Hyrule is full of some of the most creative fantasy races in RPGs. The original Breath of the Wild included many of them, but there are many more that fans would like to see return in the upcoming sequel, Breath of the Wild 2.
The inclusion of more races could help revitalize Hyrule and encourage exploration considering the fact that Breath of the Wild 2 will use the same map as the original game. Here are just some of the races of Hyrule that should return.
The Deku
Deku appear in many of the games in the Legend of Zelda franchise, but are perhaps best known from the opening of Majora’s Mask, when Link is transformed into a Deku Scrub. While they are another diminutive forest-dwelling race like the Koroks who appear in Breath of the Wild, the Deku have a far more complicated relationship with the outside world than their goofy cousins. In some games in the series, they are hostile until defeated, at which point they will usually try to sell items to Link.
Their distrust of outsiders and connection to the forests of Hyrule help make those woodlands feel more alien, more threatening, and more fantastical. Their design is among the most unique in Zelda, with small wooden bodies, large hole-like mouths, and leaves which resemble hair and even clothing at times. They’re sometimes prone to rage as well, with the Deku king in Majora’s Mask imprisoning an innocent monkey for the disappearance of the tribe’s princess. These chaotic forest spirits make a great addition to any Zelda game.
The Mogma
The Mogma appear in Skyward Sword as a sentient race of mole people. Obsessed with treasure, they rarely emerge above ground, and spend much of their time greedily digging for rupees. Some of them, like Tubert, also run gambling games that add a great deal of flavor to the world of Hyrule. Despite their greed, the Mogma were among the races who helped the Goddess Hylia fight Demise, and they could return from deep underground to fend off Ganon’s return in Breath of the Wild 2.
They were also constantly at war with the Bokoblins in their previous appearance, and could be valuable allies if the creatures return to aid Ganon in the next game. The fact that they live underground and are rarely seen fully above the surface also helps explain their absence in Breath of the Wild, which could be easily remedied without additions to the lore in Breath of the Wild 2.
The Subrosians
The Subrosians are a secretive race who live in the lava world of Subrosia, beneath Holodrum from Oracle of Seasons. Their world can be accessed through portals in their previous appearances, and the appearance of Subrosians in Hyrule could be a great addition, particularly around Death Mountain.
Though Death Mountain is already inhabited by the Gorons, the appearance of Subrosians could help make the area feel unique again, as well as give the Gorons a new challenge to face in the upcoming game. Breath of the Wild 2 could explore this race more and reveal something about their mysterious origins.
The Minish
The Minish, sometimes called the Picori, are a tiny race of people that appear in The Minish Cap. They resemble mice with feathered tales and humanoid faces, with the same pointy ears that the Hylians have. Some of the most interesting characters in the franchise, like Ezlo the Minish Cap or Vaati the Sorcerer were once Minish.
Early concept art for Breath of the Wild showed Link interacting with the Minish in one of their villages. The reintroduction of the Minish people, and the possibility of Link being shrunk down to their size, could be another great way for Nintendo to breathe new life into the map of Breath of the Wild 2.
The Minish are also invisible to many adult Hylians, which could help explain their absence in Breath of the Wild. If Link gains the ability to see the Minish, however, then villages could be revealed across Hyrule, incentivizing players to explore the world all over again. The return of the Minish could also see the return of the race’s most powerful artifact, the Picori Blade. If Ganon returns and the Master Sword is shown to be incapable of truly sealing him away for good, the Picori Blade might just do the trick.
The Yetis
Yetis appear in Twilight Princess and are, as a player might expect, large ape-like people with white fur who live in the snowy climates of Hyrule. Like the other races that could appear in Breath of the Wild 2, the Yetis could bring new life to some of the extreme climates already explored in the original Breath of the Wild.
One of the biggest challenges faces Breath of the Wild 2 will be figuring out how to revitalize its map and encourage exploration again when the game takes place in the same map of Hyrule. It’s possible that Breath of the Wild 2 will utilize a time jump to bring a lot of change to the kingdom at once, but introducing some familiar races from previous games, or even some totally new ones, could be a great way for the game to draw in fans who already explored every nook and cranny of the original game’s Hyrule.
More details about Breath of the Wild 2 and its story, however, remain to be seen. With the Breath of Wild 2 teaser trailer released back in 2019 and little news from Nintendo since, much is uncertain about the upcoming sequel, the creatures it will include, and when it will be released. With Breath of the Wild one of the best selling games for the Switch, however, many will be excited to return to Hyrule and see faces both familiar and new.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is currently in development for the Switch.