The more incarnations of The Legend of Zelda that Nintendo has created, the hotter the debate surrounding the timeline has become. In 2011, that debate was finally laid to rest thanks to the Hyrule Historia, a book laying out the official order in which Link and Zelda's adventures were meant to be arranged. Then, several years later, that timeline was amended. Additionally, more games are released regularly, which warrants more debate.

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There's still plenty of discussion to be had for the best entry point into the franchise, however, with so many different Zelda games to choose from. Even so, for players who love to play a franchise by following its overarching plot, the timeline placement is clear — for the most part. Here is the official chronological order of every Legend of Zelda title to date.

Updated June 15, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Specifications of each game have been added, covering information like their North American release dates and platforms.

The Timeline Split, Explained

What many find confusing about the Zelda timeline is that it splits into three. After the events of Ocarina of Time, three things happen:

1. The Fallen Hero Timeline: The hero (Link) falls in battle. One timeline continues from here, following the defeat of the hero and what happens next.

2. The Child Timeline: The hero wins against Ganon, and is sent back in time to seven years prior to stop Ganondorf's plot before it can continue. A timeline carries on from this younger Link's story, after he and Zelda thwart Ganondorf's plans.

3. The Adult Timeline: The hero wins against Ganon. Another timeline continues from this point, following the story of the older version of Link and Zelda once Ganon is sealed away.

4??? The Calamity: It seems Breath of the Wild takes place at the end of all three timelines, somehow uniting them, though Nintendo has been kind of vague about it. The official talking point is that Nintendo will never reveal the game's placement in the timeline, because, overall, the developers and writers want to leave it up to fan interpretation.

We'll go into more detail about each of these timelines, but for now, here's a handy chart for those who prefer a visual representation. Note: these titles will jump to their respective sections when clicked.

Early History

The franchise begins before the Kingdom of Hyrule is founded or the Master Sword is even created. Before Skyward Sword, which is the first entry in the chronology, the story of Link and Zelda had already begun.

Three goddesses create the world, and leave the Triforce behind, entrusted to the goddess Hylia. After evil demons appear in the world, Hylia cuts out a piece of the world and raises it into the sky to protect her people. She is unable to use the Triforce as a goddess, so she sacrifices her divinity to enable her to use the Triforce's power. She and her chosen hero then use this power to seal away the Demon Lord, Demise.

However, all three of them (the hero, the now-mortal Hylia, and Demise) are then destined to reincarnate for eternity. The spirits of the three will return time and time again as Link, Zelda, and Ganon, respectively.

Skyward Sword

In Skyward Sword, Link hails from the flying island town of Skyloft where he's a knight in training and childhood best friends with Zelda. His adventure begins when Zelda is spirited away to the Surface by mysterious forces, compelling him to explore the unknown world below.

After the events of the game, it's revealed that Zelda is the reincarnation of the goddess Hylia. She and Link once again defeat Demise, who vows to return as an evil power time and time again.

Skyward Sword was famous for its extensive use of motion controls and the chance to explore the sky world with a flying mount, the Loftwings. The story's events set the stage for generations of battle over the Triforce, while contextualizing the cycle that keeps Link, Zelda, and Ganon together, along with the history of the Master Sword.

The Minish Cap

The Minish Cap is the first game in the timeline to take place in Hyrule, and was the closest thing to an origin story for Link's cap before Skyward Sword was released. The title refers both to a diminutive people called the Minish, as well as a particular Minish named Ezlo. After being turned into a bird-like cap by the treacherous Vaati, Ezlo teams up with Link to save Hyrule.

The Minish Cap also marks the first chronological appearance of the recurring Four Sword, describing its creation and role in the first battle against Vaati. Notably, The Minish Cap also features a power called the "Light Force" which takes the Triforce's functional role in the story. Whether or not the two forces are directly related has yet to be confirmed.

Four Swords

The now-monstrous Vaati returns for the next game in the timeline. Four Swords places emphasis on the Four Sword itself and was the first game in the series to introduce the blade. In fact, Four Swords was the first multiplayer Legend of Zelda entry and required two to four players to complete. It was later released as a free single-player title on the DSi and 3DS, albeit only temporarily.

Narratively, Four Swords contributes little to the Zelda timeline other than introducing the Four Sword itself as a concept. At this point in the timeline, Vaati is a beast who's lost most sense of self and the game itself spends next to no time on cutscenes — focusing on randomly generated dungeons instead. In the end, Vaati is sealed away and Zelda is rescued by (the) Link(s).

Ganon is revealed to be behind many of the game's events, but he is once again defeated and sealed away by the hero and the princess.

