Daily Debate: Is it Strange When Princess Zelda Isn’t in a Zelda Game?

For a series entitled The Legend of Zelda, it’s interesting that a handful of its games don’t feature the titular princess in a prominent way. Although later installments like Breath of the Wild and Skyward Sword include her more, focusing on her character development, strength, and role in Hyrule, it’s notable that Princess Zelda is hardly even mentioned in some titles!

For example, I have always found it odd that Majora’s Mask is considered a Zelda game when it has almost nothing to do with Princess Zelda at all. She’s shown in a brief flashback, but other than that she’s pretty much non-existent in this chapter of the Hero of Time’s journey. Another example is Link’s Awakening which is beloved by many fans, but has nothing to do with Zelda herself. She is only vaguely mentioned when a groggy and storm-tossed Link mistakes Marin for his princess.

Furthermore, as cool as her design is in Twilight Princess, we all know which princess steals the limelight in that epic adventure — honestly is there even any competition between her and Midna? Zelda is alive in this version of Hyrule, but she’s absent for 90% of the game and not much help for Midna and Link until the final parts of the journey. This is fine, and in the end she gets to help our favorite hero take down Ganondorf on horseback in an epic Light Arrow shootout. But for a series named after the princess of Hyrule, you would think she would be given a greater role in most of the games.

But that’s just my opinion. I just love when Princess Zelda and Link get to share the glory and showcase how equally fantastic both of them are as main protagonists. I am hoping the sequel to Breath of the Wild does her justice and keeps building on her character, because honestly, there’s no Legend of Zelda without Princess Zelda.

What do you think? Do you find it weird when Princess Zelda isn’t in a Zelda game? Let me know in the comments!

Artwork by: HystericDesigns

Chakell Herbert

Chakell (pronounced shuh-kell) is an associate editor for Zelda Dungeon! She has loved The Legend of Zelda series since she was a little girl because of its equal mix of princesses, besting bad guys, and heartfelt stories. Chakell lives in the overall tame state of Utah, but holds onto her childhood hopes to find an adventure in her backyard one day. She has a degree in English and is a full-time editor for a magazine. You can usually find her gaming (obviously), laughing with her husband, taking a long time to tell stories because she keeps getting distracted; getting sucked into books and podcasts; or snuggling her cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.