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is a
high-fantasy High fantasy, or epic fantasy, is a subgenre of fantasy defined by the epic nature of its setting or by the epic stature of its characters, themes, or plot.Brian Stableford, ''The A to Z of Fantasy Literature'', (p. 198), Scarecrow Press, P ...
video game series This is a list of video game franchises, organized alphabetically. All entries include multiple video games, not counting ports or altered re-releases. 0–9 *''1080° Snowboarding'' *''1942'' *''3D Ultra Minigolf'' *'' 3-D Ultra Pinball'' *''7 ...
created by Japanese
game designers Game design is the art of applying design and aesthetics to create a game for entertainment or for educational, exercise, or experimental purposes. Increasingly, elements and principles of game design are also applied to other interactions, in ...
Shigeru Miyamoto is a Japanese video game designer, producer and game director at Nintendo, where he serves as one of its representative directors. Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential designers in the history of video games, he is ...
and
Takashi Tezuka is a Japanese video game designer, director, and video game producer, producer. He is a senior officer of Nintendo EPD and executive at Nintendo. Career Upon graduating the Design Department of Osaka University of Arts, he joined Nintendo in A ...
. It is primarily developed and published by
Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles. Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...
, although some portable installments have been outsourced to
Capcom is a Japanese video game developer and video game publisher, publisher. It has created a number of List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises, with its most commercially successful being ''Resident Evil' ...
,
Vanpool Vanpools or Vanpooling is an element of the transit system that allow groups of people to share the ride similar to a carpool, but on a larger scale with concurrent savings in fuel and vehicle operating costs and thus usually a lower cost to the ...
and
Grezzo is a Japanese video game developer. It was founded in December 2006. Koichi Ishii, known for his work on the ''Mana According to Melanesian and Polynesian mythology, ''mana'' is a supernatural force that permeates the universe. Anyon ...
; as well, Monolith Soft has assisted in the production of some mainline titles. The series' gameplay incorporates elements of
action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...
,
adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...
, and puzzle-solving games. The series centers on Link, the
playable character A player character (also known as a playable character or PC) is a fictional character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game whose actions are controlled by a player rather than the rules of the game. The characters that are not control ...
and protagonist who is often tasked with rescuing
Princess Zelda is the titular character in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and introduced in the original 1986 game ''The Legend of Zelda''. She is one of the central characters in the series, having ...
and the kingdom of
Hyrule ''The Legend of Zelda'' is a video game franchise created by Japanese video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series consists of a variet ...
from
Ganon is a Character (arts), fictional character and the primary antagonist of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series and franchise, as well as the final Boss (video games), boss in many ''Zelda'' titles. A massive and malevolent creatu ...
, who is the series' primary antagonist; however, other settings and antagonists have appeared in several games. The plots commonly involve the
Triforce The is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series of video games. It first appeared in the original 1986 action-adventure game ''The Legend of Zelda'' and is a focus of subsequent games in the series, including ...
, a relic that is a set of three omnipotent golden triangles. Since the original ''The Legend of Zelda'''s release in 1986, the series has expanded to include twenty entries on Nintendo's major
game consoles A video game console is an electronic device that outputs a video signal or image to display a video game that can be played with a game controller. These may be home consoles, which are generally placed in a permanent location connected to a t ...
, as well as several spin-offs. An American
animated TV series An animated series is a set of animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can have either ...
based on the games aired in 1989. Individual manga adaptations commissioned by Nintendo have been produced in Japan since 1997. ''The Legend of Zelda'' is one of Nintendo's most prominent and successful franchises, and many of its games are considered by critics and fans alike to be among the
greatest video games of all time This is a list of video games that multiple reputable video game journalists or magazines have considered to be among the best of all time. The games listed here are included on at least six separate "best/greatest of all time" lists from differ ...
.


Main characters


Link

Link is the
silent protagonist In video games, a silent protagonist is a player character who lacks any dialogue for the entire duration of a game, with the possible exception of occasional interjections or short phrases. In some games, especially visual novels, this may extend ...
of the series and the main playable character. He is a
Hylian ''The Legend of Zelda'' is a video game franchise created by Japanese video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series consists of a vari ...
youth of varying age who has traditionally been depicted wearing a green cap and tunic. He has appeared as the hero of every game in the series, each time as a new iteration of the same character. Although each game stars a new variation of Link, he typically embarks on a journey across Hyrule to defeat evil, usually in the form of Ganon, and save Princess Zelda. To defeat his enemies, he typically obtains and wields the legendary
Master Sword The is a Fiction, fictional divine magic sword in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. It is also known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", the "Sword of Resurrection", the "Sword that Seals the Darkness", and the "Sacred Sword". It was introdu ...
. Each incarnation of Link is humble, brave, and worthy to bear the Triforce of Courage, one of the three pieces that form the
Triforce The is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series of video games. It first appeared in the original 1986 action-adventure game ''The Legend of Zelda'' and is a focus of subsequent games in the series, including ...
. As protagonist, Link has appeared in related media, including spin-off games such as ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
'', comics and manga, and other video game series, such as ''
Mario Kart 8 is a 2014 kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. It features the '' Mario Kart'' series' game mechanics, in which players drive go-karts using ''Mario'' franchise characters in various race formats. Items placed ...
'' and the ''
Super Smash Bros. ''Super Smash Bros.'' is a Crossover (fiction), crossover fighting game series published by Nintendo. The series was created by Masahiro Sakurai, who has directed every game in the series. The series is known for its unique gameplay objectiv ...
'' series. Although he is mainly silent in the video games, he does speak in the ''Legend of Zelda'' cartoon series and the CD-i games from ''The Legend of Zelda'' series produced by
Philips Koninklijke Philips N.V. (), commonly shortened to Philips, is a Dutch multinational conglomerate corporation that was founded in Eindhoven in 1891. Since 1997, it has been mostly headquartered in Amsterdam, though the Benelux headquarters i ...
. Link was recognised as the second greatest video game character of all time behind
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creat ...
in the ''
Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
'' 2011. ''
Nintendo Life Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British mass media company based in Brighton. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and other ...
'' describes Link as "one of gaming's most iconic heroes", while ''
GamesRadar ''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites ''Total Film'', '' SFX'', ''Edge'' and '' Computer ...
'' describes him as, "one of the most enduring heroic archetypes". ''
Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...
'' named him as one of the most influential video game characters of all time.


Princess Zelda

Princess Zelda is Hyrule's princess and the guardian of the
Triforce of Wisdom The is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series of video games. It first appeared in the original 1986 action-adventure game ''The Legend of Zelda'' and is a focus of subsequent games in the series, including ...
. While older titles portray her as a "princess in peril" who Link needed to save from
Ganon is a Character (arts), fictional character and the primary antagonist of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series and franchise, as well as the final Boss (video games), boss in many ''Zelda'' titles. A massive and malevolent creatu ...
, since ''
Ocarina of Time ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998, and in PAL regions the following month. ''Ocarina of Tim ...
'' she has been developed as a more fully realized character, particularly in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
''. Zelda is the reincarnation of the goddess Hylia in mortal form and is therefore capable of using various magical powers to aid Link, including light magic to seal away Ganon. She has also wielded the Bow of Light as a recurring weapon in the series. Zelda occasionally has
aliases A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...
and
alter egos An alter ego (Latin for "other I", "doppelgänger") means an alternate self, which is believed to be distinct from a person's normal or true original personality. Finding one's alter ego will require finding one's other self, one with a different ...
, including Sheik in ''Ocarina of Time'' and Tetra in ''
The Wind Waker ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' is a 2002 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, it was released in Japan in December 2002, in North America in Marc ...
'' and ''
Phantom Hourglass ''The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass'' is a 2007 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is the fourteenth installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and the direct sequel ...
''. Despite being the titular character, Zelda is only a playable character in ''
Spirit Tracks ''The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks'' is a 2009 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. Set a century after ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' and its sequel ''The Legend of Zelda ...
'' in the main series and the
CD-i games The Compact Disc-Interactive (CD-I, later CD-i) is a Digital media, digital optical disc data storage device, data storage format that was mostly developed and marketed by Dutch company Philips. It was created as an extension of Compact Disc Di ...
, but is playable in spin-offs such as ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
'', or other games, such as the ''
Super Smash Bros. ''Super Smash Bros.'' is a Crossover (fiction), crossover fighting game series published by Nintendo. The series was created by Masahiro Sakurai, who has directed every game in the series. The series is known for its unique gameplay objectiv ...
'' series. She was named as one of the most iconic female game characters of all time by
Digital Spy Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...
. Along with Link, she was counted as one of the greatest video game characters of all time by the 2011 ''Guinness World Record Gamer's Edition''.


