Key Takeaways
- The Legend of Zelda series features different versions of Hyrule, from a sunken kingdom to a new land like New Hyrule.
- Some versions of Hyrule are completely different, such as The World of the Ocean King and The Great Sea.
- Despite the various interpretations, the famous Hyrule remains a beloved staple of the series.
Beginning in 1986, The Legend of Zelda series has come a long way in these decades. The land of Hyrule was established from the beginning, a staple of the series where most of the games are based. It's a popular place with as many interpretations as there are games.
Sometimes, Hyrule is given a more drastic makeover than just revolving around certain areas and turning into an entirely new place. From a sunken kingdom to a once-in-a-lifetime land, Hyrule has seen many different versions, and we're taking a look at them all to tell you which is the greatest.
This list deals specifically with the variations of Hyrule that exist throughout the series, not the depiction of the land of Hyrule as shown in the various games.
8 The World of the Ocean King
This is a bit vague for reasons we'll get into in a few sentences. The World of the Ocean King is the setting for the DS-exclusive Phantom Hourglass, the sequel to Wind Waker. In it, Link must rescue Tetra from Bellum with the help of Captain Linebeck and his trusty ship.
The reason for this is because the World of the Ocean King may not be Hyrule. It is still an ocean, and has many symbols of the golden goddess who blessed Hyrule, but it is also said to be separated by the Great Sea, which Hyrule is literally flooded with. Take this with a grain of sea salt. Nice place though.
7 New Hyrule
Following on from the Hyrulean World of the Ocean King, Spirit Tracks takes us to a whole new land that then becomes Hyrule. New Hyrule, in fact, since the original Hyrule was submerged under the waters of the Great Sea. This was where Zelda and Link lived, and it was named New Hyrule. Very direct.
Of course, evil never stops, and the game is played as a new release of Link who must stop Malladus from being resurrected. As a new Hyrule, it doesn't have much in common with the previous version of Hyrule so it's a fun new experience for everyone.
6 Lesser Hyrule
When The Legend of Zelda was introduced to the world in 1986, this was the first version of Hyrule that we saw, and it's been expanding ever since. Then the 'smaller' part. It's not a worse version of Hyrule, it's literally smaller.
Although it seemed huge at the time, the Hyrule shown in the original Legend of Zelda was very small in relation to the larger land area and was completely destroyed after Ganon ruled the land. However, this early version of Hyrule, despite its chaos, is an unforgettable place.
This version of Hyrule was so small that the whole was shown as a small part of the sequel, The Adventure of Link.
5 The Surface
The story, while not the main focus of the game, is something Zelda fans have been asking for constantly. After decades of ignoring these calls, Nintendo released Skyward Sword, the very first point in the Zelda timeline that set everything in motion, and presented the first version of Hyrule as what we know.
In fact, this land is not even known as Hyrule, but simply The Surface. It is a densely populated land with little organized civilization. Therefore, it is not controlled but covered by primordial races and mystical phenomena. There are many famous places, from the Eldin Volcano to the Faron Woods, although it is a funny experience to see them before civilization.
4 The Great Sea
tFlipping to the other end of the spectrum, Wind Waker presents us with the opposite of Hyrule before construction, but one that is completely gone. After a great flood destroyed this kingdom to prevent the return of Ganondorf, only a small mountain was left as an island, and as time passed, most people forgot about the old Hyrule.
The Great Sea is a darker version of Hyrule. One is so completely transformed that there are no recognizable features, but with the knowledge that this is indeed the old Hyrule. Later in the game you visit the flooded Temple of Time to retrieve the Master Sword and explore what little buildings are left of this sunken kingdom.
3 The Dark World
A Link To The Past was the first time the series introduced Hyrule to the more fragmented areas it was known for, and also gave you the freedom to explore Hyrule in a more unbiased way. However, a large Hyrule, even as detailed as this one, has already been seen in The Adventure of Link. So how do you expand it?
With a mirror version of it, of course. Entered through certain portals in the world, the Dark World reflects the evil of Hyrule, and its place and all the people are twisted to show it. The Dark World is also similar to Hyrule, providing a large, mirrored world for you to explore together.
The Dark World is in lore said to be the sacred realm destroyed by Ganon after claiming the Triforce of Power.
2 Lorule
At times, A Link Between Worlds is seen as a spiritual successor to A Link to the Past, at others a reboot, and at others a sequel. No matter how you look at it, the world of Hyrule shown here is very similar to the one shown in A Link to the Past, and the Dark World version is no different.
A Lorule named Lorule enters through a crack in the world of Hyrule, with Link transforming into a painting to enter it. Here, Lorule is not a negative representation of Hyrule, but another real land that has become corrupted. In doing so, the Triforce is returned to this earth to allow it to return to its original glory.
In Japan, A Link Between Worlds was literally called Triforce of the Gods 2, the Japanese title of which was A Link To The Past.
1 Hyrule
How could it be different? While the land of Hyrule itself has been reworked and remade, remade and remade in many different guises, in many different situations, none of them can hold a candle to the tried and tested Hyrule. and very common in the series.
Whether it's the darker version seen in Twilight Princess, the vast plains of Breath of the Wild, or the rolling fields and corners of Ocarina of Time, the original Hyrule always has its icons. Eldin Volcano overlooking the rolling hills of Hyrule Field, the quiet City of Kakariko. No matter how it's presented, these classic bastions make it feel like home.
