Nintendo Releases Updated Legend Of Zelda Timeline For 40th Anniversary

So, Nintendo finally did it. For the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, they dropped an updated timeline. And honestly, it feels like they finally organized the junk drawer in the universe. You know the one—the drawer with three different chargers, a takeout menu from 2019, and a single key that might open a treasure chest.

Remember when the timeline was basically a rumor?

For years, we just played the games and nodded along. We told ourselves that Link waking up in Wind Waker was totally logical after Ocarina of Time. It was like explaining why your friend’s new haircut looks “interesting” without hurting their feelings. We all just accepted the chaos.

Then, in 2011, Nintendo released a book with a split timeline. It showed three branches from Ocarina of Time: the Hero is Defeated, the Hero is Successful, and the Hero Goes Back in Time. It was like finding out your family tree has three different cousins named “Mario” who all live in different castles.

The new update isn’t a rewrite—it’s a decluttering session.

The 2025 version for the 40th anniversary is basically the same skeleton, but they’ve attached a few stray games. Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild now sit comfortably at the end, like two enormous beanbag chairs at the bottom of the timeline. The Link’s Awakening remake? Tucked in neatly. It’s like when you finally fold that fitted sheet into a neat square—it doesn’t change the sleep, but it feels right.

I remember the old days of fan debates on forums. People would argue for hours about whether Majora’s Mask happened before or after Twilight Princess. It was like arguing over the correct order to watch the Fast and Furious movies. Now, Nintendo just says, “Here’s the official list. Calm down, everyone.”

Link Zelda Historia Legend Of Zelda Timeline With Breath Of The Wild,

What’s actually changed? Let’s be real—it’s small stuff.

They moved Skyward Sword to the very beginning, which always made sense. It’s the origin story, the “first pancake” of the series. And they clarified that Four Swords Adventures isn’t connected to the other Four Swords games in a way that would break your brain. Honestly, the biggest shock is that they didn’t reveal a hidden 37th branch where Link works at a Cucco farm.

But here’s the fun part: the timeline still doesn’t really matter. You can play Ocarina of Time and then Wind Waker and feel the connection. You can play Breath of the Wild without knowing which timeline it’s in because you’re too busy trying to catch a horse. It’s like the credits on a movie—nice to know, but you already got the emotional payoff.

Updated Legend Of Zelda Timeline Shows Placing For Breath Of The Wild

Why this makes me smile: it’s a gift for the inner child.

When I was ten, I drew my own timeline on notebook paper. It included a kingdom made of pizza and a boss named “Plumber King.” Nintendo’s official one is slightly better, but the spirit is the same. It’s a way of saying, “We see you. We care about this weird kingdom too.” The updated chart is basically a giant digital hug for anyone who’s ever yelled at a Sheikah Stone.

So go ahead. Read the official timeline. Nod along when it says Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages are part of the same thread, even if you don’t fully recall which one had the dancing Goron. The important thing is that the timeline exists, it’s final, and you can now win any argument with a friend by pulling it up on your phone. Just don’t mention the CD-i games. We don’t talk about those.

Happy 40th, Link. Thanks for never fixing the drawer, but for finally giving us the key.