Ganon

Ganon is the series' primary villain and final
boss Boss may refer to: Occupations * Supervisor, often referred to as boss * Air boss, more formally, air officer, the person in charge of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier * Crime boss, the head of a criminal organization * Fire boss, a ...
. His specific motives vary across games, but general themes include seeking the
Triforce The is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series of video games. It first appeared in the original 1986 action-adventure game ''The Legend of Zelda'' and is a focus of subsequent games in the series, including ...
for power and destruction and to conquer Hyrule, and kidnapping Princess Zelda as a means to this end. Like Link and Zelda, he is the bearer of one third of the Triforce: the Triforce of Power. Ganon was introduced as the main antagonist of the original ''
The Legend of Zelda ''The Legend of Zelda'' is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-rele ...
'' in the form of a blue boar and his role and appearance has since evolved over time. Over the course of the series, he has generally appeared in two forms: Ganon, a monstrous, demonic pig-like form, and Ganondorf, a humanoid
Gerudo ''The Legend of Zelda'' is a video game franchise created by Japanese video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series consists of a vari ...
form first introduced in ''
Ocarina of Time ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998, and in PAL regions the following month. ''Ocarina of Tim ...
''. In ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
'', he appears in two forms in the final boss fight as Calamity Ganon and Dark Beast Ganon. In ''Tears of the Kingdom'', Ganondorf is known as the Demon King. His portrayal varies across each game in the series, ranging from a mute beast to a powerful warlock with formidable sword skills, but generally he is so powerful that only Link and Zelda are capable of defeating him. In addition to the main ''Zelda'' series, Ganon/Ganondorf appears as a playable character in spin-off games, including ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
'' and the ''
Super Smash Bros. ''Super Smash Bros.'' is a Crossover (fiction), crossover fighting game series published by Nintendo. The series was created by Masahiro Sakurai, who has directed every game in the series. The series is known for its unique gameplay objectiv ...
'' series. Ganon was recognized as one of the greatest video game villains of all time in a 2013 poll for '' Guinness World Records 2013 Gamer's Edition''. In 2022, ''
GamesRadar ''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites ''Total Film'', '' SFX'', ''Edge'' and '' Computer ...
'' named him as one of the most iconic gaming villains of all time.


The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, A Link to the Past, and Link's Awakening


Old Man

The Old Man appears in the original ''
The Legend of Zelda ''The Legend of Zelda'' is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-rele ...
'' and is notable for being the first character that Link meets in the series. He is encountered inside a cave and offers Link a sword, saying, " It's dangerous to go alone! Take this." Ozzie Mejia, writing for ''
Shacknews ''Shacknews'' (originally Quakeholio, then ShugaShack) is a website that hosts news, features, editorial content and forums relating to computer games and Video game console, console games. It is currently owned by a company called Gamerhub Cont ...
,'' remarked that this quote has become synonymous with gaming in
popular culture Popular culture (also called mass culture or pop culture) is generally recognized by members of a society as a set of practices, beliefs, artistic output (also known as, popular art or mass art) and objects that are dominant or prevalent in a ...
and has been referenced in various media. Jack Yarwood of ''
GamesRadar ''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites ''Total Film'', '' SFX'', ''Edge'' and '' Computer ...
'' called him "iconic" and commented that he acts as a tutorial for the player, who is otherwise given no clear direction. The Old Man was the inspiration for several other characters that appear in the series, including a similar character in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
''.


Impa

was introduced in the game manual for the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' as an elderly woman and member of the
Sheikah ''The Legend of Zelda'' is a video game franchise created by Japanese video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series consists of a varie ...
who acts as
caretaker Caretaker may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''The Caretaker'' (film), a 1963 adaptation of the play ''The Caretaker'' * ''The Caretakers'', a 1963 American film set in a mental hospital * Caretaker, a character in the 1974 film '' T ...
to Princess Zelda and seeks out Link to save her from Ganon. She returns in '' Zelda II: The Adventure of Link'', where she acts as a guide to Link. In ''Ocarina of Time'', she plays a major role as a young warrior and Zelda's guardian. Her character design is similar in ''Skyward Sword'', where she appears in both a young and elderly form. ''Breath of the Wild'' depicts her as a Sheikah elder in Kakariko Village, where she is about 120 years old. She is a playable character in ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
'' and ''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity'' as a young warrior. In ''Tears of the Kingdom'', she has retired and is investigating the Geoglyphs that have appeared around Hyrule, tasking Link with finding the Dragon's Tears and the memories they hold. Impa's characterisation was praised by Jenni Lada of ''
Siliconera The GAMURS Group, simply known as Gamurs, is an esports media and entertainment publisher. Established in December 2014, the group operates multiple brands focusing on the esports and entertainment news markets, including the websites: ''Dot Espo ...
'', who admired her for being an intelligent warrior and a respected character. Impa's character design has evolved significantly over the course of the series, having been depicted in various forms and ages to fulfill various roles in the games. In her first appearance, Impa was created as an elderly woman for the instruction manual of ''The Legend of Zelda''. In ''Ocarina of Time'', she appears as a slimmer, younger character with a sturdy build and hair tied back in a ponytail. By contrast, she was designed as an overweight woman for ''Oracle of Seasons''. In ''Skyward Sword,'' she appears as younger and older versions of the same character due to the storyline shifting in time and is dressed in Sheikah attire. The younger version of Impa was given an androgynous appearance, while her older version wears a costume designed to reflect the passage of time, including a pendulum braid and a triangular robe that becomes a sundial. In ''Breath of the Wild'', she appears as a much older village elder with a short, shrunken stature. In ''Hyrule Warriors,'' she is depicted as an athletic warrior, which is similar to her appearance in ''Ocarina of Time'' and her younger form in ''Skyward Sword''. In ''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity,'' which features the younger self of her ''Breath of the Wild'' incarnation'','' she is portrayed as a powerful fighter and strongly resembles her future granddaughter, Paya. Impa's design, abilities, and gestures in ''Age of Calamity'' drew heavy inspiration from
Naruto Uzumaki () is the titular protagonist of the manga ''Naruto'', created by Masashi Kishimoto. As the series progresses, he is a young ninja from the fictional village of Konohagakure (Hidden Leaf Village). The villagers ridicule and ostracize Naruto on ...
. Throughout her many incarnations, she bears the typical traits of the Sheikah tribe, having white hair and red eyes. She also typically displays the Sheikah symbol, an eye with three triangles above and a teardrop below, on her forehead or clothing. As a representative of her people, she wears the unique garments of the Sheikah, which take inspiration from historical Japanese clothing. As a member of the Sheikah, Impa is highly skilled in combat and the use of magic.


Dark Link

Dark Link (also known as Shadow Link) is a recurring boss and
doppelgänger A doppelgänger (), a compound noun formed by combining the two nouns (double) and (walker or goer) (), doppelgaenger or doppelganger is a biologically unrelated look-alike, or a double, of a living person. In fiction and mythology, a doppelg ...
of Link with a black color scheme and red eyes,who first appeared as the final boss of ''
The Adventure of Link ''Zelda II: The Adventure of Link'' is an action role-playing video game with platforming elements developed and published by Nintendo. It is the second installment in the ''Legend of Zelda'' series, and was released in Japan for the Famicom Dis ...
''. He is a mini boss in the Water Temple in ''
Ocarina of Time ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998, and in PAL regions the following month. ''Ocarina of Tim ...
'' and is capable of mirroring his movements in combat. Dark Link appears in ''A Link to the Past'' and ''Four Swords'' in the optional dungeon Palace of the Four Swords, which requires the player to defeat four versions of him. He makes recurring appearances in ''
Four Swords Adventures ''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures'' is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the eleventh installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. It was released in Japan on March 18, 2004, ...
'', and also appears in '' Oracle of Ages'', where multiple Shadow Links are summoned by the sorceress Veran during the final battle. He also appears in a mini game in ''
Spirit Tracks ''The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks'' is a 2009 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. Set a century after ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' and its sequel ''The Legend of Zelda ...
'' and the Den of Trials in ''
Tri Force Heroes ''The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes'' is an action-adventure game developed by Nintendo EPD and Grezzo and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The second original Nintendo 3DS entry in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series after '' A Lin ...
''. The Dark Set, an obtainable armor set in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
'' and ''
Tears of the Kingdom is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (2017) and is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Development Development start ...
'' is based on his appearance. He is also a downloadable costume in the spin-off ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
'' and an optional costume for Link in most entries of the ''
Super Smash Bros. ''Super Smash Bros.'' is a Crossover (fiction), crossover fighting game series published by Nintendo. The series was created by Masahiro Sakurai, who has directed every game in the series. The series is known for its unique gameplay objectiv ...
'' series. ''
Game Informer ''Game Informer'' (''GI'', most often stylized ''gameinformer'' from the 2010s onward) is an American monthly video game magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of video games and associated consoles. It debuted in August 1991 w ...
'' considered Dark Link in ''The Adventure of Link'' as one of the top ten best ''Zelda'' boss fights, describing it as, "a notoriously difficult battle". ''
Den of Geek ''Den of Geek'' is a US and UK-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gan ...
'' praised Dark Link in ''Ocarina of Time'' as one of the series' most creative battles as his counter moves force the player to try different methods to defeat him. In 2010 ''
IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'' ranked Dark Link as 77th on its list of the Top 100 Video Game Villains for being a "formidable opponent, mirroring your moves and putting up a seemingly impenetrable defense".


