Dark World

The Dark World, also referred to by such terms as "Evil Realm", "Dark Realm", "World of Evil", and "Underworld", is a dark, twisted realm that serves as Ganon’s territory. While the English version gives it various different titles, the Japanese version has two names for it.

The first and more specific title is “Makai”, literally meaning Demon World. Not to be confused with hell, a Demon World is any territory ruled by a “Maou”, or Demon King. Ganon is the only known Maou in the Zelda series, as his various titles include the word Maou in every game, and no other character has such a title. Thus, in Zelda, a Makai is any territory ruled by Ganon.

The second title is the less specific “Yami no Sekai”, meaning World of Darkness. Much closer to the English translation of Dark World, it is also closer in meaning. A Yami no Sekai is any realm full of darkness. These terms are, however, occasionally used interchangeably in the Zelda series.

Dark World in Legend of Zelda and Adventure of Link

The original Legend of Zelda makes no direct reference to Ganon's Dark World, but Ganon's title of Maou implies the existence of one. The game speaks about the Underworld, but the Japanese word used here is "chika", which is a literal underground lair, and not specifically a Makai.

Adventure of Link also talks about the Underworld, but this time, the Japanese word used is Makai. Whether the underground lair of Legend of Zelda is the Dark World of Adventure of Link or not is unknown.

A Link to the Past

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Dark World Map

In A Link to the Past on the Super Nintendo, the Dark World is a corrupted or reversed version of the Golden Land that is created after Ganon reaches it and wishes on the Triforce. It is known that the Golden Land is a mirror that reflects a person's true self, so Ganon and his minions are turned into monsters when they enter the Golden Land, and Link turns into a rabbit unless he has the Moon Pearl. When Ganon takes the Triforce, he wishes to rule the world, and the Triforce grants that wish by turning the Sacred Realm into his Dark World. When that happens, Hyrule is referred to as the Light World.

The Dark World of A Link to the Past is referred to as a Yami no Sekai, and thus, is not necessarily a Makai. However, Ganon is a Maou in the game, and he clearly has rule over the Dark World, so it matches the description of a Makai.

Oracle of Seasons

The Dark World is given only a minor mention in the Gameboy Color game Oracle of Seasons, when main antagonist Onox reveals that he was summoned from the Dark Realm by none other than Twinrova.

Four Swords Adventures

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The Dark World is the fifth level in the Gameboy Advance game Four Swords Adventures. It consists of three stages: The Lost Woods, Kakariko Village, and Temple of Darkness.