How The Legend of Zelda Created One of Gaming's Greatest Mythologies

 Storytelling has always been at the heart of human culture, and now video games, more than ever, have matured into a powerful storytelling platform.

From the branching narratives of The Witcher 3 to the environmental storytelling of Dark Souls, video games have proven their ability to tell complex and emotionally compelling stories. But few series have crafted a mythology as deep and enduring as The Legend of Zelda. Across nearly four decades, Zelda has built a vast interconnected world, full of recurring characters, timeless themes, and legendary conflicts.

When The Legend of Zelda, written by Shigeru Miyamoto, first launched in 1986, storytelling in video games was still in its infancy. The original game had a minimal narrative, focusing instead on exploration and adventure. But from this humble beginning, Zelda laid the foundation for a series that would go on to explore rich, complex stories. With its emphasis on discovery, players were encouraged to uncover the lore of Hyrule through gameplay itself, making the journey an integral part of the narrative. The world was as much a character as Link or Zelda, filled with hidden secrets and untold stories waiting to be uncovered.

While the plot was still relatively simple, The Adventure of Link (1987) began laying the groundwork for the mythology of Hyrule that would grow over the course of the series. It introduced the concept of Princess Zelda being more than just a damsel in distress and started to build a greater sense of continuity within the world. Through its darker tone, the game gave the series an early sense of narrative depth, showing that Zelda was more than just an adventure—it was the beginning of a larger, interconnected story.

A Link to the Past (1991), by Kensuke Tanabe, expanded on the Triforce’s significance, introducing it as a symbol of balance—Power, Wisdom, and Courage. It also introduced the Light and Dark Worlds, deepening the series' themes of duality and creating a stronger sense of continuity in Hyrule’s mythology.

Ocarina of Time (1998), Guinness World Records - Gamer's Edition 2008 pick for the highest ranked game of all time, introduced time travel, elevating the series' narrative complexity. It added tragic depth and expanded on the antagonist Ganondorf. The game established the interconnected timeline that would become a defining feature of the series.

In The Wind Waker (2002), written by Mitsuhiro Takano and Hajime Takahashi, its revealed a connection between Link, Zelda, and Ganon, exploring the idea of reincarnation and the cyclical nature of their destinies. It expanded on the mythological themes of the series, showing how the past's conflicts echo into the future.

Skyward Sword (2011), written by Naoki Mori and Hidemaro Fujibayashi, becomes the origin of the beginning of the Zelda continuity. It revealed the legend of three ancient Goddesses, who bestowed a great wish-granting power: the Triforce. And the Demon King Demise who laid waste to the land seeking it. The Goddess Hylia gathered the survivors and sent them into the sky, to launch an offensive against Demise. She was victorious, but the land was severely damaged. Uncounted years later, the outcrop is known as Skyloft, and its people believe the surface below is merely a myth.

Tears of the Kingdom (2023), writen by Akihito Toda and Naoki Mori, expands on Skyward Sword's celestial themes by delving deeper into the mythology of the ancient gods and their impact on Hyrule.

The Legend of Zelda series is a prime example of how video games have evolved into a powerful medium for storytelling. From the humble beginnings of simple gameplay to the intricate mythologies of gods, heroes, and villains, Zelda has demonstrated how games can convey complex, layered narratives. With each new installment, the series continues to expand its world, showing that the possibilities for storytelling in games are limitless. Video games, as a medium, can grow and evolve, providing endless opportunities for new chapters, characters, and experiences to captivate players for generations to come. Let the story rage on!