Nintendo locations, citing the vast number of areas to explore, as well as referencing players' first experiences with the Lost Woods and Death Mountain as highlights of the players' adventures. Steve Watts of ''
GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' praised the original game world, commenting that although it is minimalist, it, "conveys the feeling of going on a grand adventure through the wilderness, and the lack of hand-holding that would come to define later ''Zelda'' games makes the world feel that much more expansive and mysterious". Yannick LeJacq for ''
Kotaku ''Kotaku'' is a video game website and blog that was originally launched in 2004 as part of the Gawker Media network. Notable former contributors to the site include Luke Smith, Cecilia D'Anastasio, Tim Rogers, and Jason Schreier. History ...
'' commented that "Hyrule is one of the most iconic settings in the history of video games. ''The Legend of Zelda'' players have been poring over it in one way or another for almost 30 years now". ''
Polygon In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure made up of line segments connected to form a closed polygonal chain. The segments of a closed polygonal chain are called its '' edges'' or ''sides''. The points where two edges meet are the polygon ...
'''s Jeremy Parish remarked on the impact that Hyrule and its centrepiece Hyrule Field had on gamers in ''Ocarina of Time''. He commented: "Open game worlds existed before ''Ocarina of Time''. And in truth, ''Ocarina''s rendition of Hyrule isn't even really all that open. But the game explored the relationship between its environments, the camera's 3D perspective and Link's place in it all to create a realm that felt far more like a real location than the game worlds that had come before it". ''
Destructoid ''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017 and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022. Histor ...
'' also noted Hyrule's impact in ''Ocarina of Time'', saying "there was nothing else like it before 1998" and continued: "The awesome thing about Hyrule is that I can honestly see a place like it existing in our world. It's not just some fantasy, flashy place like you'd find in the ''
Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and Cultural impact of Star Wars, quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop cu ...
'' universe. It's meant to look like the real world, and Miyamoto achieved that goal in a way no one would have expected without actually seeing it first". The open world of Hyrule in ''Breath of the Wild'' has received praise for its design. Noelle Warner of ''Destructoid'' ranked all of the settlements in ''Breath of the Wild'' and chose Tarrey Town as the favourite location, because players must build it from the ground up, making it one of the longest side quests in the game. Kate Gray, writing for ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'', was impressed by the beauty and large scale of the game world, noting that "the greens of the open plains contrast with the dark black of Death Mountain, which is streaked with orange lava on the distant horizon". She also commented on the "range of quiet, clever techniques designed to help players navigate the environment". Andrew Webster of ''
The Verge ''The Verge'' is an American Technology journalism, technology news website headquarters, headquartered in Lower Manhattan, New York City and operated by Vox Media. The website publishes news, feature stories, guidebooks, product reviews, cons ...
'' responded positively to the grandness of the game's massive open world: "The scale could have been daunting, but the joy of discovery and the satisfaction that comes from finding your own way make it inviting instead". Senior editor Caty McCarthy of ''
USgamer Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British digital media company based in London. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and ot ...
'' ranked the in-game map of ''A Link to the Past'' as the best video game map, describing it as "perfect" world design in terms of the way it integrates with the gameplay. ''
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
'' ranked Hyrule as the sixth greatest game world, commenting that "few game worlds manage to leave as indelible an impression on the collective gaming subconscious as ''Zelda'' has. For that alone it ranks up there as one of the best, most fully realized worlds in all of gaming". In 2021, Evan Narcisse of ''Kotaku'' listed Hyrule as one of the richest sci-fi and fantasy worlds in video games.


