Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda franchise has been around for over three decades now, and has amassed a huge following of loyal fans thanks to its captivating worlds and exciting gameplay. While most installments take place in completely independent time periods, there are elements within the series that carry over from game to game, most notable of which being the Triforce. In simplest terms, the Triforce functions similarly to the Infinity Gauntlet or the One Ring: an all powerful tool that can be used to good or evil.
With a legacy of titles spanning from the NES in the 1980s all the way to modern day on the Nintendo Switch, the Triforce has popped up in numerous games within The Legend of Zelda. Whether it was central to the plot and a tool for the antagonist's schemes or simply a passing reference in the background, here are all the notable inclusions of the Triforce in The Legend of Zelda games, from the very beginning up to the present day. Note that if a game from The Legend of Zelda series is not included here, it is because the Triforce makes no appearance in the plot.
The Legend of Zelda
Back where it all started on the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Triforce was a pivotal element of the story in the first game. In this instance, only the Triforce of Wisdom and Power appear, and it is explained that Ganon has attacked Hyrule and stolen the Triforce of Power for his own gain. Zelda splits the Triforce of Wisdom into eight parts and hides them across the land, resulting in Link having to search for the missing pieces to reassemble the Triforce of Wisdom and defeat Ganon.
Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link
In the second game, the Triforce is once again the main objective for the player. Its inclusion in this game is important because Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link marks the first appearance of the Triforce of Courage, adding a third triangle piece to the Triforce, creating the iconic image that has been used ever since in the series. The game begins with Link seeing the Triforce mark appearing on his hand, another image repeatedly used in the series, and delves more into the power of this artifact.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
On the SNES, the lore for Triforce was explored more than ever before. Both in the instruction booklet and in the game, the story of the Triforce's creation is explained, something which is referenced back to multiple times in later installments. It goes into detail about three ancient goddesses (representing power, courage and wisdom) creating the Triforce, an artifact which contained the essence of the goddesses, before leaving the world. It is also revealed that the goddesses hid the Triforce away in the Golden Land, a secret place which Ganon attempts to break into for his own nefarious means.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time was the franchise's first foray into 3D and built upon what had come before. Once again, the Triforce and the Sacred Realm were central to the conflict of the game. Much of what was established in A Link to the Past is brought back into play here, however there is an element added here to set it apart. There is the concept of destiny, and how Link, Zelda and Ganon are all connected to their respective pieces of the Triforce. Even at the end of the game when Ganon is banished, he still retains his piece of the Triforce, just as Link and Zelda hold onto their own.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Once again, the Triforce plays a major role to the storyline. In The Wind Waker, Link must traverse across great distances over a lengthy and treacherous ocean in search of the eight pieces of the Triforce of Courage. This comes into play in the latter half of the adventure, after Ganon is introduced as the game's villain, and Link needs the Triforce in order to defeat him. During the climax, Ganon unites the pieces of the Triforce and attempts to make a wish to rule Hyrule. Before he can do so, the King of Hyrule's spirit touches the Triforce, instead wishing for the destruction of Hyrule before a final battle between Link, Zelda, and Ganon.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess traveled into darker territory than most installments and introduced the Twilight Realm. With so many new concepts to cover, there wasn't much room for the Triforce this time, and naturally it takes a backseat more than in prior games. That being said, it does still manage to pop up in a few instances. At an early point in the journey, players see each of the three main characters holding a component of the Triforce within their hands. Aside from this, the Triforce also appears in murals and on buildings throughout the world.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Being set at the earliest point in The Legend of Zelda's timeline, naturally Skyward Sword covers a lot of plot points revolving around the Triforce and its use for good or evil. The plot touches upon the villain named Demise, who tried to steal the Triforce for his own evil ambitions. The goddess Hylia hid the Triforce away high in the clouds, to await a hero that would be ready to claim its power and use it to vanquish Demise.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
This Nintendo 3DS Zelda entry also heavily features the Triforce as a central plot device. As the name of the game would suggest, the storyline is split across two different versions of the same world, Hyrule and Lorule. Lorule was a land twisted by greed for the Triforce, so the denizens decided to destroy it. The main villains of the game, Hilda and Yuga, then try to steal the Triforce from Hyrule in an attempt to resurrect Ganon.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild is the most recent major release in the franchise, but it doesn't rely on the Triforce as much as past games. Perhaps in an attempt to refresh the entire aesthetic of the project, Ganon is depicted instead as a primal, supernatural force rather than a power hungry antagonist seeking the Triforce for world domination. Breath of the Wild takes place thousands of years after the previous games, so the Triforce is no longer shown as a prominent force like it once was. Even so, eagle-eyed players can still spot the symbol scattered in various locations and even appears on Zelda's hand in the final battle.