The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s premier franchises, and while some fans like to dismiss the timeline, it’s always had an influence on both the franchise and the relationships of the characters within it. Keep in mind that Zelda II was a direct narrative sequel to the original game, with A Link to the Past serving as a prequel to both. Age of Calamity has only complicated matters by creating a timeline branch within Breath of the Wild.
Naturally, this timeline business also established the idea of multiple Links and Zeldas early on – albeit Zelda II already established the latter by the time A Link to the Past came around. Link and Zelda’s relationship is at the heart of the franchise, changing through every timeline, but Breath of the Wild and Age of Calamity might have set a new precedent for their bond.
Updated October 21, 2021 by Tom Bowen: The relationship shared by Link and Zelda has changed a lot over the past three and a half decades, though it still remains a little inconsistent. In certain timelines, for example, it is only the bonds of friendship that tie the pair together. In others, however, there's strong evidence to suggest that they share a romantic relationship instead. Regardless of which is the case, it's clear to see that there are many things that link Zelda to the Hylian hero; the most notable of which is, of course, destiny. Whether this will be further explored next year when Breath of the Wild 2 finally releases remains to be seen, but for now, at least, there are more than enough previous Link and Zelda iterations to analyze.
15 The Legend Of Zelda: Wedding Bell Blues
The original Legend of Zelda doesn’t feature much in the way of story, so it goes without saying that Link and Zelda don’t have much of a connection. This only makes sense considering Link spends the entire game traveling alone while Zelda is simply stuck in Level 9 for the whole journey. All the same, there’s a bit of lore some fans might have missed.
The reward for rescuing Zelda and completing the Triforce? Becoming King of Hyrule and marrying Princess Zelda herself. Despite the fact the two have no connection, this Link ends up becoming King of Hyrule after saving Zelda, marrying her in the process.
14 Zelda II: The Loves Of Link’s Life
Which makes Link and Zelda’s relationship at the end of Zelda II a bit questionable to say the least. Canonically, Link should be King of Hyrule by this point while also married to Princess Zelda. Granted, he’s only around 16 at this point, but lore is lore. This of course creates a problem when the other Zelda wakes up at the end of the game and kisses Link.
Keep in mind that the Zelda Link is trying to wake up in Zelda II is not the Zelda he rescued in the original Legend of Zelda, but the “original" Zelda (at the time) from the series’ backstory. Despite being married, Link accepts his kiss with pride. Who’s to say he didn’t accept a new bride, as well?
13 A Link To The Past: The Unsolved Mystery
A Link to the Past was the game that ultimately set the foundation for the rest of the Zelda franchise, notably opening with Princess Zelda telepathically communicating with Link. From there, the two work together to stop Agahnim before Zelda gets kidnapped come the halfway point.
Interestingly, one of the game's biggest mysteries pertains to their relationship and is never solved. As he lays dying, Link's Uncle starts saying, "Zelda is your..." but never actually finishes the sentence. Worth noting, Link's Uncle says, "You are the Princess'..." before dying in the Japanese release – so the mystery is in parts intentional.
12 Link’s Awakening: Marin Is A Subconscious Representation Of Zelda
Something worth pointing out about Link’s Awakening is that Link and the Wind Fish are actually sharing a dream, it isn’t just the Wind Fish’s. While the latter’s dream serves as the main base for Koholint and its history, it’s strongly implied that the island’s residents are manifestations of Link’s subconscious.
Marin is the clearest example of this, with Link outright mistaking her for Zelda at the beginning of the game. This is the only direct mention of Princess Zelda in Link’s Awakening, but the Oracle games later reuse Marin’s sprite for Zelda’s, further lending credence to the Zelda/Marin connection.
11 Ocarina Of Time: Zelda’s Romantic Feelings For Link
Ocarina of Time may not place the focus on its story, but that doesn’t mean it has a poorly or simply told story either. This is a script filled with a considerable amount of subtlety and nuance, with the character writing revealing more about the inhabitants of Hyrule than one might immediately assume.
Come the end of the game, it’s clear that Zelda has developed some romantic attachment to Link while waiting for him over the course of seven years. It makes sense as Link was quite literally her only hope at returning to normalcy, but these feelings ultimately aren’t returned, with the Hero of Time implied to have married Malon some time after OoT & Majora’s Mask.
10 Oracle Of Ages & Seasons: A Friendship Forgotten
The Oracle games are currently positioned in a curious spot as far as the Hyrule Encyclopedia's timeline is concerned, but the duology was clearly intended as an interquel to Link's Awakening set after the events of A Link to the Past. Princess Zelda reuses Marin's sprite, the manuals indicate that Link is leaving Hyrule for training, the Linked Ending ends with Link setting sail on his ship seen at the start of Link's Awakening.
All the same, there's a massive continuity error during a Linked playthrough. Despite Link and Zelda having met during A Link to the Past, she reintroduces herself when they meet during the Oracle duology. The only way to potentially explain this is that Link's wish on the Triforce at the end of ALttP reset everything.
9 The Wind Waker: Partners, Not Lovers
Given how often The Wind Waker pairs Link and Tetra together, it’s perhaps safe to assume they’re meant to have some kind of romantic connection, but there’s really nothing in the game that suggests either character has feelings for each other. If anything, Link had more overt romantic chemistry with Medli.
