Following the success of The Legend of Zelda's burgeoning spin-off series, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity could be forging the path for future titles that will allow players to better explore Zelda's longstanding history. While the first game was officially set outside the Zelda timeline, its second entry Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity took after the latest Zelda game Breath of the Wild, and focused instead on the war against the Calamity Ganon and his forces. Though fans had anticipated Age of Calamity might be similarly non-canon, the game went above and beyond to establish its own niche timeline.
Fans are still waiting for the long-anticipated Breath of the Wild sequel in the near future, but Hyrule Warriors could get a third game in a shorter period of time if it decides to look backwards instead of forwards. With close to forty years of Zelda games to take inspiration from, Hyrule Warriors could revisit the franchise's previous games to build on its own timeline, history, and lore. Not only would it help generate nostalgia for older players and foster an appreciation for the Zelda series in a younger audience, but it could help secure a permanent place for Hyrule Warriors as a more permanent fixture of Zelda games.
Age of Calamity And New Zelda Timelines
Following the release of Ocarina of Time, Zelda has been known for its branching timelines. Discussion around these timelines always crops up with each new game announced; the chronology of Zelda is often a staple of fan speculation. However, with confirmation from Nintendo that Breath of the Wild resolves these timelines, bringing them all together in what's determined to be their natural endpoint, it seemed this timeline tradition had come to an end.
It's been evidently hard for fans to let go of Zelda's branching timelines, as current theories have turned to how new timelines might involve Age of Calamity and Breath of the Wild 2. Specifically with Hyrule Warriors though, Age of Calamity outright demonstrated it was going to rework Zelda history when time travel became a major component of the game's narrative, with its story focusing on changing history to preemptively defeat Calamity Ganon. But while fans look to the future of Zelda and how these two games could influence the series moving forwards, Hyrule Warriors should look back instead.
Hyrule Warriors' Future Lies In The Past
Since the Zelda timelines are currently in an odd limbo where fans are unsure if Nintendo will revisit its earlier timelines or if Breath of the Wild and its sequel will start new timelines, developer Omega Force should allow Nintendo to focus on its core story before considering games set after Age of Calamity. In lieu of continuing the Age of Calamity storyline, Omega Force's next move should be to revisit earlier games and explore unseen parts of Zelda lore.
Not only could this be a safer strategy until more is officially known about Zelda's future, but it could help tide players over between new Zelda games. Moreover, it would simultaneously capitalize on those same players' nostalgia beyond just cameo-like roles. For instance, while the first Hyrule Warriors took broad inspiration from the series including characters from the likes of Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, Age of Calamity proved Zelda could expand with spin-offs that were better connected to the series' lore and legacy instead of just a loose offshoot.
Future Hyrule Warriors could explore events in the series such as the Interloper War referenced in Twilight Princess or the time after Skyward Sword and Demise's defeat, possibly showcasing Ganon's "first" appearance in the ongoing Zelda legacy. Diving into these areas of Zelda lore provides enough wiggle room for Hyrule Warriors to leave its mark while also respecting the history of the series and fans' expectations. Alternatively, Hyrule Warriors could consider adapting some of Zelda's direct sequels like The Adventure of Link into an atypical remake, which would bring one of Zelda's earliest games back to the forefront.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is available now on Nintendo Switch.