Universe of The Legend of Zelda

The capital of Hyrule in its prime as depicted in Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda is a video game franchise created by Japanese video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka and mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the Legend of Zelda series consists of various lands, the most predominant being Hyrule. The franchise is set within a fantasy world reminiscent of medieval Europe which consists of several recurring locations, races and creatures. The most prominent race in the series are the Hylians, a humanoid race with elfin features identifiable by their long, pointed ears. The series' lore contains a creation myth, several fictional alphabets, the most prominent being Hylian, and a fictional universal currency, the rupee. Most games in The Legend of Zelda series follow a similar storyline, which involves the protagonist Link battling monsters to save Princess Zelda and defeat a villain, which is often the series' main antagonist, Ganon. Nintendo developed the series' lore into a timeline that spans thousands of years across its history.

Hyrule was created as the original setting for The Legend of Zelda and has remained the main environment for successive games in the series. Inspired by dungeon crawlers, Miyamoto and Tezuka developed a high fantasy world in the form of a 2D map filled with monsters, puzzles and dungeons. Hyrule transitioned to a 3D environment with the development of Ocarina of Time. For Breath of the Wild, released in 2017, Nintendo developed Hyrule into a seamless open world. Since the launch of the original game, the series has been a commercial and critical success and introduced landmark innovations in world design that have influenced numerous developers in the video game industry.

Overview

See also: List of The Legend of Zelda media

The Legend of Zelda series is set in a fantasy world that first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda, which was developed and published by Nintendo. The game introduced Hyrule as the series' primary setting and series protagonist Link, a Hylian boy or young man who is the player character. The storyline of each game varies, but follows a common overarching plot that involves Link travelling through Hyrule to rescue Princess Zelda and save the world from evil, which is typically the series' main villain, Ganon. A recurring plot element in the games is Ganon's attempts to obtain the Triforce, a mystical artifact that will enable him to possess ultimate power. Although Link and Zelda have similar appearances in each game, they are different characters who reappear whenever evil threatens the world. Skyward Sword was established as the beginning of the series' history and involves the antagonist Demise cursing the first incarnations of Link and Zelda so their descendants appear in an endless cycle to protect Hyrule from evil.

Hyrule

Not to be confused with Camp Hyrule.

Concept and design

"I went hiking and found a lake. It was quite a surprise for me to stumble upon it. When I traveled around the country without a map, trying to find my way, stumbling on amazing things as I went, I realized how it felt to go on an adventure like this".

Shigeru Miyamoto, on his inspiration for The Legend of Zelda

Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto conceived the land of Hyrule as the setting for the original The Legend of Zelda, describing it as "a miniature garden that you can put into a drawer and revisit anytime you like". He drew his inspiration from the Kyoto countryside that he had explored in his childhood and wanted to recreate the experience of adventure and discovery. Alongside writer Takashi Tezuka, Miyamoto created a fantasy world in the style of fantasy authors like Tolkien, which was viewed from a top-down perspective. It was populated with colourful characters, monsters and dungeons for the player to explore.

2D world design

Miyamoto and Tezuka started working on The Legend of Zelda during the development of Super Mario Bros. Initially, the game did not feature an overworld. In Hyrule Historia, Miyamoto said that Nintendo aimed to develop a launch title for the Famicom Disk System. An early game was initially designed to make use of the Disk System's ability to rewrite data, allowing players to create dungeons and explore other players' creations. He explained: "We made a one-player game with dungeons under mountains that surrounded Death Mountain, but we couldn't shake that "I want to play above ground, too!" feeling, so we added forests and lakes, and eventually Hyrule Field".

The first specifications were drawn up on a whiteboard by Miyamoto and then copied onto a document on 1 February 1985. The document detailed early concepts for items and enemies that would later feature in the game, such as a compass, bows and arrows and a boomerang, and "Hakkai", an early name given to Ganon. This was developed into rough sketches for various items and enemies within the following two weeks. The name for the game had not yet been decided, so the title was simply labelled "Adventure". Long paper was used to create the first land map of Hyrule, which was developed by Tezuka and Miyamoto sitting side by side and drawing together. Miyamoto said that the name "Hyrule" seemed like the perfect choice during a discussion to find a name for a high-fantasy region. In Japan, The Legend of Zelda game was released as The Hyrule Fantasy, which was almost chosen as the name for the entire franchise, but was dropped after the first game. Miyamoto said this could have been due to the name being too similar to Final Fantasy, which was released soon afterwards.

The original Hyrule map was designed to encourage exploration and discovery, requiring up to several hours to navigate. The map is nonlinear, so players are free to choose from several unmarked paths, with just a few areas being inaccessible at the start. Miyamoto was influenced by The Black Onyx and Ultima, two games that centre around fantasy dungeon crawling. The Zelda world was defined by its mazes, hidden rooms and treasures. The game's nine dungeons were designed to be difficult to locate, forcing players to uncover the secrets of the map with little help. In addition to its underworld, the Hyrule map consists of a large overworld created out of a grid structure that is much larger than can be displayed on a single screen. It is 16 blocks wide and eight blocks high and comprises 128 areas. Miyamoto said that maps for the game were included in North America: "The maps included various hints, but to be honest, I thought it would be more enjoyable to play the game without any help. So we sealed the map, with a message reading 'You should only use the map and strategic tips as a last resort'". Players were required to begin their adventure in the centre of Hyrule and use instinct alone to find an old man inside a cave who gives Link a sword and declares, "It's dangerous to go alone!". While navigating Hyrule's overworld and its many dangerous enemies, players must eventually find the dungeons, which each feature various enemies, items and a boss.

The concept of a role-playing game was a new experience for players in the 1980s. The gameplay diverged from the fast-paced games typically found in arcades like Super Mario Bros, by offering players an open world to explore, puzzles to solve and a fantasy story that centres on a protagonist embarking on an adventure to save a princess from an evil villain and bring peace to Hyrule. The new game concept caused concern with Nintendo's management. In 2003, Miyamoto stated in an interview for Superplay magazine: "I remember that we were very nervous, because The Legend Of Zelda was our first game that forced the players to think about what they should do next. We were afraid that gamers would become bored and stressed by the new concept". During the testing phase, players complained about getting lost inside the game's dungeons, but rather than making the game more simplistic, Miyamoto decided to make it more challenging by removing Link's sword at the beginning of the game and forcing players to locate it. He wanted to encourage players to communicate with each other while solving the game's puzzles.

