Universe of The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda series is set in a fantasy world that first appeared in the original 1986 The Legend of Zelda video game, which was developed and published by Nintendo. The game introduced Hyrule as the predominant fictional world and the series protagonist named Link, a Hylian boy or young man who is the player character.[1] The storyline of each game varies but follows a common overarching theme that involves Link travelling through Hyrule to rescue a magical princess named Princess Zelda and save the world from an evil antagonist, which is typically the series' main villain, Ganon. A recurring plot element in the games is Ganon's repeated attempts to obtain a mystical artifact named the Triforce to possess ultimate power.[2] Although Link and Zelda have similar appearances in every game, they are different characters who reappear across thousands of years in the fictional timeline whenever evil threatens the world. Skyward Sword was established as the beginning of the fictional history and involves the antagonist Demise cursing the first incarnations of Link and Zelda so that their descendants forever appear in an endless cycle to protect Hyrule from evil.[3]

Hyrule is the main recurring setting of The Legend of Zelda series, but several games are set outside Hyrule in other lands, realms and parallel worlds. The geographical relationship between Hyrule and these other worlds is not clearly defined.[76]

• The Dark World[lower-alpha 16] is a parallel world to Hyrule that appears in A Link to the Past. It is a darker version of Hyrule, which is referred to as the Light World.[77]
• The Great Sea[lower-alpha 17] is the setting of The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass, formed after a deluge flooded Hyrule. Only a few mountaintops are still visible above the water, and these form the islands and archipelagos of the Great Sea. Due to the relatively small size of the many islands, the large expanses of ocean between each island require the player to use charts to navigate from island to island.[78]
• Holodrum[lower-alpha 18] is a land that Link travels to in Oracle of Seasons. He is found by Din, who is subsequently captured by the General of Darkness, Onox. Din's capture causes the four season in Holodrum to fall into chaos. Holodrum is protected by a huge tree called a Maku Tree. Link eventually dispels the darkness with a Huge Maku Seed.[77]
• Hytopia[lower-alpha 19] is a kingdom that is the main setting of Triforce Heroes. The game focuses on the theme of fashion and involves Link attempting to help Princess Styla, who has been cursed to wear a drab jumpsuit.[79]
• Koholint Island (コホリント島, Kohorinto-tō) is the setting of Link's Awakening. Link is washed ashore on Koholint Island after a terrible storm. A giant egg sits at the top of the island's highest peak. To escape the island, Link must awaken the Wind Fish. He later discovers that waking the Wind Fish will cause the island to disappear as it exists only in the Wind Fish's dreams. Link escapes the island by waking the Wind Fish but, as a result, Koholint Island ceases to exist.[77]
• Labrynna[lower-alpha 20] is a land that appears in Oracle of Ages. In a similar storyline to that of Holodrum, the land of Labrynna is thrown into chaos when Nayru is possessed by a sorceress named Veran, which causes the flow of time to be disrupted.[77]
• Lorule[lower-alpha 21] is a parallel world to Hyrule in A Link Between Worlds. It is similar to Hyrule in geography and is ruled by Princess Zelda's Lorulean counterpart, Princess Hilda. Like Hyrule, Lorule originally had its own Triforce and was the source of various conflicts. However, the Royal Family of Lorule decided to destroy the Triforce in an attempt to put an end to conflict, only to bring calamity to their world as a result.[77]
• New Hyrule[80] is a kingdom founded by Link and Tetra following the events of Phantom Hourglass, and is seen exclusively in Spirit Tracks. New Hyrule is home to the titular Spirit Tracks, magical train tracks created by the Spirits of Good (the guardian deities of the country) which connect the four sections of the continent and allows for travel by train between them.[81]
• Skyloft[lower-alpha 22] is a collection of large floating islands in Skyward Sword, created when the Goddess Hylia used the last of her power to raise what was left of the surviving Hylians along with a plot of land that was still free during the Great War with Demise. Below the clouds lies "the Surface".[82]
• Termina[lower-alpha 23] is a parallel world to Hyrule that serves as the main setting of Majora's Mask. Link falls into this world from a portal deep within the Lost Woods. The land and its citizens are very similar to that of Hyrule. Termina is split into four distinct regions, guarded by four giant deities: the swampy Woodfall, home of the Deku Scrubs, to the south; the icy Snowhead Mountains of the Gorons to the north; Great Bay, home of the Zora to the west; and the undead wastelands of Ikana Canyon to the east. Its capital, Clock Town, lies in the center.[77]
• The Twilight Realm[lower-alpha 24] is a parallel world to Hyrule that appears in Twilight Princess. It is a darker, shadowy place that is inhabited by the Twili. In the game, the antagonist Zant overthrows Midna to gain power over the Twilight Realm and transforms the Twili into Shadow Beasts. Link and Midna work together to cleanse the twilight from Hyrule and defeat Zant.[83][84]
• The World of the Ocean King is the setting of Phantom Hourglass. The game takes place after the events of The Wind Waker and its world is similar to the Great Sea with several islands located on the ocean.[77]

