Nerd Rush: Popular Zelda Timeline Theories: Link after Link after Link...

There are many popular timeline theories regarding the Zelda games, as I mentioned when I started the first game in the series. There are hints linking the stories together in the games themselves; mentions or images of previous games, references to former Links in background stories; and of course, references to the same locations throughout the games, such as Kakariko Village, Death Mountain, and Lake Hylia.

Recently I've come across some convincing timelines which I thought I might share, because I really think it adds a lot to the series to try to establish some kind of context for all of the Zelda games. Realistically, Nintendo has never released a timeline and probably never will - timelines are constantly undermined and rewritten by the presence of new games, and it's completely possible that all the Zelda games were never really meant to be linked together beyond tenuous references.

Regardless, Zelda fans need something to do when they aren't gaming, so there are three dominant timeline theories which are constantly debated between by Zelda fans today; the folk tale/legend theory, the split timeline theory, and (to a lesser extent) the linear timeline theory. I'm going to outline them here, plus some examples of each.

1. Folk Tale/Legend Theory

"This is but one of the legends of which the people speak."

There's a theory that the Zelda games are meant to be interpreted as a collection of folk tales or legends - substantiated by a quote from the beginning of Wind Waker, "this is but one of the legends of which the people speak" - which are based on some distant truth, constantly changing and shifting in the retelling. In that sense, this theory states that there is no timeline, because the games are all separate versions of a source legend which we don't have access to. Supporters of this theory suggest that Nintendo has verified this reading, as this article reports, although it is important to remember that stock replies do not necessarily reflect an authoritative stance. See The Truth About The Timeline, an article on Zelda Informer, for more information on this theory.

2. Split Timeline Theory

the GameTrailers timeline

The "split timeline" theory is one of the only elements of the timeline which has been verified by a high-up at Nintendo. The "split timeline" theory is explained as follows by one of Zelda's creators, Eiji Aonuma, who described Twilight Princess's placement in the chronology as follows: "It is a world 100 and something years after Ocarina of Time...The Wind Waker is parallel. In Ocarina of Time, Link leaps to a world seven years later, defeats Ganon, and then returns to the child era, right? Twilight Princess is the world 100 and something years after peace is restored in the child era." Therefore, the split timeline theory consists of two halves - the world that Adult Link in OoT saved and then left, and the world that Child Link returned to after leaving the world he had previously saved. Most modern timelines are based on this theory, with some differences between them.

• 2a. The one which I have been supporting throughout this blog was put together by GameTrailers during a retrospective look back at the Zelda series; here's the link. This plotline is a little out of date, as it came before Twilight Princess was released, but it is still the one most commonly cited by fan despite its inaccuracy in placing Twilight Princess on the Adult Link side.
  



The ocarinahero10 timeline

• 2b. The now-famous ocarinahero10 timeline claims to be infallible and backed up by substantial in-game evidence; it diverges significantly from the GameTrailers timeline and includes all the games up to Spirit Tracks, which was released in 2009. Nintendo released a statement in response to this timeline, saying that no real timeline was possible for the Zelda series, provoking ocarinahero10 to start an internet poll to try to change Nintendo's mind. His theory also relies on a game in the Young Link timeline to connect between Twilight Princess and Minish Cap detailing the destruction of the Master Sword, represented by the question mark block on that side.

3. Linear Timeline Theory

Linear timeline theories are by far the least popular of the three 'branches' of theories, largely because the split timeline theory has been (at least partially) verified by Nintendo. The basic element of a linear timeline theory is simply that there is only one timeline - not a Child/Adult Link split which occurs after the Ocarina of Time. In the linear timeline supporter's opinion, the ending of the Ocarina of Time is irrelevant; by going back in time to change the past, Young Link erases the future in which he saved Hyrule from Ganon and freed the sages from their respective temples. Instead, we are left with a world in which Young Link warns Princess Zelda of Ganondorf's plans (although it isn't clear what evidence he provides) and as a result, Hyrule remains safe. 

jjwil1991's linear timeline

• 3a. While LinkandMarioman doesn't offer his own timeline, he does address some problems with the split timeline theory here; I apologize for the quality of the video, but it's actually kind of difficult to find linear timeline supporters these days. (If you ignore the first three of his arguments, he does raise some interesting points.)
• 3b. There is a timeline by jjwil1991 which is one of the very few complete linear timelines still remaining; it's an interesting spin on the Zelda legend's continuity. 

4. My Incredibly Awesome Theory

Okay, it's not really awesome and I don't have one yet, but I'm planning to release my own statement on what order I think the Zelda games should go in (if any) once I finish playing through the games. I'm starting to get kind of an idea of where I think things should go, but I don't want to stick my foot in my mouth before I know what I'm talking about.

In the meantime, I'll continue referencing the GameTrailers timeline - with some changes - in my reviews, because I think of all those listed, the GameTrailers timeline is the most genuinely well thought-out (despite the errors due to time.)

I hope this was somewhat interesting - if you have any comments or questions regarding Zelda timelines, comment and I'll be sure to reply.