Transition to 3D

Hyrule continued to evolve over the course of successive games. The transition from a 2D to 3D world occurred with the release of Ocarina of Time, due to the capabilities of the Nintendo 64, which gave players the opportunity to experience a more realistic game environment. The 3D world was also accompanied by an expanding fictional lore that laid the foundation for other games in the series within an official fictional timeline. The game's dungeons were each unique and connected to a specific area of Hyrule and its inhabitants. Several recurring races, such as the Gorons, Zora and Gerudo were introduced and given a distinct history and culture. Hyrule Field, an expansive open grassy area, was positioned at the centre of Hyrule, acting as a hub that connects other areas to create the illusion of a vast world. The game's time travel mechanic also introduced a dark version of Hyrule Kingdom, a land corrupted by Ganondorf's influence, with Hyrule Castle Town in ruins and Redead zombies as its inhabitants.

Due to concerns about the limitations of the Nintendo 64, Miyamoto initially conceived the game taking place within a central hub in the confines of Ganon's Castle, similar to Peach's Castle in Super Mario 64. He described Ocarina of Time as a "huge project" due to the fact that it involved making the game environment from 3D polygons and was larger in scale than anything that he had previously worked on. He said that he had approached the game by first focusing on what types of characters he wanted to include, rather than on the story or the game functions. Ocarina of Time was designed with several innovations to help the player navigate the expansive 3D world and interact with the environment. The camera system was designed to integrate with the 3D world of Hyrule, giving the player a sense of perspective and tracking the movements of Link. The game's Z-targeting system was created to provide the player with a simple way to lock on and interact with objects, characters and enemies in the game world. The game also made use of context sensitive controls by using the A button for a range of interactions, such as mounting a horse or opening a treasure chest. These features were landmarks for Nintendo and influenced 3D world development within the games industry.

During development, the staff spent less time on developing the dungeons. According to Miyamoto: "Instead of mapping your way through a maze, I think what's more important is a sense of dread, a sense of pressure, and of course an opportunity for finding secrets and solving puzzles—we should be pursuing an emotional immediacy, the sense that you are really there". Hyrule and its characters in Ocarina of Time were depicted in an art style that drifted towards Western fantasy, although Miyamoto said there was no intentional replication of cultural elements from one specific country. Hyrule's fantasy characters were partially inspired by the American television series Twin Peaks. In an interview, Takashi Tezuka said he had used the series as inspiration when creating Link's Awakening: "After that, in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, all kinds of suspicious characters appeared". Many assets and character models in the game were later reused for Majora's Mask, both for stylistic purposes and to save development time.

Open air concept

Producer Eiji Aonuma approached Breath of the Wild by breaking the conventions of previous games. He explained that in Ocarina of Time, the game world featured "routes" to help players navigate the 3D environment without getting lost, but that certain handholding and blockages had caused players to feel frustrated. By contrast, Breath of the Wild's Hyrule was designed to allow the player to explore a vast world in any way they liked. Nintendo's senior product marketing manager Bill Trinen described the game as "open air": "I look at this game and I see a world that is fully integrated into the exploration and the adventure. It's not just a world that you're passing through. It's sort of a world that you're a part of". The game world benefited from advancements in Nintendo hardware. Earlier games had been restricted by the available technology, creating the need to separate Hyrule into individual connecting areas, but the game world could now be experienced as a seamless environment. The concept of an "open air" environment began during work on The Wind Waker. Aonuma said that he wanted to remove the small connecting areas of The Wind Waker and replace them with open expanses, but the world ended up feeling smaller than he intended.

"In Breath of the Wild, the fact that the world is supported by a coherent physics engine has a major effect on the possible actions. It sounds obvious, but for example, if you push down a rock, it's going to roll according to the slope. We wanted people to be able to feel things in a "realistic" way, to break or move around big objects in the game and believe they could have had the same feeling in real life. This physically lived experience is very important".

Eiji Aonuma on realism in Breath of the Wild's game world

Breath of the Wild's open world was inspired by other video games. The game's director Hidemaro Fujibayashi named Minecraft and Terraria as his inspirations for "the sense of adventure, exploration and how it inspired curiosity". Aonuma also mentioned several other games that he had played, including The Witcher, Far Cry and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. He also cited Skyward Sword as the basis for many of the world's mechanics, such as the ability to climb and explore between areas. The development team began Breath of the Wild by working on a 2D prototype of Hyrule to test interactions between objects. This was developed into a complex physics and chemistry engine that would present a higher level of realism. The chemistry engine allowed for elements, such as fire, water and electricity to interact with each other and objects in the game world. This was designed to provide the player with a more interactive gameplay that was coined "chemical reaction play". Hyrule in Breath of the Wild was depicted using an art style that was based on the stylised visuals of The Wind Waker but developed into a more realistic, detailed style. The civilization of the Hylians was developed with a focus on their castle in the style of medieval Europe to return to the roots of the series, while the ancient technological features of the Sheikah were inspired by the Jōmon period of Japanese history.

Fujibayashi stated that the layout of Hyrule in Breath of the Wild was inspired in part by his hometown of Kyoto: "I took a map of Kyoto and overlaid it on the game world, and I tried to imagine going to places that I know in Kyoto. I'd think 'It takes this much time to get from point A to point B, so how does that translate to the game?' And that's how we started mapping out the world in Breath of the Wild". The development team used landmarks in Kyoto as a way of comparing the distance between landmarks in the game world, which helped staff during the development of the game. This measurement of distance allowed Hyrule to be scaled up to an enormous world that appears twelve times the size of its predecessor in Twilight Princess.

For Tears of the Kingdom, Aonuma used the same map of Hyrule as the one players experienced in Breath of the Wild to create a continuation of the same world. Hyrule was extensively expanded, by introducing Sky Islands to the map to place emphasis on vertical gameplay. In addition to its sky expansion, the game introduced the Depths, a vast pitch-black area beneath the surface of Hyrule. Aonuma said the development team had learned lessons from Skyward Sword, where Link was restricted by the hardware to descend from particular points. He explained that the team had wanted to create the ability to "traverse a world that's not only horizontally connected in a single world, but vertically connected as well", noting the sense of freedom the player experiences by diving into that.

Depiction

Flags of Hyrule from Breath of the Wild

The Kingdom of Hyrule, a medieval-based fantasy land, is the main setting of the series, which first appeared in The Legend of Zelda. Many of its areas have appeared throughout the series, such as Hyrule Castle, the Lost Woods, Kakariko Village, Death Mountain and Lake Hylia.