Despite most games in the series nominally taking place centuries apart, The Legend of Zelda tends to feature many recurring characters. The silent protagonist Link and the princess Zelda are reincarnated in most Zelda games, while the antagonistic force Ganon (the final boss of most Zelda games), born from the primordial evil "Demise", repeatedly returns in a new form as well.[85] Other figures who reappear across the series include Zelda's caretaker Impa and the fairy-obsessed man Tingle.[86][87] In many Zelda games, Link obtains a horse named Epona.[88]

Link is frequently accompanied by a companion in Zelda games, starting with Navi in The Ocarina of Time. Characters like Navi, Midna, and Fi serve a tutorial function in their respective games and comment on events as they transpire in the story.[89] The supporting cast of Breath of the Wild, featuring characters such as Mipha, Prince Sidon, and Urbosa, has proven particularly popular among fans of the series.[90]

Since the release of the original game, the series has featured a large number of races within an expanding fictional lore. Alongside the Hylian race that establishes the land of Hyrule, there are various other prominent races, such as the Gorons, Gerudo, Rito and Zora that reappear in several games.[91]

• Ancient Robots are a prehistoric mechanical race that appear in Skyward Sword. Link encounters them in the third area of the game, Lanayru Desert. They were created by the Thunder Dragon Lanayru, but their land eventually became a barren desert while they rusted away. By using a Timeshift Stone to change the present to the past, they can be revived. Although the designers expressed concern about including advanced technology in Skyward Sword, they decided that they did not look out of place with a "softer" design to resemble ancient clay figures from Japanese history, more befitting of fantasy.[92]
• Dragons are a recurring race that usually appear as benevolent guardians or powerful enemies. In Ocarina of Time, Link must slay Volvagia, a dragon boss in the Fire Temple.[93] In The Wind Waker, the Sky Spirit Valoo acts as the godlike dragon and the patron deity of the Rito tribe.[94] When Link arrives on Dragon Roost Island, he defeats a boss named Gohma by damaging Valoo's tail.[95] In Twilight Princess, Link encounters the dragon Argorok, who is the boss of the City in the Sky.[96] In Skyward Sword, Link is aided by three dragons named Faron, Eldin and Lanayru, which guard the three regions of the Surface.[97] In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the three dragons Dinraal,[lower-alpha 25] Naydra,[lower-alpha 26] and Farosh[lower-alpha 27] can be found in several locations around Hyrule.[98]
• Fairies are magical creatures that appear as small, winged humanoids often obscured by light. Fairies tend to be shy and can be found hiding in many places throughout Hyrule. They are often found at fairy fountains or fairy springs. In most games in the series, fairies will heal Link if he manages to catch one and he can also put them in empty bottles to have them heal him later. If Link dies while he has a bottled fairy in his possession, the fairy will automatically resurrect him. Great fairies are powerful, high ranking fairies that use their magic to enchant Link's items into more powerful versions.[99] In Ocarina of Time, the Kokiri form a symbiotic relationship with their guardian fairies, who act as constant companions and mentors. One of these is Navi, who serves as Link's sidekick and helps him to learn about the world outside Kokiri Forest.[100]
• The Gerudo[lower-alpha 28] are a race of human warrior-thieves that are indigenous to the harsh Gerudo Desert that bears their name.[101] Gerudo physical traits include scarlet hair, aquiline noses,[102] gold or green eyes, round or pointed ears, and bronzed skin. Like the Amazons, the race consists entirely of women, apart from a single Gerudo male who is born every century. The male is lawfully crowned king of the tribe,[103] and is even worshipped like a God king.[104] When there is no male present to be king, leadership is entrusted to female chiefs.[105] Ganondorf, the main antagonist of the series, is king of the Gerudo. The Gerudo appear as pirates in Majora's Mask, where they live in the ocean at Great Bay. In Breath of the Wild, they are traders and merchants. As men are not permitted in Gerudo Town, Link has to crossdress as a female to enter.[106]
