The Legend of Zelda franchise is so much more than an entertaining adventure series. Link's many quests span a world filled with vibrant storylines and enthralling experiences. Over the years, we've come to appreciate the rich lore that The Legend of Zelda has to offer. Each title introduces us to new characters, new worlds, and an immersive backstory. All of this has gamers scratching their heads about which release belongs where on the expansive Legend of Zelda timeline.

Developers have given us a lot of information through the years, including explicit details about story elements and how Hyrule 🃏came to be. We know about the golden goddesses, the evil king Ganon, and the Hero of Time. There is even an impress💜ive compendium, called Hyrule Historia, that was developed by Akira Himekawa, Eiji Aonuma, and Shigeru Miyamoto.

But, even with all of this extensive Legend of Zelda knowledge, it hasn't stopped dedicated game theorists from developing hidden meaning and secret lore from the franchise. With so many games to analyze, and so much story-based entertainment to scour, it's no wonder these individuals have become so engrossed by the Zelda universe. Typing "Legend of Zelda The🉐ories" into Google will reward you with a cavalcade of unique and ﷽interesting speculations from players all over the world.

Some of these theories are wacky, and some are deeply rooted in lore, while most are just crazy enough to be true. The love and adoration for this timeless quest inspired us to collect fifteen of our favorite Legend of Zelda fan theories.

15 𒀰 Wind Waker: Zora Became The Rito

Via: Zelda Dungeon

You'll meet many familiar races in Wind Waker but may notice a strange absence of fish-people. Although the overworld is a massive sea, and sailing is the main form of transportation, the Zora are nowhere to be found. One would assume that the humanoid-like water-dwellers would thrive during such an event. Sadly this is was not the case, but it doesn't mean the Zora are gone and forgotten in the realm of Wind Waker.

A popular fan theory states that the Zora are not missing but rather evolved, into the new bird-like race known as the Rito. This theory makes a lot of sense, considering what we know about the Zora from Ocarina of Time. That particular group was fond of freshwater, as found in rivers and lakes. The harsh saltwater of the new Great Sea might have proved too much for the Zora to handle. It's also important to note that the Great Sea is teeming with dangerღous disasters and malicious monsters.

This list is dedicated to theories that showcase some possible truths but this speculation has essentially been "." This marks a time in which a crazy Legend of Zelda f✃an theory wasn't just entౠertaining but also entirely accurate.

Via: Youtube

This isn't a direct fan theory, but we felt it was too interesting to leave it off this list. There are many fan theories that speak to the origins of the infamous Dark Link. This shadowy entity has been seen throughout numerous Legend of Zelda titles, sometimes appearing as a boss o🍃r sub-boss.

The "inner struggle" and need to conquer one's self is a cliche as old as time, but Dark Link isn't viewed as a simple life lesson. Some theories speculate that the villainous shadow is the essence of Link's evil nature, brought out when the hero pulled forth the Master Sword. Others believe that Ganondorf🌱 is directly responsible for summoning Dark Link, in an attempt to create a minion capable of striking down the Hero of Time.

One of the most interesting theories states that Dark Link is , one of the main antagonists from Skyward Sword. Upon defeat, Demise was sealed directly into the Master Sword, where his remaining form would be completely purged from existence. This theory states that perhaps Demise wasn't completely gone and Link's evil essence mixed with the impure soul when the Master Sword was touched in Ocarina of Time.

13 It Was All Just A 🐟Dream

Via: Zelda Dungeon

This is a popular fan theory in general, across many games and franchises, but it actually holds a decent amount of worth in the Legend of Zelda universe. The idea revolves around the dreamscape, stating that Link is simply fabricating all of these grandiose adventures within hi💯s mind. This seems highly unlikely but there are a few key things that support the theory.

Many Legend of Zelda game's feature an opening sequence in which link is "waking☂ up in bed." Is this a direct hint that our Hylian hero is simply imagining all of his heroic deeds? It's also important to note that most games feature link as a child-like protagonist, giving us more merit to the idea that Link is simply suffering from an overactive imagination.

This wouldn't be the first time that Nintendo infused a dream sequence into a franchise. A certain red-hatted plumber was guilty of this in Super Mario 2.

12 🏅🐲 Ocarina of Time: The Sages Are Deceased

Via: Zeldapedia

If you haven't played Ocarina of Time (there is really no excuse for this), Link meets with seven sages who aidಞ him in his quest to stop Ganondorf. Certain sages are tasked with overseeing temples and Link comes in contact with these individuals during his adventures. Once a specific temple is conquered, the ally takes their place in the Chamber of Sages.

There is a running theory that each of these sages meets a bitter end in their respective temple. Darunia may have fallen to the fire beast Volvagia, and we saw Nabooru as she 💖was captured by Twin Rova. There are other instances in which characters simply go missing. Ruto accompanies Link through the Water Temple, but mysteriously vanishes when she takes off to free her people. Saria and Impa are not seen within their respective locations, but you meet them within the Chamber of Sages afterward.

It is more likely that these individuals are simply off doing other things, but it definitely creates an int🍬eresting and rather dark fan th♏eory.

11 𝕴 Zelda Has A Schizophrenic Sister 🐻

Via: Polygon

In Twilight Princess, players encounter a unique individual in Castle Town. Agitha is a young bug collector that lives on her own and, by the looks of it, lives rather well. One would assume that Agitha has a rather substantial amo🧸unt of money, considering her elegant clothing and graceful nature. She also rewards Link with thousands of rupees. She doesn't appear to have a "job" outside of her obsessive hobby, so where exactly is she getting all of this money?

