Archive:Timeline Theories

Part of a series of articles on the Zelda Timeline

History of the Zelda Timeline Community Timelines Research: Canonical Material Developer Quotes Game Grouping and Plot Arcs Ocarina of Time's Ending Glossary Timeline Abbreviations Interpretation: Deku Tree's Success Ganon Conflicts Hylian Cosmology Split Timeline Disciplines

Theory Warning

There is a wide panorama of views on the timeline that includes pretty much any order conceivable. Some of these ideas are better justified than others, but all of them arise from a personal view of the series. As such, with no official categorization of Zelda canon and no officially-released complete timeline, any personal view is as valid as any other view. This does not, however, mean that all views are equally justified. This is where timeline debates arise, and why they are so popular among timeline theorists.

The theories themselves are the fruit of these personal interpretations and the conclusions reached in debate. They are the most important products of timeline discussion and as such it is important for all theorists to carefully examine them before they attempt to draw conclusions on the quality of their content.

Compiled below is a list of all active timeline theories from the ZeldaWiki affiliate sites, for theorist reference and for easy and free access to all paradigms on the Zelda timeline.

2D Child Theories

GentleArtillery's Timeline (ZU)

Child: TMC - OoT/MM - TP - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA
Adult: TMC - OoT - TWW/PH

• The Light Force is the "complete" Triforce, before Vaati drained part of it from Zelda in TMC.
  
• The Twilight Mirror is not the same as the Dark Mirror.
  
• The late part of FSA is the IW.
  
• AoL's backstory takes place between TMC and OoT.
  
• TMC takes place very long before OoT, which means that most of it is forgotten.
  

2D Adult Theories

Bitterlime's Theory (ZU)

Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - TMC/FS/FSA - ALttP/OoS/OoA/LA - LoZ/AoL
Child: OoT/MM - TP

• Hyrule of TMC is the result of the Koroks/Deku Tree's success.
  
• The Dark Mirror of FSA is the Twilight Mirror of TP (but not the Magic Mirror of ALttP).
  
• OoT is still the IW, but the OoT Ganon is not the one sealed in ALttP. That is FSA Ganon.
  
• Knowledge of the Triforce, the Sacred Realm and the IW, resurfaced after the waterlevel drop inbetween FSA and ALttP, probably in written form (Book of Mudora).
  
• The AoL manual is still canon, but doesn't happen at the start of the timeline.
  
• The Trident of Power is the reason for blue Ganon.
  
• There are two Ganon(dorf)s: the one from OoT and the one from the 2D games.
  

Erimgard's "Freshly-Picked Oracles" Timeline (ZI)

Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA - [FPTRR] - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA
Child: OoT/MM - TP

• Hyrule of TMC is the result of the Koroks'/Deku Tree's success.
  
• The Dark Mirror of FSA is the Twilight Mirror of TP (but not the Magic Mirror of ALttP).
  
• OoT is still the IW, but the OoT Ganon is not the one sealed in ALttP. That is FSA Ganon.
  
• The AoL manual is still canon, but doesn't have to happen at the start of the timeline.
  
• FPTRR is canon and timeline relevant
  
• LoZ Hyrule does not necessarily have to be the same as TMC Hyrule
  
• Places in TMC Hyrule such as Lon Lon Ranch are not related to the places in OoT, but instead to the islands of FPTRR.
  

NOTE: FPTRR is included with this timeline because it serves as the basis for part of the placement.

Ollathir's "Growing Hyrule" Timeline Theory (ZU)

Adult: OoT - AoL BS - TWW/PH - AoL BS - OoX & TMC BS - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA -LoZ/AoL
Child: OoT/MM - TP

NOTE: This timeline is based on Erimgard's timeline, which I think is improved by moving LoZ and AoL to after ALttP and LA. The following points are my explanation of why I believe so.

• In TWW, the Deku Tree says that he wishes to create more land by planting trees and eventually connect the islands on the Great Sea. In FPTRR, we see land growing, and in OoA, there is more land in the present than there is in the past. All these things point to land growing over time.
  
• More land is seen in AoL than in any other game. Based on TWW, FPTRR, and OoA, this leads us to assume an end-of-AT placement for AoL, along with LoZ.
  
• In FSA, which was the next game made after TWW, the land to the north of Hyrule on the AoL map is not there. This directly points to AoL, and LoZ, being after FSA, and logically, after ALttP.
  
