During an event by Nintendo, in Sydney called Nintendo Live 2024 there was a surprising announcement made that the well received game Breath Of The Wild and its upcoming sequel Tears of the Kingdom don’t follow the timeline of the Legend of Zelda series as we know it.
Fans have been passionately. Analyzing the placement of Breath Of The Wild, within the expansive Zelda series timeline for years now. Recently though Nintendo made a statement that has essentially put an end to all those debates and analyses. The game and its upcoming sequel exist in a unique world of their own which is not tied to the intricate timelines of the previous 19 Zelda games that have been neatly categorized into “Hero is Defeated” and “Hero is Triumphant” storylines.
A New Era for Zelda
The discovery that Breath Of The Wild and Tears of the Kingdom exist beyond the known Zelda timeline represents a change, in how fans view and interact with the series. Some may feel let down by this revelation as it disrupts their attempts to weave a story throughout all the games. On the hand some might welcome the creative freedom it gives Nintendo to delve into fresh themes and concepts without being tied down by the franchises complex past.
Maybe looking at the Legend of Zelda series like a toy chest with favorite characters and iconic places could make it more enjoyable for fans to see how things get mixed up and reimagined in each new game release, like Breath Of The Wild! Instead of sticking to a timeline that could stifle creativity and fresh ideas for the games themselves.
