Category: Diversity in Zelda

If there’s one thing I’ve always admired about the Zelda series, it’s the inclusion of diversified, creative races and strong and well-written female characters. As a young girl playing Ocarina of Time for the first time, I remember being inspired by Princess Zelda’s resolve to stop Ganondorf using her intelligence and Link’s aid. Even after their plan went awry, she was still committed to protecting her people and donned the alter ego of Sheik for seven years, supporting Link’s journey…

Video games and even computers have always had a fascinating relationship with the gender binary. In the very early days of the gaming, when names like Atari and Coleco Vision dominated the market, video games were largely viewed as a gender neutral past time. Over in computer development, some of the earliest prolific programmers were often women and some were even as bold as to assert computer development was a woman’s field at the time. The change to this idea…

Chosen families are crucial to anyone who feels ostracized or in need of support that blood relatives can’t or won’t supply. But they are particularly important to members of the LGBTQ+ community who continue to face both social isolation and even expulsion from their homes. While the Zelda series does not contain much in the way of positive queer representation, it does feature quite a few examples of the value of chosen families. Not only do these portrayals serve to…

With a series as long-lasting as Zelda, fans have benefited from watching it evolve and change over time. The stories and characters have expanded and changed in meaningful ways: Princess Zelda’s wisdom, compassion, and dedication to the people of Hyrule in Twilight Princess illustrate that she isn’t just a damsel in distress; Ganondorf’s desire for power is fueled through the sympathetic goal to save his people in The Wind Waker, and Link’s courage and resolve are tested time and time again as he returns…

“Diversity in Zelda” is an ongoing series in which we highlight the Legend of Zelda’s approach to inclusivity, spotlight relevant characters, and speak with Zelda fans from marginalized communities. It is our desire for the installments of this series to be received with open minds, and civil discussions between readers are encouraged. When one thinks of The Legend of Zelda, and Nintendo as a whole really, images of all these larger-than-life characters and incredibly grandiose settings come to mind. The…

Princess Zelda is a multifaceted character who has developed from a damsel in distress to a powerful political player, a researcher, a sorcerous, a warrior, a leader, and a legend. By virtue of this complexity, Zelda is an inspiring female character who breaks down gender roles game after game. Despite her many changes over the series’ 35 year history, Zelda has never been anything other than white. This is a shame. And a missed opportunity to signal to women of…

The following was a long-form interview with Eddie Varnell from Boss Rush Games Network, host of Nintendo Pow Block Podcast on January 23, 2021. The interview itself is also available on the website for Boss Rush Games and anywhere Boss Rush Podcast episodes are available. As part of the collaboration between Boss Rush Games and Zelda Dungeon, the following is a selection of questions and responses from my interview with Ed. Thank you for joining me for an interview Ed…

If 2020 has taught me anything, it is that video games are rarely, if ever, an accurate reflection of reality. In movies and video games, a single hero can save the world by themselves. In real life, positive change is often much more gradual. Bringing widespread positive change to the world can be a grueling process, even a heartbreaking process, that requires years of tireless work by hundreds of thousands of people who are invested in a cause. One of…

Diversity in gaming tends to be a hot-button issue, and one not too often talked about in the context of the Zelda series. We at Zelda Dungeon want to shine a light on the issues of representation, stereotyping, and intersectionality in our community. This will be an ongoing series in which we hope to, from time-to-time, engage in a variety of diversity conversations related to our beloved series. In honor of Black History Month we will be focusing primarily on…