The Official Legend of Zelda Timeline

[pumpy_heart]

So it's out there now. Check it out here.

Or I could copy and paste.

Main Timeline
1. Skyward Sword
2. The Minish Cap
3. Four Swords
4. Ocarina of Time

Split 1: Link defeats Ganon - childhood branch
1. Majora's Mask
2. Twilight Princess
3. Four Swords Adventures

Split 2: Link defeats Ganon - adult branch
1. The Wind Waker
2. Phantom Hourglass
3. Spirit Tracks

Split 3: Link fails in Ocarina Of Time
1. A Link to the Past
2. Oracles of Seasons and Ages
3. Link's Awakening
4. The Legend of Zelda
5. Zelda II

What do you think? I think there's an awful lot riding on Link failing in Ocarina of Time.. One of my friends jokingly said "What if you lost to Ganon and it asks you whether to continue or not, you say no, then it starts saving?" That's how you'd get the third timeline. 

[Dudeman]

I've seen this timeline about ten times in the past two days.
Great. Now I want Nintendo of America to translate and release the Hyrule Historia that was released in Japan.

[pumpy_heart]

Yeah, I've analyzed it quite a bit too. I want the release as well. Would just be a neat thing to have. And to have all the lore explained..

I wonder if future games will try to fit into the timeline clearly or just be as innovative as they want to.

[Dudeman]

After ten more games, they'll probably add a fourth branch off of OoT for if Link dies before getting the first sacred stone. Man, that would mess a lot of stuff up.

[pumpy_heart]

It'd be Alttp starting in the dark world! Imagine a Zelda game that you started Dark as a character and turned towards Light.. Never will happen.

[KefkaticFanatic]

The only thing people didn't expect was that there was a third branch, but it makes sense.  Ganon goes to the sacred realm for the triforce, but is trapped there and makes it all evil and such.  You have to note though that by the adult link timeline they mean after Link defeats Ganon and is sent back to his own time, there is now a separate timeline in the future after Link is sent back, and therefore not existing in that timeline any longer.

Of course there are going to be plot holes everywhere, but that's because nobody ever deals with time travel properly.

[pumpy_heart]

One translation I read even said Link defeated Ganon as an adult and didn't go back in time.. If that holds to be true..

[KefkaticFanatic]

No, the Wind Waker timeline needs Link to no longer exist so Ganon is able to break free and take over then causing the flood

[Dudeman]

It'd be Alttp starting in the dark world! Imagine a Zelda game that you started Dark as a character and turned towards Light.. Never will happen.

Oh, man! I just remembered that a couple years ago I saw a picture of the box art for a fake Legend of Zelda game that revolved around Link being both dark and light! That would be an awesome game!
Kinda reminds me of Sonic the Werehog...

[Nana1Popo2]

well this also came out just recently, translated from that new book:

http://www.zeldauniverse.net/zelda-news/official-zelda-timeline-100-complete-translated/#more-33894

[Olimar12345]

...Isn't that the same as the one on the first post?

[pumpy_heart]

They add a little bit more information. Not enough though. I hope the book truly really goes into more detail.

[GoronsOrchestrated]

So one of the older games falls at the end of the timeline?
Interesting...

[Olimar12345]

...most of the older games are at the end of the timeline...

[spitllama]

What I've never understood is how killing Ganon doesn't count as killing Ganondorf. Are they not the same entity despite different appearances?