Agahnim

Agahnim is an evil wizard and villain in ''
A Link to the Past ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was released in 1991 in Japan and ...
,'' who assisted the Royal Family by dispelling multiple plagues and became their trusted advisor for some time. However, he soon revealed his true intentions and seized power for himself by killing the King of Hyrule and brainwashing the castle soldiers. He also begins capturing the descendants of the Seven Sages and banishes them to the Dark World to release
Ganon is a Character (arts), fictional character and the primary antagonist of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series and franchise, as well as the final Boss (video games), boss in many ''Zelda'' titles. A massive and malevolent creatu ...
from his imprisonment. Link is unable to stop Agahnim from capturing
Princess Zelda is the titular character in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and introduced in the original 1986 game ''The Legend of Zelda''. She is one of the central characters in the series, having ...
, as he escapes to the Dark World and drags Link with him. After a battle atop Ganon's Tower, prior to his defeat, it is revealed that his body is a vessel for Ganon's soul. Link faces Agahnim twice, first at the end of the light world and again near the end of the dark world, where he is assisted by two shadow clones. In the second battle, the player must distinguish between the shadow clones and the real Agahnim as they shoot projectiles at Link, who can bounce them back to defeat him. In ''
Link's Awakening ''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening'' is a 1993 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It is the first installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series for a handheld game console. ''Link's Awakening'' is o ...
'', Agahnim's Shadow is one of the Shadows of Link's former foes who attack him in the final battle at Koholint Island's Wind Fish Egg.


King of Hyrule

The King of Hyrule is the title given to the various ruling monarchs of Hyrule, who are generally the father of Princess Zelda in most incarnations. He appears in many entries, but his presence is often relegated to cameos, backstory, or lore. In ''The Minish Cap,'' Link must rescue King Daltus after Vaati turns him to stone and imprisons him. In ''The Wind Waker,'' Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule is later revealed to be the true identity of The King of Red Lions, the sentient red sailboat that accompanies Link and leads him to the Triforce of Courage, also helping Tetra to uncover her true identity as Zelda, ultimately usurping the Triforce to sink Hyrule. He later appears as a playable character in ''
Hyrule Warriors Legends ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
''. In ''Breath of the Wild'', the Old Man guides Link throughout the Great Plateau and helps him obtain the paraglider and is eventually revealed to be the spirit of King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule. In the game's backstory, he prepared for the return of Calamity Ganon and put pressure on his daughter Zelda to awaken her sealing powers, but his efforts ended in failure and his death. King Rhoam returns as a playable character in ''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity''.


Great Fairy

Great Fairies appear in almost every game in the series, residing in springs called "Great Fairy Fountains". They first appeared in the original ''
The Legend of Zelda ''The Legend of Zelda'' is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-rele ...
''. Their designs have varied across the series, but they usually appear as voluptuous women. Their function is generally to help Link by bestowing hearts and upgrades. ''
Ocarina of Time ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998, and in PAL regions the following month. ''Ocarina of Tim ...
'''s Great Fairy designs moved away from traditional winged depictions and feature them with bright pink hair worn in braids and ivy across their body, with similar designs later being used in ''
Majora's Mask ''The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask'' is a 2000 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 home console. It was released worldwide in 2000 as a main installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was the ...
''. Visiting these fairies allows the player to replenish health and magic and receive upgrades that can be used in boss fights. In ''
The Wind Waker ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' is a 2002 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, it was released in Japan in December 2002, in North America in Marc ...
'', the Great Fairies resemble dolls with blank expressions, and upgrade Link's item inventory. Four Great Fairies, Cotera, Kayla, Mija and Tera appear in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
;'' they are scattered across Hyrule, and will upgrade Link's armor in exchange for materials. They return in ''
Tears of the Kingdom is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (2017) and is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Development Development start ...
'', where they are found in different locations and can only be unlocked after being serenaded by a musical group called the Stable Trotters. In ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
'', one of Link's unlockable weapons allows the player to control a Great Fairy, with Link held in a bottle that she carries with her. In '' Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity,'' Great Fairies are secret characters that can be unlocked by completing four Fairy Fountain challenges.


Marin

Marin is a young girl who appears in ''
Link's Awakening ''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening'' is a 1993 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It is the first installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series for a handheld game console. ''Link's Awakening'' is o ...
''. She finds Link washed ashore on Koholint Island and nurses him back to health, after which she spends her time in the village with her father Tarin. Marin is loved by the villagers for her singing, specifically her favorite song, the Ballad of the Wind Fish. If the player does not die during the game, a secret ending is revealed after the credits, where the Wind Fish grants her desire to fly away from Koholint by reincarnating her as a seagull. Jenni Lada of ''
Siliconera The GAMURS Group, simply known as Gamurs, is an esports media and entertainment publisher. Established in December 2014, the group operates multiple brands focusing on the esports and entertainment news markets, including the websites: ''Dot Espo ...
'' considered Marin to be one of the most charming aspects of the game because, rather than being a one-note character, she grows as a person and plays a major role in the story. Timothy Monbleau of ''
Destructoid ''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017, and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022. History ' ...
'' opined that Marin's close relationship with Link marked a change in the series that resulted in more personal character stories in subsequent games, changing Zelda's role, and revealing more information about Link's character. Marin appears as a trophy in ''
Super Smash Bros. Melee ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' is a 2001 Fictional crossover, crossover fighting game, fighting video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the second installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series. I ...
'' and as a playable character through downloadable content in ''
Hyrule Warriors Legends ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
''.


Majora's Mask


Tingle

Tingle is a eccentric middle-aged man who is obsessed with fairies and believes himself to be the reincarnation of one. He first appears in ''
Majora's Mask ''The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask'' is a 2000 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 home console. It was released worldwide in 2000 as a main installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was the ...
'', where he wears a green body suit and floats around on a balloon selling maps. He reappears in ''
Wind Waker ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' is a 2002 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, it was released in Japan in December 2002, in North America in Ma ...
'', first in a jail room located on Windfall Island, and then in a tall wooden tower, where he acts as a map maker. He also appears in '' Oracle of Ages'', ''
Four Swords Adventures ''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures'' is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the eleventh installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. It was released in Japan on March 18, 2004, ...
'' and ''
The Minish Cap ''The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap'' is an action-adventure video game and the twelfth entry in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. Developed by Capcom and Flagship, with Nintendo overseeing the development process, ''The Minish Cap'' was release ...
''. He makes cameo appearances in ''
Phantom Hourglass ''The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass'' is a 2007 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is the fourteenth installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and the direct sequel ...
'' as a poster, in ''
Spirit Tracks ''The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks'' is a 2009 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. Set a century after ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' and its sequel ''The Legend of Zelda ...
'' as a shop figurine, and in ''
Skyward Sword is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A high-definition remaster of the game, ''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD'', was co-developed by Tantalus Media and released for the Nintendo Switch in July ...
'' as a doll in Zelda's room at the Knight Academy. Tingle has gained notoriety due to being disliked by American players and has not appeared in the main series since ''
Twilight Princess ''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' is a 2006 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii home video game consoles. Originally planned for release exclusively on the GameCube in November 2005, ''Twi ...
''. He ranked first on ''
IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'''s list of the weirdest ''Zelda'' characters. ''IGN'' staff expressed their distain for the character with a 2004 "Die, Tingle, Die! Die!" Campaign", describing him as a "nutty clown freak" and stating, "we hate Tingle, we want him dead, and we're not going to stand for him in another Zelda game". He has starred in his own games, including ''
Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland is an adventure video game developed by Vanpool and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It was released in Japan in September 2006, and in Europe in September 2007. ''Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland'' stars ...
and Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love''. He is also a playable character via downloadable content in ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
''. His suit is an obtainable armour set in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
'' and ''
Tears of the Kingdom is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (2017) and is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Development Development start ...
''.