The Timeline Splits

As a result of the events of Ocarina of Time, the official timeline splits into three, all of which run in alternate realities alongside each other.

Ocarina of Time

Arguably the most famous entry in the series, Ocarina of Time holds a very important place in the timeline. The story focuses on seven years of the Hero of Time's life as his childhood is uprooted and destiny forces him to confront Ganondorf long before he's ready. Time travel becomes pivotal in thwarting Ganondorf's conquest of Hyrule, as well as influencing the future of the Zelda timeline.

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At the end of Ocarina of Time, Princess Zelda divides the timeline by sending Link back to the past without compromising the future. OoT's end credits clarify that these past and future timelines can coexist, setting the stage for sequels that branch from Ocarina's ending. These timelines are referred to as The Fallen Hero Timeline, The Child Timeline, and The Adult Timeline.

The Fallen Hero Timeline

If the hero falls in battle, Zelda must resort to desperate measures. Ganon steals the Triforces of Wisdom and Courage, and the Seven Sages, including Zelda, banish Ganon and the Triforce into the Sacred Realm. A war breaks out, titled the Imprisoning War, and the Sages must seal access to the Sacred Realm to prevent Ganon's escape.

Inside, Ganon corrupts the Sacred Realm and turns it into the Dark World.

A Link to the Past

A Link to the Past was notable for introducing the Master Sword into the franchise, establishing the formula for future games (in particular Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess), and greatly expanding the series' lore.

The NES games heavily feature Christian imagery, which A Link to the Past exchanges for Hyrule's polytheistic society while also establishing the kingdom's creation myth in the manual.

Link's Awakening

Link's Awakening is a direct sequel to A Link to the Past. After defeating Agahnim and Ganon, Link sets sail from Hyrule on a quest to train himself for future adventures. A storm destroys his ship on his way home, and he awakes on the mysterious Koholint Island. While everything seems business as usual at first, Link soon learns that his only way home is to wake the sleeping Wind Fish — in turn destroying Koholint in the process.

Link's Awakening notably included a quirky roster of enemies referencing enemies and creatures from other Nintendo titles, as well as its existentialist themes. Marin herself stands out as one of the first truly developed characters in the series, with her arc setting an important precedent for the likes of Zelda/Sheik in Ocarina of Time, Tetra in The Wind Waker, and future partners like Midna and Fi in general. Although narratively inconsequential, Link's Awakening is the game where Zelda started taking its stories seriously.

Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages

• 	The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons	The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
  Platform(s)	Nintendo Game Boy Color	Nintendo Game Boy Color, 3DS
  Released	2001-05-14	2001-05-14
  Developer(s)	Nintendo, Capcom	Capcom, Nintendo
  Genre(s)	Action, Adventure	Action-Adventure

Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages were released simultaneously at the end of the Game Boy Color's lifespan. Developed by Capcom, the Oracle duology originally began life as a remake of the original The Legend of Zelda before striving for something more ambitious altogether. The Oracle games are designed to be played back to back in either order, with players able to transfer their progress from Seasons into Ages and vice versa. Story events from the previous game are referenced, there's an extra dungeon, and you even get to inherit all your Rings.

Completing a fresh playthrough and linking it into its sister game triggers the Oracle Linked Game, a genuine video game epic that brings Twinrova into the mix, reintroduces Princess Zelda, and ends with a final battle against Ganon himself. While the Oracle games were originally meant to take place between A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening, they've since been moved to take place after LA (though narratively the intent was clearly to feature the same Link between ALttP, LA, and the Oracles).

A Link Between Worlds

Developed as a spiritual successor to A Link to the Past,A Link Between Worlds takes place long enough after its inspiration that the events of ALttP and Ocarina of Time have been misremembered as the same event in-universe. The Light and Dark World mechanic makes a return, albeit this time in the form of Lorule — a parallel world with its own history and Triforce.

A power-hungry wizard named Yuga serves as the initial antagonist, spurring Link on a journey into Lorule after Yuga turns the Seven Sages into paintings, but not all is as it seems. A Link Between Worlds twists iconic Zelda imagery like the Triforce and the very nature of the main characters to tell a story that reflects on the franchise's lore with a mature amount of tact.

Tri Force Heroes

Taking place a few years after the events of A Link Between Worlds, Link travels the world and eventually stumbles upon the Kingdom of Hytopia. The kingdom's princess, Styla, has been trapped by the witch Lady Maud in a hideous jumpsuit — flying in the face of Hytopia's passion for fashion. Like the Four Swords games, Tri Force Heroes was designed with multiplayer in mind, but actually features a proper single-player campaign for a change.

Narratively, the only real connective tissue between A Link Between Worlds and Tri Force Heroes is a throwaway NPC who recognizes Link from the former game. It's also worth pointing out that the other "Links" players interact with are just similar-looking heroes.

