Timeline/The Legend of Zelda/Explanation

## *Four Swords* trilogy

*Four Swords*, *Four Swords Adventures*, *The Minish Cap*
The Minish Cap was upon release said to occur at the earliest point in the timeline (Pre-*OoT*) due to being the origin of Link’s cap, however *SS* nullifies this, as it is the indisputable new earliest point and features Link already with his iconic cap.

*Four Swords Adventures* is disconnected from the rest of the trilogy in the current official timeline, being taped on at the end of the child timeline. This is a change from the original intention as:

In-game, *Four Swords Adventures* is said to be a direct sequel to *Four Swords*, featuring the same Link. It fits better to have the three together as a trilogy as intended.

After taking on the blue boar form in *FSA*, Ganon is sealed inside the Four Sword. The Four Sword is found broken in Ganon’s stronghold in the Dark World in *ALttP*, implying he broke out of it, leading to the Imprisoning War as a result of him going on to seek the Triforce. *FSA* was apparently originally going to showcase the Imprisoning War before this was interfered with during development.

## *Tri Force Heroes*

Officially said to occur years after *ALBW* and feature the same Link.

Only in-game reference is the Street Merchant recognizing Link, however the Street Merchant’s look does not match 1:1 the *ALBW* character;

* *A Link to the Past* = Round ears
* *A Link Between Worlds* = Pointed ears
* *Tri Force Heroes* = Round ears

So it makes more sense if the merchant is the same one from *ALttP* rather than *ALBW*.

Link is on a quest to Hytopia at the start of *TFH*, however he has no gear and a thrown together outfit. At the end of LA Link is shipwrecked while on his way to another land, so the start of *TFH* picking up where this left off fits perfectly.

## Great Calamity

*Breath of the Wild*, *Age of Calamity*, *Tears of the Kingdom*
There are multiple possibilities for where these games occur. They can theoretically fit in any Timeline but the Adult one. The only confirmation is that they occur after *Ocarina of Time* and thus *Skyward Sword*.

There are multiple links between *TP* and *BotW*, in an interview *TPHD* was said to be the origin point for *BotW*, and the game added the presence of the Rito to *TP* via wall murals. Additionally, in *TotK* the Bow of Twilight is found in Hyrule Castle and references the events of *TP*.

*Creating a Champion* mentions the Adult portion of the events of *OoT* under the name “Era of Myth” and explains that historians believe this is what happened and is the origin of Calamity Ganon. This is proven wrong in *TotK*, but the fact the story was passed down is further evidence that *OoT* occurred.

Interviews and *CoC* bring up how so much time has passed that it is hard to tell which legends are historical fact and which are fairy tale, with the kingdom’s written history having been burned away in the Great Calamity 10,000 years ago. The stories of the Hero of Time’s escapades were passed down and brought up multiple times in *MM* and *TP* and so the references to the events of *OoT*’s Adult sections would be a result of those being mistakenly believed to have occurred in the Child timeline as well due to the legends becoming distorted over time.

It is possible that *TotK* does not depict Hyrule’s initial founding, but rather a re-founding after a past Hyrule was destroyed. This possibility was brought up in multiple interviews but is not confirmed.

## *Cadence of Hyrule*

There is no explanation for how Ganon returned in *TLoZ* after his death in *ALBW*. Additionally he also appears to no longer be mindless in *TLoZ*, being described as cunning, leading an army and managing to steal the Triforce of Power.

Cadence of Hyrule can make all of this work by being after ALBW and before the first *TLoZ*, featuring a new reincarnation of Ganondorf who goes on to be the villain of *TLoZ*.

Further evidence of the placement is that Twinrova are bodiless in the game, suggesting it occurs after their death in the *Oracle* games.

## *Hyrule Warriors*

While considered to be a separate dimension from the main timelines, *Hyrule Warriors* fits perfectly in the Child Timeline following *Twilight Princess*;

The three eras featured in the game are from *SS*, *OoT* and *TP* – which all occur in the Child Timeline. The game also refers to *TWW* as being in an alternate dimension.