The 10 Biggest Mysteries in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
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VOICE OVER: Johnny Reynolds
WRITTEN BY: Johnny Reynolds
Just like several other "Zelda" games, we were left with some pretty big mysteries in "Tears of the Kingdom." For this list, we'll be looking at unanswered questions and queries we have about Nintendo's latest, greatest adventure. If you haven't finished the game yet, beware of spoilers ahead. Our list of the biggest mysteries in "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" includes the absence of the Divine Beasts, the Nature of the Triforce, the origins of the Leviathans, the Missing Rito Kass, and more!
Script written by Johnny Reynolds
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re scratching our heads over the 10 Biggest Mysteries in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. For this list, we’ll be looking at unanswered questions and queries we have about Nintendo’s latest, greatest adventure. If you haven’t finished the game yet, beware of spoilers ahead. If there are any other mysteries you have about “Tears of the Kingdom,” let us know about them in the comments.
Firstly, let’s address the elephant in the room. Does “Tears of the Kingdom” clear up any timeline questions? Well, no. Not really. Nintendo went the same route as it did with “Breath of the Wild.” There are references to many past entries, some of which take place in entirely different timelines. We get more on the history and founding of this Hyrule, but nothing is made very clear. In all likelihood, Nintendo is much less concerned with chronology than fans are. We know “Breath of the Wild” is at the end of a timeline. The most popular theory is that both games and their histories are set far in the future and have seen the timelines converge. Many “Zelda” games have an opening that describes them as legends or myths passed down. Maybe by the time “Tears of the Kingdom” takes place, that’s all they really are.
The Zonai were teased in “Breath of the Wild” through many curious ruins. However, players could also collect the Barbarian Armor, which was said to have belonged to an ancient, warlike tribe. Many players assumed these ancient tribes were one and the same. But then “Tears of the Kingdom” showed that the Zonai were anything but barbaric. Unless the armor’s makers were an offshoot of the Zonai, that means there’s some other extinct group of people that we know almost nothing about. Did their violent tendencies lead to their downfall? And, if they weren’t the Zonai, who were they? Were they called the Lomei, naming the three labyrinths after themselves in which Link finds each armor piece? The set is earned elsewhere in the sequel, so it’s anyone’s guess. If this becomes a trilogy, we’d love some answers.
One of the biggest mysteries in “Breath of the Wild” were the origins of three massive, whale-like skeletons. There’s another side quest surrounding them in “Tears of the Kingdom,” but we’re still given no answer as to where they came from. Many believe they’re the remains of Oshus, Levias, and the Wind Fish, three deities from past games whose size certainly match. It fits with the theory that all timelines converge. But that doesn’t explain the several dozen other gigantic skeletons you can find. In the Depths, at the corresponding locations of each Leviathan on the surface, you’ll spot those called Dark Skeletons. Remains of other giants are also littered about Hyrule; I even climbed one’s spine inside a cave. But just like the Hylians who study them, all we can do is speculate.
There are many characters in the series that are “reborn,” appearing in multiple games across timelines. But “Tears of the Kingdom” marks the first time Nintendo has recycled the name Rauru. A character by that name appeared in “Ocarina of Time,” but there are several other similarities that make us wonder. They both act as the Sage of Light and both have a fondness for owls. While “Ocarina’s” took on the form of one in the real world, the Rauru of “Tears” wears owl-inspired clothing. In fact, the Zonai overall seemed pretty keen on them based on the design of the Wingsuit armor set. Is this just Nintendo paying homage? Or is there some greater connection here? It wouldn’t be the first time Sages transcended time, connecting to their descendants.
The Sheikah Slate and its runes were one of the many ways in which Nintendo revitalized “Zelda.” Yet, there’s no sign or mention of it in “Tears of the Kingdom.” Pre-release, we thought Zelda may have vanished with it during the opening. But that device was revealed to be the Purah Pad, which features some of the same functions as the Slate while Link’s new abilities are tied to his arm. With those extremely useful runes, including unlimited remote bombs, it doesn’t seem the type of device someone would get rid of. Furthermore, all of the Shrines and towers built by the Sheikah for the first game have vanished.
We can accept that maybe the Sheikah towers and Shrines were demolished between games with no further use of them. We can accept the absence of the Sheikah Slate simply because Nintendo wanted to give us different tools to work with. What’s harder to accept is the glaring omission of the Divine Beasts. They were extremely important to the plot of the first game, and were brought back into Hyrule’s control. You may find an NPC who mentions them in “Tears.” But other than that, and the existence of Divine Helms, their whereabouts are a complete mystery. One fan theory suggests they were destroyed out of safety since Calamity Ganon was able to corrupt them. But that’s still speculation on our part, with no in-game answer given.
