Despite taking place over multiple eras and split over multiple timelines, the Legend of Zelda series is famous for its recognizable returning characters. Besides the likes of the main cast (including such famous figures as Link, Zelda, and Ganon), there are tons of familiar faces spread across the games.
The characters on this list must have appeared at least three times (since Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask share almost entirely the same character assets). Hyrule may have seen its fair share of disasters and dangers, but through it all, its people are here to stay.
16 Biggoron
He's big, he's a Goron, and his name is Biggoron. While he is quite a memorable character (being a literal giant), Biggoron's work precedes him. This smith is responsible for Biggoron's Sword, a huge, two-handed weapon of such fine quality that it remained intact (if not unbreakable) by the time of Tears of the Kingdom.
Appearances
- Ocarina of Time
- Majora's Mask
- Oracle of Seasons
- The Minish Cap
- Phantom Hourglass
- Tears of the Kingdom
15 The Pirate Crew (Niko, Zuko, Mako, Gonzo)
Nothing cries adventure quite like a pirate ship, and this crew has seen its fair share of adventures. Generally, these lads are confined to areas with plenty of oceans to sail on and so tend to forgo the land-based adventures. Four Swords is an exception.
Appearances
- The Wind Waker
- Four Swords Adventures
- Phantom Hourglass
14 The Townsfolk (Mamamu Yan, Anju, Mutoh, Bremor)
Every adventure needs normal folks to make all the dangers of caves, haunted temples, and whale bellies seem all that more frightful. The often-lazy builders have been sighted all across the land, usually bunking off away from their boss, Mutoh, especially when there's construction to be done. Hyrule's first chronological appearance in The Minish Cap was occupied by many of the same people from Ocarina of Time, including Anju and Mamamu Yan.
Appearances
- Ocarina of Time
- Majora's Mask
- Oracle of Seasons
- The Minish Cap
13 Great Deku Tree
First seen in Ocarina of Time, the story of the Great Deku Tree is one of death and rebirth. Link's oaken father figure passes away at the start of the adventure (but is cutely replaced by a Deku Sprout that grows into the tree seen in The Wind Waker an era later). Other great trees have appeared throughout the series, such as the two guardian trees in the Oracle entries.
Appearances
- Ocarina of Time
- The Wind Waker
- Breath of the Wild
- Tears of the Kingdom
12 Malon, Ingo, & Talon
The Zelda series has become famous for its inclusion of horses, and where there are horses, there are ranchers. Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the characters, swears that this family of horse wranglers has nothing to do with the Italian plumber brothers, but many have noticed their resemblance.
Appearances
- Ocarina of Time
- Oracle of Seasons
- Four Swords Adventures
- The Minish Cap
11 Happy Mask Salesman
Being a traveling salesman, it makes sense that the Happy Mask Man would get around. This guy takes his mask shop franchise seriously, having appeared in two parallel dimensions and over a gap of hundreds of years. With such terrifying facial expressions (especially when angry), it's no wonder that he got a fascination for "happy masks."
Appearances
- Ocarina of Time
- Majora's Mask: Oracle of Ages
10 Dampé
Dampé may not be much to look at, but he sure is good at digging graves. It's possible that he got so good at throwing up earth that he discovered (or perhaps created) a few secret passageways in his time. The one found at the bottom of his grave (after Link becomes an adult) even leads to glorious treasure (the hookshot).
Appearances
- Ocarina of Time
- Majora's Mask
- Four Swords Adventures
- The Minish Cap
- A Link Between Worlds
9 Impa
Bodyguard, master of stealth, and lifelong friend: Zelda's attendant has appeared in various sizes and ages over the eons. While she may not be the exact same person each time, it seems that Zelda's protector is always chosen for her familiar name. And regardless, her role is always to protect the Princess of Hyrule.