• The Triforce being in Hyrule Castle before LoZ is explained by the "vanishing" of the DW at the end of ALttP. Since the Pyramid of Light was the parallel to Hyrule Castle, the Triforce would end up in Hyrule Castle when the DW vanished.
  
• Ganon in LoZ can be explained by a resurrection like in OoX.
  
• The AoL BS takes place shortly after the founding of New Hyrule, in accordance with the "first generation Zelda" quote in the4 AoL manual.
  
• The TMC BS takes place in Hyrule during OoX. This explains Link's absence from the TMC BS. Also, the darkness in Hyrule during the TMC BS is similar to the darkness in Labrynna and Holodrum during OoX. Lastly, TMC has a lot of connections to OoX, (books in library, Din and Nayru) so it works out well to have the TMC BS taking place during OoX.
  

SUMMARY: With no sure explanation for Ganon in LoZ in Erimgard's timeline, it is beneficial to move LoZ and AoL to after ALttP and LA, making the explanation for Ganon in FSA available for use to explain LoZ Ganon. The only thing that is sacrificed in doing so is geography.

The Viral Timeline

Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - LoZ/AoL - OoX - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA
Child: OoT/MM - TP

• The Deku Tree in TWW is successful in his plans, and LoZ's setting is the "new" Hyrule.
• OoT is the IW, and FSA along with the aLttP remake fixes the problems posed by WW.
• ALttP refers to OoT as the IW, but does not refer to OoT Ganondorf being sealed.
• OoX shows Twinrova binding Ganon's soul to the Trident.
• FSA features a new Ganondorf who claims the Trident that was used by OoX Ganon. The soul of this Ganon is bound to the Trident, and so when Ganondorf claimed the Trident, the old Ganon's soul took over his body.
• After Ganon is sealed within the Four Sword in FSA, the Four Sword was then sealed within the Sacred Realm. Ganon then broke out of the Four Sword which sets up for aLttP, as shown in the GBA version of aLttP.
• Ganon was likely able to make his wish by combining the 3 seperate Triforce pieces, after his minions stole it from Hyrule castle and brought it to him in the Dark World (According to the LttP Sound and Drama). He would not be able to wish on the complete Triforce, as it would split once he touched it.
• An alternative to the above is that the Triforce, as seperate pieces, returned to the Sacred Realm after OoX.

Lexxi’s New Hylian Kingdom Theory (ZI)

Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA
Child: OoT/MM - TP

• The kingdom of LoZ/AoL is founded on the islands of the Great Sea, made larger and brought together by the Deku Tree and christened with the Triforce’s blessing at the end of AoL.
  
• The Master Sword is either reforged by the Zoras in OoA.
  
• The Triforce returns to the Sacred Realm after OoS/OoA.
  
• The Light Force is a powerful Force Gem introduced after the Triforce leaves the new Hyrule.
  
• The Dark Mirror from FSA is the Mirror of Twilight from TP.
  
• OoT is the IW of ALttP, and TP’s prolonged wars are the wars told as leading up to the IW.
  
• The demon Ganon is one entity throughout the entire series, taking on multiple incarnations over time.
  
• The Four Sword is sealed in the Sacred Realm by the maidens after FSA. This accounts for Ganon's appearance there in ALttP.
  

MoonMan's Subrosian Theory (ZI)

Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - OoS/OoA - [FPTRR] - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA - LoZ/AoL
Child: OoT/MM - TP

• Ganon of LoZ is the result of Ganon splitting his soul in ALttP to form Agahnim, who was never properly killed.
• The location of the Triforce after OoS/OoA is unknown, either having been hidden or locked away by the royal family or having returned to the Sacred Realm.
• OoS/OoA must come before FPTRR because of the appearance of the Salona, whose ancestors (implied to be Subrosians) had contact with the hero (OoS/OoA).
• FPTRR must come after TWW due to the island structure of the world.
• TWW-OoS/OoA-FPTRR-TMC-FSA represents a world transitioning from islands to continents.
• OoT is still the IW, but ALttP Ganon is not OoT Ganon, it is FSA Ganon.
• The Master Sword is recovered and reforged in OoA.

NOTE: FPTRR is included with this timeline because it serves as the basis for part of the placement.

Sage of Earth's Paradox Theory (ZU)

Adult: OoT/MM - TWW/PH - ALttP/LA - LoZ/AoL
Child: OoT - TP

• Link's choices in the past result in a grandfather paradox that leads to TP. The rest of the timeline remains as it would were it a single timeline.
  