Despite only debuting in “Breath of the Wild,” Kass quickly became a fan favorite character. The traveling Rito bard would often appear near a Shrine quest, and sing a song to Link, hinting on how to reach it. We loved how he romanticized Hyrulean history, and his macaw-like design made him stand out amongst the other Rito. He played a sizable role in the DLC as well, yet Nintendo left him out of “Tears” entirely. He seems an odd character to leave out considering his importance. In “Tears,” you have multiple side quests with a different Rito, the reporter Penn. Once you finish all of them, he’ll make a reference to Kass, but that’s pretty much all we get. So, what gives, Nintendo?
Sidon’s charm and admiration for Link made us ecstatic to revisit Zora’s Domain in “Tears of the Kingdom.” When we got there, we were introduced to Yona, the Prince’s fiancée and eventual wife. While the internet has mixed feelings about her due to their love of the Prince, we’re more curious about something else. She isn’t in “Breath of the Wild,” nor is she ever mentioned, but her character page states she’s known Sidon since birth. She also tells Link she’s heard his name mentioned most days since she first arrived at the Domain. That begs several questions. Where has she been and how long has she been gone? There’s a massive, unreachable continent off the coast of Northern Hyrule that players have always wondered about. Are there other Zora domains there? Perhaps we’ll explore her more in the future.
The Triforce has long been an important symbol in “Zelda.” But its nature in “Breath of the Wild” and its sequel has us a little perplexed. Normally, one of the three main characters gets their designated piece, while bringing together all three grants the wish of whoever does so. At the end of the first game, the full Triforce shines on the back of Zelda’s hand as she finally defeats Calamity Ganon. It seems to do so again while she’s healing the Master Sword in “Tears of the Kingdom.” But how does the full Triforce dwell within her? It could be the “sealing power” referenced by her in multiple cutscenes, but it seems more likely that’s referencing her divine bloodline. One of the most vital pieces of “Zelda” lore deserves some clarification.
Look, this is mostly a joke entry, but it’s a valid question. We know you saw our requests to pet the dogs in the first game, Nintendo. So why can we STILL not pet them here?? Let us show the good doggos some love!
Now, onto our final mystery.
While “Breath of the Wild” teased the Zonai, the sequel explored them through the Dragon Tears memories. We learned they actually founded Hyrule, with King Rauru marrying the Hylian, Sonia. He also had a sister named Mineru. But other than that, we don’t see any other members of this ancient race. They’re said to have been close to Gods, so were there only ever meant to be a few? We know Rauru sacrificed himself to seal away Ganondorf, but Mineru survived. Were they already that close to extinction? Or was there some other event that wiped out the remaining members? There’s plenty of room for Nintendo to further build upon the Zonai. We just hope it happens.
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re scratching our heads over the 10 Biggest Mysteries in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. For this list, we’ll be looking at unanswered questions and queries we have about Nintendo’s latest, greatest adventure. If you haven’t finished the game yet, beware of spoilers ahead. If there are any other mysteries you have about “Tears of the Kingdom,” let us know about them in the comments.
The Timeline Problem
Firstly, let’s address the elephant in the room. Does “Tears of the Kingdom” clear up any timeline questions? Well, no. Not really. Nintendo went the same route as it did with “Breath of the Wild.” There are references to many past entries, some of which take place in entirely different timelines. We get more on the history and founding of this Hyrule, but nothing is made very clear. In all likelihood, Nintendo is much less concerned with chronology than fans are. We know “Breath of the Wild” is at the end of a timeline. The most popular theory is that both games and their histories are set far in the future and have seen the timelines converge. Many “Zelda” games have an opening that describes them as legends or myths passed down. Maybe by the time “Tears of the Kingdom” takes place, that’s all they really are.
The Ancient Tribe
The Zonai were teased in “Breath of the Wild” through many curious ruins. However, players could also collect the Barbarian Armor, which was said to have belonged to an ancient, warlike tribe. Many players assumed these ancient tribes were one and the same. But then “Tears of the Kingdom” showed that the Zonai were anything but barbaric. Unless the armor’s makers were an offshoot of the Zonai, that means there’s some other extinct group of people that we know almost nothing about. Did their violent tendencies lead to their downfall? And, if they weren’t the Zonai, who were they? Were they called the Lomei, naming the three labyrinths after themselves in which Link finds each armor piece? The set is earned elsewhere in the sequel, so it’s anyone’s guess. If this becomes a trilogy, we’d love some answers.
The Leviathans
One of the biggest mysteries in “Breath of the Wild” were the origins of three massive, whale-like skeletons. There’s another side quest surrounding them in “Tears of the Kingdom,” but we’re still given no answer as to where they came from. Many believe they’re the remains of Oshus, Levias, and the Wind Fish, three deities from past games whose size certainly match. It fits with the theory that all timelines converge. But that doesn’t explain the several dozen other gigantic skeletons you can find. In the Depths, at the corresponding locations of each Leviathan on the surface, you’ll spot those called Dark Skeletons. Remains of other giants are also littered about Hyrule; I even climbed one’s spine inside a cave. But just like the Hylians who study them, all we can do is speculate.
