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The critically acclaimed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is getting a sequel called Tears of The Kingdom, but where in the Zelda timeline does TOTK land, and is it a sequel or prequel to BOTW? One of the most confusing aspects of the Legend of Zelda franchise is its timelines, with multiple titles in the series appearing to be taking place in its own continuity and devoid of the rest of the history. Nintendo has released an official timeline of the Zelda series. The franchise follows multiple timelines that splinter off from one another. Where do Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom fall on the timeline?
Legend of Zelda Timeline, Explained
According to Nintendo, the Legend of Zelda Timeline started as one throughline before diverging with Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Skyward Sword is the oldest game on the timeline. One of three things can happen in Ocarina Time that splinters the timeline.
From top to bottom, the earliest games in the series before splintering off are:
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
- The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
In Ocarina of Time, the timeline splits apart depending on if Link can successfully defeat Ganon and if he stays as a child or an adult. There’s a mechanic in Ocarina of Time where Link can magically age seven years into the future. The three timelines are labeled as The Hero is Defeated Timeline, The Child Timeline, and The Adult Timeline.
If Link is unsuccessful in defeating Ganon, the Zelda timeline diverges into the Hero is Defeated Timeline. From earliest to most recent, below are the titles in the series that are part of the Hero is Defeated Timeline:
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
- The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
- The Legend of Zelda (The first game in the series)
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
If Link successfully defeats Ganon, then the timeline can split into one of two ways. If Link chooses to stay as a kid, the timeline diverges into the Child Timeline. From earliest to most recent, below are the titles in the series that are part of the Child Timeline:
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
If Link chooses to stay as an adult, the timeline diverges into the Adult Timeline. From the earliest to the most recent, below are the titles in the series that are part of the Adult Timeline:
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
- The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
However, where does that leave Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom? Is Tears of the Kingdom a direct sequel to BOTW, or is it a prequel?
Is Tear of the Kingdom a Sequel or Prequel? Where does it land on the timeline?
The odd thing about the Legend of Zelda timeline is that all three splintered throughlines converged back into one timeline. From all three timelines, Breath of the Wild takes place hundreds of years into the future. The previous titles in the series are legends in the world of BOTW. Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, continuing the story of where BOTW left off and isn’t a prequel.
