Is Skyward Sword before or after Tears of the Kingdom? (2024)

Within the grand scheme of Zelda's many timelines, it seems that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom might be the closing chapter to The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and serves as a bookend to the game where the cycle first began.

Does Tears of the Kingdom take place after Skyward Sword?

And The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom finally confirms that there is no connection to the previous installments of the saga. Without going into details of its plot, we will say that all the history and lore that is explained in the game is part of its own universe formed by Breath of the Wild and its sequel.

Where does Tears of the Kingdom fit in the timeline?

Tears of the Kingdom's story takes place directly after Breath of the Wild, but certain flashbacks are in the distant past. Based on the way Hyrule has changed and conversations with NPCs, it seems like TotK likely takes place roughly 2-3 years after BotW.

Where is Skyward Sword in the timeline?

Skyward Sword takes place at the beginning of the Zelda continuity: according to legend, three ancient Goddesses bestowed a great wish-granting power: the Triforce. The Demon King Demise laid waste to much of the land seeking to take the Triforce.

Is Tears of the Kingdom an alternate timeline?

Instead, it might start a whole new timeline. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom may present itself as the followup to Breath of the Wild, but it's actually the start of a whole new Zelda timeline. First announced in a 2019 teaser as a direct sequel to BOTW, TOTK indeed lives up to that promise.

How Skyward Sword and Tears of the Kingdom Are CONNECTED! [Theory]

Are Zonai in Skyward Sword?

In Skyward Sword people were living on the sky islands and landed in Hyrule below for the very first time. There were no Zonai goat people and no Zonai devices up there.

Is the Triforce in Tears of the Kingdom?

Notably, the Triforce does not appear when Zelda uses magic in Tears of the Kingdom. However, this does not mean that the artifact is not still within her. For example, the fact that she now uses her Secret Stone as a magical focus may have prevented it from manifesting.

How is Tears of the Kingdom connected to Skyward Sword?

Skyward Sword illustrates the creation of the Kingdom of Hyrule, marking the end of the Skyloft era and the descent of the Skyloftians to the surface. This forms the bedrock for Tears of the Kingdom, in which the kingdom, now formed, faces trials and tribulations.

Is Skyward Sword the first chronologically?

The franchise begins before the Kingdom of Hyrule is founded or the Master Sword is even created. Before Skyward Sword, which is the first entry in the chronology, the story of Link and Zelda had already begun. Three goddesses create the world, and leave the Triforce behind, entrusted to the goddess Hylia.

Is Skyward Sword a prequel?

Skyward Sword is positioned as the earliest game in the Zelda timeline, and until a short prequel manga was released in the Hyrule Historia it was the earliest piece of Zelda media period.

How old is riju in Tears of the Kingdom?

She's roughly around twelve years old, but she gives off a more grown-up impression because the Gerudo mature faster than Hylians.

How much time passed between Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom?

This is also the general consensus online, with many on Reddit agreeing that Tears of the Kingdom seems to take place roughly five to six years after the events of Breath of the Wild. "If I had to guess probably like six or seven years based on the apparent age of Hudson's daughter," one user suggested.

Where is the Triforce in TotK?

The Lack Of The Triforce In Tears Of The Kingdom

It is shown in iconography across the Kingdom of Hyrule, yet never shown, not even in writing. By the end of the game, when Zelda is rescued, we see her awaken to her latent powers to hold back Calamity Ganon, the Triforce appearing on her wrist.

Did Hyrule exist before Skyward Sword?

Before Skyward Sword - Era of Hylia/Triforce Creation

This was until three goddesses named Din, Farore, and Nayru descended from the heavens and breathed life into the landscape, giving birth to the land that would later become known as Hyrule.

Does TotK break the Zelda timeline?

TotK's past takes place between Skyward Sword and Minish Cap, but only shows that split in the timeline - the natural timeline without Zelda's presence doesn't have that Ganondorf successfully stealing Sonia's Secret Stone.

Was Rauru King before Skyward Sword?

Many people believe that the reign of Rauru takes place during the Era of Prosperity, long after the events of Skyward Sword.

Should you play Skyward Sword before Breath of the Wild?

So why do we recommend you replay Skyward Sword? Well, because it offers up the foundation that would ultimately flourish and grow into Breath of the Wild.

Is Skyward Sword canon?

Games Definitely Considered Canon

Skyward Sword establishes the beginning of the timelines.

Does Tears of the Kingdom conflict with Skyward Sword?

The Imprisoning War isn't the only piece of content from Tears of the Kingdom that changes up the timeline as the inclusion of the Sky means that the in-game history clashes with Skyward Sword.

Are the Zonai related to Skyloft?

In fact, the Zonai parallel the humans that dwelled in Skyloft in Skyward Sword.

Are the sky islands in Tears of the Kingdom the same as Skyward Sword?

The concept of floating islands was first introduced in Skyward Sword, where they were to serve as the title's core locations. Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom massively improves on Skyward Sword's floating islands, filling its own with a ton of content and justifying their presence within the title's larger world.

Is Link missing an arm in Tears of the Kingdom?

At the outset of this excursion, Link's arm is perfectly intact. But by the time he jumps to try to save Zelda, which seems like it happens in the same sequence, his arm looks all grey and sizzled. So it definitely happens in that big, climactic opening section where Ganondorf awakens.

Will Tears of the Kingdom have DLC?

In an emailed response, Aonuma wrote that in Tears of the Kingdom, "we were able to implement all of the elements that we wanted to achieve in this world and this story, so there will not be any DLC. Please continue to enjoy the vast world of Hyrule."