In 2024, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will celebrate its one-year anniversary. Although the game has been out for a while now, there are many hidden secrets that fans have yet to find, even for those who have clocked in hundreds of hours exploring Hyrule. Some of these secrets may even blow some people's minds.
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Whether they're details regarding the backstories of certain prominent characters in Tears of the Kingdom or things that the developers have clarified for confused fans, these eight pieces of lore will offer a much deeper understanding of the Nintendo Switch title than some may have expected.
WARNING! Spoilers ahead!
8 The Shrines Of Light Are Quite Old
Shrines Look Different For A Reason
Those who played Breath of the Wild are probably very familiar with Ancient Shrines, which were scattered throughout Hyrule and grant those who solve the puzzles within Spirit Orbs. Tears of the Kingdom has a similar mechanic in Shrines of Light, which are aesthetically different but operate similarly to those in Breath of the Wild.
According to the game's director, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Shrines of Light have a much different origin from Ancient Shrines. Apparently, these shrines have existed since before King Rauru's reign in Hyrule, and have re-appeared alongside the Sky Islands due to Ganondorf's reawakening, in order to aid heroes against fighting evil threats.
7 Ganondorf's Origin Sounds Familiar...
Haven't Fans Heard This Story Before?
It's been established before that Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom exist in a separate timeline from other The Legend of Zelda games. This makes the Ganondorf that appears in Tears of the Kingdom unrelated to the incarnations continuously reborn from Demise throughout the franchise's past, but this new Ganondorf has a similar origin.
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As depicted in a Tear of the Dragon memory, Ganondorf's failed assault on Hyrule ends with him swearing fealty to King Rauru. Ultimately, this turns out to be part of Ganondorf's larger deception of Hyrule's royal family. This is the same tactic used by the Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time, even down to Princess Zelda's justified suspicion of the Gerudo king.
6 The Truth Underneath Hyrule, Literally
A Whole New Meaning To The Word "Depths"
There have been many theories floating around regarding the Depths, an entire underworld beneath Hyrule that's brand-new to Tears of the Kingdom. Some eagle-eyed fans pointed out that the layout of the Depths is an exact mirror of Hyrule's map, making some believe this is a new interpretation of a "Dark World" seen throughout many Zelda titles.
However, some in-game information suggests otherwise. The frequency of Poes and ghosts appearing there could possibly indicate that the Depths are Hyrule's literal afterlife. This is further proven by the Yiga Clan diaries, which suggest that Bargainer statues have been stealing their souls, as well as the re-appearance of boss monsters who've been defeated.
5 King Rauru's Name Is No Coincidence
Zelda Fans May Recognize This Figure
Upon starting Tears of the Kingdom, players will quickly be introduced to the ghostly spirit of Rauru, the first king of Hyrule. Though his appearance as a Zonai is incredibly new, this name is all too familiar for longtime fans of the franchise. In particular, Rauru was also the name of the Sage of Light from Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64.
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This shared name might be more than just a coincidence of Easter egg on Nintendo's part. The Rauru from Ocarina of Time appears when Link awakens after seven years in the Temple of Time, informing him of what has happened in Hyrule and how he must save them. King Rauru plays a similar role to this, possibly making him this game's Sage of Light, too.
4 There's More To Learn About Hyrule's Royal Family
A Side Adventure Teaches About Hyrule's History
One of the more revealing Side Adventures in Tears of the Kingdom is "Messages from an Ancient Era," which is triggered after players discover a stone plaque has landed in Lookout Landing after falling from the sky. Teaming up with Wortsworth in Kakariko Village, players can locate more of these stone tablets and decipher them with Wortsworth's help.
By reading the crude translations, with the help of some Zelda fans on Reddit, players can learn more lore about the relationship between King Rauru, his wife Sonia, and his sister Mineru. According to some of the tablets, Princess Zelda was present for the Sky Islands' first appearance, while whoever wrote the tablets outlived all the other Hylian royals.
3 Sheikah Tech Has Gone Missing
One Notable Thing Missing From Tears Of The Kingdom
Sheikah tech was a huge part of Breath of the Wild, from the Sheikah Towers that serve as waypoints on Hyrule's map, to the Ancient Shrines hidden throughout Hyrule. However, the technology is nowhere to be found in Tears of the Kingdom, with even Link's Sheikah Slate and the roaming Guardians absent from the newest game, for no clear reason.
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The truth behind this mystery was also commented on by the game's director, who claimed that this was an intentional way to show how Hyrule has vastly changed since the previous game. According to him, Sheikah technology disappeared shortly after Calamity Ganon was vanquished, chalking it up to more mysterious phenomena taking place in Hyrule.
2 Four Dragons Roam Hyrule... But Why?
Zelda's Fate Is A Big Clue
One of the biggest plot twists in Tears of the Kingdom is that, after traveling back in time to King Rauru's reign, Princess Zelda uses her Secret Stone to transform herself into the Light Dragon, sealing the Master Sword in her skull so that it may be restored by Link's time. With this in mind, it suggests a similar origin for the other three dragons who roam Hyrule.
The other three dragons who roam Hyrule in both games are Farosh, Nayda, and Dinraal. These names bear a great resemblance to the three original goddesses from the Triforce's origin: Farore, Nayru, and Din. Together with Zelda, established in Skyward Sword as a descent of Hylia, these dragons are what remains of those goddesses who created Hyrule.
1 A Reward For Cherry Blossom Worshippers
Nature Is A Guide For Players
Cherry blossom trees are quite rare throughout Hyrule, but many fans may pass right by them thinking they're nothing more than decorative. That couldn't be further from the truth, as these trees also have a small platform to make an offering; it doesn't have to be more than a single piece of fruit. By doing this, the deer-like spirit Satori will appear.
If players successfully summon Satori, nearby hidden caves will be marked with a pillar of light for roughly 20 minutes. This can be a great way to easily locate caves for players in search of Bubbul gems, brightbloom seeds, or other treasures. Plus, the location of every cherry blossom tree is marked on a map hung in Hyrule Field's Outskirts Stable.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Released
- May 12, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
