The Legend of Zelda is brimming with magical power and mystical worlds, and Tears of the Kingdom could be setting itself up to revisit some of the legendary realms that have previously appeared in the franchise. As Breath of the Wild’s story continues in the upcoming sequel scheduled for release next May, it seems that some plots from previous Zelda eras may also come to a fateful conclusion in this next game. Link has already been shown exploring a sky zone reminiscent of Skyloft in TOTK’s trailers, but it’s likely that magical realms beyond the physical bounds of Hyrule will make their return as well.
While most of Link’s adventures through The Legend of Zelda have taken him to the far reaches of Hyrule kingdom, plenty of other lands and locations have taken him on journeys of their own throughout the series. Games like Majora’s Mask have notably taken Link to faraway lands, and others like Link’s Awakening carry him to mystical dream worlds in another reality entirely. However, certain realms parallel to Hyrule appear to influence its long history across multiple eras of the Zelda timeline, meaning that they may reappear in future titles as well.
Since Breath of the Wild is said to take place at the very end of the Zelda timeline, it stands to reason that its sequel may reincorporate past plots, characters, and locations to resolve various aspects of the series narrative. Fans have been quick to note the references to games like Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword already present in both BOTW and the three TOTK trailers released so far. As such, it’s possible that the fate set in motion by the events of TOTK’s predecessors may lead to a reappearance of Zelda’s most important magical realms in the upcoming game.
The Sacred Realm Could Return In The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Fans of The Legend of Zelda are likely familiar with the Sacred Realm as this spiritual space housed the Triforce for much of Hyrule’s history. The Sacred Realm was particularly important in Ocarina of Time as Link and Zelda’s quest required them to access the Sacred Realm in an attempt to stop Ganondorf from claiming the Triforce’s power. Once opened, however, the Sacred Realm was invaded by Ganondorf, who stole the Triforce and caused it to shatter into three pieces.
While the Sacred Realm is spoken of as a land of light, its divine power has sparked countless conflicts across Hyrule’s history. Civil wars and chaotic battles of good and evil have been waged over its sacred Triforce, and while Hyrule’s royal family has long stood as the protectors of the Sacred Realm, their efforts to protect the Triforce have often led to disaster for their kingdom. As Ganon’s malice invades Hyrule once more in Tears of the Kingdom, it seems that the fight for the Sacred Realm is far from over.
Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Could Include The Twilight Realm
The Twilight Realm of Twilight Princess is a parallel world to Hyrule, existing in a state of peace and serenity for most of its history. This shadowy realm is inhabited by Twili, the descendants of a group of sorcerers banished from Hyrule after they attempted to control the Sacred Realm with their magic. It’s said that this conflict sparked a civil war within Hyrule, but it’s unclear exactly who the Twili were before they were imprisoned in the Twilight Realm.
Fans were quick to note that the trailers released for Tears of the Kingdom thus far have featured some notable Twili imagery, suggesting a strong possibility of this Realm’s relevance in the upcoming game. In particular, the snake and Ouroboros images that appear in TOTK’s trailers are extremely similar to the snake ornaments that decorated the throne room of the Palace of Twilight. These snakelike carvings and hieroglyphs notably appear in the Zonai Ruins in BOTW as well, sparking plenty of theories about connections between the two.
The mysterious Zonai tribe is said to have vanished from Hyrule in an ancient time, but details regarding who they were and where they went are unknown. It’s possible that the Zonai tribe was the very same group of interlopers who once attempted to wield their magic over the Sacred Realm to bend it to their will, causing them to be imprisoned in the Twilight Realm. If the Zonai and the Twili truly are connected, then it stands to reason that the Twilight Realm will make another appearance as Tears of the Kingdom explores the mysteries of this ancient tribe.
Tears Of The Kingdom Could See The Return Of Ganon's Dark World
The Dark World is a realm of evil created by Ganon’s corruption of the Sacred Realm in The Legend of Zelda series. While the Sacred Realm itself may return in TOTK, it’s possible that the twisted Dark World may make an appearance, too. Ganon’s malice is shown to corrupt most of Hyrule in BOTW, making it possible for it to extend into the game’s iteration of the Sacred Realm as well.
That said, it’s unclear exactly what state Zelda’s Sacred Realm is in during the era of Breath of the Wild. The game’s somewhat ambiguous timeline placement makes it difficult to determine which branch it belongs to, though it’s said to take place at the end of the story. It’s possible that the Sacred Realm remains a safe land of light in this era, but there’s an equal chance that Ganon’s malice has corrupted this divine realm once again. As such, fans have speculated that BOTW and TOTK’s stories will lead to the ending of the fractured Zelda timeline.
If Tears of the Kingdom involves time travel as Zelda fans have already begun to theorize, it’s possible that Link and Zelda will need to access the Sacred Realm, Dark World, or both in order to defeat Calamity Ganon once and for all. The Sacred Realm has already been shown to be capable of enabling time travel, as previously shown in Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time. However, it’s also possible that the Dark World’s evil would prevent such a feat if it is, in fact, corrupted by Ganon’s malice, which may require players to restore the legendary Golden Land once more. Link and Zelda’s quest to save Hyrule may take them through multiple mystical realms in Tears of the Kingdom, but players will have to wait until the game’s release next year to know for certain.