The Zelda Timeline Explained in 15 Minutes

From Skyward Sword to Tears of the Kingdom, let's break the Zelda Timeline down... on the clock.
WARNING: This video contains spoilers for Tears of the Kingdom.

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► Sources:

Hyrule Historia, Zelda Encyclopedia

► Music in this video:
Nintendo

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[charlieogre]

At what point in the timeline does Link wander off to race go-karts?

[col.sambers]

The idea of a refounding of Hyrule makes so much more sense then trying to explain how multiple Zeldas, Master Swords, and Ganondorfs could all be existing simultaneously. Seriously thank you so much for this theory it makes a whole lot of sense and allows us to make even further speculations and infinite possibilities for things that could take place in between the vast time gap.

[Peterrific]

While many are not fans of the way Tears of the Kingdom caused confusion with the reuse of names and such, I really really do. As Mark Twain allegedly once quipped: "History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes." This is Hyrule History rhyming, echoing the past. Just like the foundation of all its conflicts are echoes of the previous, constant cycles of incarnation very similar to one another, the grander history of Hyrule rhymes as well. I think it's a great story beat, though it could perhaps have been pulled off a little better

[emmamiller.]

This is probably one of the quickest explanations I’ve seen when it comes to this timeline. This was really well explained, well done.

[Pheicou]

I want everyone involved in the Zelda movie to watch this video at least once.

[SparksOpus]

Even though BotW and TotK create a lot of discussions online when it comes to the Timeline placement, I think we can all agree on the overall logic in this list. And I'm glad that there is a rather simplified version as a video now available. So thank you very much for that video! :)

[LosDStoNerd]

My personal head canon is that there was a Hero & a Zelda who had a battle so grand against Ganondorf, it rippled across all timelines & somehow caused them all to converge into one. Because of that convergence, the Hyrule's of each timeline overlapped & destroyed each other, thus leading to the refounding of the Hyrule we are currently familiar with in the Age of the Wild. It would also explain why we see various references from all 3 timelines in this single Hyrule as well. As for what the future holds, my theory is that history may repeat itself & past events from the Age of Myth will happen again in this new unified timeline, albeit in a different way.

[BlazingPhoenixGames]

It makes sense that BOTW and TOTK's Hyrule is a re-founding after all timelines, not directly after Skyward Sword, but at the end of any timeline branch or the convergence of all timelines, Hyrule fell into decline or chaos again. Rauru and Sonia likely unified the kingdom against this, founding it when Ganon's monsters were already a threat, leading to the creation of the Shrines of Light to seal them away. Personally, I formerly theorised that the events from the past of Tears of the Kingdom to the present of TOTK occur in an alternate timeline to Skyward Sword. Ganondorf, the incarnation of Demise's hatred, is sealed, and calamities strike the kingdom, prompting the Sheikah 10, 000 years before BOTW to create ancient weaponry in anticipation of these events.

[AzurePip]

Great video! I was confused about the official timeline and how each game followed one another, so this really helped me to better understand the sequence of events.

[coolfreshguy]

I'm constantly impressed by your editing and content. Superb video as always!

[lowesgameing]

We need the interloper war to be made into a game because I miss the twili

[wolffgamerzach]

You make amazing content and this video is no different. I am a huge fan of Zelda and seeing your quick 15 minute explanation of the timeline is amazing! Thank you!

[HalogenFEAR]

"The imaginativly named ''New Hryule, " was just perfect.

[The_Orange_Fan]

The Legend of Zelda's timeline is definitely part of what makes the series a fascinating gaming experience for me. Not every little detail may fit perfectly together, retcons are to be expected and Nintendo obviously prioritizes gameplay above continuity but I can still enjoy the games for what they are and still find fun in learning how they piece together at the same time; it doesn't have to be an "either or" situation as some make it out to be.

Even before the developer interview brought it up, I stood by the belief that Zonai Rauru is simply the co-founder and 1st king of the most recent iteration of Hyrule. The developers bringing up the "kingdom was re-established after falling" theory in said interview strengthens this belief for me.

[wace]

I agree with your placement for totks pre story, I thought that it wouldn't make sense if it was before minish and after skyward since, there are multiple other Ganondorfs, and as we see in botw and totk that even if 100 years pass another Geruedo king would not be born if ones already alive. Many races are also present in the pre story that skyward and minish lack, such as the Rito and Koroks. Overall it would make the most sense that totks pre story is tooken after all the previous games and around 10, 000 - 30, 000 years before botw/totk, we also see no calamity in the past games according to the timeline even though the calamity is told as a repeated thing. Hyrule was likely abandoned or it's history just forgotten in another war long ago because the land of Hyrule seemed separated by its races until Rauru united them once again. I hope we will explore that hopefully in another direct sequel along with triforce, I need a botw 3/totk 2 with more linear dungeons and story that's well told.

[viravian]

Zeltik: "All my training has prepared me for this moment. 3...2...1...go."
Excellent summary. 👍

[sadieluellen]

I know that the director of ToTK was asked about Hyrules founding and he pretty much said it was more of a refounding. so thats been confirmed. This was fantastic!!!!

[Skuttleskull]

thanks for more zelda content Zeltik. i know its been a little hard to make lately with the lack of lore in TotK

[elsiebartlett]

I can’t remember who came up with this mini-theory, but I still like the idea that the downfall timeline isn’t a “what-if” but the original course of events. In the theory, the wish made on the Triforce (presumably) at the end of Zelda II is to undo ganon’s reign—the only way to do so being to change the fate of OoT Link (who failed) by sealing him in the sacred realm to age him until he would be prepared to defeat Ganondorf (in my head canon, Ganondorf also gets sloppy and too relaxed in his seven year unchecked rule which allows link to surprise and get the better of him). Just explains the downfall timeline’s existence to me and its historical place more than the “what-if”.

I love your placement of BotW and TotK though, great video!

[zkproductions]

You know it’s a good day when Zeltik uploads