The Minish Cap and The Wind Waker


Vaati

is the antagonist of '' The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords'', ''
Four Swords Adventures ''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures'' is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the eleventh installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. It was released in Japan on March 18, 2004, ...
'' and ''
The Minish Cap ''The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap'' is an action-adventure video game and the twelfth entry in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. Developed by Capcom and Flagship, with Nintendo overseeing the development process, ''The Minish Cap'' was release ...
''. His most common appearance is a black orb with a single eye, though he was originally a human sorcerer. In ''Four Swords'', Vaati is initially sealed in the Four Sword, but escapes and captures Princess Zelda, only for Link, who was split into four by the sword's power, return him it. In the sequel, ''Four Swords Adventures'', he escapes with Princess Zelda with help from
Ganon is a Character (arts), fictional character and the primary antagonist of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series and franchise, as well as the final Boss (video games), boss in many ''Zelda'' titles. A massive and malevolent creatu ...
, forcing Link to be split up again to defeat him. Before the events of ''The Minish Cap'', Vaati was a Picori that became corrupted by the evil in the hearts of mankind. He used the Wishing Cap created by his master, Ezlo, to transform into a Hylian sorcerer and curse him into his current hat-like form, now seeking the power of the Light Force.


Beedle

Beedle, also known as Terry in other localizations, is a traveling
merchant A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...
who sells Link items. He also values his consumers with rewards discounts. He first appears in ''
The Wind Waker ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' is a 2002 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, it was released in Japan in December 2002, in North America in Marc ...
,'' where he can be found on islands in the Great Sea on his boat shop. In ''
The Minish Cap ''The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap'' is an action-adventure video game and the twelfth entry in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. Developed by Capcom and Flagship, with Nintendo overseeing the development process, ''The Minish Cap'' was release ...
'', he appears in Hyrule Town selling Picolyte after Link fuses kinstones and clears the area with the Gust Jar. In ''
Phantom Hourglass ''The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass'' is a 2007 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is the fourteenth installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and the direct sequel ...
'', he sells boat parts. In ''
Spirit Tracks ''The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks'' is a 2009 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. Set a century after ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' and its sequel ''The Legend of Zelda ...
'', he is seen soaring above in a balloon across New Hyrule. In ''
Skyward Sword is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A high-definition remaster of the game, ''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD'', was co-developed by Tantalus Media and released for the Nintendo Switch in July ...
'', he travels from his island home to Skyloft in a pedal-powered wooden shack with helicopter-type propellers, which also serves as his shop. In ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
'' and ''
Tears of the Kingdom is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (2017) and is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Development Development start ...
'', he travels on foot with a large backpack, and is often seen at stables. ''
IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'' ranked him number 14 on its list of the weirdest ''Zelda'' characters.


Medli

Medli is a young Rito girl and the Sage of Earth as well as the apprentice attendant of Valoo, a powerful dragon and the Sky Spirit. When not serving Valoo, she tends to the young Prince Komali and practices her harp, the symbol of the Sage of Earth. Her ancestor Laruto, a Zora, was the original Sage, and teaches Link the Earth God's Lyric and appears to Medli in a vision to inform her of her sacred duty. Medli later travels to the Earth Temple with Link and helps him navigate it. She eventually begins offering up her prayers, which restores the energy and edge of the Master Sword. She also appears as a playable character in ''Hyrule Warriors'' through downloadable content. Josh Max of ''Nintendo World Report'' named Medli as his favourite ''Zelda'' character, describing her as "a little bird girl with a heart of gold". He praised her responsibility and kindness and noted that although she is unprepared to take on the role of sage and Valoo's attendant, she always tries her best and is a valuable ally in the game.


Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, and Phantom Hourglass


Midna

is the titular character of ''
Twilight Princess ''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' is a 2006 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii home video game consoles. Originally planned for release exclusively on the GameCube in November 2005, ''Twi ...
''. She is an
imp IMP or imp may refer to: * Imp, a fantasy creature Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Imp (She-Ra), a character in ''She-Ra: Princess of Power'' * Imp a character in '' Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony'' * Imp, a character in the '' Clan ...
-like creature and the princess of the Twili race, who serves as Link's companion and guide, like Navi in ''
Ocarina of Time ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998, and in PAL regions the following month. ''Ocarina of Tim ...
''. She initially shows contempt for Link and uses him to further her own goals, but over time grows to like him as she helps him on his quest, as they share a common goal in defeating Zant, who invaded Hyrule and usurped the Twilight Realm's throne. When Link is transformed into a wolf in the Twilight Realm, she rides on his back and acts as his counterpart in battle. She is eventually revealed to be the true ruler of the Twilight Realm, the titular "Twilight Princess", who Zant overthrew and cursed into an impish form. At the end of the game, Midna's true form is revealed and she severs the connection with Hyrule by breaking the Mirror of Twilight. Midna returns in ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
'' as a playable character in both her imp and Twili forms. ''Destructoid'' listed Midna as one of the top ten best companions in gaming history, citing her cheeky character, her ability to help Link destroy enemies, and her emotional moments in the game. Jeff Levene, writing for ''The Escapist'', also chose her as the best companion, describing her as a fully realized character with more layers than other companions.


Zant

is a sorcerer and the antagonist for the majority of ''
Twilight Princess ''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' is a 2006 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii home video game consoles. Originally planned for release exclusively on the GameCube in November 2005, ''Twi ...
.'' He is the enemy of the Twili, who willingly offered himself to Ganondorf, whom he saw as a god, to dispose of their princess Midna and invade Hyrule. He dresses in an oversized robe with his head enclosed in a large silver helmet that resembles a chameleon's head. Rob Crossley of ''
GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' remarked that Zant's personality "descends from composed usurper king to a confused, overpowered adolescent" as he becomes increasingly desperate, and described his story arc as "fascinating and overbearing and weird and brilliantly imaginative". The final battle against Zant involves fighting him in the arenas of other bosses and sub-bosses before fighting him in front of Hyrule Castle. ''
Destructoid ''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017, and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022. History ' ...
'' expressed a "hatred" for the character due to him being set up as the main villain, only to be reduced to a puppet of Ganondorf with no real power of his own. Zant also makes an appearance as a playable character in ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
''. Zant's helmet is an obtainable armour piece in ''Breath of the Wild'' and ''Tears of the Kingdom''.


Linebeck

Linebeck first appears in ''
Phantom Hourglass ''The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass'' is a 2007 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is the fourteenth installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and the direct sequel ...
,'' where he helps Link save the World of the Ocean King from Bellum and provides transport for Link in his ship, the ''S. S. Linebeck''. During the first half of the game, he seeks to obtain the Ghost Ship's treasure. After the Ghost Ship's treasure is revealed to be a rumor Bellum devised to attract people to it, Oshus, who is revealed to be the Ocean King, promises Linebeck one wish if he continues to sail Link across the oceans, which will be granted after Bellum is defeated. In the endgame, Linebeck saves Link and Tetra from Bellum by stabbing him, after which Bellum possesses him to fight Link, but is ultimately killed and Linebeck is freed. When the now-restored Ocean King asks him what his wish is, Linebeck first questions whether he even has to make a wish, then decides that he wants his destroyed ship back rather than great treasure. In ''
Spirit Tracks ''The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks'' is a 2009 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. Set a century after ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' and its sequel ''The Legend of Zelda ...
'', Linebeck's grandson, Linebeck III, runs Linebeck Trading at the Trading Outpost in New Hyrule, and hires a bridgemaker to build a bridge for Link in exchange for a precious ring he retrieves from the original Linebeck's resting place.


Ghirahim

is a boss encountered throughout ''
Skyward Sword is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A high-definition remaster of the game, ''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD'', was co-developed by Tantalus Media and released for the Nintendo Switch in July ...
''. He seeks to kidnap Zelda to break the seal of the goddess Hylia so that the ancient evil Demise can be released, forcing Link to battle him to save her.
Eiji Aonuma is a Japanese video game designer, director, and producer. He works for Nintendo as the project manager of their ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. Aonuma is also one of the deputy general managers of Nintendo's Entertainment Planning & Development ...
said that he wanted to include a different type of antagonist for the game in place of Ganon, so Ghirahim's delicate appearance was designed to contrast with Ganon's "very masculine, powerful, evil" image. In the final boss battle, Ghirahim is revealed to be the spirit of Demise's sword, given life so that he can resurrect his master. He returns to his sword form, but is ultimately defeated by the Master Sword during the climactic battle with Link. Kenneth Shepard of ''
Kotaku ''Kotaku'' is a video game website and blog that was originally launched in 2004 as part of the Gawker Media network. Notable former contributors to the site include Luke Smith, Cecilia D'Anastasio, Tim Rogers, and Jason Schreier. History ...
'' described him as a " queer-coded menace" and noted that despite all of his theatricality and cockiness, him resorting to brute force in the final battle reveals his true character. ''
Nintendo Life Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British mass media company based in Brighton. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and other ...
'' described Ghirahim as, "one of Nintendo's most edgy, downright creepy creations", noting his intimidating character and strange mannerisms. Outside the main series, Ghirahim appears in ''Hyrule Warriors'' and both ''
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and (colloquially and collectively referred to as ''Super Smash Bros. 4'' or ''Smash 4'') is a group of two 2014 crossover fighting video games developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS a ...
'' and ''
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' is a 2018 crossover fighting video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, succeeding ...
'' as an Assist Trophy.