• The Gorons[lower-alpha 29] are a race of mountain-dwelling rock people who first appeared in Ocarina of Time. They have the ability to roll along the ground and have a round rock-like physical appearance. Goron culture revolves around brotherhood and strength, usually referring to each other and those they deem strong as "Brother" or "Big Brother". Gorons show high regard for individuals who display great strength and bravery and enjoy matching their strength with others in competition such as sumo wrestling and racing. They live in tribes headed by a patriarch, such as Darunia[lower-alpha 30] in Ocarina of Time. Mainly inhabiting mountainous areas, such as Death Mountain, Gorons are resistant to intense heat and lava and they also consume rocks and minerals, which they mine from the earth.[107]
• Hylians[lower-alpha 31] are an elf-like race of humans that make up the predominant population of Hyrule, in which they established an organized civilization resembling that of medieval Europe.[108][40] They were created as the first race of Hyrule by the goddess Hylia, the main fictional deity of the series. They are born with magic-infused blood said to be a gift from the goddesses that grants them psychic powers and magical skill. Their long pointed ears are said to allow them to hear messages sent by the gods. The main characters, Link and Princess Zelda are prominent characters of this race. In Skyward Sword, Hylians live on a floating island named Skyloft and are accompanied by bird-like creatures called loftwings. Hylians are a fairly diverse species, having variations in skin, hair and eye colour. Due to repeated attacks from enemies, such as Ganon, large Hylian armies exist to protect the kingdom of Hyrule.[109]
• The Kokiri[lower-alpha 32] are a pixie-like race who inhabit the Kokiri Forest. They branched from the Hylians because they wanted to live a more natural life as Hyrule continued to industrialize. They are shielded by the Great Deku Tree who considers them to be his children, and each receives a small fairy that is their lifelong friend, guardian, and teacher. They do not age once they grow up into kids due to the Deku Tree's power. Cautious and secretive, the Kokiri believe that they will die if they leave the forest.[110] Link was raised as a Kokiri in Ocarina of Time, but was not born to them, as his Hylian mother entrusted him to the Great Deku Tree when he was an infant.[111]
• The Koroks[lower-alpha 33] are plant-like beings that first appeared in The Wind Waker. They are said to have been transformed from the Kokiri after the Great Flood.[112] They are small creatures with wood-like bodies and masks made from leaves. They are very light, which allows them to travel by using sprouts as propellers. They leave their home, the "Forest Haven", to plant seeds from the Great Deku Tree all over the world, and return once a year to hold a ceremony and obtain more seeds. In Breath of the Wild, Koroks can be found all over Hyrule and their seeds can be traded with Hestu, a large Korok, for weapon inventory slots. Koroks are difficult to find, despite being so numerous and are best protected in Korok Forest, a hidden location in the Lost Woods.[113]
• The Oocca[lower-alpha 34] are a race of birds with long necks and human-like faces that appear in Twilight Princess. They live in the "City in the Sky",[lower-alpha 35][114] an airborne city that acts as the seventh dungeon in Twilight Princess. A female Oocca named Ooccoo[lower-alpha 36] can warp the player back to the entrance of the game's dungeons. Ooccoo's son, Ooccoo Jr,[lower-alpha 37] warps the player to Ooccoo's location. In Twilight Princess, these creatures are mentioned to be closer to the gods than the Hylians. Some in Hyrule theorise that the Oocca actually evolved into the Hylians. It is supposed that they created Hylians and created a city in the sky for them to live in. In Twilight Princess, Link reaches this city by launching himself out of an enormous cannon. Ooccoo has also appeared in other Nintendo games, such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Hyrule Warriors.[115]
• Minish, referred to in their native language as Picori,[lower-alpha 38] are small humanoid sprites no bigger than a human thumb that live in secret. They are only visible to children and tend to live in forests, but also appear inside of buildings and holes in and around various spots of Hyrule.[116] There are three variations of the Minish, which can be distinguished by their attire: Forest Minish, Town Minish and Mountain Minish. They first appear in The Minish Cap. Most Minish are helpful, and like to hide valuable objects for others to find, although one Picori, Vaati[lower-alpha 39] became evil after becoming obsessed with human nature.