Hyrule was formed by three goddesses: Din, Farore, and Nayru. It is established in Ocarina of Time that Din created the physical geography of the realm, Nayru created the physical laws to govern it, and Farore created the races to uphold the law and the flora and fauna that inhabit the world. After the goddesses completed their tasks, they departed for the heavens, leaving behind three golden triangles containing their power to govern all things; this relic became known as the Triforce. Skyward Sword expanded on this history by detailing the rise of Demon King Demise and his dark forces, who attempt to take the Triforce and destroy the world. The goddess Hylia stays to protect the Triforce and leads an army of free people into battle to weaken Demise and seal him away from the world. The realm was eventually named Hyrule after its dominant race, the Hylians, who established a kingdom across the land. The kingdom is ruled by the Royal Family of Hyrule, into which the various incarnations of Princess Zelda are often born.

The Hylian alphabet is a cipher of either English or Japanese that first appears in A Link to the Past, where it is identified as "the ancient language of the Hylians" and is composed of symbols that Link must translate to progress. In Japan, an explanation of the Hylian alphabet was written on the back of the instruction manual for The Wind Waker with a phonographic writing system, or syllabary, like the Japanese language. Since its first appearance, five more Hylian scripts have been developed and deciphered: the Old Hylian Syllabary used in Ocarina of Time, the Modern Hylian Syllabary used in The Wind Waker, the Hylian Alphabet used in Skyward Sword, the Hylian Alphabet used in A Link Between Worlds, and the Hylian Alphabet used in Twilight Princess. The first three are used for transcribing Japanese, while the latter three are used to transcribe English, totaling six variations of written Hylian. Additional languages have subsequently appeared in the series. The language of the Gerudo was introduced in Ocarina of Time, a written and spoken language that is similar to Hylian and is written in elongated, wispy letters. The Sheikah language was introduced in Breath of the Wild and consists of a complete alphabet of square-shaped symbols. Players have deciphered these languages to translate numerous signs and inscriptions commonly found around Hyrule.

The universal currency of Hyrule is the rupee. Although it shares its name with the real-world currency, Miyamoto said in an interview that this was not intentional and that he chose the word because it seemed cute and sounded like "rubies". Rupees resemble hexagonal crystals or gems and come in various colors that determine their value. In the manual for the original game, the currency was called rubies, but this was changed to rupees in later games. Subsequent games introduced more colors and sizes for rupees, each denoting a specific value. Generally, green rupees have the least value, while gold and silver rupees have the most.

Hyrulean geography

A map of Hyrule depicted in The Legend of Zelda Collector's Puzzle

Although the geography of Hyrule varies from game to game, it typically features several recurring geographical landmarks, which appear in different locations relative to each other depending on the game.

• Death Mountain is a large volcanic mountain located in northern Hyrule. It first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda and has appeared through the series up to Breath of the Wild. Twilight Princess reveals it is part of the Eldin Mountains, a mountain range in the Eldin Province. The main inhabitants of Death Mountain are the Gorons, a race of rock-eating golems that mine the mountains in search of food; the mountains are littered with caves as a result of their mining activities.
• Ganon's Castle is Ganon's fortress, which has acted as the battleground between him and Link in several games. In Ocarina of Time, when Link travels to the future, it has been built in place of Hyrule Castle.
• Hyrule Castle is the home of Hyrule's royal family, which first appeared in A Link to the Past. It is a symbol of the power of the Hyrulean monarchy and is frequently the main target of Hyrule's enemies, particularly Ganon. It is often a central area that Link visits during his quest.
• Kakariko Village is a village that first appears in A Link to the Past and has since reappeared in Ocarina of Time, Four Swords Adventures, Twilight Princess, A Link Between Worlds, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Kakariko Village is often portrayed as a small, prosperous town that was originally founded by the Sheikah. In Twilight Princess, Shadow Beasts have kidnapped most of the villagers, making the town resemble a ghost town. In Breath of the Wild, the village has survived the Great Calamity and is inhabited by the Sheikah.
• Lake Hylia is the largest freshwater lake in Hyrule. It commonly features collectible items and dungeons, and is often where Link encounters members of the Zora race.
• The Lost Woods is a large enchanted forest that appears in various games, starting with The Legend of Zelda. It is home to the Kokiri, Koroks and Fairies, and its maze-like structure leads travelers in circles unless they take the correct path through the forest. Rumors state that those who become lost are turned into Stalfos. In several games, the Great Deku Tree and/or the Master Sword can be found in a shrine there.
• Spectacle Rock is a location consisting of two large rock formations next to each other that resemble a pair of eyeglasses. It housed the final dungeon in the original game. It is usually associated with Death Mountain, but is located in the Gerudo Highlands in Breath of the Wild. Spectacle Rock also appears in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, A Link to the Past, and A Link Between Worlds.
• Temple of Time is the temple that houses the Master Sword in several games. It is also used to traverse time, most notably in Ocarina of Time, where it allows the player to travel between the past and future. In some games, it serves as a dungeon.

Objects

Triforce

Main article: Triforce

The Triforce is represented as three conjoined golden triangles.

The Triforce, also called the "Power of the Gods" and the "Golden Triangle", is a triangular sacred relic left behind by the three Golden Goddesses after they created Hyrule. It is made up of three smaller triangles known as the Triforce of Power, the Triforce of Wisdom, and the Triforce of Courage. These embody the essences of their respective goddesses, and present a power struggle and balance of morality between the central characters, Ganon, Zelda and Link. The Triforce first appeared in the original game as a focal point of the plot, which involves Ganon stealing the Triforce of Power and Link searching for the scattered pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom to stop him and protect Hyrule from evil. The Triforce of Courage was introduced in The Adventure of Link as the third piece. When united, the Triforce allows the person who touches it to make a wish that usually lasts until they die or the wish is granted. If the person who finds it does not possess a balance of the three virtues it represents, the pieces will split into its three components, leaving the finder with the one that represents the characteristic they value most.

Master Sword

Main article: Master Sword

The Master Sword, also known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", the "Sword of Resurrection", or the "sword that seals the darkness" is a divine, magic sword and Link's signature weapon. It is one of the few weapons capable of harming Ganon and acts as a key to the Sacred Realm. It was first introduced in A Link To The Past, it has the power to "repel evil", which enables it to overcome powerful dark magic and slay evil and demonic beings that cannot be harmed by conventional weaponry. Skyward Sword reveals that it was originally known as the Goddess Sword, which is inhabited by a sentient female spirit named Fi. Near the end of the game, the Goddess Sword transforms into the Master Sword after being infused with the Three Sacred Flames, with Fi's spirit form ceasing to be after the Master Sword absorbs Demise's remains. The sword traditionally rests in a stone pedestal hidden in sacrosanct locations indigenous to Hyrule, such as the Temple of Time or the Lost Woods. Like the Sword in the Stone, the Master Sword can only be removed by someone who is worthy of wielding it.