Demise

is an evil deity and the final boss in ''
Skyward Sword is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A high-definition remaster of the game, ''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD'', was co-developed by Tantalus Media and released for the Nintendo Switch in July ...
''. He is presented as the origin of the evil that manifests throughout the history of Hyrule. Despite not being the first game in the series, ''Skyward Sword'' was designed to be the beginning of ''The Legend of Zelda'' timeline. In the ancient past, Demise invaded the world with his forces seeking to steal the
Triforce The is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series of video games. It first appeared in the original 1986 action-adventure game ''The Legend of Zelda'' and is a focus of subsequent games in the series, including ...
from the goddess Hylia and have ultimate power over the world. To protect the Triforce, Hylia sealed him away in the Sealed Grounds. However, he takes on a monstrous form called The Imprisoned and attempts to escape by breaking the seal. His sword, which assumes the form of the Demon Lord Ghirahim, tracks down Hylia's reincarnation, Zelda, and uses her lifeforce to resurrect Demise. Impressed to see a Hylian like Link willing to stand up to him, Demise decides to battle him out of amusement. After Link mortally wounds him and restores Zelda's soul to her body, Demise's remains are sealed within the
Master Sword The is a Fiction, fictional divine magic sword in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. It is also known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", the "Sword of Resurrection", the "Sword that Seals the Darkness", and the "Sacred Sword". It was introdu ...
. Before his end, Demise curses the future incarnations of Link and Zelda with the promise to manifest repeatedly throughout history. Within the history of the series, this is widely considered to be Ganondorf's origin as Demise's reincarnation. In ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
'', Demise reappears in his Imprisoned form.


Fi

() is a female humanoid representation of the Goddess Sword, which later evolves into the
Master Sword The is a Fiction, fictional divine magic sword in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. It is also known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", the "Sword of Resurrection", the "Sword that Seals the Darkness", and the "Sacred Sword". It was introdu ...
, who appears in ''
Skyward Sword is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A high-definition remaster of the game, ''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD'', was co-developed by Tantalus Media and released for the Nintendo Switch in July ...
''. She serves as Link's logical-minded companion and assists him throughout the game. Her design is based off of the Master Sword. In the end, after Demise is sealed within the Master Sword, Fi reveals her last order from the goddess is to let Link put her into an endless sleep within the weapon, which he does after encouragement from her and Zelda. She also appears in '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'', where she informs Zelda that Link can be saved by bringing him to the Shrine of Resurrection. Fi also appears as a playable character in ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
''. Fi is voiced in ''Skyward Sword'' and ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
'' by
Ayumi Fujimura is a Japanese retired Voice acting in Japan, voice actress from Tokyo, Japan. Starting from April 1, 2019, it was announced that she took an indefinite hiatus. Filmography Anime ;2005 *''Kotenkotenko'' (Fairy) ;2006 *''Nana (manga), NANA'' (Wom ...
. Fi was first revealed at
E3 2009 The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 (E3 2009) was the 15th E3 held. The event took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. It began on June 2, 2009, and ended on June 4, 2009, with 41,000 total attendees. Majo ...
in concept art for ''
Skyward Sword is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A high-definition remaster of the game, ''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD'', was co-developed by Tantalus Media and released for the Nintendo Switch in July ...
'' alongside Link. The designers created Fi to serve as a counterpart to the silent protagonist in order to provide hints, navigation and storytelling. Fi is a humanoid spirit that resides within a sword called the Goddess Sword, which eventually becomes the
Master Sword The is a Fiction, fictional divine magic sword in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. It is also known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", the "Sword of Resurrection", the "Sword that Seals the Darkness", and the "Sacred Sword". It was introdu ...
. She has a metallic appearance and her voice is robotic, which gives the impression that she displays no emotion. She wears a cape, which opens up when she spins. Her appearance is predominantly blue and purple in colour. Beneath her cloak Fi appears to have no arms, though when she dances the cloth moves as though it were her limbs. She is revealed in ''Hyrule Historia'' to have arms hidden within her cloak. She wears a blue gem on her chest, a purple
miniskirt A miniskirt (sometimes hyphenated as mini-skirt, separated as mini skirt, or sometimes shortened to simply mini) is a skirt with its hemline well above the knees, generally at mid-thigh level, normally no longer than below the buttocks; and a ...
and black tights with criss-crossed teal stripes. In the game she appears to wear heeled shoes that blend seamlessly with her tights but in early concept art she is described as barefoot. The shape of her cloak mimics the design of the sword's
crossguard On a sword, the crossguard, or cross-guard, the individual bars on either side known as quillon, is a bar of metal at right angles to the blade, placed between the blade and the hilt. The crossguard was developed in the European sword around the ...
, the pattern on her legs mimics the cross grid pattern on the sword's
hilt The hilt (rarely called a haft or shaft) of a knife, dagger, sword, or bayonet is its handle, consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillons. A tassel or sword knot may be attached to the guard or pommel. ...
and her blue and purple colour scheme also reflects the sword's prominent colours. Fi's figure is feminine in appearance but the character is officially genderless. Her original function was different than it is in the final game, though the function was not specified. They used 1980s
anime is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
as a source of inspiration for Fi's design, with them saying that anime from that era would have the protagonist accompanied by a "beautiful personal assistant." They also intended for her design to resemble the Fairy Queen's from '' The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker''. Despite the use of female pronouns, Fi is genderless. Fi has been met with mostly negative reception. Critics and gamers considered her frequent interjections in gameplay to be annoying, comparing her unfavourably to Navi from ''
Ocarina of Time ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998, and in PAL regions the following month. ''Ocarina of Tim ...
''. She has been criticized for hurting the pace or making the game more annoying to play by critics. Due to her repeated interruptions in the gameplay of ''Skyward Sword'', she has been the subject of various internet
meme A meme ( ) is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads by means of imitation from person to person within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning representing a particular phenomenon or theme. A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural i ...
s. ''
Venture Beat Venture may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music *The Ventures, an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 *"A Venture", 1971 song by the band Yes *''Venture'', a 2010 EP by AJR Games * ''Venture'' (video game), a 1981 arcade ga ...
'' writer Sebastian Haley, however, felt she was less annoying, and considered her the best aspect of the game. The change of her hints to be optional was well-received by critics.


A Link Between Worlds


Yuga

Yuga is a powerful sorcerer and the main antagonist of ''
A Link Between Worlds ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is an installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and a spiritual successor to the 1991 Super Ninten ...
''. His obsession with beauty and art compels him to transform his victims into paintings. In the game, Link uses this ability to merge with walls to travel between Hyrule and Lorule. Yuga conspires with Lorule's ruler Princess Hilda to infiltrate Hyrule and steal its Triforce to restore Lorule, which has crumbled into ruin as a result of its people destroying their Triforce. Rather than being another pawn in Ganon's plan to take over the world, Yuga decides to resurrect Ganon and use him to make himself more powerful by merging with him to become Yuga-Ganon. Link must defeat Yuga-Ganon in a boss fight that involves deflecting light arrows to hit him from behind. At a
New York Comic Con The New York Comic Con is an annual New York City fan convention dedicated to Western comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, cosplay, toys, movies, and television. It was first held in 2006. History The New York Comic Con is a f ...
panel,
Eiji Aonuma is a Japanese video game designer, director, and producer. He works for Nintendo as the project manager of their ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. Aonuma is also one of the deputy general managers of Nintendo's Entertainment Planning & Development ...
explained that Yuga had been designed with long hair and physical features that make him "a little bit ambiguous gender-wise". Outside the main series, Yuga appears in downloadable content for ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
''.


Ravio

Ravio is a mysterious merchant and a supporting character in ''
A Link Between Worlds ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is an installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and a spiritual successor to the 1991 Super Ninten ...
''. He wears a purple outfit with a rabbit mask covering his face, referencing Link's transformation into a rabbit upon entering the Dark World in ''
A Link to the Past ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was released in 1991 in Japan and ...
''. Ravio sets up a shop and rents equipment to Link for Rupees, and sends his pet bird Sheerow to retrieve rented items should Link fall in battle. Jim Sterling, writing for '' The Escapist'', described Ravio as "really annoying" and disliked the rental system, as it requires the player to return to Ravio when they run out of health and rent the items again. Ravio is later revealed to be Link's counterpart in the Dark World, who attempted to stop Princess Hilda from stealing Hyrule's Triforce. ''GamesRadar'''s David Roberts thought that Ravio's reveal is one of the coolest moments in the series, describing it as a "brilliant yet subtle callback". Peter Tieryas of ''Kotaku'' responded positively to Ravio's role, noting that his rental system means that the player can tackle the game's dungeons in any order and that losing a life has more significance than in other ''Zelda'' games. He also considered Ravio's reveal as the cowardly version of Hyrule's hero as an opportunity to see Link in a new light. Ravio also appears as a playable character through downloadable content in ''
Hyrule Warriors ''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
'', where he uses the Rental Hammer as his primary weapon. His appearance is slightly altered to make him resemble the ''Hyrule Warriors'' incarnation of Link.


