7 Important Video Game Questions Answered YEARS Later

6. WTF Is This Franchise's Timeline? - The Legend Of Zelda

Answered in: Hyrule Historia (external source)

It took 25 solid years of Nintendo refusing to pin down the overarching continuity of the Zelda timeline, with most fans reconciling that - like Final Fantasy - it largely doesn't need one, or the fan theory that each tale is a story told around a different metaphysical campfire, is satisfying enough.

Come the 25th Anniversary though, Nintendo wanted to lay this notion to rest, and god bless 'em, they gave it their best.

With 16 games to the Zelda name by 2011, the resultant "official timeline" managed to get its origins pinned down, going with easily-labelled prequel Skyward Sword as the starting point. From there we go into split dimensions running parallel to each other to account for the more dystopian/apocalyptic games, like the original 2D titles. Alongside that is another split timeline where Link defeats Ganon in Ocarina of Time, allowing for Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Four Swords and the others.

Keep in mind this was written in 2011, so 2013's Link Between Worlds immediately upended it, and Breath of the Wild - despite channeling a lot of Ocarina of Time in some key locations - has islands and areas named after the entirety of the canon's characters, but is yet to be officially pinned down.

Maybe that'll be something for the 35th anniversary... or the 50th?