The Legend of Zelda

The franchise's namesake and start of the series actually takes place late in the Fallen Hero timeline. Hyrule falls into decline after a Golden Age brought on by the rediscovery of the Triforce in A Link Between Worlds. Ganon returns and tries to conquer Hyrule in pursuit of the Triforce of Wisdom, but Zelda shatters it into eight pieces and scatters them across the kingdom.

According to the manual, Link runs into Impa being attacked by Moblins and, after rescuing her, feels a burning sense of justice upon hearing of Zelda's plight. Hyrule as depicted is a wasteland compared to other games, and there's a deep sense that Ganon is on the cusp of victory. While the original Legend of Zelda features little in the way of actual plot, its tone and backstory set the stage for the rest of the franchise.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Roughly three years after The Legend of Zelda, Ganon's minions plot to bring their master back to life through a blood sacrifice — Link's. Meanwhile, the image of the Triforce appears on the back of Link's hand and he learns that he must now find the lost Triforce of Courage to wake Princess Zelda I, who has been trapped in a magical sleep for years.

The Adventure of Link is considerably darker than its predecessor in concept alone. Link's life is in constant danger, Princess Zelda is locked in a near-unbreakable coma, and Ganon's minions have a genuine bloodlust. While also light on story, Zelda II brings in a considerable amount of worldbuilding through the introduction of townships (the namesakes for Ocarina of Time's supporting cast) and ancient temples that test Link's worth.

The Child Timeline

In this timeline, Link defeats Ganon at the end of Ocarina of Time. Then, Zelda sends Link back in time to seven years earlier, and he's able to find her younger self and warn her of what happens in the future. The two foil Ganondorf's plans and prevent the events of the end of Ocarina of Time.

From here, Link's partner, Navi, departs from him. The events following this point are triggered by child Link's quest to find Navi.

Majora's Mask

Set around a year later, Majora's Mask is a direct sequel to Ocarina of Time where Link accidentally finds himself in the world of Termina while searching for Navi. Like Link's Awakening, Majora's Mask's story is defined by its themes — in this case, identity and accepting loss.

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The Ocarina makes a return from OoT, alongside new mechanics involving magical masks, both of which Link must use to prevent Skull Kid from destroying Termina in three days' time. Majora's Mask is a deeply grim game that doesn't shy away from the inevitability of death while ultimately reminding audiences that the people you love still care about you even if they need to leave.

Twilight Princess

The Child Timeline's darker themes persist from Majora's Mask into Twilight Princess, the next immediate game in the timeline. Presumably set centuries after Ocarina of Time, a new incarnation of Link faces the consequences of Ganondorf's banishment after the Hero of Time returned from the future. Ganondorf is set to be executed, but the Triforce of Power manifests itself just in time and Ganon is able to find sanctuary in the Twilight Realm.

With the help of the disgraced Twilight Princess, fan-favorite Midna, Link embarks on a Hero's Journey that has him saving Hyrule piece by piece and slowly inspiring Midna to be a better person. Twilight Princess also doesn't get enough credit for how it twists Zelda's narrative conventions, resigning Zelda to a side role in favor of Midna and fleshing out a God/Servant relationship between Zant and Ganondorf that makes the latter's eventual demise all the more powerful.

Four Swords Adventures

Four Swords Adventures is the last game in the Child Timeline and sees Ganondorf and Vaati finally crossing paths. Although Vaati is presented as FSA's main antagonist initially, it is slowly revealed that he is merely a tool of Ganondorf. Centuries after the end of Twilight Princess, Ganondorf is reincarnated into a new being and exploits Vaati in his quest for power.

Four Swords Adventures combines the multiplayer gameplay of the Four Sword with the dimensional travel of A Link To The Past, along with generally featuring more story beats. As the last game in the Child Timeline, Four Swords Adventures marks Vaati's final defeat and Ganondorf II's sole appearance in the franchise.

The Adult Timeline

After Link defeats Ganon at the end of Ocarina of Time, Zelda sends Link back in time to seven years earlier. The Triforce of Courage then has no hero in the current time, so it splits into eight pieces and scatters itself around Hyrule.

Princess Zelda remains in the present. Unfortunately, Zelda's intended act of kindness has unforeseen consequences. The next time Ganon is revived, there's no Spirit of the Hero around to stop him. In turn, the people pray to the Gods, who ultimately choose to flood all of Hyrule instead of letting Ganon conquer the kingdom.

The Wind Waker

The Great Flood sets the stage for The Wind Waker, where, centuries later, the world is covered in water and only referred to as The Great Sea. Link is notably not a reincarnation of the Hero of Time, but a boy who just wants to rescue his sister.