Breath of the Wild


Mipha

Mipha is the Zora Princess, Champion, and pilot of Divine Beast Vah Ruta, the Divine Beast that takes the form of an Elephant. Mipha was the first of the Champions to master her Divine Beast. Her signature weapon is the Lightscale Trident. She is voiced by Amelia Gotham in English and Mayu Isshiki in Japanese. Mipha, alongside the other three Champions, died during the battle with Calamity Ganon. In the game's backstory, Mipha and Link were once childhood friends. In the Memory "Mipha's Touch", Mipha reminisces with Link about their past and promises to always heal him. Mipha is shown to have romantic feelings for Link, to the extent that she makes Zora armor for him to wear, but it is not revealed whether he returns her affections. Her spirit is set free in the present day after Link awakens 100 years later and helps to reclaim control of Divine Beast Vah Ruta. Afterwards, she bestows a powerful healing skill, Mipha's Grace, upon him and sets Ruta up on a mountain to take aim on Calamity Ganon. She apologizes to her father for not returning safely and wishes that she could see her family again. Link honors her memory by wearing the Zora armor that she made for him and by aiding the Zora. Mipha also appears in ''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity'' as a playable character. She wields the Lightscale Trident or Zora Spear in battle and has the ability to heal herself and her allies on the battlefield. She also uses her ability to manipulate water to create water-based attacks. Mipha plays a major role in the storyline as one of the four Champions. During a cutscene, she accepts her role as the Zora Champion, although her father King Dorephan says that it is only on the condition that she returns safely. Lead artist Hirohito Shinoda stated in development notes that he based her design off of a
dolphin A dolphin is an aquatic mammal within the infraorder Cetacea. Dolphin species belong to the families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), Iniidae (the New World river dolphins), Pontoporiidae (the ...
. Cinematic designer Naoki Mori said that Mipha's relationship with Link was intended to be different to his relationship with Princess Zelda, commenting that "it almost ended up being too intense. I tried to balance things by making her into a quieter person".


Daruk

Daruk is the Goron Champion and pilot of Divine Beast Vah Rudania, the Divine Beast that takes the form of a lizard. Daruk’s signature weapon is the Boulder Breaker. He is voiced by Joe Hernandez in English and Koji Takeda in Japanese. He is usually energetic and upbeat, and he becomes ferocious during battle and believes in Link's fighting capabilities. When Link defeats Fireblight Ganon, He grants Link "Daruk's Protection," which protects Link from attacks. He then takes aim on Calamity Ganon. Daruk also appears as a playable warrior in ''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity''. Cinematic designer Naoki Mori stated that Daruk is reminiscent of Darunia from ''Ocarina of Time'' because he calls Link "little guy", which serves as a homage to Darunia calling him "brother". He designed him to have a straightforward nature like the other Gorons while being the elder spiritual leader of the Champions. Lead artist Hierohito Shinoda added that he wanted Daruk to feel like an experienced leader that anyone can count on, with his hair looking like armour. He also focused on his body shape to ensure that he was bulky and muscular.


Revali

is the Rito Champion and pilot of Divine Beast Vah Medoh. He is voiced in English by
Sean Chiplock Sean Edward Chiplock (born June 21, 1990) is an American voice actor who is known for voicing English versions of Japanese video games and anime. Based in Los Angeles, Chiplock is known as the voice of Rean Schwarzer from '' The Legend of Heroe ...
and Noboru Yamaguchi in Japanese. Revali is skilled in aerial battles and has exceptional sight and archery skills. He believes himself to be superior to Link, but changes his views after Link frees his spirit from Calamity Ganon by defeating Windblight Ganon. Once he does, Revali grants Link "Revali's Gale,” a powerful vertical wind current that blows him into the air. In '' Creating a Champion'', cinematic designer, Naoki Mori stated that the Champions were designed as a throwback to characters in earlier games. He thought it would be interesting to create a character that does not accept Link as a hero like the other Champions, but wanted to ensure that he was not disliked for his overconfidence. The lead artist of NPCs, Hirohito Shinoda, stated that Revali was the first Rito character to be created for the game and defined the other Rito designs. Various bird motifs were considered for his design, including swallows and woodpeckers, before the team chose
birds of prey Birds of prey or predatory birds, also known as raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and other smaller birds). In addition to speed and strength, these predators ...
. Shinoda also stated that it took a lot of experimentation to create a character that sees Link as his rival, but is unable to be honest about it. He also appears in ''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity'' as a playable character. ''
VG247 ''VG247'' is a video game blog published in the United Kingdom, founded in February 2008 by industry veteran Patrick Garratt. In 2009, CNET ranked it as the third best gaming blog in the world. History Founded in collaboration on 1 February 2 ...
'' reported that players lamented the absence of Revali's Gale in ''
Tears of the Kingdom is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (2017) and is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Development Development start ...
'', describing it as the most useful of the four Champion abilities.


Urbosa

Urbosa is the
Gerudo ''The Legend of Zelda'' is a video game franchise created by Japanese video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series consists of a vari ...
Champion and pilot of Divine Beast Vah Naboris. She is voiced by
Elizabeth Maxwell Elizabeth Maxwell is an American voice actress. She is best known for her roles as Ymir in ''Attack on Titan'', Winter Schnee in ''RWBY'', Urbosa in ''The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'', Rosaria in ''Genshin Impact'', and Caulifla in '' ...
in English and Rei Shimoda in Japanese. Urbosa is a strong and courageous leader who showcases care and concern for Princess Zelda's well-being, as she was good friends with Zelda's mother, the deceased Queen of Hyrule. Urbosa still feels bitter about her failure as a Champion one hundred years before. However, she is happy to be able to make up for her people's shame, as one of Ganon's previous incarnations was a Gerudo. She grants Link "Urbosa's Fury", a devastating electric attack. She also appears in ''Age of Calamity'' as a playable character. She was generally well-regarded, as she was considered one of the best characters of 2017 by ''
Paste Magazine ''Paste'' is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with studios in Atlanta and Manhattan, and owned by Paste Media Group. The magazine began as a website in 1998. It ran as a print publication fro ...
'' and ''
Destructoid ''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017, and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022. History ' ...
''.


Sidon

Sidon is Mipha's younger brother and heir to the Zora throne, who is admired by the Zora for his strength and optimism. He is voiced by Jamie Mortellaro in English and Kosuke Onishi in Japanese. He aids Link in stopping Vah Ruta from flooding Zora's Domain and causing damage to the surrounding regions, as the Zoras, being weak to electricity, are unable to use the Shock Arrows needed to disable it. Sidon also helps Link win the support of the prejudiced Muzu by proving Mipha's love for him with the Zora Armor. A younger version of Sidon appears in the Memory "Champion Mipha's Song" during the ''Champion's Ballad'' DLC, and again in ''Age of Calamity''. He also appears in ''Age of Calamity'' as a playable character. In ''Tears of the Kingdom'', Sidon assists Link in purifying Zora's Domain of sludge by entering the Water Temple and defeating Mucktorok. Subsequently, he becomes the Sage of Water and king of the Zora after Dorephan abdicates the throne. He and Link are now depicted in a statue in Zora's Domain, which depicts Link riding on Sidon and honors them saving Zora's Domain from Vah Ruta.


Yunobo

Yunobo is a young Goron and a descendant of Daruk. He is voiced by Joe Hernandez in English and Miyuki Kobori in Japanese. Despite being cowardly, Yunobo possesses Daruk's power of protection and helps Link enter Vah Rudania by acting as a cannonball to disable it. In ''Age of Calamity'', Yunobo can eat special Rock Roasts to change the effects of his Protection when he attacks. In ''Tears of the Kingdom'', Yunobo is mind controlled by Ganon, becoming a drug kingpin and leader of a marbled rock mining operation (the marbled rock in question having negative effects on the Gorons who consume it). After fighting Link and breaking the mask being used to control him, Yunobo accompanies Link to the Fire Temple and later becomes the Sage of Fire, gaining the ability to create a spirit avatar who assists Link using powerful rolling attacks.


Teba

Teba is a Rito archer known for his great skill in combat, as well as his focus and temper. He is voiced by
Sean Chiplock Sean Edward Chiplock (born June 21, 1990) is an American voice actor who is known for voicing English versions of Japanese video games and anime. Based in Los Angeles, Chiplock is known as the voice of Rean Schwarzer from '' The Legend of Heroe ...
in English and Takuya Masumoto in Japanese. With the Rito unable to fly freely for fear of getting shot down by Vah Medoh, Teba intends to attack the Divine Beast by himself while disregarding the potential consequences. Teba aids Link in the attack on Vah Medoh, drawing its attention so Link can disable it and climb aboard. In ''Tears of the Kingdom'', he becomes the new leader of the Rito following Kaneli's retirement.


