The Legend of Zelda has some of the most confusing lore out there. Seriously, from multiple timelines to games that may not even exist in the canon at all, it can get pretty dicey and twisted at times. And this is nothing against the series. I love the games. Ocarina of Time was one of the first video games I ever played (shortly followed by Pokémon Stadium, Mario Party, The Philosopher's Stone, and Barbie Mystery Cruise!) Well, I use the word "play" loosely as I was merely a toddler who had to share the console with two older step-brothers and was ꦜimposed by 90% of the game. But it still counts.
But even a life long fan like myself can admit that The Legend of Zelda games have some of the most confusing timelines in existence. But the benefit of that confusion in the modern age is that fans have come together to try and piece together the jumbled puzzle that is the Zelda lore, fill the plot holes, and solve the unanswered questions ourselves with numerous wonderful andꩵ questionable fan theorie🔯s.
These fan theories range from realistic to utterly bizarre, but then again so do the games so who am I to judge. This article will recount and dissect some of the most popular fan theories associated with ﷽the games as well as poke fun at some of the more confusing aspects of the series.
So, without further ado, I present you with 15 things about the♔ Zelda universe that are a bit more than just confusing 🉐and the 10 fan theories that attempt to make sense of it all.
25 ༺ Make No Sense: Is Wind Waker Link Canon?
The strange events and animation style used in the Wind Waker game has made a lot of fans question whether or not the events of the game are part of the main canon. Common questions speculate on whether or not the game is part of the main timeline or one of the other timelines, whether or not the Link seen in the gaℱme is the Link that we have followed through the other games or if he is a relative or another being entirely, and if the animation style is indicative of the fact that this game occurs in another dimension, a post humorous world, or in a dream-like state. Though those all sound far-reaching, they are not things foreign to the series.
24 🔯 Make No Sense: What Happens To Our Failed Games?
When we (Link) fail at stopping that cursed moon from destroying the world and we restart our mission anew, what happened in-universe? Did that simply 🎃not count? Were we granted a cosmic do-over and the events of the past three days were entirely erased from memory as if they never existed or blipped from the universe entirely? Or was everyone simply reborn after the destruction as if we were all stuck in some weird purgatory type state, doomed to relive those awful and odd events until Link finally gets it right? Like some grim sort of Groundhog day with only one possible exit?
23 ꦍ Fan Theory: 𒐪Remnants Of The Holy Wars
There is a theory that states the♎ abandoned and crumbling temples that are scattered throughout Hyrule are remnants of a long since passed Holy war that shaped the world as we know it. This theory states that the temples are filled with traps for their own protection as looting was rampant during the wars and the traps were placed in order to protect the artifacts against rebels and thieves. Though there are no theories on what sparked the wars themselves nor what eventually ended them.
22 Make No Sense: Chaotic Good Heroes ℱ 🐲
Yes, Link does save the world time and time again, and we thank him for it. But how do the people of Hyrule feel about him? Is he referred to as this type of imm🐠ortal god that reappears every few hundred years or so and helps the people when they are in need, waking only when danger is imminent? Do they set out clay pots as offerings to the one in green? Or is he seen as this chaotic trickster who follows danger and, though he does stop it eventually, he causes a lot of havoc in the process by destroying pottery, causing a mess, and mistreating chickens?
21 Make No Sense: The Three Links ꦐ
Was it the original intent to create three separate Links/timelines or was that added in later as an attempt to unite the different games? I know that🤪 the claim is that it was always intended to be that way and to create this vast universe spanning over centuries, but was that truly the case from the start? Or was the intent simply to follow this colorful and quiet character on his adventures and, as more games were added to the collection and people searched for answers, a need to create some connection was seen?
20 ☂ ও Fan Theory: Reincarnation
In the earlier entries of this article, I discussed the fact that🅘 the multiple games in the series indicate some sort of immortality or reincarnation. Well, this was not a unique idea. In fact, it is a rather popular fan theory. Many fans believe that Link, Zelda, and Ganon are reincarnated between games and, as the sentient representations of the Triforce, will be drawn to each other, in whatever way that occurs, for the rest of time. Or until the fourth piece is found and their reincarnated souls can rest.
19 🐲 Make No Sense: Established Character Design
No matter what timeline or universe it is, Link is always blonde, pale, and has his little Peter Pan–esque outfit (though the colors have been known to shift over time.) This has caused many fans to question the idea of whether or not there are truly sepa💙♈rate universes or whether the timelines simply diverged each time a main choice or action was made and the splits all run parallel. This second idea makes the most sense though it later leads to confusion over whether each Link, and the world around him, has any memory of the events that transpired previously (in their relative timeline) and whether or not we would be able to jump through timelines in the future.
18 ꦰ Make Nꦦo Sense: Is Link Doing Alright?
If Link does remember the events of previous games, is he doing okay? Honestly, he has been through a lot. Give the guy some space and time to recover. Does it drive him up the wall that no matter how many times he saves Hyrule, somehow, it ends up broken again? Does he just want to take a vacation from being Link and not have to feel the pressuꦗre of having the fate of the entire world rest on his shoulders? Each and every game he seems entirely unaffected by the previous events of the games- which leads me to believe that he is a reincarnation rather than a continuation.
17 ൲ Fan Theory: Who Is The Happy Mask Salesman?
Many fans believe that there is something that is just not quite right with the happy mask salesman. Many have tried to pinpoint exactly what is wrong with him but something about him just does not sit well with players. Some fans believe that the reason that he feels so creepy is that he is actually the grim reaper. If one believes the theory that Majora's Mask occurs in the afterlife and that Link hꦚas passed, then the idea that the person who initially guides him for a portion of the journey and helps him get what he needs in order to combat the tasks ahead makes the theory that he is the grim reaper make total sense.
16 ꧒ Make No Sense: What Is Going On With The Timeline?
I know that the creato♏rs of the series released a lore guide for the series that breaks down the timelines/pᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚarallel events in a way that makes a semblance of sense. However, that does not cover how incredibly and intensely confusing this can be for more casual games of the series. In traditional series, each game/film/book (unless explicitly stated otherwise) that follows the last is a continuation of events that have already transpired.
Unless specifically marked as a prequel or an expansion of the established universe with a new set of characters, the events will usually follow the previous installment's story. But, in Zelda, there is no real indication whether or not they are expansions of the established universe with the same c🎃haracters (that rꦏetain no memories of the previous games) or if we are simply continuing on from where we left off. And that gets confusing real fast.