Other lands and worlds

Hyrule is the main recurring setting of The Legend of Zelda series, but several games are set outside Hyrule in other lands, realms and parallel worlds. The geographical relationship between Hyrule and these other worlds is not clearly defined.

• The Dark World is a parallel world to Hyrule that appears in A Link to the Past. It is a darker version of Hyrule, which is referred to as the Light World.
• The Great Sea is the setting of The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass, formed after a deluge flooded Hyrule. Only a few mountaintops are still visible above the water, which form the islands and archipelagos of the Great Sea. Due to the relatively small size of these islands, the large expanses of ocean between each island require the player to use charts to navigate between them.
• Holodrum is a land that Link travels to in Oracle of Seasons, where Din finds him and is subsequently captured by the General of Darkness, Onox, causing the four seasons in Holodrum to fall into chaos. Holodrum is protected by a huge tree called a Maku Tree. Link eventually dispels the darkness using a Huge Maku Seed.
• Hytopia is a kingdom that is the main setting of Tri Force Heroes. It is ruled by Princess Styla, who has been cursed to wear a drab jumpsuit.
• Koholint Island is the setting of Link's Awakening, which Link washes ashore on after a storm and which has a giant egg atop its highest peak. To escape the island, Link must awaken the Wind Fish, which he later discovers will cause the island to disappear, as it exists in its dreams. He ultimately achieves this goal, but the island ceases to exist.
• Labrynna is a land that appears in Oracle of Ages. In a similar storyline to that of Holodrum, the land of Labrynna is thrown into chaos after Nayru is possessed by the sorceress Veran, causing the flow of time to be disrupted.
• Lorule is a parallel world to Hyrule that appears in A Link Between Worlds. It is similar to Hyrule in geography and is ruled by Princess Zelda's Lorulean counterpart, Princess Hilda. Like Hyrule, Lorule originally had its own Triforce, which was the source of various conflicts. However, the Royal Family of Lorule decided to destroy the Triforce in an attempt to put an end to conflict, only to bring calamity to their world as a result.
• New Hyrule is a kingdom founded by Link and Tetra following the events of Phantom Hourglass which appears in Spirit Tracks. New Hyrule is home to the titular Spirit Tracks, magical train tracks created by the Spirits of Good, the guardian deities of the country. The Tracks connect the four sections of the continent and allow for travel by train between them.
• Skyloft is a collection of large floating islands in Skyward Sword, which were created when the Goddess Hylia used the last of her power to raise what was left of the surviving Hylians along with a plot of land that was still free during the Great War with Demise. Below the clouds lies "the Surface".
• Termina is a parallel world to Hyrule that serves as the main setting of Majora's Mask. Link enters it through a portal deep within the Lost Woods. The land and its citizens are very similar to that of Hyrule. Termina is split into four distinct regions, guarded by four giant deities: the swampy Woodfall, home of the Deku Scrubs, to the south; the icy Snowhead Mountains of the Gorons to the north; Great Bay, home of the Zora to the west; and the undead wastelands of Ikana Canyon to the east. Its capital, Clock Town, lies in the center.
• The Twilight Realm is a parallel world to Hyrule that appears in Twilight Princess, which is inhabited by the Twili. Its ruler Midna was overthrown by antagonist Zant, who seeks to gain power over the Twilight Realm and transforms the Twili into Shadow Beasts. Link and Midna work together to cleanse the twilight from Hyrule and defeat Zant.
• The World of the Ocean King is the setting of Phantom Hourglass, which takes place after the events of The Wind Waker. Its world is similar to the Great Sea, with several islands located on the ocean.
• The Depths is the underworld of Tears of the Kingdom, which is scattered with ruins and mirrors the surface of Hyrule. It is connected to the surface by the chasms across Hyrule and receives very little light, being pitch-black until Link activates the Lightroots located across it.
• The Still World is another world that appears in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, which is connected to Hyrule through rifts that each lead to a different section of it. It is a world where people, objects, and terrain transported there are frozen in time.

Characters

Main article: Characters of The Legend of Zelda

Despite most games in the series nominally taking place centuries apart, The Legend of Zelda often features many recurring characters. The silent protagonist Link and the princess Zelda are reincarnated in most Zelda games, while the antagonistic force Ganon, the final boss of most Zelda games, born from the primordial evil "Demise", repeatedly returns in a new form as well. Other figures who reappear across the series include Zelda's caretaker Impa and the fairy-obsessed man Tingle. In many Zelda games, Link obtains a horse named Epona.

Link is frequently accompanied by a companion in Zelda games, starting with Navi in The Ocarina of Time. Characters like Navi, Midna, and Fi serve a tutorial function in their respective games and comment on events as they transpire in the story. The supporting cast of Breath of the Wild, featuring characters such as Mipha, Prince Sidon, and Urbosa, has proven to be popular among fans of the series.

Races

"Hylian" redirects here. For the language, see § Hylian language.

Since the release of the original game, the series has featured several races. Alongside the Hylian race, which established the land of Hyrule, there are various other prominent races, such as the Gorons, Gerudo, Rito and Zora.