• The Rito[lower-alpha 40] are a race of raptor-like humanoids who debuted in The Wind Waker. They evolved from the Zora species. In that game, they lived on Dragon Roost Island, an island on the Great Sea. They have a tribal elder and elaborately dressed guards. In The Wind Waker, Rito are born without wings, and instead, must visit their guardian, the Sky Spirit, Valoo, in a coming-of-age ceremony to receive one of his scales, which enables them to grow wings. Throughout a young Rito's childhood, he or she is called a Fledgling and is flightless without any wings. After a child reaches a certain age they can receive their wings after they retrieve a scale from the dragon Valoo. Most Rito can fly over a great distance and hover in place, but some have trouble flying for long periods of time. In Breath of the Wild, the Rito reside in the Hebra region in northwest Hyrule and tolerate cold climates. These Rito feature a much more prominent avian design that includes wings and are able to fly using updrafts. Prominent Rito characters include Revali, the Rito Champion, and Kass, a wandering minstrel who displays the Rito's appreciation of music through song.[117]
• The Sheikah[lower-alpha 41] are ancient and mysterious ninja-like warriors who are commonly distinguished by their red eyes and white hair. The most prominent recurring representative of the Sheikah is Zelda's nursemaid and bodyguard Impa. They bear a physical resemblance to Hylians, but are a completely different race, having great technological prowess. Physically they are extremely capable, able to run and jump better than other Hyruleans. They are also some of the most potent magic-wielders in Hyrule. The Sheikah have a divinely ordained role to protect the Hyrule Royal Family. Their symbol, the Eye of the Sheikah, which is depicted as a single eye with three triangles above and a teardrop beneath, is commonly seen in the series, even in games where the Sheikah are not present. In Breath of the Wild, examples of the advanced technology created by the Sheikah can be found in the hidden structures around Hyrule and in the form of Link's Sheikah Slate.[118]
• Twili[lower-alpha 42] are a race that exist in the Twilight Realm and appear in Twilight Princess. The Twili come from a group referred to as the Interlopers, who used extraordinary magic to dominate a war between Hylians for the Triforce and the Sacred Realm. Seeing this, the Golden Goddesses ordered the Light Spirits to seal their magic in the Fused Shadow; the Interlopers were then banished to the Twilight Realm, a dark mirror world of Hyrule, where they adapted and evolved into the Twili. The most prominent members of their race are Midna[lower-alpha 43] the Twilight Princess and Zant.[lower-alpha 44] He overthrew Midna with Ganondorf's help in order to become king of the Twilight.[119]
• The Zora[lower-alpha 45] are a race of aquatic piscine humanoids that inhabit Zora's Domain or Lake Hylia. In the original game and Link to the Past, Zora were enemies that attacked Link from the water with projectiles, though the giant Zora King sells Link a pair of flippers in A Link to the Past, allowing him to swim and to use the network of whirlpools that link far corners of Hyrule. By Ocarina of Time, their role in most stories had changed to a neutral or friendly race. Zora government is monarchical, either ruled by a king, with examples being King Dorephan or King Zora De Bon XVI, or queen, such as Queen Oren or Queen Rutela.[lower-alpha 46] Two different branches exist: "River Zora" are more violent and can shoot fire, while "Sea Zora" are generally passive. Zora have extraordinarily long lifespans and lay eggs to reproduce. Zora eggs need to be kept in cold, clean water to develop healthily, and every egg from the same clutch must be kept together for them to hatch. Newborn Zora have the appearance of a tadpole.[120]
• The Zonai are an ancient race that appear in Tears of the Kingdom. Initially referenced by various ruins in Breath of the Wild, they are established in Tears of the Kingdom as the tribe that originally founded Hyrule in the early fictional history of the series, with Rauru being the first king alongside his wife Sonia. In the game, Zonai technology is prominent across the land in the form of shrines, ruins, Constructs and other Zonai devices. In the book Creating a Champion, the Zonai are described as magic users who worship the Triforce.[121]

