The Legend of Zelda's Hyrule is a mythical kingdom serving as the center stage for many of the grand tales and adventures embarked upon in the series. Created by game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, The Legend of Zelda, was developed and published by Nintendo. The series debuted February 21, 1986, and later in North America and Europe in 1987. Since the franchise's release, over 108.91 million units have entered the hands of gamers all around the world.
Over the decades, Hyrule has grown into an iconic setting in video games. Of the nineteen official Nintendo titles, Hyrule was either set as the background or mentioned in fifteen of them. Its context within the franchise's universe has inspired fan-fiction across forums and non-canon books. Is Hyrule an otherworldy-dimension or perhaps its own planet? That is to say, the relationship between Hyrule and other worlds, realms, and various lands is unclear.
The Legend of Zelda Universe
There are three distinct areas in the Zelda universe: the Heavens, Hyrule and the Underworld. The Heavens exist on a higher plane than Hyrule and the Underworld lies beneath them both. Outside of these primary regions exist the Minish World and the world of Lorule. Within Hyrule exist separate regions called the Light World, the Land of the Spirits of Good, New Hyrule, Open Sea, and the Neighboring Sea. Of notable importance is the Light World because it's home to the Kingdom of Hyrule, which is the primary setting for many of The Legend of Zelda's tales. Neighboring the Kingdom of Hyrule to the north is Hytopia, which serves as the setting of Tri Force Heroes.
Furthermore, there are several parallel worlds and dimensions connected to the Kingdom of Hyrule. To name a few, Termina is a parallel version of the Kingdom of Hyrule. It came to fruition as a result of Skull Kid's burdened heart and painful memories. Its existence was temporary, but its pathway and world were located within Hyrule's kingdom. Likewise, Twilight Princess took place in the Twilight Realm, a parallel version of the Light World existing "behind" it.
The geographical context of the Kingdom of Hyrule in reference to the "physical" regions, in comparison to environments like "realms", is obscure. However, the existence of additional physical regions surrounding the Kingdom of Hyrule supports the notion that Hyrule itself is its own world. Similar to Hytopia, New Hyrule, is a kingdom founded by Tetra, a reoccurring character also known as Dazel. New Hyrule is located in a large region of Hyrule called Land of the Spirits of Good. Furthermore, there are bodies of water like the Open Sea, a worldwide ocean, connected to the Land of the Spirits of Good. After an event known as the Great Flood, which flooded the Kingdom of Hyrule, The Neighboring Sea is now adjacent to the Great Sea.
The Allure of Mystery
While the general consensus is that Hyrule is its own world, its slight mysticism allows for open-ended discussion. Moreover, Hyrule's expansive lore, mysticism and puzzling context within the game's universe stimulates the imagination. Enthusiasts and writers have created unique theories popularized throughout fan fiction forums. The franchise's ability to inspire creative works from its community proves players will always be enamored with The Legend of Zelda's games and tales of adventure.