• Ancient Robots are a prehistoric mechanical race that appear in Skyward Sword, who Link encounters in the Lanayru Desert. They were created by the Thunder Dragon Lanayru, but their land eventually became a barren desert and they rusted away. However, they can be revived using a Timeshift Stone to change the present to the past. Although the designers expressed concern about including advanced technology in Skyward Sword, they decided that they did not look out of place with a "softer" design resembling the Dogū, which was more befitting of fantasy.
• Dragons are a recurring race that usually appear as benevolent guardians or powerful enemies. In Ocarina of Time, Link must slay Volvagia, a dragon boss in the Fire Temple. In The Wind Waker, the Sky Spirit Valoo acts as the godlike dragon and the patron deity of the Rito tribe. When Link arrives on Dragon Roost Island, he defeats the boss Gohma by damaging Valoo's tail. In Twilight Princess, Link encounters the dragon Argorok, who is the boss of the City in the Sky. In Skyward Sword, Link is aided by the three dragons Faron, Eldin and Lanayru, which guard the three regions of the Surface. In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the three dragons Dinraal, Naydra, and Farosh can be found in several locations around Hyrule. Tears of the Kingdom features a fourth dragon, the Light Dragon (白龍, Hakuryū), which is later revealed to be Zelda transformed after undergoing the process of draconification to restore the shattered Master Sword through sacred power.
• Fairies are magical creatures that appear as small, winged humanoids often obscured by light. They tend to be shy and can be found hiding in many places throughout Hyrule, mainly at fairy fountains or fairy springs. In most games in the series, fairies will heal Link if he manages to catch one; he can also put them in empty bottles to have them heal him later. If Link dies while he has a bottled fairy in his possession, the fairy will automatically resurrect him. Great fairies are powerful, high ranking fairies that use their magic to enchant Link's items into more powerful versions. In Ocarina of Time, the Kokiri form a symbiotic relationship with their guardian fairies, who act as companions and mentors. One of these is Navi, who serves as Link's sidekick and helps him learn about the world outside Kokiri Forest.
• The Gerudo are a race of human warrior-thieves indigenous to the Gerudo Desert, which bears their name. Their physical traits include scarlet hair, aquiline noses, gold or green eyes, round or pointed ears, and bronzed skin. Like the Amazons, the race consists entirely of women, apart from a single Gerudo male who is born every century and is lawfully crowned king of the tribe, and worshipped like a God king. When there is no male present to be king, leadership is instead entrusted to female chiefs. Ganondorf, the main antagonist of the series, is king of the Gerudo. The Gerudo appear as pirates in Majora's Mask, where they live in the ocean at Great Bay. In Breath of the Wild, they are traders and merchants. As men are not permitted in Gerudo Town, Link must crossdress as a female to enter.
• The Gorons are a race of mountain-dwelling rock people who first appeared in Ocarina of Time. They have the ability to roll along the ground and have a round rock-like physical appearance. Goron culture revolves around brotherhood and strength, usually referring to each other and those they deem strong as "Brother" or "Big Brother". Gorons show high regard for individuals who display great strength and bravery and enjoy matching their strength with others in competition such as sumo wrestling and racing. They live in tribes headed by a patriarch, such as Darunia in Ocarina of Time. They mainly inhabit mountainous areas, such as Death Mountain, and are resistant to intense heat and lava. They also consume rocks and minerals, which they mine from the earth.
• Hylians are an elf-like race of humans that predominantly make up the population of Hyrule, most prominently Link and Zelda, in which they established an organized civilization resembling that of medieval Europe. They were created as the first race of Hyrule by the goddess Hylia, born with magic-infused blood said to be a gift from the goddesses that grants them psychic powers and magical skill. Their long pointed ears are said to allow them to hear messages sent by the gods. In Skyward Sword, Hylians live on the floating island of Skyloft and are accompanied by bird-like creatures called Loftwings. Hylians are a fairly diverse species, having variations in skin, hair and eye colour. Due to repeated attacks from enemies, such as Ganon, large Hylian armies exist to protect Hyrule.
• The Kokiri are a pixie-like race who inhabit the Kokiri Forest, who branched off from the Hylians due to wanting to live a more natural life as Hyrule continued to industrialize. They are guarded by the Great Deku Tree, whose power causes them to not age once they grow up into kids, and who considers them to be his children. They are cautious and secretive, believing that they will die if they leave the forest. Each one receives a small fairy who serves as their lifelong friend, guardian, and teacher. Link was raised as a Kokiri in Ocarina of Time, but was not born to them, as his Hylian mother entrusted him to the Great Deku Tree when he was an infant.
• The Koroks are plant-like beings that first appeared in The Wind Waker and are said to have been transformed from the Kokiri following the Great Flood. They are small creatures with wood-like bodies and masks made from leaves, with their light weight allowing them to travel by using sprouts as propellers. They leave their home, the "Forest Haven", to plant seeds from the Great Deku Tree all over the world, and return once a year to hold a ceremony and obtain more seeds. In Breath of the Wild, Koroks can be found all over Hyrule and their seeds can be traded with Hestu, a large Korok, to upgrade weapon inventory slots. Koroks are difficult to find despite being numerous and are best protected in Korok Forest, a hidden location in the Lost Woods.
