The Legend of Zelda: The timeline that divides and fascinates fans

Few sagas have generated as much passion for organizing their stories as The Legend of Zelda . Nintendo released each game as a standalone adventure, leaving fans the challenge of putting the pieces together and creating a complete narrative.

In 2011, to mark the 25th anniversary of the series, Nintendo published the Hyrule Historia book, officially revealing a timeline that, far from clarifying everything, opened up an even greater field of debate.

According to Skyward Sword (2011), Hylia protects humanity from the demonic Demise and is reborn as Zelda to maintain the cycle of struggle between good, evil, and wisdom. Link becomes the destined hero to confront Ganondorf and ensure peace.

Everything seemed clear until Ocarina of Time (1998), which divides the story into three timelines based on the outcome of the battle against Ganondorf: Link's defeat, the child's timeline, and the adult's timeline. Each branch gives rise to different games and endings, creating a complex map that fans are trying to decipher.

Following the official release, multiple theories emerged among fans:

• Link is always the same soul: each hero is a reincarnation with blurred memories but a common heroic instinct.
• Eternal Ganondorf: His hatred is reborn generation after generation, following Demise's curse.
• Endless Cycle: After Breath of the Wild , Hyrule could reset, creating an eternal loop.
• Majora's Mask as a nightmare: Termina would be a psychological purgatory for Link.
• Immortal Tingle: A running gag about his identical appearance in every era.

With Breath of the Wild (2017) and Tears of the Kingdom , Nintendo once again challenged the official timeline. Its story takes place thousands of years later, but blends elements from all timelines, sparking theories about parallel universes and reinterpretations of canon.

Nintendo seems to prioritize gameplay over strict lore consistency, leaving scattered clues and recurring symbols that invite fans to investigate and debate.

The Zelda saga acts like an oral myth: each game is a different narrator, contributing their own version and nuances. This allows Hyrule's story to be renewed with each installment and keeps players' curiosity alive.

The future promises more adventures for Link and Zelda that will challenge the timeline, fueling endless theories and discussions among fans. Hyrule thus becomes a meeting point for generations, where the important thing isn't the exact chronology, but the experience of uncovering each secret.