Riju

Makeela Riju is the young chief of the
Gerudo ''The Legend of Zelda'' is a video game franchise created by Japanese video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series consists of a vari ...
, who inherited the throne at a very young age. She is twelve years old in ''Breath of the Wild,'' and returns in ''Tears of the Kingdom'' as an older teenager. She is respected by the Gerudo despite her young age. Link wins her support by retrieving the Gerudo's treasured Thunder Helm from the Yiga Clan. Riju plays a major supporting role by helping Link board Divine Beast Vah Naboris, using the Thunder Helm to protect Link from Vah Naboris' lightning attacks while he injures its feet to immobilize and board it. In battle, Riju rides on a shield pulled by her favorite sand seal, Patricia. In ''Tears of the Kingdom'', Riju again plays a major role in the main quest, aiding Link in defending Kara Kara Bazaar and Gerudo Town from Gibdo attacks and accompanying him to the Lightning Temple. She later becomes the Sage of Lightning, gaining the ability to create a spirit avatar to aid Link in combat.


Master Kohga

Master Kohga is the leader of the Yiga Clan, who first appears in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
''. He appears as a boss in the main quest line, as Link fights him to obtain the Thunder Helm. He is lazy and egotistical, as he spends most of his time sleeping in the Yiga Clan's hideout, which is located in the desert through the Karusa Valley, while the clan goes after Link. When Link infiltrates the Yiga hideout to confront him, Kohga summons a spiked ball that rolls over him and sends him falling into the depths. He also appears with the Yiga Clan in '' Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity''. Kohga returns in ''
Tears of the Kingdom is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (2017) and is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Development Development start ...
,'' which reveals he survived following his supposed death in ''Breath of the Wild','' and appears as a reoccurring boss in the Depths. His first boss fight is part of the main quest and allows the player to unlock the Autobuild ability. He also appears in ''
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' is a 2018 crossover fighting video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, succeeding ...
'' as a spirit. Jacob Linden, writing for '' The Escapist'', described the Kohga boss quest line as "utter joy" and praised the character's expressive animation and boss fights.


Magda

Magda is a Hylian woman who is encountered near Hila Rao Shrine in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
''. She is devoted to caring for her patch of flowers, which surround the shrine and block Link's path. If Link steps on the flowers, she becomes increasingly enraged to the point where she physically attacks him. Magda achieved notoriety amongst players, with some attempting to take revenge on her and giving her the nickname "Flowerblight Ganon" in reference to the game's main bosses. Writing for ''Kotaku'', Narelle Ho Sang considered this moment to be hilarious, commenting on the irony that Magda is more obsessed with caring for her flowers than Hyrule's destruction. She returns in ''Tears of the Kingdom'', where she is encountered at the end of a side quest in the same location. Although still protective of her flowers, she is noticeably calmer and will no longer attack Link if he steps on her flowerbed.


Purah

Purah is a Sheikah researcher who first appears in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
''. She is the director of the Hateno Tech Lab and helps Link to upgrade the Sheikah Slate. Her physical appearance is that of a small child, after having conducted research that caused her to age backwards. Despite her young appearance, she is described in '' Creating a Champion'' as being about 124 years old, older than her sister Impa. Alongside her research partner Robbie, she also appears as a young woman in '' Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity''. Purah returns in ''
Tears of the Kingdom is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (2017) and is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Development Development start ...
'' as the head of Lookout Landing. Her renewed appearance as a young woman gained attention from players across social media upon the game's release. ''
Nintendo Life Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British mass media company based in Brighton. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and other ...
'' reported that players were "enamoured" by her redesign, which spawned numerous works of fan art.


Robbie

Robbie is a Sheikah researcher and colleague of Purah, who first appears in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
''. He manages the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab and researches ancient Guardian technology. After Link restores his machine Cherry, he trades Guardian parts for various items. He returns in ''
Tears of the Kingdom is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (2017) and is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Development Development start ...
,'' where he takes over the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab and works with Purah to develop the Purah Pad. He plays an integral role in the story by setting up the Purah Pad for Link to use at Lookout Landing and sending him on a quest into the Depths, which allows the player to unlock the Camera and the Hyrule Compendium. He also upgrades the Purah Pad with additional functions, including the Shrine Sensor, which can track nearby shrines, and the Travel Medallion, which sets a travel return point. He also appears in ''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity'' as a playable character alongside Purah.


Paya

Paya is a young Sheikah who first appears in ''Breath of the Wild''. She is Impa's granddaughter and is encountered at Impa's house in Kakariko Village. Paya is a dutiful assistant to Impa and is typically found performing household duties during the day or praying to deities at night. She returns in ''Tears of the Kingdom'', where she has become village elder following Impa's retirement. Paya has a quiet personality and is especially shy when interacting with Link, but her dialogue and diary entries show that she harbors a secret crush on him. ''
VentureBeat ''VentureBeat'' is an American technology website headquartered in San Francisco, California. It publishes news, analysis, long-form features, interviews, and videos. History The ''VentureBeat'' company was founded in 2006 by Matt Marshall, a ...
'' highlighted that her interactions with Link in ''Breath of the Wild'' show an attraction towards him and reveal details about her character.


Hestu

Hestu is a large, music-loving Korok who first appears in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
''. He is first encountered near Kakariko Village, where Link must retrieve his stolen maracas. In both ''Breath of the Wild'' and ''
Tears of the Kingdom is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (2017) and is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Development Development start ...
,'' he upgrades Link's weapon inventory slots using collected Korok Seeds. In both games, collecting all Korok Seeds will reward the player with "Hestu's Gift". Allegra Frank of ''Polygon'' described Hestu as the "true star" of ''Breath of the Wild'', commenting that he is a familiar and comforting presence in the game's enormous world and highlighting that he is a fan favorite amongst many players, who responded positively to his appearance.
Hidemaro Fujibayashi is a Japanese video game designer and director working for Nintendo. He is best known for his contributions to the action-adventure game series ''The Legend of Zelda'', for which he has served as planner, writer and director. Career Before he e ...
confirmed that the Korok Seeds are actually Korok poop, stating that the development team "thought it would be funny to make that a big joke". Hestu also appears as a playable character in ''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity''.


Hudson

Hudson is a builder who first appears in ''Breath of the Wild''. Link can aid Hudson as he works to found a new settlement called Tarrey Town in a side quest that involves various minor characters across Hyrule. In ''Tears of the Kingdom'', Link again encounters Hudson and his
Gerudo ''The Legend of Zelda'' is a video game franchise created by Japanese video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series consists of a vari ...
wife Rhondson at Tarrey Town. They own Hudson Construction, a building company known throughout Hyrule. Link meets their young daughter Mattison, who embarks on her own journey to reach Gerudo Town. Caleb Pistoni, writing for ''Paste'', considered that the side quest to help Hudson build Tarrey Town was a highlight of ''Breath of the Wild'' and praised the story continuity in ''Tears of the Kingdom'', which shows the existing characters thriving and rebuilding Hyrule after its destruction. After helping Mattison achieve independence, Link can purchase a plot of land from Rhondson, giving him the opportunity to build his own home.


Kass

Kass is a Rito bard who first appears in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
''. He plays a major supporting role in guiding Link throughout his adventure by playing distinctive tunes on his accordion to reveal hidden shrines. Kass also guides Link throughout the Champion's Ballad DLC, as his songs provide the clues to its shrines. ''IGN'' highlighted that Kass is noticeably absent from ''Tears of the Kingdom'' despite being a beloved character amongst fans. Rebekah Valentine considered it strange that he is not mentioned by name and that fans hoped that he would return in the game's DLC. Writing for ''
VG247 ''VG247'' is a video game blog published in the United Kingdom, founded in February 2008 by industry veteran Patrick Garratt. In 2009, CNET ranked it as the third best gaming blog in the world. History Founded in collaboration on 1 February 2 ...
'', Oisin Kuhnke considered Kass to be an "incredibly iconic character from ''Breath of the Wild''", as his soothing accordion can be heard all over Hyrule.


Kilton

Kilton is a merchant who appears in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
.'' He runs a shop called Fang and Bone, which only appears at night. There, Link can trade collected monster parts for a currency called Mon, which can be exchanged for masks and other items. These masks allow him to disguise himself amongst certain monsters by mimicking their appearance and movements. Narelle Ho Sang of ''Kotaku'' counted Kilton and his masks as one of the weirdest moments in the game and noted the similarities to ''Majora's Mask'', where Link wears various masks. She also highlighted that Kilton's patchwork balloon mimics the colors of Majora's mask and considered this to be an callback to the game. In ''Tears of the Kingdom'', Kilton's brother Koltin fulfils a similar function, trading collected Bubbul Gems obtained from Bubbulfrogs in Hyrule's caves.


