Nintendo’s Zelda timeline was always a point of contention and discussion up until Nintendo released an official overview of events. With that, it was revealed that the Zelda games actually split off into three separate timelines due to how events played out in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
However, this original timeline was released before The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Earlier today, an image of the Zelda timeline pictured at Nintendo Live 2024 in Sydney, Australia now features how BotW and TotK fits into all of this.
As it turns out, BotW and TotK are completely separate from the rest of the Zelda titles. This means that there are now effectively four timelines for the Zelda universe.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, these timelines are well represented within the roster.
Sheik and Ganondorf both hail from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, game in which the three-way split within the timelines occurs (excluding BotW and TotK).
Zelda is based on her appearance from The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past. Despite how cheerful Zelda appears, she actually originates from the timeline in which Link was defeated by Ganondorf in OoT.
Young Link is a character that comes from both The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. This version of Link represents Link from the Child Era after Link emerged victorious against Ganondorf.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. 4, Ganondorf and Zelda were both based on how they appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which also occurred during Child Era, after Majora’s Mask.
Toon Link is mostly based on his appearance from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Link here is known for his exploits following the Adult Era that followed after Link triumphed over Ganondorf.
Finally, Breath of the Wild Link is just “Link” in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It would seem that Masahiro Sakurai really paid attention to the details as this is the only time in which Link wielded the Master Blade with his right hand, whereas all other versions of Link that have been playable in Smash were always left-handed.
Of course, it’s unknown how the upcoming Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, will fit into all of this.
Check it all out below:
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