Appearances
- The Legend of Zelda 1 & 2
- Ocarina of Time
- The Oracle of Ages and Seasons
- Skyward Sword
- A Link Between Worlds
- Breath of the Wild
- Tears of the Kingdom
8 Koume and Kotake
The twin sisters of fire and ice are the reason many in Hyrule fear the Gerudo. The surrogate mothers of Ganon have gone to terrible ends (twice) to bring forth the demon king into the land of the living. They helped him into the world in Ocarina of Time, then resurrected him during Seasons and Ages. However, it is unclear how they themselves returned to the mortal realm after their defeat at the Spirit Temple.
Appearances
- Ocarina of Time
- Majora's Mask
- Oracle of Ages & Seasons
7 Maple & Syrup
Witches aren't all evil in the Zelda series. Some just like the creepy bats 'n broomsticks aesthetic, and some can be charming and helpful. Maple gets around in the Zelda games, probably thanks to her flying vehicle of choice (broom, vacuum cleaner, occasionally a UFO). Syrup also had a few more separate appearances away from her apprentice in Link's Awakening and The Minish Cap.
Appearances
- A Link to the Past
- Oracle of Ages & Seasons
6 Epona
There was a time when video games could hardly render horses. Now, most gamers put Link on a horse on his adventures. Epona first appeared in Ocarina of Time. Although it is never outright stated, the horses in the openings of The Oracle of Seasons & Ages appear to be Epona, or at least look remarkably similar.
Appearances
- Ocarina of Time
- Majora's Mask
- Four Swords Adventure
- The Minish Cap
- Twilight Princess
- Breath of the Wild
- Tears of the Kingdom
5 The Postman
Probably due to his speed, the Postman (formerly known as the running man) has seen big changes over his various incarnations. His appearance in the DS games Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks were significant enough to consider the two separate people. Unlike most characters, the transformation is more than a "toonification," as he seems to have sprouted wings similar to those of the Rito. A reincarnation, perhaps?
Appearances
- Majora's Mask
- Oracle of Ages
- The Minish Cap
- Twilight Princess
- Phantom Hourglass
- Spirit Tracks
4 Old Man
Link's very first ally and the progenitor of a thousand memes, the Old Man seems to have appeared in just about every Zelda game. The Old Man and his bretheren enjoy hanging out in caves and practicing magic. Originally, the Old Man was supposed to offer Link the choice between the sword and a boomerang. Maybe he decided he liked playing with the boomerang too much and kept it for himself.
Appearances
- The Legend of Zelda
- Oracle of Ages & Seasons
- Four Swords Adventures
- Breath of the Wild
- Tears of the Kingdom
3 Guru Guru
Whether it's the turning of a grand windmill or the turning of a music box crank, this guy sure loves turning. However, he will turn cranky at odd things, like having overly efficient windmill sails (Seasons), the popularity of a dog over other animals (Majora's Mask), or mind-shattering time paradoxes (Ocarina of Time).
Appearances
- Ocarina of Time
- Majora's Mask
- Oracle of Seasons
2 Beedle
Beedle's family business has been around for about the longest in Hyrule's history, since Skyward Sword's Sky Era, when the earliest-known Beedle owned and operated a pedal-powered flying shop. Perhaps during the interim between that time and Tears of the Kingdom, the family opted to live high up in the mountains until a great flood reunited them with the rest of the world.
Appearances
- The Wind Waker
- Minish Cap
- Phantom Hourglass
- Spirit Tracks
- Skyward Sword
- Breath of the Wild
- Tears of the Kingdom
1 Tingle
Tingle. Tingle. Kooloo limpah. These are Tingle's trademarked magic words, and also his first words to the world. Since then, Tingle has not only made appearances in the Zelda games, but has had many (odd) offshoot games of his own. That said, due to his apparent unpopularity with American audiences, Tingle was excluded from Twilight Princess. His hyperrealistic stand-in, Purlo, appeared as a result.
Appearances
- Majora's Mask
- Oracle of Ages
- The Wind Waker
- Four Swords Adventures
- The Minish Cap
- Phantom Hourglass
- Spirit Tracks
- Skyward Sword
- And more!