Link and Tetra are clearly friendly with one another come the end of the game & care about each other, but their dynamic plays out more like a platonic partnership than a romantic one. When taking into account the personality discrepancies present between Tetra & Zelda, it’s perhaps for the best there aren’t any romantic undertones.
8 Four Swords: A Love Pentagon
The idea of a love triangle is fairly common and one that has been explored several times in the Zelda series. The love pentagon found in Four Swords, however, is entirely unique; more so because four of the five participants are actually different versions of the same person: Link.
Granted, the decision to split the game's Link into four different versions of himself was more down to the developers' desire to create a multiplayer co-op Zelda game than some creative narrative thread. It ultimately works well though, with Zelda being the one who helps the multiple versions of Link get back together after they rescue her from Vaati at the end of the game.
7 The Minish Cap: Childhood Best Friends
Releasing relatively late into the GBA’s life cycle while in close proximity to Twilight Princess, The Minish Cap doesn’t get much discourse these days, which is a shame considering it remains the most fleshed-out interpretation of A Link to the Past’s foundation. It also features a fairly well-told story where Link and Zelda are childhood friends.
Granted, that’s set dressing more than anything else, but the tutorial actually plays up Link’s bond with Zelda. It’s to the point where audiences might actually care when Vaati ultimately turns her to stone. As far as motivations go, TMC’s Link has a solid reason to confront Vaati.
6 Twilight Princess: Strictly Professional Business Colleagues
As far as Twilight Princess is concerned, Midna fills the “Princess Zelda” role while Ilia fills the role of Link’s love interest. As a result, the actual titular Zelda is left with little to do. This isn’t to say that she’s unimportant – her sacrifice and what she thematically represents are both incredibly important to Midna’s arc – but this is not a Zelda-heavy game.
Her relationship with Link echoes this blatantly. Despite the fact that the two work together to defeat Ganondorf when all is said and done, their relationship is strictly professional. After all, the two barely know each other. They share a genuine sense of camaraderie, but their connection is mainly through Midna and Midna alone.
5 Spirit Tracks: Equals Through It All
Spirit Tracks gets a bad reputation for being a direct sequel to what is arguably the worst 2D Zelda game, but it is a massive improvement over Phantom Hourglass. The jump in quality from PH to ST is so high that the latter more or less invalidates the former on a gameplay level.
What really makes Spirit Tracks a strong Zelda game unlike its predecessor, however, is the story. This is the first time where Link and Zelda are genuine equals. Not only does Zelda play a very active role in the plot (literally never leaving Link’s side,) she’s actually playable. The two have a cute relationship that only develops more over the course of the game – Link and Zelda reaching the credits as legitimate equals.
4 Skyward Sword: A Fully Fledged Love Story
Although romance isn’t new for Link and Zelda, it wasn’t until Skyward Sword when the franchise would finally decide to give the two a genuine, undeniable love story. The thing with Ocarina of Time is that while the romance can be read as there, it isn’t a driving force of the plot – same for Spirit Tracks despite them having a more overtly “cute” relationship.
With Skyward Sword, the entire story is driven by their connection and Link’s desire to be with Zelda. More than saving the princess, Link is saving a friend, a companion, & a partner – to say nothing of Zelda’s own agency through it all. Both Breath of the Wild and Age of Calamity's interpretations of the characters are rooted in Skyward Sword's dynamic.
3 A Link Between Worlds: A New Princess
With the introduction of a brand new world that's ruled over by a brand new princess, A Link Between Worlds provides a lot of extra insight into the Link/Zelda relationship. Interestingly, it does so not through the interactions between the pair, but instead through the scenes involving Link and Zelda's Lorule counterpart, Hilda.
Having grown up in and subsequently reigned over a ruined land, Hilda possesses many qualities that Zelda doesn't while also lacking the gravitas and high status. This in turn alters the way that Link behaves around her, highlighting just how much the gap in status can at times impact the bond between Link and Zelda.
2 Breath Of The Wild: Their Most Complex Relationship Yet
Link and Zelda’s relationship in Breath of the Wild is by far the most dynamic relationship they’ve had yet, even including Age of Calamity. While the idea of an evolving relationship between Link & Zelda isn’t novel (elements of this can be seen in Ocarina of Time, and The Wind Waker & Spirit Tracks embody this outright,) Breath of the Wild actually gives their relationship an arc.
They begin at odds with one another before developing a genuine bond that seems to be leaning towards the romantic. Despite how much resentment Zelda feels towards Link, and Link’s own insecurities documented in the original Japanese text, these two come to care for one another deeply, each willing to give their lives for the other.
1 Age Of Calamity: Two Halves Of The Same Heart Container
Since Age of Calamity is set in a timeline where the Calamity didn't happen as it did in Breath of the Wild, Link and Zelda's relationship can grow in a way where they aren't rooted in animosity for each other. Not only are Link and Zelda far more openly caring about one another in Age of Calamity, but their two biggest moments are also for the other character.
Due to Terrako's time-traveling, Breath of the Wild's backstory gets slightly rewritten and Link never pulls the Master Sword as a child. Instead, the Master Sword calls to him when he's trying to protect Princess Zelda from Astor. Similarly, Zelda's powers fully manifest when she's trying to protect Link from the Blights. Along with that, Age of Calamity makes it a point to show the lengths Link and Zelda go for each other, setting the stage for a more romantic relationship in Breath of the Wild 2.