Birds of a Feather
There are many characters in the series that are “reborn,” appearing in multiple games across timelines. But “Tears of the Kingdom” marks the first time Nintendo has recycled the name Rauru. A character by that name appeared in “Ocarina of Time,” but there are several other similarities that make us wonder. They both act as the Sage of Light and both have a fondness for owls. While “Ocarina’s” took on the form of one in the real world, the Rauru of “Tears” wears owl-inspired clothing. In fact, the Zonai overall seemed pretty keen on them based on the design of the Wingsuit armor set. Is this just Nintendo paying homage? Or is there some greater connection here? It wouldn’t be the first time Sages transcended time, connecting to their descendants.
The Sheikah Slate
The Sheikah Slate and its runes were one of the many ways in which Nintendo revitalized “Zelda.” Yet, there’s no sign or mention of it in “Tears of the Kingdom.” Pre-release, we thought Zelda may have vanished with it during the opening. But that device was revealed to be the Purah Pad, which features some of the same functions as the Slate while Link’s new abilities are tied to his arm. With those extremely useful runes, including unlimited remote bombs, it doesn’t seem the type of device someone would get rid of. Furthermore, all of the Shrines and towers built by the Sheikah for the first game have vanished.
The Divine Beasts
We can accept that maybe the Sheikah towers and Shrines were demolished between games with no further use of them. We can accept the absence of the Sheikah Slate simply because Nintendo wanted to give us different tools to work with. What’s harder to accept is the glaring omission of the Divine Beasts. They were extremely important to the plot of the first game, and were brought back into Hyrule’s control. You may find an NPC who mentions them in “Tears.” But other than that, and the existence of Divine Helms, their whereabouts are a complete mystery. One fan theory suggests they were destroyed out of safety since Calamity Ganon was able to corrupt them. But that’s still speculation on our part, with no in-game answer given.
The Missing Rito
Despite only debuting in “Breath of the Wild,” Kass quickly became a fan favorite character. The traveling Rito bard would often appear near a Shrine quest, and sing a song to Link, hinting on how to reach it. We loved how he romanticized Hyrulean history, and his macaw-like design made him stand out amongst the other Rito. He played a sizable role in the DLC as well, yet Nintendo left him out of “Tears” entirely. He seems an odd character to leave out considering his importance. In “Tears,” you have multiple side quests with a different Rito, the reporter Penn. Once you finish all of them, he’ll make a reference to Kass, but that’s pretty much all we get. So, what gives, Nintendo?
Yona’s Absence
Sidon’s charm and admiration for Link made us ecstatic to revisit Zora’s Domain in “Tears of the Kingdom.” When we got there, we were introduced to Yona, the Prince’s fiancée and eventual wife. While the internet has mixed feelings about her due to their love of the Prince, we’re more curious about something else. She isn’t in “Breath of the Wild,” nor is she ever mentioned, but her character page states she’s known Sidon since birth. She also tells Link she’s heard his name mentioned most days since she first arrived at the Domain. That begs several questions. Where has she been and how long has she been gone? There’s a massive, unreachable continent off the coast of Northern Hyrule that players have always wondered about. Are there other Zora domains there? Perhaps we’ll explore her more in the future.
The Nature of the Triforce
The Triforce has long been an important symbol in “Zelda.” But its nature in “Breath of the Wild” and its sequel has us a little perplexed. Normally, one of the three main characters gets their designated piece, while bringing together all three grants the wish of whoever does so. At the end of the first game, the full Triforce shines on the back of Zelda’s hand as she finally defeats Calamity Ganon. It seems to do so again while she’s healing the Master Sword in “Tears of the Kingdom.” But how does the full Triforce dwell within her? It could be the “sealing power” referenced by her in multiple cutscenes, but it seems more likely that’s referencing her divine bloodline. One of the most vital pieces of “Zelda” lore deserves some clarification.
Joke Entry: Why Can’t We Pet the Dogs?
Look, this is mostly a joke entry, but it’s a valid question. We know you saw our requests to pet the dogs in the first game, Nintendo. So why can we STILL not pet them here?? Let us show the good doggos some love!
Now, onto our final mystery.
The End of the Zonai
While “Breath of the Wild” teased the Zonai, the sequel explored them through the Dragon Tears memories. We learned they actually founded Hyrule, with King Rauru marrying the Hylian, Sonia. He also had a sister named Mineru. But other than that, we don’t see any other members of this ancient race. They’re said to have been close to Gods, so were there only ever meant to be a few? We know Rauru sacrificed himself to seal away Ganondorf, but Mineru survived. Were they already that close to extinction? Or was there some other event that wiped out the remaining members? There’s plenty of room for Nintendo to further build upon the Zonai. We just hope it happens.