A that 🎃Agitha is actually the sister of Princess Zelda. Even further, they believe she's schizophrenic. This isn't just baseless claim either, Agitha appears to exhibit some trademark signs of schizophrenia. She truly believes that she's a monarch to a kingdom of bugs, she mistakes Link for various bug types (if he's in a certain costume), she always has a dream-like expression, and she seems to suffer from social isolation. Even more concerning is her lackadaisical attitude when faced with dang🍸er. If you approach her as a wolf, Agitha will simply remark that you look like a puppy.

Whether this th꧙eory holds true or not, there does appear to be something rather eccentric about Agitha.

10 🐬 The Gerudo Became The Twili

Via: Kotaku

The Gerudo are strangely absent in Twilight Princess, but some theories suggest they🥀've simply changed form. Much like♏ the Zora theory, some fans believe that the Gerudo suffered a similar evolutionary fate. Although this transition would appear to be something that aligns magically, rather than scientifically.

There are a few key elements to this theory that push it towards truth. First, we have the Mirror of Twilight, a mysterious item that serves as a gate to the Twilight Realm. This magical artifact is located within the Gerudo Desert, the ho𝓡meland for the Gerudan people. Link's Twili companion Midna also makes statements that may suggest that she was one a part of the seemingly forgotten race. There is even a comment in whic🐭h she states that her people's king fell due to greed.

One such king was Ganondorf, the ruler of the Gerudo. This may hint that the Twili were once the de🌊sert-dwelling race that we've seen in past releases.

9 🧸 Super Mario Bros.🦂 3 Was A Famous Hyrule Play

Via: Youtube

This is one of the most entertaining Legend of Zelda theories floating around the internet. One Redditor that Super Mario Bros. 3 was a famous and elaborate stage play that took Hyrule by storm. While Miyamoto has confirmed it was a stage play, there's no way to know if it's set in Hyrule. This seems like a complete shot in tﷺhe dark, but there are a few key elements that make it at least plausible.

There are numerous nods to the Mushroom Kingdom strewn throughout The Legend of Zelda series, although they are most prominent in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. There are many paintings of Super Mario Bros. characters found throughout Hyrule castle, and the Happy Mask Sal🌸esman has an intricate Mario mask on his pack. If you look closely at Malon, you'll notice a Bowser-lik🐭e clasp adorning her neck. Even more alarming is Malon's father, who looks strikingly like Mario. It's possible he was part of a theater troupe and retired to a life of simple farming once the play had run its course.

It's probable that developers simply slipped Super Mario Bros. references into the series for fun, but it is rather interesting that the title screen for Super Mario Bros. 3 looks like a theater production.

Via: Giantbomb

This theory is fairly old and gained a lot of steam prior to the release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Once Wind Waker hit store shelves, the single Link theory lost a bit of its momentum. The idea states that we are following the same Link through each subsequent release and that each Legend of Zelda title iཧs simply another one of his many adventures.

Wind Waker put a damper on this by presenting its Link as the H෴ero of Winds, rather than the Hero of Time. Still, this hasn't stopped some people from putting new and unique spins on the single Link theo🅷ry. There are some that suggest that Link is perhaps the same soul, reincarnated through each game. It is also suggested that both Ganondorf and Zelda share this same ability. Others see Link as a direct descendant of each former self.

In a world f♍illed with magic and goddesses, it's not hard to believe that Link is constantly being reborn to deal with new and present dangers.

7 The Cause🐼 Of The Great Flood

Via: Zelda Dungeon

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker takes place in🎐 a flooded overworld that was once the great kingdom of Hyrule. During the opening sequence, we're told that the Gods of the world were responsible for sealing away Ganon and all of Hyrule under a torrential downpour of rain.

Many players are under the❀ assumption that the golden goddesses were responsible for sealing away the darkness, but proposes that another set of deities may have been responsible for the Great Flood. In their video, RMFH suggests that the three dragons, Eldin, Faron, and Lanaryu (or their spirit counterparts) are to blame for the development of the Great Sea.

It's possible that these spirits had the ability to cause such a devastating flood, as they were also responsible for sealing away the Fused Shadows in Twilight Princess.

6 Breath Of The Wild Happens After W꧑ind Waker ⛎

Via: VG247

The placement of Breath of the Wild within the Legend of Zelda timeline has been bothering people ever since the game released back on March 3rd, 2017. The title looks and feels like it belong🍰s somewhere towards the beginning of time, with ancient artifacts and expansive wilderness.

The running theory is that Breath of the Wild is actually placed after the events of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly where the newest Legend of Zelda title belongs, thanks to its unique gameplay elements and massive open-world design, but a few mysterious items suggest that Breath of the Wild takes pla💯ce in the remnants of the once flooded kingdom of𝕴 Hyrule.

For one, the Korok race (once the Kokiri) hadn't made an appearance in The Legend of Zelda franchise until Wind Waker. Breath of the Wild also features large mineral deposits of rock salt, perhaps suggesting that the area was once covered in salt water. It is also worth pointing out that the Sheikah patterns in Breath of the Wild look similar to the patterns adorning the Tower of the Gods from Wind Waker.