10 Zelda Theories That Might Actually Be True
advertisement
VOICE OVER: Johnny Reynolds
WRITTEN BY: Garrett Alden
Few game franchises are surrounded by as many theories as "Zelda" is. For this list, we'll be looking at some of the most fascinating fan theories about “The Legend of Zelda” game franchise. Our list includes The Gerudo Became the Twili from “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” (2006), The Temples Are Left Over From a Holy War from “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998), Majora Is an Alien from “The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask” (2000), and more!
Welcome to MojoPlays and today we’ll be going over the 10 best Zelda theories. For this list, we’ll be looking at some of the most fascinating fan theories about “The Legend of Zelda” game franchise. If there’s a “Zelda” theory that it blows your mind we didn’t include, drop a bomb bag full of your favorites on us in the comments!
This dark entry in the “Zelda” series inspires plenty of speculation. The first theory from the game we’ll discuss is the idea that every mask in the game contains a lost soul. Granted, the masks that Link uses to transform into different forms are confirmed to have souls in them - you help lay the men who used to be the Goron and Zora masks to rest yourself. But this theory speculates that each and every mask in the game is the result of something similar to a greater or lesser degree. Several of the masks are based on undead beings, while several other masks are received after Link assists lost, though not necessarily dead, characters. Spooky to think what happened to that cow…
Have you ever thought about what the temples in “Ocarina of Time” were used for? Sure Ganondorf has co-opted them and corrupted them, but what was their original purpose? One theory posits that the temples were all devoted to the worship of the goddesses and the sacred realm. Their state of disrepair is due to all of them being destroyed in a holy war. To stop anyone from seeking the Triforce, like Ganondorf eventually does, the temples were nearly all partially destroyed and filled with deadly traps and monsters. That would also explain why so few people know about the cosmology of Hyrule. It’s hard to worship when the lore is lost, and the temples aren’t worth the effort.
The Triforce is arguably the central symbol of the “Zelda” franchise. This sacred object consists of 3 golden triangles fitted together, each representing the 3 goddesses of legend. Together, they form a sort of triangular pyramid. However - there’s a gap in the center. Some have theorized that a fourth piece of the Triforce has long been missing from this gap. This theory first gained popularity due to a fourth piece seemingly appearing on the Hylian Shield in “Ocarina of Time.” Some have suggested Hyrule’s creation story had another goddess or deity involved, and that its portion of the Triforce is sealed away for some reason.
This grim theory suggests that Link is responsible for the eventual death of the people who basically raised him. In “Ocarina of Time,” Ganondorf’s influence kills the Deku Tree, whose life is tied to the Kokiri’s. Then, Link goes forward in time and purifies the Forest Temple, leading to a new Deku seed being planted. But in one timeline, seen at the game’s ending, Link goes back in time. These theorists suggest that because he does so, in this timeline, dubbed the “child timeline,” the Deku tree is never replanted, so the Kokiri die out - explaining their absence in later games in this branch, like “Twilight Princess.” Link inadvertently causing a genocide is arguably the darkest theory on our list.
History repeats itself in the “Zelda” universe. Ganon always returns, and there’s always a Zelda and a Link to stop him. But some believe that the timeline eventually restarts, so to speak. The Goddess Hylia battles Demise, who are reborn as Zelda and Ganondorf in human forms. According to this theory, Zelda and Ganon eventually ascend to divine forms again and restart the whole cycle over again. This could also explain some inconsistencies or odd things about the series, though the evidence for it is somewhat flimsy. It would mean that the legend will never end though, since it would just begin again.
“Majora’s Mask” is really weird - both the game, and the object itself. While most assume the mask is some sort of eldritch entity, there’s another option - it’s an alien. Aliens are basically canon to the game anyway - they even abduct cows! Plus, there’s the small fact of the slowly descending moon with a terrifying face! This theory suggests that “that’s no moon - it’s a space station!” Most moons don’t have weird fields inside them full of masked children frolicking. Sure, Majora may be a mystical force possessing the Skull Kid - or it’s a parasitic alien. As Clarke’s Law says, “any sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic.”
