The Legend of Zelda has been one of Nintendo's most popular franchises since its debut in 1986. Each new installment of the game reinvents many of the series' traditions, including many of the same characters. However, the most recent installment, Breath of the Wild, takes the iconic series in a whole new direction.
With a sequel to Breath of the Wild in development, fans are excited to see the Zelda world continue to evolve. In addition, it'd be interesting to see some fan-favorite characters of past Zelda games return in this re-imagined Hyrule. These ten characters would certainly create hype if they returned in a future Zelda game.
10 Saria
Saria is one of the most beloved characters in the Zelda franchise, despite only appearing in one game. She's introduced at the beginning of Ocarina of Time as one of Link's only friends in the Kokiri Forest. When Link leaves the forest to set out on his adventure, Saria gifts him with his first Ocarina and teaches him her iconic song.
Saria re-appears later in the game when it is revealed that she is one of the Seven Sages. It would certainly tug on fans' heartstrings to see Saria return, especially given her connection to Link in her original appearance. However, Saria could also be a way to re-introduce the Seven Sages in a future Zelda title.
9 Hero's Spirit
Twilight Princess was originally released for the Wii and was notable for its expansion of the Zelda story following Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Part of this involves Link learning Hidden Skills from a mysterious skeletal warrior. Fan theories speculated that this fallen hero is actually the Hero of Time from the Nintendo 64 games.
This theory was confirmed in the Legend of Zelda encyclopedia, Hyrule Historia, released in 2011. Knowing this, it'd be interesting to see the Hero's Spirit re-appear in a future Zelda game as a further homage to Ocarina and Majora. It would also be a good way to incorporate new abilities into Link's future arsenal of attacks.
8 Ravio
Ravio has only appeared in one Zelda game, A Link Between Worlds for the Nintendo 3DS. As a sequel to the SNES's A Link to the Past, this game features many recurring locations and characters from that entry. However, Ravio is unique to that game, serving as a weapon shopkeeper for Link, who plays an unexpected role in the story.
While Breath of the Wild already features a returning shopkeep character in Beetle from The Wind Waker, Ravio's inclusion could have more of an impact on the story. It's even possible for Ravio to simply return as a mere cameo, with a random shopkeeper in Hyrule wearing his iconic mask and robe.
7 Linebeck
Linebeck is a major character in The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for the Nintendo DS. This direct sequel to The Wind Waker finds Link traveling the ocean alongside Linebeck, the captain of a steamboat on the hunt for treasure. Linebeck eventually becomes Link's primary sidekick throughout the game.
While Linebeck is confirmed to have later died in Spirit Tracks, his legacy lives on through his grandson, a shopkeeper. It would be nice to see another descendent (or perhaps ancestor) or Linebeck appear in Breath of the Wild's sequel. He could simply be a steamboat captain or just another shopkeeper who can be found in Hyrule.
6 Skull Kid
One of the most popular villains in the Zelda franchise other than Ganondorf is Skull Kid. Appearing as the main antagonist in Majora's Mask, Skull Kid won over fans by having a tragic backstory that leads him to get possessed by the evil, titular mask. In other entries, Skull Kid is merely an enemy that appears in certain areas.
From Breath of the Wild 2's trailer, it's clear this installment will have more disturbing elements to it than its predecessor. This could be the perfect opportunity for Skull Kid to make a re-appearance, either as a major character or another enemy. Even a simple cameo would probably satisfy hardcore Majora's Mask fans.
5 Crimson Loftwing
The sequel to Breath of the Wild received its first gameplay trailer at E3 2021. One of its main features that surprised fans was its resemblance in some places to Skyward Sword, particularly with locations that invoke memories of Skyloft. With this in mind, it's possible that Loftwings will make a return to the franchise with this game.
The Crimson Loftwing that Link rides in Skyward Sword play a significant role in that game's mechanics. It's also an important piece to the Legend of Zelda lore, becoming the inspiration for the red bird insignia on the Hylian Shield. Hopefully, a future Zelda game can deepen this connection between Loftwings and Hyrule.
4 Groose
Speaking of Skyward Sword, there are many characters from that game that fans would love to see return. However, there is no fan-favorite as beloved as Groose, one of Link's rivals who appeared in the game. While Groose initially plays the role of an antagonist, he quickly teams up with Link in search of Zelda when she goes missing.
Groose has since become an Internet meme thanks to his ridiculousness, as well as his iconic theme song. It would definitely make Zelda fans incredibly happy to see Groose return to the series in a new installment. Plus, he'd be a great character to reintroduce alongside the Loftwing flying mechanics.
3 Midna
Midna famously appears as Link's companion in Twilight Princess. Originally the ruler of the Twilight Realm, she was overthrown by Zant in the game and cursed with an impish appearance. The ending of Twilight Princess reveals her true form as she returns to her realm after she and Link defeat Ganondorf.
Simply put, Midna (or a descendant of hers) would be the key to re-introducing the Twilight Realm to the Zelda franchise. Given the sequel to Breath of the Wild's creepier tone, it's possible fans will get to re-explore an open-world version of that alternate dimension. Perhaps players can even get to transform into Wolf Link in the new game.
2 Tingle
When it comes to iconic Zelda characters, it's not right to disregard the mention of Tingle. Originally debuting in Majora's Mask, Tingle has taken on many roles in the franchise, from map cartographer to shopkeeper. However, Tingle is absent from Breath of the Wild, save for a rare outfit included in the game's DLC.
Due to Tingle's diversity in function, there are many possible ways to include him in a future Zelda game. He could be the operator of a mini-game, or simply the key to unlocking several side-quests. He could also serve his original purpose as a cartographer, aiding Link by giving him directions or expanding his map's visibility.
1 Sheik
Surprisingly, Sheik has become one of The Legend of Zelda's most iconic characters after only briefly appearing in Ocarina of Time. While much of that popularity may be due to the Super Smash Bros franchise, it'd be fun to see Sheik re-appear. It's always fun to see Zelda fight rather than be a damsel-in-distress.
Sheik could likely return in the sequel to Breath of the Wild. The original game heavily features the Sheikah tribe, including the recurring character Impa. It'd be interesting to see how Sheik's design could be re-interpreted for the new Sheikah tribe design. Maybe Sheik could be playable in certain parts of the game instead of Link!