Nintendo may be keeping the final title for The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 well under wraps, but that hardly matters to fans who know that, title or not, it’s finally on its way. Even better: if everything goes well, we could be getting to play early next year. Show
Finally revealed with a proper trailer in June 2021, Breath Of The Wild 2 looks set to continue where things were left off in the first Breath Of The Wild, with Link and Zelda finally reunited. Things don’t stay normal in Hyrule for long however, and soon we see Link soaring above the clouds and exploring a world that looks like it’s been significantly shaken up since our last stint there. Though details are still tight – it’s to be expected, when Nintendo won’t even reveal the title – there’s a surprising amount to be gleaned from the game’s last trailer. With that being said, here’s everything we know about The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 release date, platforms and price The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 only has a release window for Spring 2023, having just been delayed out of its 2022 window. Beyond that, Nintendo has been fairly quiet with sharing a specific launch date. The game is coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch. No special editions have yet been announced but we would expect it to sell at the stand price as other first-party Nintendo games for £49.99 / $59.99. It is however worth noting that Breath Of The Wild was an outlier, which has an RRP of £59.99, despite still costing $59.99 in the US. It stands to reason the same thing could happen again here. The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 first look and trailersThe Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 was confirmed to be in development during E3 2019, where Nintendo premiered a first look trailer. The clip shows Link and Zelda exploring a creepy dungeon that’s potentially deep within Hyrule Castle. The subterranean area is home to a malevolent force, as well as a corpse that seemingly belongs to the series’ biggest villain, Ganondorf. In a moment, everything goes wrong as the corpse seemingly reanimates anda mysterious power raises Hyrule Castle from the ground. During E3 2021, Nintendo provided another teaser of The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2, which – while still cryptic on plot information – nonetheless included a glimpse of new gameplay and locations we can expect in this sequel. In the trailer, which follows on directly from the first teaser, Link can be seen soaring through clouds and visiting islands of land that are floating in the sky – something that features prominently in The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The teaser also shows new enemies roaming Hyrule, though Link has some new Sheikah powers to combat them. These new abilities seemingly allow Link to phase through surfaces and even reverse the flow of time on certain items. Again, the teaser ends with a shot of Hyrule Castle floating above the ground and covered in the same malevolant energy that was present in the first trailer. The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 story and settingThe Legend Of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Credit: NintendoAs the placeholder title suggests, The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 is a direct sequel to the events of Breath Of The Wild released in 2017. However, we still don’t have any concrete information on how long after that game it is set, and whether or not it will have any relation to the events from the spin-off Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity. According to Nintendo’s Bill Trinen, the reason the official title has not been revealed is that it may spoil what actually happens in the game, and the company is not yet ready to divulge these details. What we do know is that the game will be set in the open world of Hyrule introduced in Breath Of The Wild – albeit it with new structures such as the floating islands in the sky. This feels reminiscent of the world of Skyward Sword but also Wind Waker, which featured a Hyrule submerged in water while small scattered islands resided above. Recent patents filed by Nintendo suggest that in Breath Of The Wild 2, Link will have much more manoeuvrability in the skies. The patents suggest that Link may be able to use his Sheikah Slate to reverse time and move through solid objects. The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 – can you play as Zelda?Many fans have been hoping that we will finally be able to play as Zelda in The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2. While she is only seen falling into the abyss in the new teaser, other hints suggest that she may take a playable role. In the first 2019 teaser, Zelda is seen sporting a new shorter haircut compared to her long hair in the first game. Hair physics can be difficult to animate so some people believe this new hairdo may make it easier to developers making Zelda a playable character. During this teaser, it also appears that Link may have been trapped or corrupted by the malevolent force they encounter. Who else to come to the hero’s rescue than the princess herself? The latest teaser also appears to show two versions of Link, one in the sky, the other on the ground, but they also look different, with the first sporting longer hair (undercutting the theory of Zelda’s shorter hair) and what appears to be a corrupted right arm. Meanwhile, the Link on the ground is wearing blue tunic first introduced in Breath Of The Wild. In either case however, the clips are presented with Link’s back to the camera while we never actually see his face. Some have suggested that the blue-tunic Link may just be a placeholder for Zelda that Nintendo want to keep under wraps, but it’s also not certain if the figure from the sky is actually Link. He could in fact be another character altogether, perhaps from another time. It’s only got fans speculating even further. Here’s a more thorough breakdown of what’s going on in the new Breath Of The Wild 2 trailer and what it could mean.
