The Legend of Zelda series is full of adored, wholesome characters who have made a huge impact on fans throughout the years. Link as a character proves that even saying only a little says a great deal, so it stands to reason that when these characters suffer, sacrifice, or feel pain during gameplay that it hits like a punch to the gut.
This decades-long franchise provides great competition for the saddest, gut-wrenching quotes, but these are the ones that encapsulate the most heartbreaking moments in The Legend of Zelda franchise.
10 "Do You Ever Feel A Strange Sadness As Dusk Falls? They Say It's The Only Time When Our World Intersects With Theirs... That Is Why Loneliness Always Pervades The Hour Of Twilight." - Rusl, Twilight Princess
By an idyllic waterfall, Rusl ponders this seemingly harmless line, which has greater meaning when players discover the Twili's fate. The peaceful Twili Tribe was forced to invade Hyrule as terrifying Shadow Beasts by King Zant. This resulted in their ‘Fused Shadow’ shattering across the Twilight Realm and Hyrule. As punishment for hurting innocents in Hyrule, the Golden Goddess banished all Twili to the Twilight Realm for centuries, which is likely the sadness that Rusl senses after Dusk.
9 “This Is The Only World That Your Ancestors Were Able To Leave You. Please… Forgive Us.” - King Daphnes, Wind Waker
When the goddesses flooded the kingdom to protect Hyrule from Ganon, King Daphnes chose to stay and be sealed away underwater. When Ganon escaped, centuries later, King Daphnes turned into a sentient boat, the King of Red Lions, to find Link and destroy Ganon.
When Link and Zelda overcome Ganon, King Daphnes hopes the heroes will find a New Hyrule. However, Daphnes is loyal to Hyrule and drowns with the remains of his beloved kingdom during a second flood. As Link searches for a new kingdom, the King of Red Lions appears, now a lifeless vessel after King Daphnes’ death.
8 “By Ruining Hyrule...? You’d Bring Out The Absolute Worst Of Lorule.” - Ravio, A Link Between Worlds
Once a thriving kingdom, Lorule's Triforce was destroyed by ancestors to prevent a civil war, reducing Lorule to a ruin with vast chasms, where the people would rather become monsters than live as Lorulians. In The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Princess Hilda betrays Link by attempting to steal Hyrule's Triforce to restore Lorule. Knowing she will devastate Hyrule, her loyal servant, Ravio, finally convinces Hilda to abandon the selfish plan.
Ashamed, Hilda returns Link and Zelda safely to Hyrule. In the emotional final cutscene, a hopeless Hilda and Ravio witness Lorule and the Triforce being restored to its former glory by a forgiving Zelda.
7 “No! I Will Not Allow You To Take Her Again!” - Sidon, Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity
In Breath of the Wild, Sidon is grieving his adoring older sister, Mipha. Even after death, Princess Mipha has a bond with Link, gifting him her sacred armor (intended for her future husband) and her healing powers, instead of reviving herself. In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, players see the supportive, sweet bond between the siblings during childhood, making the sadness of Mipha’s death even more painful.
Sidon yells this heartbreaking quote when he returns from the future and saves Mipha from the Water Ganon that originally killed her while flashing the same cute smile from childhood. Future Sidon never explains that Mipha died in his timeline, and leaves Mipha and his younger self to enjoy their altered timeline where Mipha never died.
6 "People Are Disgusting, My Own Father And Mother Are Disgusting. You Must Be Disgusting Too." - Grog, Ocarina Of Time
Players encounter Grog during Link’s childhood, sitting under a tree in Kakariko village, voicing this bleak perspective on Link's world. After being preserved for seven years until adulthood, Link reawakens to a darker, cruller version of Hyrule. In this new wasteland, Grog's absence is ominous. Despite her allergies, Grog's sister Anju (aka Cucco Lady) cares for Grog’s beloved blue Cojiro. Players can return Cojiro, but Grog is hurt that Cojiro isn't solely loyal to him anymore.