Influence and legacy

Since the release of the original ''The Legend of Zelda game'', critics have commented on the influence and legacy of ''The Legend of Zelda'' universe on the gaming industry. Ozzie Mejia of ''
Shacknews ''Shacknews'' is an American video game journalism website founded in 1996. It that publishes news articles, reviews, and cheat codes. History ''Shacknews'' was founded in 1996 by Steve Gibson. The website, originally named 'Quakeholio', was ...
'' highlighted the importance of the original ''The Legend of Zelda'': "Before the open worlds of a ''
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'', a ''
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'', or a ''
Skyrim ''The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'' is a 2011 action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fifth main installment in ''The Elder Scrolls'' series, following ''The Elder Scrolls IV: Obli ...
'', there was the intimidating land of Hyrule. ''The Legend of Zelda'' has done more than shape the series as it's known today. It is known for influencing many of today's best games and its formula has inspired many of today's most recognizable game developers, both in the mainstream and indie space". Liz Finnegan for '' The Escapist'' commented on the original game's influence on the RPG genre, particularly its nonlinear open world, and opined that "''Zelda''s design inspired countless other titles to adopt the action-adventure-exploration hybrid with a top-down perspective and expansive, cohesive overworld. These games have long since been informally dubbed "''Zelda'' clones". Christian Donlan of ''
Eurogamer ''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 alongside parent company Gamer Network. In 2008, it started in the formerly eponymous trade fair EGX (Eurogamer Expo until 2013) organised by its parent company. Fr ...
'' noted the similarity and influence that Hyrule had on ''
Dark Souls is a dark fantasy action role-playing game series developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the series began with the release of ''Dark Souls (video game), Dark Souls'' (2011) and has ...
'', comparing both kingdoms: "In the original ''Legend of Zelda'', however, Hyrule feels, well, a bit more like Lordran—a place of scarred earth and wasteland, parched and rugged and filled with horrible creatures that erupt from the sands or move in staggering hops". The original game was a phenomenal commercial success for Nintendo, selling over 6.5 million copies, and has been described by many critics as one of the greatest video games of all time. ''
USGamer Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British digital media company based in London. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and ot ...
s Nadia Oxford commented on the significance of ''Ocarina of Time'' and considered it to be "a genius work of game design". She said that "it brought the traditionally top-down series into a fully 3D realm while successfully preserving the heart and soul of previous ''Zelda'' games. Its 'Z-targeting' mechanic refined the clumsy auto-targeting systems that made 3D console games of the day feel inferior to 3D action games on the PC. Finally, it presented a story about healing a broken world". Heather Alexandra, writing for ''
Kotaku ''Kotaku'' is a video game website and blog that was originally launched in 2004 as part of the Gawker Media network. Notable former contributors to the site include Luke Smith, Cecilia D'Anastasio, Tim Rogers, and Jason Schreier. History ...
'', remarked on the impact of the game's release: "There have been countless open world games since 1998, but ''Ocarina of Time'' was the moment when the concept of massive, interconnected worlds began to really crystalize". Keza MacDonald of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' also commented on the influence of ''Ocarina of Time'', noting that it was one of the first real 3D adventures and that it "remains eminently playable today because so many of the things it invented became standard for any 3D game that came after it". Tom Power of ''
Gamesradar ''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites ''Total Film'', '' SFX'', '' Edge'' and ''Computer ...
'' opined that the game is often considered to be the greatest video game due to its technological innovations: "The problems Nintendo solved back then have been influential across gaming genres and, whilst public acknowledgment of this influence is thin on the ground, it's difficult not to view ''Ocarina of Time'' as one of the fathers of modern gaming". In the months following the release of ''Breath of the Wild'' in 2017, many video game developers were influenced by its open world design. Alx Preston, creator of ''
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'', remarked that "the sense of freedom and experimentation is incredibly inspiring".
Adam Saltsman Adam Saltsman, also known as Adam Atomic, is an American indie video game designer best known for creating the endless runner ''Canabalt''. He is a founder of Semi Secret Software and Finji video game studios. Career Flixel (2008-11) Saltsm ...
, creator of ''
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'', commented on the consistency of the game environment and the player's ability to experiment.
Vlambeer Vlambeer is a Dutch independent video game developer based in Utrecht. Founded in 2010, the studio was composed of Rami Ismail and Jan Willem Nijman. The studio is known for the games ''Super Crate Box'' (2010), ''Serious Sam: The Random Encount ...
's
Rami Ismail Rami Ismail (born 30 October 1988) is a Dutch-Egyptian independent video game developer. He is further known for being a spokesperson within the video game industry on the topics of diversity and reaching out to game developers from developing ...
said that "no game has done verticality as well as ''BotW''". Sam Byford of ''
The Verge ''The Verge'' is an American Technology journalism, technology news website headquarters, headquartered in Lower Manhattan, New York City and operated by Vox Media. The website publishes news, feature stories, guidebooks, product reviews, cons ...
'' commented on the impact of ''Breath of the Wilds open world on the video game industry, describing it as a "revolutionary approach to open-world game design". He cited several other subsequent game worlds that bear similarities to ''Breath of the Wild'', including ''
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'', ''
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'' and ''
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''. Both the
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development team of ''Genshin Impact'' and Sam Barlow, creator of '' Telling Lies'' have cited ''Breath of the Wild'' as a significant source of inspiration. ''
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'' director
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also said that he was influenced by ''Breath of the Wild''s open world. Upon its release, ''Breath of the Wild'' achieved critical acclaim and was the biggest commercial success of the franchise and one of the
best-selling video games This is a list of fifty video games that have verifiably sold the highest number of software units worldwide. The best-selling video game to date is ''Minecraft'', a 2011 multi-platform sandbox game released by Mojang. As of October 2023, it ...
, selling 29 million copies on the
Nintendo Switch The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...
as of December 2022 and over 1.6 million copies on the
Wii U The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4. The W ...
.


Notes


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Universe of Legend of Zelda Fantasy worlds Fictional countries in other worlds The Legend of Zelda Video game locations The Legend of Zelda characters Fantasy creatures
Legend of Zelda is a media franchise, video game series created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo; some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flags ...
Legend of Zelda is a media franchise, video game series created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo; some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flags ...
Fictional elements introduced in 1986