• The Oocca are a race of birds with long necks and human-like faces that appear in Twilight Princess. They live in the "City in the Sky", an airborne city that is the seventh dungeon in Twilight Princess and which Link reaches by launching himself out of an enormous cannon. A female Oocca, Ooccoo can warp the player back to the entrance of the game's dungeons, and her son, Ooccoo Jr, warps the player to Ooccoo's location. In Twilight Princess, they are mentioned to be closer to the gods than the Hylians. Some in Hyrule theorize that the Oocca actually evolved into the Hylians, or that they created Hylians and a city in the sky for them to live in. Ooccoo has also appeared in other Nintendo games, such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Hyrule Warriors.
• Minish, referred to in their native language as Picori, are small humanoid sprites no bigger than a human thumb that live in secret, who first appear in The Minish Cap. They are only visible to children and tend to live in forests, but also appear inside of buildings and holes in and around various spots of Hyrule. There are three variations of the Minish, which are distinguished by their attire: Forest Minish, Town Minish and Mountain Minish. Most Minish are helpful and like to hide valuable objects for others to find, although one Picori, Vaati became evil after becoming obsessed with human nature.
• Рито ​ это раса гуманоидов, подобных рапторам, впервые представленные в ветровом Waker , который развивался из Зоры. В Wind Waker они живут на острове Дракона Руста, на острове на Великом море, и имеют племенную старейшину и тщательно одетые охранники. Они изначально не обработаны, так как они рождаются без крыльев; На протяжении всего детства молодого Рито их называют молодым. После того, как ребенок достигает определенного возраста, они должны посетить своего опекуна, Sky Spirit, Valoo, на церемонии совершеннолетия, чтобы получить одну из его весов, что позволяет им выращивать крылья. Большинство рито могут летать на большие расстояния и находить на месте, но некоторые изо всех сил пытаются летать в течение длительного времени. В дыхании дикой природы рито проживает в регионе Хебры на северо -западном Хайруле и переносит холодный климат. Эти рито имеют гораздо более заметный дизайн птиц, который включает крылья и способна летать с помощью UpdRafts. Выдающиеся персонажи Rito включают Revali , The Rito Champion и Kass, блуждающего менестреля, который демонстрирует признательность Рито за музыку через песню.
• Шейка ​ древние и таинственные воины, подобные ниндзя Зельда , обычно отличающиеся их красными глазами и белыми волосами, чей наиболее выдающимся представителем -«Детская и телохранитель » . Они играют божественно рукоположенную роль в защите королевской семьи Хайрула. Несмотря на их физическое сходство с гилианами, они - другая раса с великим технологическим мастерством, как видно из «Дыхания дикой природы» с опекунами, святынями и башнями, а также шейкой. Они физически сильнее, чем другие расы и являются одними из самых мощных магических владельцев в Хайруле. Их символ, глаз шейки, который представляет собой один глаз с тремя треугольниками выше и слез внизу, обычно можно увидеть в сериале, даже в играх, где шейка не присутствует.
• По -прежнему это раса, которая обитает в царстве сумерек и появляется в Сумеречной принцессе . Они происходят из группы, называемой промежуточными, которые использовали необычайную магию, чтобы доминировать в войне между гилианами за Трифорс и Священную Царство. Свидетельство о том, что золотые богини приказали световым духам запечатать свою магию в плавленную тень; Затем прокляты были изгнаны в сумерки, темный зеркальный мир Хайрула, где они адаптировались и развивались в Твили. Самыми выдающимися членами их расы - Midna Титульная сумеречная принцесса и Зант, который сверг ее с помощью Ганондорфа стать королем Сумерки.
• Зора ​ это раса водных писциновых гуманоидов , которые населяют область Зоры или озеро Хилия. В оригинальной игре и ссылке на прошлое Зора были врагами, которые атаковали ссылку из воды с снарядами, хотя в связи с прошлым гигантским звеном СПИДа Зора Кин Сеть водоворотов, которые связывают дальние уголки Хайрула. По Окарине времени их роль в большинстве историй изменилась на нейтральную или дружелюбную гонку. Правительство Зоры монархичено , либо управляет король, такой как король Дорефан, в «Дыхании дикой природы», «Сидон в слезах королевства» и «Король Зора де Бон XVI» в Окарине времени или королевы, такой как королева Орен в связи между Миры и королева Рутала В сумеречной принцессе . Существуют две разные ветви: «Ривер Зора» более сильные и могут стрелять в огонь, в то время как «морская зора», как правило, пассивна. Zora имеет длительный срок службы и откладывает яйца для размножения, которые должны храниться в холодной, чистой воде, чтобы развиваться здорово, а яйца из одной и той же сцепления должны храниться вместе, чтобы вылупиться. Новорожденный Зора имеет вид головастика .
• Зонаи - это древняя раса, которая появляется в слезах королевства . Первоначально упоминаемые через различные руины в дыхании дикой природы , они созданы в слезах королевства как племя, которое первоначально основало Хайрул, а Рауру был первым королем вместе со своей женой Сони. В игре Zonai Technology заметна в Hyrule в виде святынь, руин, конструкций и других устройств Zonai. Они также создали геоглифов, которые Линк расследует во время основного квеста «Слезы дракона» вместе со слезами их дракона, чтобы узнать больше о исчезновении Зельды. В древнем прошлом они были созданы вокруг слез дракона людьми, которые смотрели на воспоминания внутри них. Создавая чемпиона , Zonai описываются как пользователи магии, которые поклоняются Triforce.