Once Grog disappears forever, Link is informed that Grog became a Stalfos like many who are lost and die in the woods. Fans theorize that Grog ran away, or worse deliberately lost himself due to the connection between Japanese forests and suicide. In light of Grog’s ambiguous fate and unhappy life, this quote holds even more weight and despair.
5 “I Wonder If You Do The Right Thing… Does It Really Make Everybody… Happy?” - Moon Child (Gyorg), Majora’s Mask
Throughout The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Link encounters five Moon Children, each wearing masks representing a different Boss that Link will encounter in the dungeons. Link must play hide and seek and offer each child a new mask in exchange for the old, causing the Moon Children to ask Link profound questions.
As players attempt to save innocent citizens of Termina from the falling Moon, they witness what happens to those they do not rescue, like Cremia feeding her little sister alcohol to keep her unconscious during the horrors of the apocalypse. The harsh reality of this quote is that it might not be possible to save everyone, and doing the right thing can come at a harrowing personal cost.
4 “Link, I… See You Later.” - Midna, Twilight Princess
At first, Midna is a begrudging companion, who has a scornful, callous view of Hyrule, Zelda, and everyone from the Light Realm. To Midna, Link is her 'servant' chosen to save the Twili from their curse. The evil Zant fatally injures the Twilight Princess, Midna, when she refuses to join him, but Zelda revives her. Afterward, Midna recognizes Link and Zelda’s kindness, deciding to fight with them against Zant and Ganon.
When Midna is finally returned to her true form, it is bittersweet, as Midna must re-enter the Twilight Realm before the connection between worlds is shattered. In her tearful final words, Midna barely knows what to say to Link, but players suspect an ‘I love you’ was on the tip of her tongue.
3 “Mommy! You’re Too Good At Hide And Seek! I Can’t Find You!” - Cottla, Breath Of The Wild
Cottla is the innocent daughter of Dorian in Kakariko Village. Dorian was a former member of the Yiga Clan who defected after having his two daughters. The Yiga Clan sought vengeance by murdering Dorian's wife and threatening his children, forcing Dorian to become a Yiga spy.
Dorian kept their mother’s death a secret, hence why Cottla plays hide and seek for hours each morning looking for her mother, exclaiming this heartbreaking quote. Dorian’s oldest daughter Koko discovered her mother’s death independently and can be found sobbing in the village graveyard, while her little sister Cottla continues to believe their mother is alive.
2 “I’ve Left Them All To Die!” - Zelda, Breath Of The Wild
Despite being kind, hardworking, and willing to sacrifice herself for her people, Zelda is often criticized for her failures by her father. In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Zelda works tirelessly to harness her powers, but she is unsuccessful through no fault of her own. Calamity Ganon destroys an unprepared Hyrule, leaving only Zelda and Link alive to escape. All of Zelda’s pain and frustration culminate in this memory, where Zelda declares herself a ‘failure’ for being unable to use her powers and save her people.
Sobbing, she falls into Link’s comforting arms, who is distraught yet speechless. Tragically, Zelda only manages to unleash her sealing powers after Link is killed by Ganon, and she must wait 100 years for Link to be resurrected, with no memory of her.
1 “I’m Still Your Zelda” - Zelda, Skyward Sword
To ensure Demise remains safely sealed away, Zelda plans to resign herself to a thousand years of deep sleep i​​​n The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, to avoid her powers being exploited and stolen. Panicked, Link attempts to stop Zelda to no avail, as Zelda reminisces about her happy childhood friendship with Link and apologizes for using Link in Hylia’s plans as she seals herself away.
During this emotional sacrifice, Zelda asks ‘sleepyhead’ Link to wake her when Demise is defeated, just like Zelda used to do when they were kids. Thankfully, their reunion is imminent as Link defeats Demise and releases Zelda before the game’s end. However, Zelda’s quote is memorable because it communicates that despite everything players endure throughout The Legend of Zelda franchise, she will always be Link’s beloved Zelda.