NOTE: The Oracle and FS games are not included with this timeline.

Som's/Sign of Justice's timeline

NOTE: I'm not actively standing by any timeline. I'm unsure of what my timeline would be if the GBA manual of LttP is canon. If the SNES manual of LttP is canon then my timeline is this
Adult: TMC - OoT - tWW/PH - LoZ/AoL
Child: TMC - OoT/MM - TP - FS/FSA - LttP

• OoX could go before FS or after LttP.
• LA could go after OoX or LA.
• There are blatant contradictions between the SNES manual Seal War and OoT. Therefore OoT could not be the SW.
• The land shown in LoZ/AoL is either a sign of the Deku Tree's success or Tetra and Link found a new land.
• BS LoZ does not take place in the real world, but it is canon. The events shown may or may not be accurate retellings of LoZ.

2D Split Theories

Digific Writer's Timeline (ZU)

Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA
Child: OoT/MM - TP - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA

• The split creates a double of Ganon/dorf, existing solely in the Adult Timeline, who appears in most of the games which occur on that branch.
• The flooding and destruction of the original land of Hyrule eventually leads to the founding of a new Hyrule; similarities in names, places, and legends between the two Hyrules is due to the passing-down of history from generation to generation.
• The events of OoT and FSA combine to create the IW spoken of in ALttP.

- The Legend of Zelda spoken of in the AoL backstory does not necessarily have to be based on an actual event; it could be a compilation of events or a fable.

Hombre's Double ALttP Theory (ZU)

Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - TMC/FS/FSA - ALttP(GBA)/LA
Child: OoT/MM - TP - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA - ALttP(SNES)

• Hyrule of TMC is the result of the Koroks'/Deku Tree's success.
  
• The Dark Mirror of FSA is the Twilight Mirror of TP (but not the Magic Mirror of ALttP).
  
• The IW is a separate event, most likely taking place in between FSA and ALttP.
  
• LoZ takes place in Holodrum and the "region of Hyrule" is bigger than just the kingdom Hyrule.
  

Humulation Theory (ZU)

Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - TMC - FS/FSA
Child: OoT/MM - TP - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA
Adult and Child lines merge to lead to ALttP/LA

• The Picori Blade is the Master Sword, but changed and reforged over time.
  
• The Merge is necessary because ALttP's backstory has elements that seem to come from both OoT Adult Side (the Seal) and TP Ganondorf leading a band of thieves in attempt to rule over the Sacred Realm).
  
• The Merge is caused by Ganon's physical body being destroyed in one timeline, and his soul in another. The two separate parts of him on separate timelines merge together, and the timelines themselves do as well.
  

Prince of Darkness's Theory (ZD)

Adult: TMC - OoT - TWW/PH - FS/FSA - ALttP
Child: TMC - OoT/MM - TP - OoS/OoA/LA - LoZ/AoL

• The full Triforce recombines and is recovered by the Hylian Royal Family after TP.
• Twinrova is Ganon's vessel in OoS/OoA (i.e., he possesses their body).
• Ganon is not killed in OoS/OoA.
• Ganon is able to dispel the power of the Master Sword before LoZ (like he did in TWW).
• Ganon is sent back to the Dark World at the end of TWW.
• Agahnim is a possession, not a spirit form.
• The Triforce's power makes Ganon's spirit immortal.

Reign and Kisiro's Theory (ZU)

Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - LoZ/AoL
Child: OoT/MM - TP - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA - OoS/OoA

• The sages in the ALttP are related to the TP sages.
• Ganondorf led the shadow tribe in TP's backstory, and was able to touch the Triforce.
• The Ganondorf legends and the story of FSA were both passed down as the IW of ALttP.
• In both timelines, there are two Ganondorfs, each of whom take on the blue Ganon form.
• Koume and Kotake in OoS/OoA are the same characters from OoT.
• The AoL backstory takes place after PH.
• LoZ/AoL take place on a partially deflooded Hyrule.
• The Twilight and Dark Mirrors are not the same.

ZG's Theory (ZU)

Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA
Child: OoT/MM - TP - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA

• FSA is the IW or the IW is after FSA.
• Games after TWW/PH take place in a new land.

