The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The coming to subsequence intheZeldaseries has seldom been as square as the relationship betweenBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom , leading to anoverall timeline that ’s infamously convolutedand inconsistent . Zeldastories control more as retellings of a central myth than anything , so it ’s not a big business deal if every event does n’t line up in one proper succession . FittingBOTWandTOTKinto that picture was always uniquely challenging , however , and Nintendo has finally clarified the strange human relationship between those game and the rest of the series .

A Zelda: TOTK Sequel Could Take Place 100 Years Later

The Gerudo Might Be The Key

Nintendo ’s always made it clear thatBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomdon’t occur in any close range of time to the stories of the other games , but a raw graphic from the Nintendo Live 2024 event showed the biz as fullyseparate from the quietus of the timeline . This does n’t necessarily imply that there still ca n’t be any link — a story set in the far - flung futurity might be represented in more or less the same way — but it does make it clear thatNintendo is n’t worried about linking the narrative .

An image of the current Zelda timeline was reported on byVooksand shared on Twitter byWario64 .

Without any larger worry of continuity , the narrative that pop out withBOTWis free to leap ahead with no consequence , and this could be the thoroughgoing opportunity to research a core component of theZeldamythos from a new angle . BOTW ’s story effectively pop out 100 year before the starting time of the game , when Calamity Ganon was revivify and laid waste to much of Hyrule . A sequel could move 100 old age into the future , a length of time that also coincides with the long - standing construct of a Gerudo male being born every 100 years .

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The Legend of Zelda games feature many change factor , but the recurring villain Ganondorf always appear as a Gerudo for good reason .

This concept is a core part of the mythology loop inZelda , asthe only Gerudo male that ever in reality appears in the series is the Demon King Ganondorf . Some of the most interestingZeldastories occur about when the franchise breaks rules , however , and turning the Gerudo prophecy in a different way would be the perfect way to do so . TOTKsees Ganondorf encounter a definitive end , readjust the 100 - yr bicycle and providing an chance for a new Gerudo king to follow to the table .

Zelda Doesn’t Have To Obey Tradition In A New Timeline

New Takes On Core Concepts Could Be Fun

A Gerudo Martin Luther King Jr. who is n’t Ganondorf could bring a different kind of villainy to the table or end up being an ally to Link instead . Previous passing from Ganondorf as a villainhave result in memorable opponent like Vaati fromThe Legend of Zelda : The Minish Capand the aureate Demon Lord Ghirahim fromSkyward Sword . There ’s always elbow room for unexampled takes on Ganondorf — althoughOcarina of Time ’s adaptation is for good iconic , The current of air Wakerproved that it was potential to inject a different sort of presence and pathos into the character — but there are other options .

Some of the great Zelda games have receive a lot of innovative attention , but one with a ton of unique charm is unbelievable to get the same treatment .

Nintendo has n’t always been peculiarly willing to upend the core concepts of theZeldaseries , but the new release ofThe Legend of Zelda : echo of Wisdomproves that the company is well-fixed breaking rules for the first metre . Having Zelda as the elementary playable fiber is a plot - modifier , considering the only other plot to fully commit to that concept wasZelda : The Wand of Gamelon , a Philips CD - i secret plan that Nintendo does n’t consider part of the franchise . When taking theBreath of the Wildcontinuity as a standalone matter , there ’s a literal chance that the myth could be upended .

Ganondorf and Riju from Tears of the Kingdom.

Custom image by Katarina Cimaljevic

Changing The Zelda Formula Opens Up New Possibilities

A TOTK Sequel Needs Fresh Opportunities

Having another male Gerudo live up to Ganondorf would still be a challenge , butit ’s a challenge that opens up new possibilities . That bequest could tower over him in different ways , whether he considers himself a reincarnation of Demise ’s malice or faces prejudice from those who regard any Gerudo male person heir a threat . There ’s really no limit to how far the construct could be twisted , and although seeing something as radical as Link being birth as a Gerudo seems improbably unlikely , imagine outside the box is a playfulness exercising all the same .

As a sequel , Zelda : Tears of the Kingdom needed to explain why Link would n’t have his strength from BOTW , and it put a wrench on tradition to do so .

Moving a hundred years into the future also afford up the chance to overhaul the landscape again . In some area , beau monde could importantly progress , but a new scoundrel could bring the terror of a Third Great Calamity or another transformative issue . There ’s also no understanding that the story would have to be confined to the bounds of Hyrule , and turn to a unlike sort of villain and motivation could propel it into yet undiscovered fix .

Ganondorf standing in front of Gerudo warriors.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the anticipated follow-up to Breath of the Wild, released in 2017. A rare occurrence in Zelda titles, Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel instead of loosely connected. In Tears of the Kingdom, Link will take to the skies and learn about a mysterious kingdom in the clouds.

It ’s very possible that Nintendo will leave the world ofBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdombehind for the clip being . Everyone has unlike priorities inZeldagames , and although the modern titles redefined undefendable - world game in a mode that still feels ahead of the game eight years afterBOTW , a reappearance to a more traditional mode would make some farsighted - fourth dimension fans happy . IfThe Legend of Zelda : weeping of the Kingdomdoes get a follow - up , however , watch in on a new Gerudo male would be the perfect way to shake it up again .

Sources : Vooks , Wario64 / Twitter

The Legend of Zelda : Tears of the Kingdom is the awaited follow - up to Breath of the Wild , release in 2017 . A rare occurrence in Zelda titles , Tears of the Kingdom is a verbatim subsequence instead of broadly connected . In Tears of the Kingdom , Link will take to the skies and con about a mysterious land in the swarm .

Official artwork of Ganondorf from Ocarina of Time 3D in front of a screenshot overlooking BOTW’s Gerudo Town.

Artwork of Link from Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and The Minish Cap.

Official Tears of the Kingdom artwork with Link reaching for the Master Sword in front of a background showing Great Sky Island, with golden grass and leaves.

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Link and Ganondorf side by side

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda