Daily Debate: Which Bokoblin Variant is the Most Iconic?

Posted on August 07 2022 by Kora Burton

While Bokoblins made their Zelda debut in The Wind Waker, they’ve since become an enemy staple of any new Zelda game. Bokoblins can be found in subsequent mainline titles like Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, and Breath of the Wild, spin-off franchises like Hyrule Warriors, and even crossover games like Cadence of Hyrule. There have been several iterations of the Bokoblin’s design. Bokoblins are pointy creatures with sharp angles and spiked tails in The Wind Waker, while their Twilight Princess counterparts are more impish and wrinkled, taking on a humanoid appearance. Skyward Sword sees their proportions blown up to something more rounded out as they sport chubbier cheeks and long, flappy, bejeweled ears. Apparently this Bokoblin variant was initially “pretty cute” (see footnote 9 on the Bokoblin page of our wiki for more) and had to be made to look scarier during Skyward Sword‘s development. Finally, Breath of the Wild brings us up to the current Bokoblin design, complete with glowing eyes and shorter, stubbier overall features.

The differences between variations don’t end with appearances, as succeeding Bokoblin installments are adept at different tasks. Bokoblins in The Wind Waker are capable of scouting, manning search lights, and using telescopes. While Bokoblins have always had the ability to use weapons from Boko sticks to clubs to swords, Skyward Sword also shows us an ancient variant called the Technoblin that wields a high tech electric device. In Breath of the Wild, you can observe Bokoblins forming groups at camps where they cook up delicious seared steaks and dance around the fire.

The similarity between the term Bokoblin and the English word goblin is pretty much automatic for me, so whenever I read fairytales that mention goblins, I’ve started to replace them in my mind with Bokoblins. Which Bokoblins? Well, my default iconic Zelda Bokoblin is from Breath of the Wild. It’s certainly not the first Bokoblin-inclusive game I played, but Breath of the Wild Bokoblins just possess a perfect chaotic energy. Their fangs, horns, and long ears make for easily identifiable goblinesque features whenever I need to conjure up such beasts in my fantasy-obsessed imagination. Plus, with Link’s ability to dress up as a Bokoblin using the Bokoblin Mask, you can get up close and personal with Breath of the Wild‘s Bokoblins. If I’m being honest, they’re even kind of charming in their own way.

What about you? Which Bokoblin variant in the Zelda series is THE Bokoblin in your mind’s eye? Which design do you like best, and why? Let us know down in the comments!