SwitchMar 04, 2026
Explore the complete Legend of Zelda timeline, including Skyward Sword, Ocarina of Time, Breath of the Wild, and the three branching timelines.
Unlike most game franchises, The Legend of Zelda does not follow a single straight timeline.
Instead, Nintendo eventually confirmed that the series splits into multiple branching histories, all connected through the eternal struggle between Link, Zelda, and Ganon.
If that sounds confusing, don’t worry.
Even longtime Zelda fans occasionally need a diagram.
This guide explains how the Zelda timeline works and where the major games fit.
The earliest story in the Zelda timeline is Skyward Sword.
This game explains several core elements of the series:
After Demise is defeated, he places a curse on the heroes of the future.
This curse ensures that the conflict between Link, Zelda, and evil forces will repeat across generations.
Which is Nintendo’s very polite way of explaining why there are so many Zelda games.
The Zelda timeline splits after the events of Ocarina of Time.
At the end of that game, history branches into three different paths.
These timelines represent different outcomes for the hero Link.
In this timeline, Link fails to defeat Ganondorf.
This leads to a darker future where evil dominates Hyrule.
Major games in this timeline include:
Despite being the darkest timeline, it still produced some of the most beloved games in the series.
The Child Timeline occurs when Link returns to the past after defeating Ganondorf.
In this timeline:
Major games include:
Majora’s Mask in particular stands out as one of the strangest — and most fascinating — Zelda stories.
In this timeline, Link disappears after defeating Ganondorf.
Without a hero to defend it, Hyrule eventually falls.
The gods flood the kingdom to seal away evil.
This leads to a new ocean world seen in:
Yes, Hyrule literally becomes an ocean.
Nintendo clearly decided the best way to handle evil was simply to drown the entire kingdom.
Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom take place thousands of years after the earlier games.
Nintendo intentionally left the exact timeline placement unclear.
By this point, elements from all three timelines appear to have merged.
Which basically means:
Even the timeline itself eventually gave up trying to stay organized.
The Zelda timeline may look complicated at first.
But the core idea is simple.
Across countless generations, heroes rise to protect Hyrule from darkness.
The details change.
The legend continues.
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