Daily Debate: What Do You Want the Setting of the Next Zelda Game to Be?
Posted on January 25 2024 by Sean Gadus
Analyzing the different worlds depicted in the Zelda series is a very interesting exercise. In addition to the many different versions of Hyrule presented to players over the past thirty-five years, players have been on journeys to Holodrum, Labrynna, Termina, Koholint Island, and The Great Sea. While there have been some Zelda sequels in the past, the developers of Tears of the Kingdom made the unusual decision to set the game in an expanded version of Hyrule from Breath of the Wild. This means that it has been a long time since fans have had a new setting in a mainline Zelda game (not counting remakes like Link’s Awakening or remasters like Skyward Sword HD).
Overall, it is likely that the next Zelda game will move away from the version of Hyrule seen in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. With this in mind, what do you want the setting or settings of the next Zelda game to be?
It is exciting to think that Nintendo could go almost anywhere with the setting of the next Zelda game; I have two different interests or hopes for the setting of the next Zelda game. My first suggestion for a setting would be a high fantasy kingdom at the height of its power and glory. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom depict a kingdom in decline and recovery, and the world is filled crumbling ruins and a castle in disrepair. I would like to see a fantasy kingdom at the peak of its powers with a beautifully maintained castle or fortress to house its leader. My other choice would be a sea or ocean setting. An ocean-based setting gives Nintendo the opportunity to create a world distinct from the worlds seen in most other Zelda games. Additionally, I have always felt that The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass only scratched the surface of the potential of their settings due to the limitations of the hardware they were built for.
What do you think? What do you want the setting or settings of the next Zelda game to be? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Sean Gadus is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon. His first Zelda game was Ocarina of Time, and he loves all of the 3D Zelda games from 1998-2011. The final battle of Tears of the Kingdom is one of his favorite final battles in the entire series. He wants to help build a kinder, more compassionate world. You can check out his other written work at The-Artifice.com.
