A Comprehensive Guide to the History of the Legend of Zelda Series
The Legend of Zelda began in 1987. Since that time, the original game has had numerous sequels, spin-offs, and adaptations across multiple platforms and genres. To this day, the series themesong, crafted by the legendary Koji Kondo, remains a defining element, not only of the franchise, but of the entire video game industry:
Each game has built upon the lore and history of Hyrule, expanding the world and introducing new characters, locations, and storylines. This short guide describes the timeline of events and key moments in Hyrule's history, which is divided into three main historical arcs:
- The very beginnings of the story: creation and the Hyrulean Civil War
- The outcome of the Ocarina of Time in which the Hero of Time is triumphant
- And an alternate timeline in which the Hero of Time is defeated during the events of the Ocarina of Time
For a video explanation of the complete Hyrule Historia, check out this video by GameSpot below. Otherwise, click on the navigation to visit the timeline that interests you!