Why Twilight Princess Is The Zelda Game Most Deserving Of A Sequel

Direct sequels in the Zelda series are a somewhat rare breed, but for the most part, they’re fairly well received. From the critically acclaimed Majora’s Mask to the nostalgic classic Link’s Awakening, the sequels have done a great job of expanding on the story, characters, and lore that the fans adore so much. Twilight Princess seemed to have potential as a game that would spawn a sequel, but the game has yet to get one despite its open ended conclusion. Because of its ending, I think there is a great opportunity for Twilight Princess to get a sequel, and here are some of the reasons why.

Link’s Departure from Ordon Village Explained

During the end credits of Twilight Princess, Link is seen riding out of Ordon Village on Epona after returning the Master Sword to its rightful place. The reason, I imagine, could be that he’s trying to find a way to connect the light and dark realms in order to reunite with Midna. The parallels to Link’s travels to find Navi in Majora’s Mask aren’t a coincidence, and could thematically tie the games together to create a similarly compelling story of lost friendship and the desire to reunite.

Exploring the Twilight Realm

If Link can find a way to return to the Twilight Realm, a sequel would be the perfect opportunity to explore it in greater detail. The Palace of Twilight was one of the most visually interesting dungeons in Twilight Princess. Dark and ominous, it was a fascinating area to explore, and the juxtaposition of light and dark was really unique. Sadly, the Palace of Twilight was the only area players could access, making the realm feel far too small. A sequel would be a great way to expand on the realm’s size and incorporate meaningful world building as well.

Added Weapons from the Twilight Realm

The inventory in Twilight Princess is a rather divisive topic among fans. While weapons like the Double Clawshot were innovative and highly favored, other less used weapons like the Dominion Rod and the Spinner aren’t as much. To fix this problem, the sequel can take advantage of the setting to develop new, original weapons for Link to use. Based in similar light and dark mechanics like at the Palace of Twilight, the puzzles and weapons within the Twilight Realm can be purposefully linked to create some memorable set pieces.

Modernized Graphics

The graphics in Twilight Princess, while very realistic for their time, haven’t aged as well alongside the cel shaded art style of Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, and even Breath of the Wild. To be fair, the remastered edition of Twilight Princess certainly refined them, but in order for the sequel to stand out from its predecessor, I think some of its graphical qualities need to borrow from Breath of the Wild. The game can still look realistic and gritty – if it takes place in the Twilight Realm, that tone and aesthetic would be justified. But the Zelda series has proven that its strengths lie with more visually bright and colorful installments, and Breath of the Wild is a perfect amalgamation of the realistic but bright looking graphics. A Twilight Princess sequel would be able to greatly benefit from this modernized, artistic take to create a memorable game.

The Return of Midna

Midna in her true form would be a great ally for Link during his adventures in the Twilight Realm. Midna’s powers in her true form aren’t fully revealed in Twilight Princess, outside of her shattering the Mirror of Twilight. What else is she capable of? Furthermore, her story and character development can be expanded on from the previous installment. How far is she willing to go to protect her people? Most of all, I would love to see a reunion between Link and Midna and for a new dynamic to be explored in their relationship.

These are just some of the reasons why a Twilight Princess sequel would be justified and should be developed someday. What does everyone think? Do you want a Twilight Princess sequel, and what features would you want it to include? Let us know in the comments!

Michaela El-Ters is an Original Content Editor at Zelda Informer. For more of her desperately writing about the things she wants in sequels and will probably never get, check out her blog.

Feature art by GENZOMAN

Michaela El-Ters

Michaela El-Ters is a Senior Editor for Zelda Dungeon. She is also an Senior Writer for Boss Rush Network, and writes blogs and streams games on Objection Network. Her favorite Zelda game changes with the seasons, but the series as a whole is near and dear to her heart.