The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's villain was heard for the first time in the latest trailer, but their identity is still a secret. If what has been shown is any indication, Hyrule is in serious danger from this new threat despite Link's victory in BOTW. Tears of the Kingdom's villain is already building up to be one of Link's scariest enemies yet.
In the trailer featured in February 2023's Nintendo Direct, a voice is heard commanding Ganon's minion's to attack. The voice is vicious and cruel, making his words scarily impactful. As the Blood Moon rises in the sky, he demands that his minions leave no survivors. Whoever this figure is, it is clear from the outset that they possess an intense hatred for Hyrule, as well as the power to destroy it. Voice acting is rare in Zelda games, and that makes the villain's hateful declaration in the trailer more powerful as a result - butTOTK's villain may not actually be Ganondorf.
Who Was Talking In Tears Of The Kingdom's Gameplay Trailer
The voice in Tears of the Kingdom's trailer could easily belong to Ganondorf. One shot in the trailer shows a figure that looks like an undead version of Ganondorf awakening with glowing eyes. Due to Gerudo men being exceedingly rare, this could easily point to this figure being a reincarnation of him. Since Ganon is the series' main antagonist and also shares the traits of the mysterious voice, he would fit perfectly into the role despite his defeat in BOTW. While he is an obvious option, the question is whether Tears of the Kingdom's story will need Ganondorf/Ganon as the villain again after Calamity Ganon's defeat.
Who Tears Of The Kingdom's Villain Could Be, If Not Ganondorf
If not Ganon/Ganondorf, then there are other strong candidates for who Tears of the Kingdom's villain is. He could be a high-ranking member of Ganon's forces, such as a general or advisor. That would explain his control over Ganon's minions, as well as his great power. Likewise, he could be a fanatical follower of Ganon seeking revenge for Calamity Ganon's defeat. While that would make his power level harder to explain, it would provide a motive for their violent hatred of Hyrule and desire for its destruction. Since the game has already shown powers similar to Calamity Ganon's being used, Tears of The Kingdom's villain almost certainly has a connection to him.
One more option for TOTK's villain is one of the few evil beings stronger than Ganon, Demise. In the series, Demise is said to reincarnate due to his undying hatred for the Hero of Hyrule and is destined to fight with him over and over. It's possible that after Calamity Ganon's downfall, Demise was so enraged by his defeat that he assumes his true form to fight Link personally. Since Ganon and Demise have similar appearances, the figure with glowing eyes could potentially be him reborn as himself. Demise's power would give Zelda plenty of reason to fear what is likely to be Tears of the Kingdom's final boss.
Even without showing the speaker, this villainous voice added a lot of weight to Tears of the Kingdom's latest trailer. It shows that even though Link triumphed over Calamity Ganon, Hyrule is still far from safe, and there is still work for the hero to do. Tears of the Kingdom's villain is already a frightful presence, and he is certain to be a nightmare for both Link and the land of Hyrule.
Source: Nintendo Of America/YouTube