While there are plenty of iconic settings in gaming, few are quite as memorable as Hyrule. The primary location of the esteemedThe Legend of Zeldaseries, it’s the home to countless races, fascinating architecture, and gorgeous scenery. Weaved into its landscape are so many engaging characters and plenty of narrative potential. Since the franchise shows no signs of stopping, it’s likely that Hyrule will be at the center of most of Link’s adventures to come. From thegrandness of Hyrule Castleto the tranquility of Lake Hylia, it’s been a mainstay for years.
Of course, with the advancements in hardware technology and the refining of art direction over time, it’s obvious that not every incarnation of Hyrule looks the same. While some have subtle differences, others are almost unrecognizable. It’s a land that’s in a constant state of change.The Legend of Zeldahas been going for 36 years, and as both the first and most recent games take place in the same area, it’s clear that each entry in the series has something new to offer the Hyrule landscape.
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Hyrule’s Humble Beginnings
The Legend of Zelda:The one that started it all,The Legend of Zeldawas held back by its hardware,releasing on the NES in 1986. Its version of Hyrule was sadly limited and didn’t have the capability to offer diverse landscapes, activities, or presentation quirks. It’s a valiant effort to create a grand setting on the first Nintendo home console, and the smattering of trees and blocky coastlines show that Hyrule has so much potential in future games.
Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link:Zelda 2was a significant gameplay shift from the first game, opting for a side-scrolling perspective rather than a top-down one. It felt more restrictive, but the Hyrule it presented was anything but. It’s far larger than the one presented in the first game, and offered more geographic diversity. From the challenge of scaling Death Mountain to exploring each of its distinctive towns,Zelda 2was the first time that Hyrule truly felt like a living, breathing world.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past:Many believeA Link to the Pastto be the first truly great manifestation of Hyrule. Introducing series mainstays like Kakariko Village, Hyrule Castle, and Link’s House, it gaveHyrule a true sense of identity that fans loved. Just from an image of the overworld it’s so very obvious where it is and which game it’s from.A Link to the Pastlaid the groundwork for later titles to improve upon, implementing essential features that not only make it a blast to play through, but that catapult Hyrule to one of the best settings in gaming.
Zelda in the Third Dimension
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time:Perhaps the most beloved incarnation of Hyrule to date,Ocarina of Time’s 3D perspective made Hyrule an absolute joy to explore. From returning areas like Death Mountain and Kakariko Village to the new area ofGerudo Valley welding truly epic sceneryand music, the Hyrule presented here was a more refined and purpose-built version of Hyrule.A Link to the Pastwas something special, butOcarina of Timedid well to install its predecessor’s details into a world that felt truly open and expansive. A slight reshuffle was needed, but it made the best elements ofA Link to the Pastfeel all the more iconic.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind WakerandPhantom Hourglass: While it may seem like the Great Sea presented inThe Wind Waker(as well as its DS sequelPhantom Hourglass) washes away the magic of Hyrule, this is absolutely not the case. In fact,the series' first title on GameCubewielded perhaps the land’s most interesting perspective. As the sea is dotted with land masses, it turns out that the islands used to be Hyrule’s mountaintops, which the people fled to when the Goddess flooded Hyrule in an effort to stop Ganon. The land below is spoken of in myths and legends, but glimpses of its history are experienced during Link’s journey. Plummeting down to Hyrule Castle in search of the Master Sword is one of the best moments in the entire series, and while the sea can be cumbersome to travel around, it’s a different take on Hyrule that feels truly memorable.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess:Taking a darker and more melancholic approach to theZeldalicense,Twilight Princessis one of the most divisive entries to date. However, one thing that is almost universally appreciated is its take on Hyrule. Acknowledging but tweaking the version of the setting thatOcarina of Timepresented was a stroke of genius, and it makes the area feel draped in history. Lake Hylia, Death Mountain, the Temple of Time, and Gerudo Desert all returned and immediately felt familiar.Twilight Princess’take on Hyrule was faithful to what came before, and ensured that it has locations that shouldn’t be discarded.
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Zelda Goes Multiplayer
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords:Released alongsideA Link to the Pastwhen it arrived on the Game Boy Advance in 2002,Four Swordsoffered something new once again. Perhaps in a bid to differ itself from the aforementioned title, it features some returning locations like Death Mountain but largely does its own thing. Many may believe thatSkyward Swordwas the first to feature a land in the sky, but Vaati’s Palace inFour Swordswas first.
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures:Not to be mistaken forFour Swords, Four Swords Adventuresis a completely separate release that also focuses on multiplayer game design. Its take on Hyrule is perhaps the most faithful of all, as it features a plethora of returning locations. It reshuffles the map in comparison toA Link to the Pastslightly, but unlike some other titles it truly feels like an adventure set in Hyrule. ASwitch port would be welcome, as it’s a game and world worth revisiting.
Handheld Hyrule
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap:A thoroughly overlooked entry in the series,The Minish Caphas only ever released on the Game Boy Advance. Being on a handheld system and releasing just one year afterThe Wind Waker, it took some risks with its story and setting. Hyrule was missing some essential locations like Kakariko Village and Death Mountain, and in doing so it felt like it wasted the location. However, with Link experiencing the land as a Picori, it would have been strange to see Hyrule from the perspective of an ant-sized character.
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks:While it doesn’t take place in the original setting,Spirit Tracksunfolds in a land known as New Hyrule. As such, there are plenty of omissions from old games and new locations on offer like the Tower of Spirits and four distinctive realms to explore.It’s a take on Hyrule that’s perfect for a handheld system, and while it doesn’t have the familiarity ofTwilight PrincessorOcarina of Time, it’s charming nonetheless.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds:Hearkening back to what madeA Link Between Worldsso great,A Link Between Worldsuses a very similar map design. It’s almost identical to what came before, which is undoubtedly part of its charm. Lorule does well to make the setting feel fresh, butA Link Between Worldswas initially pitched as a throwback forA Link to the Pastfansto satisfy their nostalgia, and to do so it had to revert Hyrule back to how it was in 1991.
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A Modern Take on Hyrule
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword:Skyward Swordprovides a starting point for the entire series, and indeed Hyrule itself. Following aWind Waker-esque introduction, it’s shown that the Goddess lifted the remaining humans into the air to save them from the malevolent forces that appeared and destroyed the surface. What was raised became known as Skyloft, and its people lived in harmony there for generations. When Link’s quest begins, it’s clear that some areas are different from what fans expected. Death Mountain is now known as Eldin Volcano, but Faron Woods remains an essential area of the game. Lanayru feels like the precursor to the Gerudo desert and Lake Floria replaces Lake Hylia.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild:Presenting the most expansive and dense version of Hyrule to date,Breath of the Wildputs the setting at the forefront and succeeds because of it. Hyrule is the main character throughout, and becoming one with the land is vital to seeing all the game has to offer.Breath of the Wildintroduces new regions and areaslike Hateno Village, Akkala, The Great Plateau, and Dueling Peaks, but also pays attention to what came before. Hyrule Castle is directly north of Hyrule Field like it is inOcarina of Timeand the Desert is to the west. In many ways,Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule is perfect, providing more areas of intrigue to a setting that is truly familiar.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2releases Spring 2023 for Nintendo Switch.
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