Враги

Появление некоторых существ различается по разным названиям серии:

• Доспехи это анимированные статуи, построенные для охраны древних руин, которые оживают и атакуют, когда нарушаются. У них чудовищные появления и несут меч и щит. Если Линк приблизится, они будут преследовать его. Сначала они появились в «Легенде о Зельде» .
• Книжные публины это раса из гоблинских существ, которые впервые появились в ветровом Waker . Бокоблины бывают разных цветов. Они часто появляются как стандартные враги и обладают палочками Boko, мачете и клубами. Хотя их внешний вид варьируется от игры к игре, единственная вещь, которая остается последовательной, это то, что они носят порельки с одним черепом. В «Сумеречной принцессе» они менее распространены, и их роль в качестве стандартных врагов в значительной степени охватывает булблины. В Skyward Sword бокоблины - это обычные монстры, которые служат племени демонов, под руководством демона Лорда Гирахима и Демонского короля . Игра также вводит техноблины и проклятые бокоблины, нежити бокоблины, которые могут проклинать ссылку. В дыхании дикой природы и слезами королевства бокоблины-низкоуровневые, комичные враги, которые обычно появляются в Хируле, живущих в лагерях.
• Чучус Являются ли желе, похожие на существ с приседами, полупрозрачными телами, стебенчатыми глазами и улыбающимся ртом. Они в основном движутся, подпрыгивая вокруг. Чухус появляется в разных цветах, а некоторые обладают определенными способностями. После того, как они будут побеждены, они бросят желе Чучу, которое может использоваться Link в качестве ингредиента и для модернизации брони.
• Темные крючки крупные бронированные рыцари, вооруженные мечами и щитами. Сначала они появились в «Легенде о Зельде», но повторяются враги, которые появляются в Сумеречной принцессе и других играх.
• Деку Деревянные растения, похожие на растения существа, введенные в Окарина , которые появляются в основном в чрезмерном мире и подземельях. Деку-это маленькие существа, у которых есть листья, прорастающие из их голов, красные светящиеся глаза и трубчатые рты, которые могут стрелять в орехи деку. Они могут летать, используя большие листья для скольжения, а некоторые могут использовать листья на голове, чтобы летать на неопределенный срок после взлета из цветка деку. В серии изображены четыре типа Deku: скрабы Deku, безумные скрабы, бизнес -скрабы и королевские скрабы.
• Фломастерные И Wallmasters - это призрачные проявления гигантских рук, которые перетаскивают приключений обратно к входу в подземелье. Фломары расстались на меньшие версии, когда оригинал подвергается атакованию. Уоллмастеры впервые появились в «Легенде о Зельде», в то время как флормастры впервые появились в Окарине времени . Флормастры также появляются в ветровом Waker и Minish Cap .
• Гибдос Нежить существа, обернутые как мумии . Они напоминают переосмысление в отношении их медленного и зомби, похожего на зомби; В некоторых играх, установив повязки Гибдо, зажженные сталфом или перезапущением внизу. Сначала они появились в «Легенде о Зельде» .
• Гохма являются повторяющимися босс -монстрами, которые обычно напоминают гигантские членистоногие с одним глазом. Глаз служит их слабой точкой. Первоначальный Gohma впервые появился в игре Legend of Zelda .
• Стражи - это большие механические враги, которые могут взорвать врагов мощным лазером с их единственного глаза. Они появляются в дыхании дикой природы . Сталкеры -хранители бродят Hyrule, перемещаясь по их механическим ногам, в то время как Skywatchers Guardian используют винты для локомоции. Продюсер Eiji Aonuma сказал, что они основаны на Octoroks, которые появляются в оригинальной игре.
• Хинокс являются повторяющимися врагами и подбором в серии «Легенда о Зельде». Одиночный глаз Хинокс является его наиболее уязвимым местом, нанося наибольшее урон от него при ударе. Это циклопы -похожи на огня и появились в связи с прошлым , пробуждение Линка , четырех приключений на мечах , призрачные песочные часы , связь между мирами , героями Три , дыхание дикой природы и совсем недавно слезы королевства . В дыхании дикой природы и слезами королевства Hinoxs могут быть красным, синим или черным, в зависимости от их силы. Они являются самым большим монстром, найденным в игре, и будут выкорчевать близлежащие деревья, чтобы использовать оружие против игрока, если их спровоцировано. Сталнокс - это скелетные версии Hinox, которые появляются в дыхании дикой природы и слез королевства .
• МЕНТЫ есть Являются ли Bat Monsters, которые часто скрываются в темных местах, таких как пещеры, ожидая, чтобы погрузить бомбу. Неоткрытые путешественники, пытающиеся откусить куски плоти. У некоторых Kees есть возможность собирать элементы, через которые они летят, и есть огонь, лед, проклятый и электрические варианты. Сначала они появились в «Легенде о Зельде» .
• Как лайки желтоватые цилиндрические монстры, которые могут всосать существа, такие как люди, и потреблять предметы, которые они несут. Они известны своим глотанием щитов и туников, которые используют ссылки. Как лайки растворяются в луже, когда они убиты, оставляя украденные предметы. Сначала они появились в «Легенде о Зельде» .
• Лизальфос быстрые и хитрые антропоморфные ящерицы , которые часто атакуют парами и могут парировать и уклоняться от встречных атак. Сначала они появились в приключении ссылки . В «Дыхании дикой природы » Лизальфос может бросить оружие и броситься к своей цели.
• ЛИНЕЛС крупные, сильные кентавры , подобные существам с головой льва и рогами, которые впервые появились в легенде о Зельде . Это существо имеет несколько вариантов, включая красный, синий, белый и серебро, причем каждый цвет обозначает прочность Линела. В «Дыхании дикой природы » Линильс - чрезвычайно мощные враги, которые устойчивы к атакам.
• Моблины это орк -подобные монстры, которые служат ногами Ганона. В «Легенде о Зельде» и «Приключении Линк » Моблины напоминали бульдогов , но свиньи . в более поздних играх похожи на Они обычно владеют копьями, мечами, луками или иногда массивными клубами. Они являются одним из самых распространенных врагов в играх и считаются «могучими», но также и «глупыми». Они описываются как жадные, самостоятельные существа, а основной антагонист обычно использует их в качестве наемников или вызванных монстров.
• Octoroks являются монстрами осьминога , которые появились почти в каждой игре Legend of Zelda (за исключением сумеречной принцессы ). Octoroks производят камни в своем теле, которые они могут стрелять из своей морды с помощью сжатого воздуха с силой выстрела мушкета . Некоторые виды Octorok являются землевладельцами, в то время как другие в основном водные. Большой восьмиугольник -очень большая порода, которая иногда известна, атакует корабли. Сначала они появились в «Легенде о Зельде» .
• В магазине с фонарями, Являются ли призраки образующиеся из концентрированной ненависти к живым, которые свободно бродят кладбищами и другими местами с привидениями. Они всегда несут свои фирменные фонари. В некоторых изданиях они могут стать невидимыми, когда ссылка предпринимает определенное действие или в определенной форме. В слезах королевства они появляются в глубине как доступные предметы и валюту для статуй с торговой точки зрения. Сначала они появились в «Легенде о Зельде» .
• Заново Являются ли нежими существа, напоминающие зомби с темно-коричневой кожей и плоской маски, которые могут с криком парализовать врагов, и цепляться за них, чтобы истощать здоровье. Они впервые появились в Окарине времени .
• Скуллулы Гигантские пауки , названные в честь костной пластины в форме человеческого черепа , который образует их панцирь . Они чаще всего встречаются в темных местах, таких как леса, пещеры и подземелья, но они также иногда можно найти в городах ночью. Сколтулы и гигантские черепа висят на потолочных поверхностях, подвешенных от пряди шелка, ожидая, чтобы упасть на неожиданную добычу.
• Стальфос анимированные скелеты в основном из останков мертвых воинов, которые все еще имеют сильную волю для борьбы, и служат злым способностям, таким как Ганон или Ваати . В Ocarina of Time , используя маску истины, игрок учится на камне сплетни, что люди, которые теряются, когда в потерянных лесах станут сталфос. Сначала они появились в «Легенде о Зельде» .
• Тектиты Являются ли циклоисты с четвероногими инсектоидными существами, которые используют свои мощные ноги, чтобы прыгнуть и атаковать добычу. Синие тектиты могут ходить по воде, и синие и красные тектиты могут прыгать вверх по скалам. Сначала они появились в «Легенде о Зельде» .
• Wizzrobes Являются ли магическими существами, которые носят волшебники и часто используют огненную и ледяную магию. Сначала они появились в «Легенде о Зельде» . Дыхание дикой природы представило элементарные визиззои, которые используют различные магические стержни, чтобы вызвать элементарные атаки, элементарные враги и даже соответственно изменять погоду. Регулярными типами являются огненные, электрические и ледяные визиззои, но у каждого есть более мощный вариант. Они известны как Meteo и Thunder Wizzrobes, а также Blizzrobes соответственно.

Прием

В своем выпуске в январе 2010 года Nintendo Power перечислил Hyrule в качестве одного из величайших мест Nintendo, ссылаясь на огромное количество областей для изучения, а также ссылается на первое опыт игроков с Lost Woods и Death Mountain в качестве основных моментов приключений игроков. Стив Уоттс из Gamespot похвалил оригинальный игровой мир, комментируя, что, хотя он минималистский, это »передает ощущение, что выходит в грандиозное приключение через пустыню, и отсутствие ручной работы, которое будет определить более поздние Zelda игры . Мир чувствует себя намного более обширным и загадочным ». Янник Леджак для Котаку прокомментировал, что «Хайрул - одна из самых знаковых настройки в истории видеоигр. Легенда о игроках Zelda так или иначе рассказывается о ней в течение почти 30 лет».