While the first game in the Adult Timeline, The Wind Waker feels like a grand finale for the whole series — washing away Hyrule, the Triforce, and the Master Sword in order to pave the way toward a new future.

Phantom Hourglass

Set immediately after the events of The Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass sees Link traveling The Great Sea with pirate/princess Tetra in order to found a new Hyrule. Phantom Hourglass takes cues from Link's Awakening, setting itself in a parallel dimension Link becomes disconnected from by the end of the story.

Similarly, the focus is less on the plot itself and more on the general atmosphere of this alien world. Phantom Hourglass ultimately amounts to little narratively, but it does at least set up the events of Spirit Tracks.

Spirit Tracks

Link and Tetra succeed in hitting land after the events of Phantom Hourglass, founding the kingdom of New Hyrule in the process. Around 100 years after Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks deals with New Hyrule's ancient history from before it was settled. New Hyrule is thrown into turmoil when Chancellor Cole — one of Zelda's retainers — betrays her in order to revive the demon Malladus. Zelda loses her life in the process, but she ends up accompanying Link for the rest of the game as a result.

Spirit Tracks is one of the most unique entries in the series, lending The Legend of Zelda its first taste of an industrial age. Story-wise, Spirit Tracks makes it clear that New Hyrule isn't just a repeat of its namesake, with the backstory behind the Lokomo, Tower of Spirits, and Spirit Flute all giving the plot a unique flavor. More importantly, Link and Zelda's relationship is arguably the most developed it's ever been.

The Era of Calamity

When Breath of the Wild was released, it was extremely unclear where it fell in the established timeline. It has references and major characters and places that place it into each of the three timelines, meaning it doesn't comfortably fall into any of them. Many felt it was meant to unite all three timelines, converging each reality into one, where BotW takes place.

However, it seems that it's meant to fall into one of the three branches, according to statements from Nintendo. They've said that the Era of Calamity takes place so far into the future that the events of the past have faded into obscure myth.

What is clear, though, is that this series of games in the franchise's overall canon fit together as their own chronological mini-story. How far Nintendo will develop out this isolated, smaller timeline of stories is not known, but given their sales success, they will likely continue for some time.

Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity

Although not developed directly by Nintendo, the Age of Calamity story was written with the intent of connecting to Breath of the Wild. Age of Calamity was originally marketed as a prequel detailing the events of Breath of the Wild's backstory 100 years prior, but the story proper actually functions as something of a stealth sequel.

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Age of Calamity makes notable use of time travel to simultaneously take place before and after the events of Breath of the Wild. This does, unfortunately, mean the exact events of Age of Calamity are non-canon to Breath of the Wild, but only in the sense that AoC is triggered by BotW happening to begin with. Chronologically, Age of Calamity does take place a century before BotW while highlighting Hyrule before the Calamity, but the game is only a prequel in the loosest sense of the word.

Breath of the Wild

Breath of the Wild and its direct sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, are not officially attached to a particular timeline (yet). Instead, Nintendo has simply clarified that BotW takes place at the end of a branch without specifying which. Since the game takes place 10,000 years after Ganon's last appearance in a technologically advanced Hyrule, clues to the timeline are scarce — but not non-existent.

Breath of the Wild actually features the most references to the timeline than any other game in the series, directly referencing historical characters like Ruto and Nabooru (something very rarely done in the games). While thematic and aesthetic details hint toward each of the timelines, fans can only use their own interpretation for the time being. Nintendo has made it clear that the intention is to let fans decide how they feel about where the game fits, and that doesn't seem set to change any time soon.

Tears of the Kingdom

The long-awaited sequel to Breath of the Wild, named Tears of the Kingdom, released in 2023. Like its predecessor, it doesn't fit neatly into the earlier timeline. However, it's a direct sequel storywise to BotW, taking place shortly after the events of that game.

This time around, Link and Zelda, fresh off the defeat of Calamity Ganon, are exploring some ruins and come across the Demon King, who is being pinned down in place by a strange hand. Suddenly, the Demon King wakes up, casting Zelda and Link into a pit, before Link is saved by a mysterious figure who turns out to be the ghost of Rauru, the late Zonai and first King of Hyrule.

Throughout this game, the player can learn more about the reconstruction of Hyrule following the events of the game prior. Hudson Construction is helping build up the infrastructure across the kingdom, Zelda helped establish a school in Hateno, and much more. However, given the Upheaval — the events surrounding the awakening of the Demon King and the appearance of Zonai ruins, devices, and sky islands — Link must put aside helping in the reconstruction of the kingdom to find Zelda and take down the Demon King.

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