The appearance of some creatures varies across different titles of the series:

• Armos[lower-alpha 47] are animated statues built to guard ancient ruins that come to life and attack when disturbed. They have monstrous appearances and carry a sword and shield. If Link approaches, they will chase after him. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[122]
• Bokoblins[lower-alpha 48] are a race of goblin-like creatures, that first appeared in The Wind Waker. Bokoblins come in a variety of colors. They often appear as standard enemies and wield boko sticks, machetes and clubs. Though their appearance varies from game to game, the one thing that remains consistent is they wear loincloths with a single skull. In Twilight Princess, they are less common and their role as standard enemies is largely taken over by the Bulblins. In Skyward Sword, Bokoblins are common monsters that serve the Demon Tribe, under Demon Lord Ghirahim and the Demon King Demise. The game also introduces Technoblins and Cursed Bokoblins, undead Bokoblins that can curse Link. In Breath of the Wild, Bokoblins are low-level, comical enemies that commonly appear across Hyrule living in camps.[123]
• ChuChus[lower-alpha 49] are jelly-like creatures with squat, translucent bodies, stalk-eyes, and a smiling mouth. They mostly move by bouncing around. ChuChus appear in various colours and some possess specific abilities. Once they are defeated, they will drop ChuChu jelly, which can be used by Link as an ingredient and for upgrading armour.[124]
• Darknuts[lower-alpha 50] are large armored knights armed with swords and shields. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda but are recurring foes that appear in Twilight Princess and other games.[125]
• Deku[lower-alpha 51] are wooden plant-like creatures introduced in Ocarina of Time that appear mostly in the overworld and dungeons. Deku are small creatures that have leaves sprouting out from their heads, red glowing eyes and tube-like mouths that can shoot Deku Nuts. They can fly by using large leaves to glide, and some can use the leaves on their head to fly indefinitely after taking off from a Deku Flower. There are four types of Deku depicted in the series: Deku Scrubs, Mad Scrubs, Business Scrubs, and Royal Scrubs.[126]
• Floormasters[lower-alpha 52] and Wallmasters are ghostly manifestations of giant hands that drag adventurers back to the entrance of a dungeon. Floormasters split up into smaller versions when the original is attacked. Wallmasters first appeared in The Legend of Zelda while Floormasters first appeared in Ocarina of Time. Floormasters also appear in The Wind Waker and The Minish Cap.[127]
• Gibdos[lower-alpha 53] are undead creatures wrapped like mummies. They resemble ReDeads in regards to their slow and zombie-like movement; in some games, setting a Gibdo's bandages alight will reveal a Stalfos or a ReDead underneath. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[128]
• Gohma[lower-alpha 54] are recurring boss monsters which typically resemble giant arthropods with a single eye. The eye serves as their weak point. The original Gohma first appeared in The Legend of Zelda game.[129]
• Guardians are large mechanical foes that can blast enemies with a powerful laser from their single eye. They appear in Breath of the Wild. Guardian Stalkers roam Hyrule by moving on their mechanical legs, whilst Guardian Skywatchers use propellers for locomotion. Producer Eiji Aonuma said that they were based on the octoroks that appear in the original game.[130]
• Hinox[lower-alpha 55] are a recurring enemy and sub-boss in the Legend of Zelda series. The Hinox's single eye is its most vulnerable place, dealing the most damage to it when hit.[131] They are cyclops-like ogres and have appeared in A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, Four Swords Adventures, Phantom Hourglass, A Link Between Worlds, Tri Force Heroes, Breath of the Wild, and most recently Tears of the Kingdom. In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Hinoxs can be either red, blue or black, depending on their strength. They are the largest monster found within the game and will uproot nearby trees to use as weapons against the player if provoked. Stalnox are skeletal versions of Hinox that appear in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.[132]
