TotK, BotW Have Unique Timeline in Series

Nintendo has officially announced that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom exist outside of the series' established timeline. This groundbreaking revelation was made at the Nintendo Live 2024 event in Sydney, Australia, during a presentation on "The Legend of Zelda History."

Zelda Timeline Takes a Surprising Turn

TotK and BotW Events Stand Alone from Previous Titles

Nintendo has clarified that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (TotK) and Breath of the Wild (BotW) are not connected to the events of the other games in the franchise. This significant update was shared through detailed slides at the Nintendo Live 2024 event, as reported by Vooks.

Since its debut in 1987, The Legend of Zelda series has captivated fans with the adventures of Link across multiple timelines. Traditionally, the timeline splits after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time into three distinct paths: the "Hero is Defeated" timeline, leading to games like A Link to the Past; the "Child" timeline, featuring titles such as Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess, and Four Swords Adventure; and the "Adult" timeline, which includes The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass.

However, in a surprising twist, BotW and TotK are depicted as existing separately from this intricate web of timelines. They stand as a unique branch, unlinked to the historical events of the broader Zelda universe.

The timeline of the Zelda franchise has long been a subject of fascination and debate among its fans, known for its complexity and multiple branches. This new information adds another layer of intrigue. The book The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion hints at the cyclical nature of Hyrule’s history, suggesting that the lines between historical fact and legend can become blurred. As noted in the book: "Hyrule’s recurring periods of prosperity and decline have made it impossible to tell which legends are historical fact and which are mere fairy tale."