There is a lot of Zelda chatter doing the rounds right now, with the long-awaited and much-hyped The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 being the topic of much discussion (does anyone know what's going on with Link's arm?). And while we're waiting for the new Zelda game (and the new Zelda Game & Watch toy) to arrive, many of us may want to check out some of the older ones, of which there are a great many. If you do decide to trek through Zelda history, you will find that there are loads of games to get through, and the easiest way to do it is to play them in release order. But what if you want to experience the story in chronological order? Well, that is where things get a lot more complicated. But we've given explaining it all a go and you will find both ways to play all the main Zelda games detailed out for you below! How to play the Zelda games in release orderAs with most long-running franchises, the order to play can become a bit jumbled if you want to play them in story order. But if you want to experience the main entries in the Zelda series like everyone else did, in the order of release, here is how to do it:
It's worth noting that Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020), Cadence of Hyrule (2019) and numerous other titles are considered spinoffs rather than core entires, which is why we've left them off this list. You can normally spot a spinoff by the fact that Nintendo isn't the only developed that worked on it. Read more: How to play the Zelda games in chronological orderLet's be honest, following a narrative with the Zelda games is by no means straightforward and there are many different variations of what people think to be the go-to order for experiencing the lengthy saga. It gets complicated thanks to the three, at least, different timelines that the games exist in the games. And because of that, there is no definitive order that you can play them in that everyone will agree on. The main timelines that you need to know about the Child, Adult and Fallen Hero timelines, which we'll try to explain below. There are also some games which come before the split into different timelines, which here we've decided to call the Prequel Timeline just so we have something to call it. So, with that in mind, this is just our preferred way of working through the games if you want the story to flow the best it can. This order starts with Skyward Sword, and it will end by nicely teeing you up for BotW 2. Take a look below for our recommended order: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Prequel Timeline)Released: 2011 Platform: Wii/Wii U While things get confusing quite quickly with the Zelda timeline, one of the things that we can all agree on is that Skyward Sword is the entry point for the overall narrative - going way further back than any other core game in the franchise has done. So many key parts of the franchise are established here - so much so that we don't think any future game in the main series will ever go as far back as this one did. It would be fun to be proven wrong on that, though! The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Prequel Timeline)Released: 2004 Platform: Game Boy Advance Slotting into the original Zelda timeline between Skyward Sword and Four Swords, The Minish Cap is relatively unique due to the fact that it shrinks Link down to the size of a bug so he can interact with a race of little people called the Minish. If you only want to play the more famous games, you could skip this one, but you'd be missing out if you did - the reviews were very strong for The Minish Cap, so we'd recommend giving it a go if you haven't already. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords (Prequel Timeline)Released: 2002 Platform: Game Boy Advance (bundled with A Link To The Past) You could easily pair up this little multiplayer experience with The Minish Cap, as there are a lot of similarities between the two regarding where they place in the overall Zelda mythos - before most of the famous and modern games, basically! In terms of story, there is apparently quite a few years between The Minish Cap and Four Swords. But since there isn't a game that fills that gap, you don't need to worry too much about it. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Child and Adult timelines)Released: 1998 Platform: N64 We mentioned the different timelines that Zelda has, didn't we? It is here, with the Nintendo 64's Ocarina of Time, that the split first occurs - this game is set in both the Child and Adult timelines, so this is where it starts to get confusing. The long-running feud with Ganondorf kicks off here, too. And as for what causes the timeline to split, well, that would be Princess Zelda sending Link back in time, a move which in turn forever changed Zelda history. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (Child Timeline)Released: 2000 Platform: N64 It is generally thought that after Link was sent hurtling back through time, he decided to leave Hyrule for a bit. And it is during that time away that he gets caught up in a time loop that keeps repeating the same three days over and over again. He does return home, at the end of the game, where he joins the Hylian army. This game continues the Child timeline, and is remembered by many for its creepy moon. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Child Timeline)Released: 2006 Platform: GameCube/Wii Sticking with the Child timeline now, this one adds more confusion to its placement in the timeline, because we actually have two versions of Link on our hands - as if things were not confusing enough! We also see the end of Ganondorf here, but it doesn't really stick - he is killed in this title, but he soon shows up again in a reincarnated form in the next game. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (Child Timeline)Released: 2004 Platform: GameCube Onto the last game in the Child timeline, now. Ganondorf returns in Four Sword Adventures, a sequel to the aforementioned GBA game, which wraps up the Four Swords arc. But it still remains a game that is hotly debated as to where it should be placed. Originally, many thought it was connected to Link to the Past, but the Child timeline reveal changed all that. Vaati is also killed off in this one, so it's worth checking out if you haven't already! The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Adult Timeline)Released: 2002 Platform: GameCube Welcome to the Adult timeline! Centuries have passed since Link was sent back in time in Ocarina, and without anyone to protect the world, Ganon was able to do some pretty hefty damage. To counter that, the goddesses decided to flood, and then sink, Hyrule - the iconic location became locked in the depths of the ocean. As far as Zelda goes in terms of pure storytelling, this is one of the best chapters the series has given us. Wind Waker introduces a new Link, who has grown up hearing tales of the legendary Link of old (the one who was sent back in time in Ocarina). The new Link comes of age in this game and becomes the protagonist of the series for a time. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Adult Timeline)Released: 2007 Platform: DS Link and Tetra set off to find a brand new kingdom at the end of the last game, and in Phantom Hourglass, the pair are unfortunately shipwrecked and then trouble ensues - as it inevitably does. This is a strange one, really, as it is more of a mini-game than a full entry in the franchise. No major impact is made on the timeline and most of it takes place in a dream. One to skip if you don't want to play everything! The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Adult Timeline)Released: 2009 Platform: DS/Wii U New Hyrule is the setting for this game, which is also part of the Adult timeline, even though it takes place about 100 years after the events of the previous game. It is also the first to give us a playable Zelda! Cole is the main villain here, sort of, having been possessed by a resurrected Ganon (he has a habit of doing that). This is definitely one to play as it brings the Adult timeline to a close. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Fallen Hero Timeline)Released: 1991 Platform: SNES Now we are out of the Adult timeline, let's move on to another - this game kicks off what fans like to call the Fallen Hero Timeline! We jump into this timeline years after Link was defeated by Ganondorf (in what is believed to be an unseen alternate ending to Ocarina of Time - simples). Obviously, this is an older game in terms of release date, and it has been shunted further and further down the timeline as the many prequels have come out since 1991. This one features a notable moment where Link touches the Tristone and undoes a lot of the damage done in the world so far by Ganon. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages (Fallen Hero Timeline)Released: 2001 Platform: Game Boy Color This is another game that can be debated about where it fits, thanks to a small bit of dialogue that caused some confusion, but most can agree that it follows on from A Link to the Past in one way or another. We know that the Link in this game has already Tristone and that is one of the biggest clues. Plus, he has definitely already defeated Ganon once - maybe even more than that! The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Fallen Hero Timeline)Released: 1993 / remade in 2019 Platform: Game Boy / Nintendo Switch Originally intended as a direct sequel to A Link to the Past, Nintendo has caused some confusion by saying this game could take place with any version of Link that has defeated Ganon - so you can really take your pick of a few places with this one. But the story and overall narrative do take a bit of a backseat in this one, something that was welcomed by some, so it is a fun game to play regardless of when you get to it.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Fallen Hero Timeline)Released: 2013 Platform: 3DS This is yet another interesting one! You get a lot of lore in this game but it actually pulls from various games from various timelines which again, makes it one that could be shuffled about a bit if you wanted to. That being said, it does very much feel like a game that belongs in the Fallen timeline and the name of the game itself suggests that it is, at least in some ways, a bit of a hybrid. The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (Fallen Hero Timeline)Released: 2015 Platform: 3DS This is another game that you can quite easily skip without missing anything crucial to the complex world-building we have had in the Zelda franchise. It is a game that has not really had much love from the fans - so much so that there are many that don't count it as a main Zelda game at all. Play it here if you like, as it is technically part of the Fallen timeline, but letting this one pass you by is no bad thing.
The Legend of Zelda (Fallen Hero Timeline)Released: 1986 Platform: NES We do find it quite amusing that the first game in the series - The Legend of Zelda, released way back in 1986 - is one of the more recent games in the series chronology. Also known as The Hyrule Fantasy, this game features Link on the hunt for the Triforce after Hyrule has been decimated and only monsters are left to walk the land. You can play this one, alongside Zelda II: The Adventure of Link as part of Nintendo Switch Online. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (Fallen Hero Timeline)Released: 1987 Platform: NES While it was only released one year later than the first, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link actually takes place three years after the events of that game and is a direct sequel to it - so an easy one to place on the timeline. What is notable here is that some think this is the furthest ahead in time the series has gone and there are arguments to be made for that. We've gone with the notion that Breath of the Wild takes place thousands of years after it - and not just because playing BOTW after this is about as strikingly different as you can get in every way. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Fallen Hero Timeline?)Released: 2016 Platform: Wii U/Nintendo Switch The most recent game in the franchise, until next year anyway, has also been heralded as one of the greatest games of all time - a title that it fully deserves. As for its placement in the timeline, that is still up for debate. There are clues that point toward it being part of the Fallen Hero timeline - Ganon being very much alive is one of them - but the jury is still out. Whether you think BotW is in the Fallen Hero Timeline or not, the main thing to know is that it takes place more than 10,000 years after Ganon's previous defeat. This means that you don't really need to know the specifics of the previous games. Instead, BotW tells you what it wants you to know. Incidentally, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is said to take place just prior to BotW, so while we have not included it in the list (because it's not a fully-fledged entry in the franchise), just before you start this one is a good time to play it.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 (Fallen Hero Timeline?)Release date: 2022 Platform: Nintendo Switch This brings us to the next game to come in the franchise. All indications are that the sequel will follow on from the first, it would be strange if it didn't, and while we are still some way out from the late 2022 release date, we do know that this next game will see the destruction of Hyrule (again) and we will see Link take to the skies! And maybe we will finally have official confirmation of the Nintendo Switch Pro by then so we will be able to play it in glorious 4K! Only time will tell on that front, though.
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