• Keese[lower-alpha 56] are bat monsters that often lurk in dark places such as caves, waiting to dive bomb unwary travelers attempting to bite off chunks of flesh. Some Keese have the ability to pick up elements they fly through and there are fire, ice, cursed, and electric variants. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[122]
• Like Likes[lower-alpha 57] are yellowish cylindrical monsters that can suck in creatures as large as humans and consume items they carry. They are known for swallowing the shields and tunics that Link uses. Like Likes dissolve into a puddle when killed, leaving the stolen items. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[122][127]
• Lizalfos[lower-alpha 58] are swift and cunning anthropomorphic lizards that often attack in pairs and can parry and dodge oncoming attacks. They first appeared in The Adventure of Link. In Breath of the Wild, Lizalfos can throw weapons and dash toward their target.[133]
• Lynels[lower-alpha 59] are large, strong centaur-like creatures with a head of a lion and horns that first appeared in The Legend of Zelda. This creature has multiple variations including red, blue, white, and silver, with each color denoting the Lynel's strength. In Breath of the Wild, Lynels are extremely powerful foes that are resistant to attacks.[134]
• Moblins[lower-alpha 60] are orc-like monsters that serve as Ganon's footsoldiers. In The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link, Moblins resembled bulldogs, but are pig-like in more recent games.[135] They commonly wield spears, swords, bows, or occasionally massive clubs. They are one of the most common enemies in the games and are considered "mighty", but also "dumb".[136][137] They are described as greedy, self-possessed creatures, and the major antagonist will commonly use them as mercenaries or summoned monsters.[138]
• Octoroks[lower-alpha 61] are octopus monsters that have appeared in almost every Legend of Zelda game (except for Twilight Princess). Octoroks produce rocks within their body that they can fire from their snout via compressed air with the force of a musket shot. Some species of Octorok are land-dwelling while others are mostly aquatic. Big Octos are a very large ocean-dwelling breed sometimes known to attack ships. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[122]
• Poes[lower-alpha 62] are lantern-carrying ghosts formed from concentrated hatred toward the living that freely roam graveyards and other haunted locales. They always carry their signature lanterns. In some editions, they can go invisible when Link is doing a certain action or in a certain form. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[128]
• ReDeads[lower-alpha 63] are undead creatures resembling zombies with dark brown skin and flat mask-like faces that can paralyze enemies with a scream, and cling to them to drain health away.[139] They first appeared in Ocarina of Time.
• Skulltulas[lower-alpha 64] are giant spiders, named for the bony plate in the shape of a human skull that forms their carapace. They are most commonly found in dark places, such as forests, caves, and dungeons but can also sometimes be found in towns at night. Skulltulas and Giant Skulltulas hang from ceiling surfaces, suspended by a strand of silk waiting to drop on unwary prey.[128]
• Stalfos[lower-alpha 65] are animated skeletons mostly from the remains of dead warriors who still have a strong will to fight, and serve evil powers such as Ganon or Vaati. In Ocarina of Time, by using the Mask of Truth, the player learns from a Gossip Stone that humans that get lost while in the Lost Woods will become Stalfos.[67] They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[122]
• Tektites[lower-alpha 66] are cyclopean four-legged insectoid creatures who use their powerful legs to leap upon and attack prey. Blue Tektites can walk on water, and both Blue and Red Tektites can jump up cliffs. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[122]
• Wizzrobes[lower-alpha 67] are magician-like creatures that wear wizard robes and often use fire and ice magic. They first appeared in The Legend of Zelda.[122] Breath of the Wild introduced elemental Wizzrobes, who use various magical rods to summon elemental attacks, elemental enemies and even change the weather accordingly. The regular types are the Fire, Electric and Ice Wizzrobes, but each has a more powerful variant. These are known as Meteo and Thunder Wizzrobes, and Blizzrobes respectively.[140]

