For the longest time, The Legend of Zelda's official timeline was considered one of the more divisive and confusing video game histories out there. Part of the confusion is how certain games don't actually happen on the same timeline and how other games cause splits in the timeline. While the official Zelda timeline was published in 2011, it had been circulating internally at Nintendo since as early as 2003.

The official timeline has continued to be supported by Nintendo up to Breath of the Wild, though the Hyrule Warriors games don't appear to be connected to the main timeline. The Zelda timeline has been made a bit easier to follow in recent years, especially with the events depicted in Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, but some fans still may not know the exact nature of Hyrule's timeline.

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Skyward Sword plays a massive role in the history of the Zelda games, specifically through explaining how the various reincarnations of Link, Zelda and Ganon continue to appear throughout the series. Skyward Sword's impact on the Zelda timeline is incredibly complex and significant. However, the main takeaways from this game's lore are that Zelda and Ganon are the reincarnations of the Golden Goddess Hylia and the Demon King Demise, respectively. Demise would also be sealed away in the newly created Master Sword.

The next game mentioned on the official timeline is The Minish Cap, where the origins of the Picori Blade and the Four Sword would be detailed. At this point, the Master Sword was more than likely being kept secret due to it being the only known key to access the Sacred Realm through the Temple of Time. Vaati would return in Four Sword but would be defeated and sealed away inside the blade, leading into the complicated events of Ocarina of Time.

Ocarina of Time provides three timelines splits to the Zelda universe, with each branch in the timeline representing a different ending to the game. The Hero of Time defeating Ganondorf actually leads to one of two timelines. In one timeline, known as the Child Path, Zelda sends Link back in time to his childhood to warn Hyrule of Ganon to ensure that his plan can never happen to begin with. The second branch, the Adult Path, begins with Ganon being defeated by the adult Hero of Time. The final branch happens if the Hero of Time is defeated by Ganon.

The Child Path leads directly into the events of Majora's Mask and, fittingly enough, the darkest part of the Zelda timeline. The events of Majora's Mask lead into Twilight Princess, where the Twili that had been banished long ago invade Hyrule. Ganon's fate in this timeline would also be explored, as after his plot to invade Hyrule was discovered, he would be banished to the Twilight Realm.  He'd return during an invasion of Hyrule by the Twili but would be defeated by Link.

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The final game in the Child Path is Four Sword Adventures, marking the return of both Ganon and Vaati. This would indirectly confirm that Ganon and Vaati are two different entities and that Vaati isn't a reincarnation of Demise. While Vaati would be definitely defeated this time, Ganon would take the demon's place sealed away in the Four Sword.

The Adult Path follows a completely different series of events, as the Hero of Time would vanish after the events of Ocarina of Time. The first game in this timeline is The Wind Waker, which would depict the events of Hyrule being flooded and Ganon's resurrection. Ganon would be defeated by the Hero of Waves, and the people of Hyrule would move their kingdom to a new land. This new Hyrule would be the setting for both Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, depicting a thriving Hyrule free from Ganon's terror.

The final branch in Ocarina's timeline occurs if the Hero of Time is killed by Ganon. After the Seven Sages intervene and banish Ganon, this version of Hyrule's history would be marked by a battle to keep Ganon sealed away for good. A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening and the Oracle games follow this battle, resulting in the Triforce being split apart and Lorule invading Hyrule in A Link Between Worlds. Further use of the Triforce reduces Hyrule to a small territory rather than a kingdom, as seen in Tri Force Heroes, The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link.

Finally, Breath of the Wild serves to bridge the split created in Ocarina of Time, officially happening at the end of all three timelines. Given that Breath of the Wild is set many years in Hyrule's future, most of the events of the previous games have become the subject of myths. The events of each timeline do technically line up with Calamity Ganon's rise, as he could have easily escaped from the Four Sword, been resurrected after the Hero of Twilight or been defeated by the Hero of Waves.

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