The “Zelda” timeline is complicated. It branches into 3 paths. However, as of this writing, “Breath of the Wild” (and “Tears of the Kingdom”) are the furthest along in one of the timeline splits. But which of the timelines it ends is currently unconfirmed. This has some speculating that the answer is - all of them. “Breath of the Wild” contains evidence of each one of the timelines, from mentions of the great sea from “The Wind Waker,” to allusions to the Twili from “Twilight Princess.” Some point to “Hyrule Warriors,” which features elements from multiple timelines, as a possible bridge, while others see Calamity Ganon as an inevitability that must always happen. Regardless, this would be a great way to untangle everything.
“Ocarina of Time” introduces 7 sages who correspond to each of the main temples in the game, including Zelda herself. However, during Link’s adventure, most of them confront their region’s temple boss or are otherwise strangely absent until Link completes each temple. Then, during the credits, most of them appear as lights in the sky before appearing on Death Mountain to look down on Hyrule. Many fans have long assumed that the sages are spirits, having died confronting Ganondorf’s minions at some point or another, despite it never being confirmed by official sources. It certainly wouldn’t be the only time the spirits of deceased champions have assisted Link…
The Gerudo are one of the staple features of most 3D “Zelda” titles. However, the nearly all-female tribe of desert warriors are conspicuously absent from “Twilight Princess,” despite the desert that bears their name appearing. Coincidentally, Midna chooses the moment you arrive there as the time to explain that she and her people, the Twili, are descended from a group of “interlopers,” sorcerers who tried to access the Sacred Realm. And who else do we know of who invaded the sacred realm? Ganondorf, the one male Gerudo, who was also later banished to the Twilight Realm. What if, instead of unknown sorcerers, the Gerudo were inspired by Ganondorf and tried to follow in his footsteps and ended up meeting a similar, yet different, dark fate?
Death is a constant theme throughout “Majora’s Mask,” and it has given rise to some interesting theories. One related theory posits that each region of Termina corresponds to one of the stages of grief. As Link explores Termina, he goes through all of them as he sees how each of the major characters in these regions deals with their losses. While some believe Link’s grief is for his lost fairy Navi, a theory popularized by MatPat suggests that Link is coming to terms with his own death. Termina is purgatory, as many of the people there resemble ones Link knows and he falls down a hole to get there. Although Link returning to Hyrule at the end might debunk this idea, it’s still intriguing.
Every Mask Contains a Soul
“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” (2000)This dark entry in the “Zelda” series inspires plenty of speculation. The first theory from the game we’ll discuss is the idea that every mask in the game contains a lost soul. Granted, the masks that Link uses to transform into different forms are confirmed to have souls in them - you help lay the men who used to be the Goron and Zora masks to rest yourself. But this theory speculates that each and every mask in the game is the result of something similar to a greater or lesser degree. Several of the masks are based on undead beings, while several other masks are received after Link assists lost, though not necessarily dead, characters. Spooky to think what happened to that cow…
The Temples Are Left Over From a Holy War
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)Have you ever thought about what the temples in “Ocarina of Time” were used for? Sure Ganondorf has co-opted them and corrupted them, but what was their original purpose? One theory posits that the temples were all devoted to the worship of the goddesses and the sacred realm. Their state of disrepair is due to all of them being destroyed in a holy war. To stop anyone from seeking the Triforce, like Ganondorf eventually does, the temples were nearly all partially destroyed and filled with deadly traps and monsters. That would also explain why so few people know about the cosmology of Hyrule. It’s hard to worship when the lore is lost, and the temples aren’t worth the effort.
A Missing Triforce Piece
“The Legend of Zelda” franchise (1986-)The Triforce is arguably the central symbol of the “Zelda” franchise. This sacred object consists of 3 golden triangles fitted together, each representing the 3 goddesses of legend. Together, they form a sort of triangular pyramid. However - there’s a gap in the center. Some have theorized that a fourth piece of the Triforce has long been missing from this gap. This theory first gained popularity due to a fourth piece seemingly appearing on the Hylian Shield in “Ocarina of Time.” Some have suggested Hyrule’s creation story had another goddess or deity involved, and that its portion of the Triforce is sealed away for some reason.