In their January 2010 issue, Nintendo Power listed Hyrule as one of the greatest Nintendo locations, citing the vast number of areas to explore, as well as referencing players' first experiences with the Lost Woods and Death Mountain as highlights of the players' adventures.[141] Steve Watts of GameSpot praised the original game world, commenting that although it is minimalist, it, "conveys the feeling of going on a grand adventure through the wilderness, and the lack of hand-holding that would come to define later Zelda games makes the world feel that much more expansive and mysterious".[142] Yannick LeJacq for Kotaku commented that "Hyrule is one of the most iconic settings in the history of video games. The Legend of Zelda players have been poring over it in one way or another for almost 30 years now".[143]

Polygon's Jeremy Parish remarked on the impact that Hyrule and its centrepiece Hyrule Field had on gamers in Ocarina of Time. He commented: "Open game worlds existed before Ocarina of Time. And in truth, Ocarina's rendition of Hyrule isn't even really all that open. But the game explored the relationship between its environments, the camera's 3D perspective and Link's place in it all to create a realm that felt far more like a real location than the game worlds that had come before it".[144] Destructoid also noted Hyrule's impact in Ocarina of Time, saying "there was nothing else like it before 1998" and continued: "The awesome thing about Hyrule is that I can honestly see a place like it existing in our world. It's not just some fantasy, flashy place like you'd find in the Star Wars universe. It's meant to look like the real world, and Miyamoto achieved that goal in a way no one would have expected without actually seeing it first".[145]

The open world of Hyrule in Breath of the Wild has received praise for its design. Noelle Warner of Destructoid ranked all of the settlements in Breath of the Wild and chose Tarrey Town as the favourite location, because players must build it from the ground up, making it one of the longest side quests in the game.[146] Kate Gray, writing for The Guardian, was impressed by the beauty and large scale of the game world, noting that "the greens of the open plains contrast with the dark black of Death Mountain, which is streaked with orange lava on the distant horizon". She also commented on the "range of quiet, clever techniques designed to help players navigate the environment".[147] Andrew Webster of The Verge responded positively to the grandness of the game's massive open world: "The scale could have been daunting, but the joy of discovery and the satisfaction that comes from finding your own way make it inviting instead".[148]

Senior editor Caty McCarthy of USgamer ranked the in-game map of A Link to the Past as the best video game map, describing it as "perfect" world design in terms of the way it integrates with the gameplay.[149] IGN ranked Hyrule as the sixth greatest game world, commenting that "few game worlds manage to leave as indelible an impression on the collective gaming subconscious as Zelda has. For that alone it ranks up there as one of the best, most fully realized worlds in all of gaming".[150] In 2021, Evan Narcisse of Kotaku listed Hyrule as one of the richest sci-fi and fantasy worlds in video games.[151]

