Highlights

  • The Dark Interlopers from Twilight Princess have untapped potential and offer a refreshing angle to the Zelda series.
  • The Interlopers' return could be an alternative to the Zonai from Tears of the Kingdom, satisfying players who were intrigued by the Zonai mystery.
  • A return to Twilight Princess is long overdue, as the game's unique elements, such as its realistic design and darker story, continue to resonate with fans.

Despite only ever appearing in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess like many other one-off characters and villains, there is a case to be made for the Dark Interlopers to return in a future game so that players can unravel the mystery behind them. Between branching timelines and the games' seemingly endless creativity, there have been many settings and civilizations encountered throughout Zelda that are rarely seen again, such as the Picori from The Minish Cap or the Zonai from Tears of the Kingdom. The Twili from Twilight Princess is one of those races, including their Interloper ancestors who added a darker layer to Zelda.

Given that Twilight Princess has remained one of Zelda's most popular games alongside the likes of Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild, it has long been hoped that a future game would revisit the Twilight Realm and its people, either as a sequel or a spiritual successor. For example, when Breath of the Wild included the Arbiter's Grounds, speculation ran wild theorizing Tears of the Kingdom would tie into Twilight Princess, demonstrating that fans still wanted more even a decade later. Therefore, with Zelda's acclaimed Era of the Wilds potentially over, now might be time for the Interlopers to make a comeback.

Legend Of Zelda Twilight Princess Switch
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A Return to Twilight Princess is Long Overdue

Twilight Princess' Dark Interlopers Have Untapped Potential

three dark link from the video game The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Since its release, Twilight Princess has been one of Zelda's more unique games so far, thanks in part to a variety of things like its realistic visual design, gameplay gimmicks, and overall darker story. Though the Interlopers were by no means the first of Zelda's antagonists to try and control the Triforce, they arguably stood out due to their Hylian origin and the dark or forbidden power they used. Having witnessed Midna wield the Fused Shadow during Twilight Princess, it's unsurprising then that players want to see and learn more about this monstrous and omnipotent power, including the original sorcerers that had first mastered it.

Moreover, the juxtaposition of light and dark throughout the various Zelda games has typically been presented as a binary, but The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was among the few that subverted this trope. While the likes of Midna and Zant showcased the two sides of the Twili, the revelation that members of the Hylian race born of the goddess Hylia were the reason why the Twilight Realm even existed adds a refreshing angle to Zelda. Combined with the nightmarish cutscene that explains this to players and, as a result, the Interlopers have become one of Zelda's more unusual villains and potentially more interesting than even Ganondorf himself.

The Interlopers' Return Offers an Alternative to Tears of the Kingdom's Zonai

Zelda Zonai Interloper Twilight

However, like most Zelda games that introduce something new to the broader canon, characters like the Interlopers, Midna, or the Twili were likely never intended to be anything more than exclusive additions to Twilight Princess. Yet their subsequent popularity among players could prompt Nintendo to see their return, similar to how Skyward Sword's Fi influence was felt in Tears of the Kingdom. In fact, with Tears of the Kingdom in mind, revisiting the Twili and their Interloper ancestry could be ideal, especially after early speculation during the game's development and now after the introduction of the Zonai to Zelda lore.

Rumors of Twilight Princess' connection to Tears of the Kingdom weren't entirely without merit, and following Tears of the Kingdom it's clear to see the similarities between the two races of Zonai and Twili. With a Tears of the Kingdom sequel highly unlikely, players still frustrated with the unresolved mystery of the Zonai might be satisfied with a new Zelda game featuring the Interlopers instead. Substituting one ancient enigmatic race for another would be advantageous for Nintendo, as it would help Zelda move on from Tears of the Kingdom while also capitalizing on long-standing calls for a return to Twilight Princess.