Satori

Satori is a glowing ghostly creature that appears in ''
Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
'' and ''
Tears of the Kingdom is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (2017) and is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Development Development start ...
''. It is also known as the Lord of the Mountain. In the game, Satori can be found on Satori Mountain near a blossoming cherry tree surrounded by glowing bunny spirits called Blupees. It can be ridden by Link if tamed and is the fastest mount in the game with infinite stamina; however, it cannot be registered at stables, and disappears once dismounted. In ''Tears of the Kingdom'', it can be summoned at cherry trees scattered around Hyrule by offering an apple to reveal nearby caves. Satori is widely considered by critics to be the development team's tribute to
Satoru Iwata was a Japanese businessman, video game programmer, video game designer, and producer. He was the fourth President (corporate title), president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Nintendo from 2002 until his death in 2015. He was a major contr ...
, who died during ''Breath of the Wild''s development. Oscar Dayus of ''
GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' highlighted the character Botrick, who he believes bares a striking resemblance to Iwata. The game's director
Hidemaro Fujibayashi is a Japanese video game designer and director working for Nintendo. He is best known for his contributions to the action-adventure game series ''The Legend of Zelda'', for which he has served as planner, writer and director. Career Before he e ...
stated that "When he passed away, there were moments we'd come up with an idea which we'd be excited to talk to Iwata about. Then we'd remember he was no longer here".


Tears of the Kingdom


Rauru

Rauru is a Zonai who appears in ''
Tears of the Kingdom is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (2017) and is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Development Development start ...
'' as a major supporting character. He is voiced by Chris Hackney in English and Riki Kagami in Japanese. At the beginning of the game, he saves Link after Ganondorf attacks him with Gloom beneath Hyrule Castle by attaching his own arm, which gives him various abilities. He is the Sage of Light and his name references Rauru, the Sage of Light in ''Ocarina of Time''. In the game's story, Zelda meets him in the distant past, where he is revealed to have been the king of Hyrule, founding it alongside his wife Sonia. Rauru plays a critical role in the Imprisoning War where he battles against Ganondorf's army. When Ganondorf betrays Rauru and kills Sonia to transform himself into the Demon King using the power of her Secret Stone, Rauru gathers the Sages to defeat him, ultimately sacrificing himself to seal him away. Cody Perez, writing for ''Destructoid'', considered Rauru to be one of the most important characters in the game, as he is the source of Link's arm and plays an integral role in battling Ganondorf. Hope Bellingham of ''GamesRadar'' noted that many players had reacted positively to the character's design.


Sonia

Queen Sonia is a major supporting character who appears in ''
Tears of the Kingdom is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the sequel to '' The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'' (2017) and is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Development Development start ...
''. She is voiced by Cherami Leigh in English and Yūko Kaida in Japanese. She is Rauru's wife and the first queen of Hyrule. She appears in the memories of the Dragon's Tears, which are found at geoglyphs and reveal Hyrule's distant past. Sonia possesses the power to manipulate time and, being the ancestor of Zelda, is the origin of her power alongside Rauru. After Zelda is transported through time to Hyrule's distant past, she meets Sonia and Rauru, who try to help her understand her newfound power and return to her own time. Sonia recognizes Zelda's strength and they develop a close connection. Although Ganondorf swears an oath of peace to the Zonai, he betrays them to gain power over Hyrule. He then kills Sonia, taking her Secret Stone to transform himself into the Demon King. Her death motivates Zelda and Rauru to defeat Ganondorf.


Mineru

Mineru is a Zonai and Rauru's elder sister, who appears in ''Tears of the Kingdom''. She is voiced by Heather Gonzalez in English. After Zelda is transported to the distant past, she meets Mineru and Rauru, who are the last two remaining Zonai. Mineru helps Zelda to return to her own time by explaining the power of the Secret Stones and the forbidden act of draconification; swallowing a stone to become an immortal dragon. She is the Sage of Spirit, which gives her the power to separate her spirit from her body. After the Sages' battle against the Ganondorf, she succumbs to her injuries and her spirit remains in the Purah Pad. In the present, Link encounters Mineru in the Depths and builds a Zonai mech to house her spirit before helping her recover her Secret Stone from the Spirit Temple.


Tulin

Tulin (voiced by
Cristina Vee Cristina Danielle Valenzuela (born July 11, 1987), known by her stage name Cristina Vee, is an American voice actress and voice director. She provides voices for English dubs of anime, animation, and video games. Vee's roles in anime include L ...
) is Teba's son, who initially made a minor appearance as a child in ''Breath of the Wild'' and returns in ''Tears of the Kingdom,'' where he helps Link traverse the Stormwind Ark and stop the blizzard threatening the Rito. Afterward, he becomes the Sage of Wind, gaining the ability to create a spirit avatar who assists Link by creating gusts of wind that allows him to quickly travel horizontal distances. ''GamesRadar'' reported that players reacted positively to the character, describing him as "adorable", particularly because the two feathers that hang from his Great Eagle Bow are a display of love for his parents.


Josha

Josha (voiced by
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) is a major supporting character who first appears in ''Tears of the Kingdom''. She is a young Sheikah researcher who developed her knowledge by researching the Depths. She works alongside Purah and Robbie at Lookout Landing and has a passion for cave exploration. As the Head of Depths Research, Josha plays a critical role in sending Link into the Depths as part of the main quest, which leads him to unlock the Camera and the Hyrule Compendium. Due to being unable to go down to the Depths herself, she asks Link to find evidence of an ancient race that she believes can be found there. Returning to her at Lookout Landing begins a quest that sends Link into the Depths to follow a trail of statues that lead to an old mine. Josha's request eventually leads him to battle Master Kohga, which unlocks Autobuild, one of Link's main abilities.


Penn

Penn is a Rito who first appears in ''Tears of the Kingdom''. He works alongside editor Traysi as a journalist for the Lucky Clover Gazette, a newspaper in Hyrule. His energetic character is reflected in his dialogue, which he typically ends with the catchphrase "Soar long!" While working with Penn, Link can take on the role of reporter and earn Rupees by investigating sightings of Princess Zelda around Hyrule. Penn sets high standards for his journalism, stating with enthusiasm the importance of only publishing facts. This positive stance on journalism is reflected in the response of many minor characters who read the Lucky Clover Gazette. Luke Winkie, writing for ''
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'', highlighted that players responded positively to Penn's side quests and considered his high standards to be a commentary on the positive nature of old-fashioned journalism.


Addison

Addison is a supporting character that appears throughout Hyrule in ''Tears of the Kingdom''. His job is to promote his boss Hudson, who is the president of Hudson Construction. Hudson supports the rebuilding of the kingdom by depositing caches of building materials in various locations, where Addison can be found trying to support a sign bearing Hudson's face. The player is tasked with creating constructions using Ultrahand to support Addison's sign. ''
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'''s Olly Welsh chose Addison as his favorite character in the game, commenting that he is one of many minor characters who demonstrate that ''The Legend of Zelda'' series is about real life and the fantastical. He also opined that Addison's eagerness to support his boss, who is motivated by his own self interests, is a satire on Japanese work culture and that, even when catastrophe hits the world of Hyrule, the mediocre aspects of life continue. Jim Norman of ''Nintendo Life'' wrote an entire "love letter" to the character, describing him as "hilarious" due to him being "terrible at his job" and commented that he felt unable to walk past him in-game without stopping to help him.


Yona

Lady Yona (voiced by Lauren Mayfield) is a Zora who appears in ''Tears of the Kingdom'' and resembles a
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. Link encounters her while investigating the phenomenon of strange muck appearing in Zora's Domain. She appears alongside her fiancé Sidon. She has been Sidon's best friend from early childhood and dedicates her life to helping her fellow Zora. Yona's presence in the game caused a generally negative reaction. ''Polygon'' described the character as "public enemy No. 1" and reported that many fans of Sidon expressed their dismay on social media upon discovering that he was officially betrothed to another Zora. ''IGN'' also noted the angry fan response to the character, stating that Yona was "tearing apart Sidon's fans" and reported on the possibility that Nintendo had introduced her in an attempt to end
shipping Freight transport, also referred as ''Freight Forwarding'', is the physical process of transporting Commodity, commodities and merchandise goods and cargo. The term shipping originally referred to transport by sea but in American English, it h ...
of Sidon and Link.


See also

* Characters in the ''Mario'' franchise


Notes


References

{{Portal bar, Video games Fantasy creatures The Legend of Zelda characters
Legend of Zelda ''The Legend of Zelda'' is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-release ...