Since the release of the original The Legend of Zelda game, critics have commented on the influence and legacy of The Legend of Zelda universe on the gaming industry. Ozzie Mejia of Shacknews highlighted the importance of the original The Legend of Zelda: "Before the open worlds of a World of Warcraft, a Grand Theft Auto, or a Skyrim, there was the intimidating land of Hyrule. The Legend of Zelda has done more than shape the series as it's known today. It is known for influencing many of today's best games and its formula has inspired many of today's most recognizable game developers, both in the mainstream and indie space".[152] Liz Finnegan for The Escapist commented on the original game's influence on the RPG genre, particularly its nonlinear open world, and opined that "Zelda's design inspired countless other titles to adopt the action-adventure-exploration hybrid with a top-down perspective and expansive, cohesive overworld. These games have long since been informally dubbed "Zelda clones".[153] Christian Donlan of Eurogamer noted the similarity and influence that Hyrule had on Dark Souls, comparing both kingdoms: "In the original Legend of Zelda, however, Hyrule feels, well, a bit more like Lordran - a place of scarred earth and wasteland, parched and rugged and filled with horrible creatures that erupt from the sands or move in staggering hops".[154] The original game was a phenomenal commercial success for Nintendo, selling over 6.5 million copies, and has been described by many critics as one of the greatest video games of all time.[155]

USGamer's Nadia Oxford commented on the significance of Ocarina of Time and considered it to be "a genius work of game design". She said that "it brought the traditionally top-down series into a fully 3D realm while successfully preserving the heart and soul of previous Zelda games. Its "Z-targeting" mechanic refined the clumsy auto-targeting systems that made 3D console games of the day feel inferior to 3D action games on the PC. Finally, it presented a story about healing a broken world".[156] Heather Alexandra, writing for Kotaku, remarked on the impact of the game's release: "There have been countless open world games since 1998, but Ocarina of Time was the moment when the concept of massive, interconnected worlds began to really crystalize".[157] Keza MacDonald of The Guardian also commented on the influence of Ocarina of Time, noting that it was one of the first real 3D adventures and that it "remains eminently playable today because so many of the things it invented became standard for any 3D game that came after it".[158] Tom Power of Gamesradar opined that the game is often considered to be the greatest video game due to its technological innovations: "The problems Nintendo solved back then have been influential across gaming genres and, whilst public acknowledgment of this influence is thin on the ground, it's difficult not to view Ocarina of Time as one of the fathers of modern gaming".[159]

In the months following the release of Breath of the Wild in 2017, many video game developers were influenced by its open world design. Alx Preston, creator of Hyper Light Drifter, remarked that "the sense of freedom and experimentation is incredibly inspiring". Adam Saltsman, creator of Canabalt, commented on the consistency of the game environment and the player's ability to experiment. Vlambeer's Rami Ismail said that "no game has done verticality as well as BotW".[160] Sam Byford of The Verge commented on the impact of Breath of the Wild's open world on the video game industry, describing it as a "revolutionary approach to open-world game design". He cited several other subsequent game worlds that bear similarities to Breath of the Wild, including Genshin Impact, Immortals Fenyx Rising and Horizon Forbidden West.[161] Both the miHoYo development team of Genshin Impact and Sam Barlow, creator of Telling Lies have cited Breath of the Wild as a significant source of inspiration.[162][163] Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki also said that he was influenced by Breath of the Wild's open world.[164] Upon its release, Breath of the Wild achieved critical acclaim and was the biggest commercial success of the franchise and one of the best-selling video games, selling 29 million copies on the Nintendo Switch as of December 2022[165] and over 1.6 million copies on the Wii U.[166][167]