The title and release date of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom have finally been revealed, and Zelda fans may want to catch up by replaying some of the series before diving into BOTW's sequel next year. Zelda’s decades-long history is packed with plenty of lore, legends, and tales of Heroes across its many eras, and TOTK is gearing up to be another major installment in the series’ overarching story. However, with 19 official titles in the mainline canon alone, it’s hard to know where to start with a thorough Legend of Zelda replay.

The story of Zelda follows the reincarnations of the Goddess and her Chosen Hero as they rise time and time again to protect their kingdom from Ganon’s malice. Their struggles to protect and wield the Triforce throughout Hyrule’s history give way to new legends in each era of the timeline, creating a centuries-long story spanning countless generations. Unfortunately, Link and Zelda’s frequent use of time travel has resulted in a deeply fractured and somewhat confusing timeline, making it difficult to figure out which games are most relevant to its overarching narrative.

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There are three main branches of the Zelda timeline which split from one another after the events of Ocarina of Time. BOTW’s developers have ambiguously stated that the game takes place at the end of the Zelda timeline, though the exact branch it belongs in remains to be confirmed. Bits and pieces of lore referenced in BOTW and TOTK’s trailers thus far seem to include details from all three branches, potentially implying that these games will be connected to the timeline in its entirety. A full playthrough of every single mainline Zelda game before TOTK’s release would be a near-impossible feat, but Zelda fans should be sure to revisit these major titles.

Skyward Sword Sets The Legend Of Zelda In Motion

Key art of Link riding his Loftwing in Skyward Sword. Several other Loftwings can be seen in the background flying around Skyloft, the floating town where Link grew up.

Zelda's timeline starts with Skyward Sword, making it a prequel to every other mainline title in the franchise. After the Goddess Hylia sacrificed her immortality to wield the Triforce against Demise, she was reincarnated as the mortal Zelda in the cloud city of Skyloft. After Demise’s resurrection was thwarted by her and Link, however, he cursed their bloodlines to be eternally plagued by his malice.

There's no better way to begin a revisit of The Legend of Series than with the first story in its saga, and Skyward Sword’s story and lore present players with plenty to take note of before playing TOTK. Not only are BOTW’s Goddess statues the very same statues of Hylia that appear in the series’ prequel, but Princess Zelda’s struggle to connect with the Goddess in BOTW may circle back to the lore that was introduced in Skyward Sword. More importantly, TOTK’s trailers have confirmed a return to the Sky world above Hyrule, so fans of Skyward Sword will likely want to see how this area has changed in the centuries since the Era of Sky.

Ocarina Of Time Is The Nexus Of Zelda's Three Timelines

Artwork for Ocarina of Time 3D, showing Link riding Epona through Hyrule Field.

Ocarina of Time is often considered to be the definitive Zelda game as it introduced much of the series’ most important lore while simultaneously splitting its timeline. Ocarina’s use of time travel via the Ocarina of Time, the Master Sword, and the Door of Time opened the path to the Sacred Realm, allowing Ganondorf to enter and claim the Triforce. Depending on the outcome of Link’s final battle against Demon King Ganon, the timeline splits into three distinct branches, any of which could be relevant again in TOTK.

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If Link falls in battle at the end of Ocarina of Time, the Demon King is free to claim the Triforce and lay waste to Hyrule until the Seven Sages successfully seal Ganon inside the Sacred Realm. If Link is victorious, Princess Zelda uses the Ocarina to send him back to his original era, breaking the timeline into two separate paths as the Triforce’s pieces are scattered through time. The Triforce of Courage returns to the past with Link, whereas the Triforce of Wisdom remains in the future with Zelda after his departure.

While it’s unclear which of these timeline branches BOTW and TOTK belong to, the events of Ocarina are the key to understanding the entirety of Zelda’s overarching lore. It also seems that TOTK will draw heavily on the plot, themes, and mechanics introduced in Ocarina of Time as the latest trailer revealed an owl-like figure surrounded by seven spirals reminiscent of Ocarina’s Seven Sages. BOTW had connections to Ocarina of Time as well, leaving plenty of opportunities for Nintendo to expand upon them in its sequel. Regardless, Ocarina of Time is among the most important titles in the Zelda franchise, making it well worth the replay before TOTK’s release.

Twilight Princess May Directly Influence TOTK

Key art of Twilight Princess' remaster featuring a collage of the game's main cast.

Despite TOTK’s ambiguous position on The Legend of Zelda timeline, it seems that the game may connect directly to Twilight Princess, as many fans have already begun to speculate. Not only are the Heroes of Sky, Time, and Twilight directly referenced by Princess Zelda in BOTW, but several notable details in TOTK’s trailers seem to reference the Twilight Realm as well. Fans were quick to spot the snake and ouroboros imagery in the most recent trailer (seen below), which is strikingly similar to the ornamentation in the throne room of the Palace of Twilight where Link encountered Zant the Usurper in Twilight Princess.

In Twilight Princess, Link must work with Midna in order to save both of their realms from Zant as his invasion of Hyrule threatens to resurrect Ganondorf. It’s said that the Twilight Realm, the home of the Twili, served as a prison for an ancient tribe who attempted to use magic to gain control of the Sacred Realm. The connections between BOTW, TOTK, and Twilight Princess thus far seem to suggest that the Twili may be connected to the ancient Zonai tribe that mysteriously vanished from Hyrule long before the events of BOTW, though this is only a theory based on the trailers released for TOTK thus far.

If the Zonai tribe returns in TOTK, it’s possible that the many timeline mysteries raised by Twilight Princess’ plot may finally be resolved. This ancient tribe may even be connected to the Interloper War that threw Hyrule into a state of chaos in the years following Hyrule’s establishment sometime after Skyward Sword, which could have resulted in their imprisonment in the Twilight Realm. While any potential connections between the Zonai and Twili have yet to be confirmed, it would explain both the vanishing of the Zonai and the mysterious origins of the Twili in an ancient era closer to Hyrule’s founding. In any case, it seems likely that Twilight Princess’ plot and lore will be relevant again in Tears of the Kingdom, making it a must-play for fans hoping to catch up on The Legend of Zelda lore.

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Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube