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Many commonly accept the Hyrule Historia and Encyclopedia Timeline to be canon. Though, it actually seems to only be the writers interpretation! Not what the developers intended! So my question is... what's the Timeline by the Developers intention per in-game/manual facts and interviews?
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
It's quite literally called a sequel to the first game! It gives also a backstory known as the Tragedy of Zelda I!
The Timeline as of now is:
The Tragedy of Zelda I>The Legend of Zelda>The Adventure of Link
Great! A simple Timeline!
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Generally was seen as Prequel to the last two games, the back of the box confirms this; "The predecessors of Link and Zelda face monsters on the march when a menacing magician takes over the kingdom."
It also reveals the "origins" of Ganon! He was the leader of a group of Thieves and his real name was Ganondorf.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Was always seen as sequel to A Link to the Past, especially seen with the nightmare taking form of Agahnim, Moldorm and Ganon. Marin and Tarin also seem to be a product of Link's memories with Zelda and his Uncle.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Was originally a game about the Imprisoning War, but it had done many changes. It was seen as the earliest tale as it showed the origins of Ganondorf. Some of the people who worked on it even said it was the Imprisoning War! But that's not the case, it was in a earlier version but not the one we got.
The Timeline in the 90s was now this!
Creation of Hyrule>Forging of the Master Sword>Construction of the Temple of Time>Fierce War>Ocarina of Time>the Imprisoning War>A Link to the Past>Link's Awakening>The Tragedy of Zelda I>The Legend of Zelda>The Adventure of Link
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
It's after Link warns Zelda of Ganondorf's plans. He searches for Navi. It's a very obvious sequel where Link is now in a parallel world!
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages
This one is quite tricky... This game has a lot to tie it to Link's Awakening but it also breaks that with Zelda seemingly not recognizing Link. A butchered resurrection of Ganon happens and he's a raging beast. He is defeated yet again.
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
Aonuma, while he didn't work really much on this project: had confirmed this to be the earliest tale in the Zelda Series.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
This is quite clearly a sequel to Ocarina of Time. Also stated by the Developers, this is in the era where Link had defeated Ganon as an adult.
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
This is where it's complicated; the game itself and Aonuma confirmed they're the same Link and Zelda from Four Swords. But, we see Ganondorf turn to Ganon! Many fans had said Aonumas statement is invalid because of that. Ganon then is sealed inside the Four Sword at the end.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
It's a Prequel to Four Swords, we learn the origins of Vaati and the Four Sword.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Shows what happened after Majora's Mask, Ganondorf is tried to be executed but it fails miserably and he's exiled in the Twilight Realm instead. He's killed by Link afterwards with a trick he learned from the Hero of Time himself! Ganondorf is also called "Demon Thief" which was his nickname in A Link to the Past.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hour Glass
It's a direct sequel for the Wind Waker. Very obvious when playing the game.
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
This is a clear sequel to Phantom Hour Glass, we see a new Link and Zelda as well. Tetra and Link had apparently founded New Hyrule. Though, before their adventures, a Demon King had been sealed there!
The Timeline seems very complicated now at first! But I'll explain the view I have learned soon!
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
The origin story for the Master Sword, it also has the first incarnation of Link.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
It's called Triforce of the Gods 2 in Japan, which instantly connects it to A Link to the Past (Triforce of the Gods in Japan), seemingly a semi direct sequel, we also see an Old Man with a green tunic in this game called gramps, presumably the Link from A Link to the Past.
The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes
Was confirmed as direct sequel to A Link Between Worlds by the developers.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Aonuma ones said that this games first chapter is apparently Twilight Princess. While the Game also references Adult, it seemingly is just legend apparently (though, I'm still fine with adult theories!) the book of this game also says that this is the exact same Ganon from Ocarina of Time.
Now... what can the Timeline be? Here the potential "developers intended Timeline"!
Creation of Hyrule>Ancient Battle against Demise and his evil horde of demons>Skyward Sword>establishment of Hyrule Kingdom>The Hero of Men seals away an evil horde with the picori blade>The Minish Cap>Interloper War>Construction of the Temple of Time>Vaati resurrects and kidnaps town girls, he's sealed with the Four Sword by a Hero>Four Swords>Ganondorf, a lone male gerudo steals the Trident of the Demon Tribe>Four Swords Adventures>Twinrova free Ganon from his seal and he adopts the form of a Gerudo again, Twinrova change the rules to make him the King of the Gerudo>Fierce War>Ocarina of Time*
Child Timeline:
Link returns to his childhood and warns Zelda and the King about Ganondorf's evil plans>Majora's Mask>The Hero prepares for Ganondorf's future attack but one day dies awfully>Ganondorf is tried to be executed, but it fails and he's sent in the Twilight Realm instead>Twilight Princess>Centuries later, Ganondorf is revived by a gang of thieves, his followers even had prepared his trident, they go inside the Sacred Realm but he slaughters them all>the Imprisoning War>A Link to the Past>Link journeys away from Hyrule to train for a next big threat>Link's Awakening>Ganon is resurrected but he's sealed away>A Link Between Worlds>Triforce Heroes>Twinrova plan to resurrect Ganon again>Oracle of Seasons and Ages>The Tragedy of Zelda I>Ganon is resurrected, this time not as a mindless beast and he steals the Triforce of Power, he Imprisoned Zelda after hearing she spit the Triforce of Wisdom, Impa tells a young traveler named Link the whole story>The Legend of Zelda>The Adventure of Link>Ganon adapts his Gerudo form yet again after he's resurrected but is sealed afterwards, he with his hatred creates an off-shoot named Calamity Ganon. That'd terrorize Hyrule every 10.000 years>Breath of the Wild>It's sequel
Adult is fairly obvious!
Ganondorf breaks his seal and brings chaos, he rebuilds his tower as well and kills the two sages of the Master Sword, King Daphnes waits for the gods answer and Hyrule is flooded>The Wind Waker>Phantom Hour Glass>Spirit Tracks>one day, the Deku Tree finishes his dream of connecting the islands together and has one giant mass of land!
Whew! This was a very Long thread to make. This is mostly speculation based on in-game and interview evidence ofc. Very interested in your thoughts!
I also forgot to say thanks to a well known lore guy (who you might know from some Zelda theory channels) LoruleanHistorian for this suggestion of the "developers intended Timeline"
I also mostly agree with this "developers intended" Timeline, except with the placement of Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures as you all already knew
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
It's quite literally called a sequel to the first game! It gives also a backstory known as the Tragedy of Zelda I!
The Timeline as of now is:
The Tragedy of Zelda I>The Legend of Zelda>The Adventure of Link
Great! A simple Timeline!
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Generally was seen as Prequel to the last two games, the back of the box confirms this; "The predecessors of Link and Zelda face monsters on the march when a menacing magician takes over the kingdom."
It also reveals the "origins" of Ganon! He was the leader of a group of Thieves and his real name was Ganondorf.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Was always seen as sequel to A Link to the Past, especially seen with the nightmare taking form of Agahnim, Moldorm and Ganon. Marin and Tarin also seem to be a product of Link's memories with Zelda and his Uncle.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Was originally a game about the Imprisoning War, but it had done many changes. It was seen as the earliest tale as it showed the origins of Ganondorf. Some of the people who worked on it even said it was the Imprisoning War! But that's not the case, it was in a earlier version but not the one we got.
The Timeline in the 90s was now this!
Creation of Hyrule>Forging of the Master Sword>Construction of the Temple of Time>Fierce War>Ocarina of Time>the Imprisoning War>A Link to the Past>Link's Awakening>The Tragedy of Zelda I>The Legend of Zelda>The Adventure of Link
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
It's after Link warns Zelda of Ganondorf's plans. He searches for Navi. It's a very obvious sequel where Link is now in a parallel world!
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages
This one is quite tricky... This game has a lot to tie it to Link's Awakening but it also breaks that with Zelda seemingly not recognizing Link. A butchered resurrection of Ganon happens and he's a raging beast. He is defeated yet again.
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
Aonuma, while he didn't work really much on this project: had confirmed this to be the earliest tale in the Zelda Series.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
This is quite clearly a sequel to Ocarina of Time. Also stated by the Developers, this is in the era where Link had defeated Ganon as an adult.
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
This is where it's complicated; the game itself and Aonuma confirmed they're the same Link and Zelda from Four Swords. But, we see Ganondorf turn to Ganon! Many fans had said Aonumas statement is invalid because of that. Ganon then is sealed inside the Four Sword at the end.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
It's a Prequel to Four Swords, we learn the origins of Vaati and the Four Sword.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Shows what happened after Majora's Mask, Ganondorf is tried to be executed but it fails miserably and he's exiled in the Twilight Realm instead. He's killed by Link afterwards with a trick he learned from the Hero of Time himself! Ganondorf is also called "Demon Thief" which was his nickname in A Link to the Past.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hour Glass
It's a direct sequel for the Wind Waker. Very obvious when playing the game.
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
This is a clear sequel to Phantom Hour Glass, we see a new Link and Zelda as well. Tetra and Link had apparently founded New Hyrule. Though, before their adventures, a Demon King had been sealed there!
The Timeline seems very complicated now at first! But I'll explain the view I have learned soon!
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
The origin story for the Master Sword, it also has the first incarnation of Link.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
It's called Triforce of the Gods 2 in Japan, which instantly connects it to A Link to the Past (Triforce of the Gods in Japan), seemingly a semi direct sequel, we also see an Old Man with a green tunic in this game called gramps, presumably the Link from A Link to the Past.
The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes
Was confirmed as direct sequel to A Link Between Worlds by the developers.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Aonuma ones said that this games first chapter is apparently Twilight Princess. While the Game also references Adult, it seemingly is just legend apparently (though, I'm still fine with adult theories!) the book of this game also says that this is the exact same Ganon from Ocarina of Time.
Now... what can the Timeline be? Here the potential "developers intended Timeline"!
Creation of Hyrule>Ancient Battle against Demise and his evil horde of demons>Skyward Sword>establishment of Hyrule Kingdom>The Hero of Men seals away an evil horde with the picori blade>The Minish Cap>Interloper War>Construction of the Temple of Time>Vaati resurrects and kidnaps town girls, he's sealed with the Four Sword by a Hero>Four Swords>Ganondorf, a lone male gerudo steals the Trident of the Demon Tribe>Four Swords Adventures>Twinrova free Ganon from his seal and he adopts the form of a Gerudo again, Twinrova change the rules to make him the King of the Gerudo>Fierce War>Ocarina of Time*
Child Timeline:
Link returns to his childhood and warns Zelda and the King about Ganondorf's evil plans>Majora's Mask>The Hero prepares for Ganondorf's future attack but one day dies awfully>Ganondorf is tried to be executed, but it fails and he's sent in the Twilight Realm instead>Twilight Princess>Centuries later, Ganondorf is revived by a gang of thieves, his followers even had prepared his trident, they go inside the Sacred Realm but he slaughters them all>the Imprisoning War>A Link to the Past>Link journeys away from Hyrule to train for a next big threat>Link's Awakening>Ganon is resurrected but he's sealed away>A Link Between Worlds>Triforce Heroes>Twinrova plan to resurrect Ganon again>Oracle of Seasons and Ages>The Tragedy of Zelda I>Ganon is resurrected, this time not as a mindless beast and he steals the Triforce of Power, he Imprisoned Zelda after hearing she spit the Triforce of Wisdom, Impa tells a young traveler named Link the whole story>The Legend of Zelda>The Adventure of Link>Ganon adapts his Gerudo form yet again after he's resurrected but is sealed afterwards, he with his hatred creates an off-shoot named Calamity Ganon. That'd terrorize Hyrule every 10.000 years>Breath of the Wild>It's sequel
Adult is fairly obvious!
Ganondorf breaks his seal and brings chaos, he rebuilds his tower as well and kills the two sages of the Master Sword, King Daphnes waits for the gods answer and Hyrule is flooded>The Wind Waker>Phantom Hour Glass>Spirit Tracks>one day, the Deku Tree finishes his dream of connecting the islands together and has one giant mass of land!
Whew! This was a very Long thread to make. This is mostly speculation based on in-game and interview evidence ofc. Very interested in your thoughts!
I also forgot to say thanks to a well known lore guy (who you might know from some Zelda theory channels) LoruleanHistorian for this suggestion of the "developers intended Timeline"
I also mostly agree with this "developers intended" Timeline, except with the placement of Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures as you all already knew
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