Other Theories

Chaltab's Single Timeline (ZL)

TMC - OoT/MM - TP - TWW/PH - FS/FSA - OoS/OoA/LA/ALttP - LoZ/AoL

• The Wind People from TMC are the Sky People from TP.
• A war broke out days after Ocarina of Time's final scene. Ganondorf tried to obtain the Triforce and was captured and executed, resurrected, and sealed in the Twilight realm. It's legend was later appended onto the Seal War.
• A new Hyrule was founded after the flood, either on a new continent or by the Great Deku Tree's plan.
• The Dark Mirror from FSA is an attempted replica or re-forging of the Twilight Mirror from TP, and contains the Twili.
• Tbe Dark World from FSA is the same as the spread of Twilight in the first half of TP.
• Ganondorf from the Adult Timeline is the Ganondorf of TWW. He circumvents the original seal and a second one is placed on his power via the Master Sword. Then he dies from severe cranial trauma.
• The Ganondorf of TP is given the Triforce of Power by the sealed Ganon from the Adult Timeline.
• The 'latter half' of the Seal War was FSA; it's legend was combined with the ancient stories of Ganon forming the version we read in the ALTTP manual. That reincarnated Ganondorf became Ganon upon obtaining the Trident, which is of uncertain origin.
• Oracle takes place before Link's Awakening and ALTTP; The Wind Fish's dream contains elements of prophecy--Aghanim and the full-fledged return of Ganon.)
• The scroll in AOL's manual was written over several generations and has multiple authors.

Jumbie's Split Gaiden Theory (ZL)

Adult: TMC - OoT - TWW/PH
Child timeline: TMC - OoT/MM - TP
Gaiden timeline: TMC - OoT - ALttP/OoS/OoA/LA/(AST) - FS/FSA - LoZ/AoL

• The Wind People from TMC are the Sky People from TP.
• TP's prolonged wars are when the Twili's ancestors were banished, and the same wars from ALttP's manual.
• In a third timeline, Link is absent when Ganondorf takes the Triforce, so the Seal War unfolds instead.
• The Dark Mirror from FSA is the Mirror of Twilight from TP.
• Ganondorf and Vaati have the same right to be reborn as new persons as any other Hyrulian.

Lexxi's Single Timeline (N/A)

OoT/MM - TP - TWW/PH - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA - [TFPRR] - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA/[AST]

• OoT is the IW of ALttP. Ganon is removed from the sealed Sacred Realm to be executed in TP, and is revived prior to TWW.
• The hero in TP either is or predates the one who split the Triforce prior to TWW. All heroes who use the Master Sword are the "Hero of Time," whose title has the dual meaning of "Hero who travels through time" and "Hero who appears throughout time."
• The KoRL is the prince from the AoL Sleeping Zelda story, and OoT Zelda is the Sleeping Princess. The Triforce of Courage is left in the Great Palace after TWW.
• The kingdom of LoZ/AoL is founded on the islands of the Great Sea, made larger and brought together by the Deku Tree, and christened with the Triforce’s blessing at the end of AoL.
• The Light Force is a powerful Force Gem introduced after the Triforce leaves the new Hyrule.
• A new Master Sword is forged in OoA by the Zoras.
• The Triforce returns to the Sacred Realm after OoS/OoA.
• The Dark Mirror in FSA is a forgery of the Mirror of Twilight.
• OoT is the IW of ALttP, and TP’s prolonged wars are the wars told as leading up to the IW.
• The demon Ganon is one entity throughout the entire series, taking on multiple incarnations over time.
• The Four Sword is sealed in the Sacred Realm by the maidens after FSA. This accounts for Ganon's appearance there in ALttP.
  

NOTE: This timeline is purely personal, and does not adhere to traditional "canon." See “Lexxi's New Hylian Kingdom Theory” for this theorist's traditional timeline.

Tounushi's Split Adult Time-Line Theory (N/A)

