Highlights

  • Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom introduced new elements to the Zelda series, such as open-world gameplay and non-linear storytelling.
  • The games still maintained the tradition of having Ganon as the main antagonist, but it's time for a new villain to be introduced.
  • Introducing a new antagonist would bring fresh and exciting experiences to the Zelda franchise, showing that open-world Zelda still has creative potential.

Since 2017, The Legend of Zelda hasn't stuck to the series tradition like it used to. For a long time, new Zelda entries followed in the footsteps of either Ocarina of Time or A Link to the Past, but all of that changed with Breath of the Wild. Now, with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom serving as BotW's direct sequel, Zelda fans have seen just how well their open-world format can work compared to the more structured design of past entries. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom even went as far as pushing its predecessor's physics elements into a full-blown construction sandbox via Ultrahand, changing Zelda's identity into a new, but still appealing, form.

Even how these two games told their stories was a departure. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom both make significant use of non-linear storytelling, with only their openings and parts of their endings fixed in players’ paths. Otherwise, narrative is found through optional main quests and a series of collectibles, Link’s memories and the Dragon Tears, from each respective game. The next Zelda title is not expected to be set in the same Hyrule as Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, but among its own changes, there could be another move away from standard Zelda storytelling.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Breath of the Wild Broke Lots Of Traditions
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Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Have Broken A Lot of Franchise Traditions

Many recurring elements in The Legend of Zelda games were cast off once the age of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom began.

It's Time For Zelda To Give Ganon A Break

Ganondorf screaming

For all of their deviations and additions to the Zelda formula, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom held fast to one big tradition. Ganon and Ganondorf were still the main antagonists of each title, and even with their Malice and Gloom related powers on full display, both were standard portrayals of the default Zelda villain. As celebrated as Ganondorf's return in Tears of the Kingdom was, things would get awkward if he was the lead villain again in the very next game, regardless of its setting. To that end, The Legend of Zelda's next entry should try something different.

The Legend of Zelda Has Struggled To Let Go Of Ganon

Dropping Ganondorf and Ganon entirely is a risky proposition, and something the Zelda franchise has struggled to do. Skyward Sword's Demise didn't change much as Ganondorf’s mythological predecessor, and titles like Four Swords Adventures and Twilight Princess could only pretend Vaati and Zant were their main villains for a while before Ganon crept back in. Even titles set outside Hyrule with original villains like the Oracle Game Boy games brought Ganon back for their grand finale. There are Zelda entries that truly left Ganon behind, like Link's Awakening and The Wind Waker's sequels, but it's not a move the franchise makes lightly.

How A New Villain Would Enhance Zelda's Next Game

Loz Majora Mask

All the more reason, then, for the next Legend of Zelda game to give it another shot. Introducing a new antagonist in the open-world era of Zelda would be a big deal. Handled right, they could become a new part of the Zelda series recurring characters, making occasional appearances or being referenced in future titles like Vaati. Their presence also grants the freedom to move away from Ganon and Ganondorf's typical “scheming dark lord” portrayals and fight design to try something new.

Why Now Is The Best Time To Replace Ganon

Making fans feel like they're experiencing something fresh is important after Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom's back-to-back releases. Despite their distinct features, these are two of the most similar games in the Zelda franchise, and fans will have spent around a decade with them by the next mainline Legend of Zelda’s release. A new villain can help prove that open-world Zelda hasn't lost the creative range of past entries, and should sufficiently distance it from Tears of the Kingdom in ways that won't disappoint new and returning players.