Zelda References and Easter Eggs in the Games of 2015

This past year was amazing for

Zelda fans; we saw two big releases with Majora’s Mask 3D and Tri Force Heroes, and we’ve continued to let anticipation grow for next year’s Hyrule Warriors Legends and Zelda U. But all that Zelda goodness wasn’t limited to just Zelda titles, as many games released throughout 2015 gave nods to the Nintendo adventure series we all adore. So with all the Zelda love getting spread around, let’s take a look back at the references, secrets, and Easter eggs within the games of 2015.

Dying Light

Techland’s open world Zombie game

Dying Light is chock-full of fun nods and Easter eggs. In addition to the fabled Sword in the Stone and a magic portal to the Mushroom Kingdom, a certain “blade of evil’s bane” can be spotted in the game. After completing a specific sidequest that arms survivor Dawud with a gun, the player will meet up with him and his son between the Slums and Old Town. Dawud’s son seems to be a pretty big fan of Zelda as he wields a replica version of the legendary Master Sword. Unfortunately the young boy won’t part with the weapon for the player to use, but the sword’s inclusion is definitely super cool.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

The

Monster Hunter series has had plenty of special items and gear inspired by other games, and this year’s Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate was no exception. In early March (outside of Japan), developer Capcom released a Legend of Zelda DLC pack that added new quests, gear, and armor sets, all inspired by Nintendo’s massive franchise. If players complete a set of special quests from this DLC pack, they can don the “Hero’s Armor” which resemble Link’s tunic and – depending on class – wield either the “Hero’s Sword” (resembling the Master Sword) or the “Hero’s Bow.” From there, players can take down massive beasts while dressed as their favorite Hylian hero.

Splatoon

As Nintendo’s newest flagship IP,

Splatoon was pretty much expected to include a few references to classic Nintendo franchises. Within the multiplayer map Urchin Underpass, a certain wall holds 8-bit references to both The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario. Players can spot pixel-art (reminiscent of the work of street artist Invader) renditions of an Octorok from Zelda and a Blooper from Super Mario. These Easter eggs are actually very appropriate for Splatoon, as they resemble an octopus and a squid respectively, much like the octopus-like Octarians and the Squid-like Inklings from the game. The Zelda series repaid the favor to Splatoon later in the year, as Tri Force Heroes included a subtle reference to the shooter’s iconic catchphrase.

Ori and the Blind Forest

One of the most impressive aspects of Moon Studios’

Ori and the Blind Forest is that every single background is made up of independent components, with none duplicated as in most games. This feat translates into a sprawling map made up of beautiful and completely unique backdrops. With such a huge map to explore, players are certain to find several secrets scattered around the Blind Forest. One such secret can be found etched in the bark of a hollowed-out tree. If a particularly observant player were to lead Ori to a certain tree hidden among the forest, he or she would be greeted by an etching of the legendary Triforce. Obviously paying tribute to the many classic forest areas in the Zelda series, this little secret proves how detailed and intricate Ori‘s setting is.

Yoshi’s Woolly World

Yoshi’s newest adventure features many call-outs to other Nintendo franchises. Through the use of amiibo, players can adorn their

Yarn Yoshi in various costumes inspired by (to name a few)

Super Mario, Metroid, and of course Zelda. For players that press their figures against the Wii U gamepad, Yoshi’s Wooly World includes alternate character designs resembling Link, Toon Link, Zelda, Sheik, and Ganondorf, all more adorable than the last. With this awesome feature, players can lick up enemies and throw eggs dressed as their favorite hero or villain from the Zelda series. Now all we need is Tingle Yoshi costume to make it perfect.

Super Mario Maker

Speaking of Tingle, everyone’s favorite aspiring fairy / man-child was included in Super Mario Maker, alongside other Zelda characters like Link, Zelda, and the Tri Force Heroes. By collecting specific Mystery Mushrooms in the game’s 8-bit Super Mario Bros. style, players can transform their sprite into one of these alternate costumes. While these new sprites still function like Mario, the game will play classic sound effects, death tunes, and victory jingles from the Zelda series. As well, pressing up on the D-pad will cause some of these costumes to perform a unique action, such as Zelda transforming into Shiek and Link holding up the Triforce.

Picross 3D 2

The

Picross puzzle series has existed on many Nintendo handheld systems throughout the years, and this year saw the release of the newest game in the series Picross 3D 2. This 3DS title asks players to solve grid-based puzzles in order to construct different 3D images, such as a dog, a cruise ship, or a musical note. The game also utilizes amiibo support, so players can use certain figures to unlock puzzles in-game. One such puzzle is unlocked with the Link amiibo; after scanning the figure into the game, players can tackle a new puzzle featuring Link and Epona from Ocarina of Time 3D. Picross 3D 2 has not yet been released outside Japan, but if it ever comes to other regions, hopefully more Zelda-related amiibo puzzles will be included.

Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water

The newest Fatal Frame title for the Wii U caught a bit a flack due to certain costumes included in the game. In the Japanese release, players could dress the game’s young protagonists in a lingerie or swimsuit outfit; understandably, Nintendo did not think it appropriate to include these outfits in western releases of the game. Instead, Nintendo replaced these two questionable outfits with costumes based on classic characters Princess Zelda and Samus Aran, which was probably the better choice for Nintendo fans anyway. Even if unlocking the Zelda costume for character Miu is a bit tedious, it’s definitely cool to explore the haunted Hikami Mountain dressed as Hyrulian royalty.

Monster Hunter X

Who would have thought we’d see

Zelda crossover with two different Monster Hunter games this year? While Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate let players battle monsters dressed as Link, the newly-released Monster Hunter X took a more whimsical approach with its Zelda content. The game features a Toon Link costume for its Felyne character, complete with cat ears, a tail, and a Wind Waker weapon. Seeing Link meow and flail about may seem a bit strange, but the inclusion actually makes sense given Toon Link’s moniker in Japanese. In Japan, Toon Link is often called “Cat-Eyed Link,” adding some much needed context to his cat-like appearance in Monster Hunter X. Fans should definitely be excited to see their favorite hero hunt monsters in this game, but I must admit there’s still something unsettling about Link’s dead-eyed stare.

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And there you have: the many references, secrets, and Easter eggs to

The Legend of Zelda throughout 2015. With these many games paying tribute to our favorite Nintendo franchise, and the great Zelda games we saw this year, 2015 has proven itself as a great year for Zelda fans.

Head down into the comments to share your favorite

Zelda moments from 2015. And please let us know if we missed any Zelda secrets or references from this year’s games.