Adult Time-Line 1: OoT-tWW/PH

Adult Time-Line 2: OoT-aLttP/LA-tLoZ/AoL

Child Time-Line  : OoT/MM-TP

• Wind Waker's opening story seems to give a feeling of a "what if" scenario instead of aLttP: Hero of Time seals Ganon (both) Ganon sneaks/breaks his way through the seal (both), Ganon practically conquers Hyrule (tWW) / Link kills Ganon before Hyrule is completely enslaved (aLttP).
• tMC-FS/FSA continuity gives such a different story (e.g. light force), that the continuity is basically a Gaiden.
• Oracles is before or after LoZ/AoL. Difficult to exactly bolt the arc down. aLttP just had a major crisis, so the knigdom would've taken many years to recover to the level presented in Oracles. AoL presents a large world that seems to prosper, even only a few years after LoZ, where people were living in caves. Both options have the whole triforce and Ganon is definitely dead.
• The "city in the sky" is a concept used in tMC and TP, but neither games' cities are related.
• Whatever races resemble each other in the ATL2 and CTL is due to the fact that both have a common history from the time before OoT.
• The ancestors of the Twili might've been the first/most powerful of the groups/tribes to lust, search and war for the Sacred Realm. They might've even existed before the building of the Temple of Time, as they DID MANAGE to enter the realm. Afterward the goddesses and the spirits banished them to a world between the Sacred Realm and the Real World: Twilight Realm. The ancient sages built the Temple of Time to prevent this from happening again, at the same time creating the old kingdom of Hyrule to protect the Temple OR granting an earlier kingdom of Hyrule to hold the territory where the Temple resided. This made the kingdom the envy of other races/tribes/kingdoms or even rival nobles within the kingdom, sparking the Hyrulean Civil War. The war may have even lasted for centuries on some level of intensity, before reaching its climax and end right before OoT.
• Peculiarly, Ganondorf didn't seem to be as interested in reassembling the Triforce in TP as he did in the other games. This would be because he received his Triforce of Power "out of the blue" in the CTL, after the events of OoT, much like Zelda receiving her Triforce of Wisdom. In the ATL, Ganondorf is consumed by his anger and frustration of having the complete Triforce slip from his fingers. Sure, he might've had ambitions to attain the triforce from the beginning, but in ATL, he strived and failed to attain the Triforce, while in CTL he just received it without any effort on his part. As he received this "blessing," he went on a thieving rampage, but was caught and tried before making any serious damage. After harnessing the powers of Twilight, he had no further overriding desire to attain the last pieces of the triforce.
• The Sealing War is OoT: The story has changed from accurate accounts over the years/centuries, downplaying the Hero of Time and promoting the Hylian Knights (how many could topple an evil kingdom and a demon king ALONE?). The temple of Time was deconstructed and moved OR the Hyrule castle was rebuilt elsewhere, to the east of Kakariko. The Temple dacayed into ruins as a forest grew around it until the Pedestal of Time and the Master Sword were left.

Three Universe Theory (N/A)

Universe 1
Adult: OoT - TWW/PH
Child: OoT/MM - TP

Universe 2
TMC/FS/FSA - ALttP/LA

Universe 3
LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA

• Three separate continuities that do not intersect.
• TMC and FS are notably first in their universes.
• ALttP's IW is FSA.
• AoL backstory refers to the first Zelda.

United Wise Men's Timeline (N/A)

OoT/MM - TP - TWW/PH - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA - OoS/OoA - LoZ/AoL

• The hero in TP either is or predates the one who split the Triforce prior to TWW.
• The Hyrule in the 2D games was formed by the success of the Koroks and Deku Tree in uniting the islands.
• The Triforce returns to the Sacred Realm after TWW.
• Ganon is revived in FSA and sealed in the Sacred Realm by the Four Sword.
• The Triforce is kept by the royal family after ALttP.
  

NOTE: This timeline is outdated.

Alter's Trident Timeline Theory

Trident Theory Timeline: TMC - FS - OoT/MM - TP - TRR/TWW/PH - FSA - ALttP/LA/OoA/OoS - LoZ/AoL

• The Trident Theory is something I, Alter, came up with myself. I'm unsure as to whether or not someone else has had any similar ideas. The basic theory is that Ganon was once a Human/Gerudo. Once he stole the Trident (which transformed him into a "demon"), he was unable to ever return to his human form, and usually wields the Trident as a weapon from then on.

• Vaati was sealed after the events in TMC, and was released during in FS. He was sealed again, only to be released again in FSA, where Ganon obtains his Trident.

• Sometime after TP, the land is flooded, explaining why there are islands in TRR, TWW, and PH. The land slowly drains, the Hyrule found in ALttP is uncovered. After Ganon is defeated in ALttP, Link travels across the now much smaller sea to the lands of Koholint, Holodrum, and Labrynna.

• The game manual for LA states that Link went on a search for enlightenment after defeating Ganon. This makes sense, as ALttP had been it's predecessor, and the developers wanted to semi-continue the story. After leaving Koholint Island He sails to the lands of Labrynna and Holodrum.

• The baby Deku Tree that Tingle helped in TRR grows up. The forest then becomes known as Forest Haven. Link later ventures there during the events of TWW.