Link Causes the Kokiri’s Extinction
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)This grim theory suggests that Link is responsible for the eventual death of the people who basically raised him. In “Ocarina of Time,” Ganondorf’s influence kills the Deku Tree, whose life is tied to the Kokiri’s. Then, Link goes forward in time and purifies the Forest Temple, leading to a new Deku seed being planted. But in one timeline, seen at the game’s ending, Link goes back in time. These theorists suggest that because he does so, in this timeline, dubbed the “child timeline,” the Deku tree is never replanted, so the Kokiri die out - explaining their absence in later games in this branch, like “Twilight Princess.” Link inadvertently causing a genocide is arguably the darkest theory on our list.
The Timeline Is a Cycle
“The Legend of Zelda” franchise (1986-)History repeats itself in the “Zelda” universe. Ganon always returns, and there’s always a Zelda and a Link to stop him. But some believe that the timeline eventually restarts, so to speak. The Goddess Hylia battles Demise, who are reborn as Zelda and Ganondorf in human forms. According to this theory, Zelda and Ganon eventually ascend to divine forms again and restart the whole cycle over again. This could also explain some inconsistencies or odd things about the series, though the evidence for it is somewhat flimsy. It would mean that the legend will never end though, since it would just begin again.
Majora Is an Alien
“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” (2000)“Majora’s Mask” is really weird - both the game, and the object itself. While most assume the mask is some sort of eldritch entity, there’s another option - it’s an alien. Aliens are basically canon to the game anyway - they even abduct cows! Plus, there’s the small fact of the slowly descending moon with a terrifying face! This theory suggests that “that’s no moon - it’s a space station!” Most moons don’t have weird fields inside them full of masked children frolicking. Sure, Majora may be a mystical force possessing the Skull Kid - or it’s a parasitic alien. As Clarke’s Law says, “any sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic.”
“Breath of the Wild” Is Where the Timelines Converge
“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” (2017)The “Zelda” timeline is complicated. It branches into 3 paths. However, as of this writing, “Breath of the Wild” (and “Tears of the Kingdom”) are the furthest along in one of the timeline splits. But which of the timelines it ends is currently unconfirmed. This has some speculating that the answer is - all of them. “Breath of the Wild” contains evidence of each one of the timelines, from mentions of the great sea from “The Wind Waker,” to allusions to the Twili from “Twilight Princess.” Some point to “Hyrule Warriors,” which features elements from multiple timelines, as a possible bridge, while others see Calamity Ganon as an inevitability that must always happen. Regardless, this would be a great way to untangle everything.
The 7 Sages Are Dead
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)“Ocarina of Time” introduces 7 sages who correspond to each of the main temples in the game, including Zelda herself. However, during Link’s adventure, most of them confront their region’s temple boss or are otherwise strangely absent until Link completes each temple. Then, during the credits, most of them appear as lights in the sky before appearing on Death Mountain to look down on Hyrule. Many fans have long assumed that the sages are spirits, having died confronting Ganondorf’s minions at some point or another, despite it never being confirmed by official sources. It certainly wouldn’t be the only time the spirits of deceased champions have assisted Link…
The Gerudo Became the Twili
“The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” (2006)The Gerudo are one of the staple features of most 3D “Zelda” titles. However, the nearly all-female tribe of desert warriors are conspicuously absent from “Twilight Princess,” despite the desert that bears their name appearing. Coincidentally, Midna chooses the moment you arrive there as the time to explain that she and her people, the Twili, are descended from a group of “interlopers,” sorcerers who tried to access the Sacred Realm. And who else do we know of who invaded the sacred realm? Ganondorf, the one male Gerudo, who was also later banished to the Twilight Realm. What if, instead of unknown sorcerers, the Gerudo were inspired by Ganondorf and tried to follow in his footsteps and ended up meeting a similar, yet different, dark fate?
Link Is Dead
“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” (2000)Death is a constant theme throughout “Majora’s Mask,” and it has given rise to some interesting theories. One related theory posits that each region of Termina corresponds to one of the stages of grief. As Link explores Termina, he goes through all of them as he sees how each of the major characters in these regions deals with their losses. While some believe Link’s grief is for his lost fairy Navi, a theory popularized by MatPat suggests that Link is coming to terms with his own death. Termina is purgatory, as many of the people there resemble ones Link knows and he falls down a hole to get there. Although Link returning to Hyrule at the end might debunk this idea, it’s still intriguing.