Полигон Джереми Приход отметил, какое влияние Хайрул и его центральная часть Хайрул Филд оказали на геймеров в Окарине времени . Он прокомментировал: «Открытые игровые миры существовали до Ocarina of Time . И, по правде говоря, Ocarina исполнение of Hyrule даже не так уж много. Все, чтобы создать сферу, которая была более похожа на реальное место, чем на игровые миры, которые были до него ». Destructoid также отметил влияние Хайрула в Окарине времени , говоря, что «до 1998 года не было ничего подобного», и продолжил: «Удивительная вещь о Хайруле - то, что я могу честно видеть такое место, как в нашем мире. Это не просто фантазия. , роскошное место, как вы найдете во вселенной Звездных войн .

Открытый мир Hyrule в Breath of the Wild получил похвалу за его дизайн. Ноэль Уорнер из Destructoid оценил все поселения в дыхании дикой природы и выбрала Tarrey Town в качестве любимого места, потому что игроки должны построить его с нуля, что делает его одним из самых длинных побочных квестов в игре. Кейт Грей, писающая для «Хранителя» , была впечатлена красотой и масштабным игровым миром, отметив, что «зелень открытых равнин контрастирует с темным черным горой смерти, которая полон апельсиновой лавы на далеком горизонте» Полем Она также прокомментировала «диапазон тихих, умных методов, предназначенных для того, чтобы помочь игрокам ориентироваться в окружающей среде». Эндрю Вебстер из «Границы» положительно отреагировал на грандиозность массового открытого мира игры: «Масштаб могла бы быть пугающей, но радость от открытий и удовлетворение, которое приходит от поиска своего собственного пути, заставляет его вместо этого приглашать».

Старший редактор Кэти Маккарти из USGAMER занял группу карты ссылки на прошлое как лучшую карту видеоигр, описывая ее как «идеальный» мировой дизайн с точки зрения того, как он интегрируется с игровым процессом. IGN Range Hyrule как шестой величайший игровой мир, комментируя, что «немногие игровые миры удается оставить столь же неизгладимым впечатлением от коллективного игрового подсознания, как у Zelda . Только для этого оно считается одним из лучших, наиболее полностью реализованных миров в мире. Все игры ». В 2021 году Эван Нарцисс из Котаку назвал Хайруле одним из самых богатых научно-фантастических и фантастических миров в видеоиграх.

Влияние и наследие

С момента выпуска оригинальной игры «Легенда о Zelda » критики прокомментировали влияние и наследие легенды о вселенной Zelda на игровую индустрии. Оззи Мехия из Шакнеуса подчеркнула важность оригинала «Легенда о Зельде» : «До открытых миров мира World of Warcraft , Grand Theft Auto или Skyrim была пугающая страна Хирула. Легенда о Зельде сделала больше Чем формируется серия, как известно сегодня. Лиз Финнеган для эскаписта прокомментировала влияние оригинальной игры на жанр RPG, особенно его нелинейный открытый мир, и полагал, что « Zelda дизайн вдохновил бесчисленное количество других названий на принятие гибрида-эксплуатации действий с перспективой вниз и вниз и сверхуровень Экспансивный, сплоченный . Кристиан Донлан из Eurogamer отметил сходство и влияние, которое Гирул оказал на темные души , сравнивая оба королевства: «В первоначальной легенде о Зельде , однако, Хайрул чувствует, ну, немного больше похоже на лордран - место с шрамами и пустыней и грубые и наполненные ужасными существами, которые извергаются с песков или движутся в ошеломляющем хмеле ». Первоначальная игра была феноменальным коммерческим успехом для Nintendo, продав более 6,5 миллионов экземпляров, и многие критики назвали одной из величайших видеоигр за все время.

USGAMER Надя Оксфорд из прокомментировала значение Ocarina of Time и считала, что это «гениальная работа игрового дизайна». Она сказала, что «это привело к традиционно нисходящим сериалам в полностью трехмерное царство, в то же время успешно сохранив сердце и душу предыдущих игр Zelda . Его« Z-целевая »механик усовершенствовала неуклюжие системы автоматического нацеливания. День чувствует себя неполноценным для 3D -боевых игр на ПК. Хизер Александра, написанная для Котаку , отметила влияние выпуска игры: «С 1998 года было бесчисленное количество игр в открытом мире, но Ocarina of Time была моментом, когда концепция массовых взаимосвязанных миров начала действительно кристализировать». Кеза Макдональд из The Guardian также прокомментировала влияние Ocarina of Time , отметив, что это было одно из первых реальных 3D -приключений и что она «остается в высшей степени воспроизводимой сегодня, потому что многие из того, что он изобрел стал стандартом для любой 3D -игры, которая пришла после этого ». Том Пауэр из GamesRadar по мнению, что игра часто считается величайшей видеоигрой из -за ее технологических инноваций: «Проблемы, которые Nintendo решила тогда, оказали влияние на игровые жанры и, хотя публичное признание этого влияния на земле тонко, на земле тонкие,, на земле, они тонкие, тонкие, на земле Трудно не рассматривать Окарину времени как одного из отцов современных игр ».

В течение нескольких месяцев, после выпуска Breath of the Wild в 2017 году, многие разработчики видеоигр находились под влиянием дизайна открытого мира. Алькс Престон, создатель гипер -световой дрифтеры , отметил, что «чувство свободы и экспериментов невероятно вдохновляет». Адам Солтсман , создатель Канабальта , прокомментировал последовательность игровой среды и способность игрока экспериментировать. Vlambeer из Рами Исмаил сказал, что «ни одна игра не сделала вертикальности, а также Botw». Сэм Байфорд из Verge прокомментировал влияние дыхания открытого мира Wild на индустрию видеоигр, назвав его «революционным подходом к игровому дизайну открытого мира». Он процитировал несколько других последующих игровых миров, которые имеют сходство с дыханием дикой природы , в том числе воздействие геншина , «Бессмертный Феникс» и «Восстание горизонта» Запад . Как Mihoyo команда разработчиков Genshin Empact, так и Сэм Барлоу , создатель Thorking Lies, назвали «Дыхание дикой природы» в качестве значительного источника вдохновения. Элден Ринг Режиссер Хидетака Миядзаки также сказал, что на него повлияло « Дыхание открытого мира дикой природы » . После его выхода дыхание Wild получило признание критиков и стало крупнейшим коммерческим успехом франшизы и одной из самых продаваемых видеоигр , продав 29 миллионов копий на Nintendo Switch по состоянию на декабрь 2022 года. и более 1,6 миллиона копий на Wii U.