zeldaandfairies

(This article has been written with no spoilers and based solely on trailers and rumors in the Zelda fandom.)

With the latest Breath of the Wild trailer being released during the Nintendo Switch Presentation, hundreds of articles have sprung up recently, analyzing every tidbit of information they could find. This unfortunately… IS ONE OF THOSE ARTICLES.

So far, I’ve noticed that this game doesn’t seem to completely fit into the Hyrule Historia’s timeline. Instead, BotW grasps at every single Zelda game made by Nintendo. There are many references to other games throughout Breath of the Wild’s map. But I believe that’s all they are. Just references. There are many who believe that because there are similar items, races, or settings across then they have to share a timeline. I don’t really believe that the timeline is all that important. Instead, I pay more attention to the games that do have a sequel, like Ocarina of time (with Majora’s mask and Twilight Princess) and Phantom Hourglass (with Spirit Tracks). (Reggie revealed that there might be a sequel for Breath of the Wild and that just- hhh its all so exciting!!!) But for the sake of how awesome this game is I would love to dive in and speculate.

There are already theories that BotW either come after Wind Waker or Twilight Princess, both of which are on separate branches of the timeline. So which is correct?

BotW has featured similar races with Wind Waker such as the Koroks, Gorons, and Zoras. The Great Deku tree appears surrounded by Koroks just as he was in Wind Waker, though Link has no memory of him. (Is this Link one we have met already then? Could this be Wind Waker Link and Tetra? Doubtful since Zelda appears to have a father in this game.)

These bird-like creatures we see in BotW may also be ancestors of the Rito. Then again, however, they could be ancestors of the Oocca.

The Zora also appear very similar Twilight Queen’s Rutela. Perhaps they are the descendants of Prince Ralis’s in BotW.

In one of the trailers, it was also noted by members of the Zelda Fandom that Twilight princess’s Hyrule Castle Town’s Central Square featured in ruins, their flags still flying, however.

A temple featured in Breath of the Wild also bears a striking to resemblance to Twilight Princess’s Arbiter’s Grounds.

Majora’s Mask shares the same timeline as Twilight Princess and I noted that the Gorons in either game are quite similar. These Gorons are more hairy than most Gorons in the other timelines. The one closest in resemblance is that of Darmani. If this is the case, I believe that these Gorons are descended from the ones in Goron Village. They are the descendants of the Goron Elder’s Son.

The Gerudo are present in Majora’s Mask and Ocarina of Time so this also fulfills that timeline.

Then comes the prospect of the Sheikahs. This game seems to be heavily reliant on their past or present since we do not know much about them. An old woman speaks in the newest trailer and I assume that this must be Impa’s voice. She could be one of the last remaining Sheikah or just a memory recorded and left behind. If that is the case, then the Sheikah like being we saw in the recent trailer may be someone whose been resurrected or mind controlled. This might be possible in this more technological Zelda world. They are now evil beings, or have they turned against the Royal Family? Their upside-down masks remind me very much of the blasphemous statues featured in Majora’s Mask.

With all of these factors in mind, if BotW were to be set in one timeline only, I believe it would be the Hero is Successful timeline’s child era where the sacred realm remains protected.

If this game does not just simply reference other games with its similar characteristics, then perhaps this would mean that this game combines all timelines or is a different universe all in itself.

What do you believe? Where do you think Breath of the Wild is on the Zelda Timeline? Or would you like to forget the Timeline even exists? Let me know in the comments below!