The Legend of Zeldais one of Nintendo’s biggest story-driven franchises. As a result, the series has been notable for introducing video game fans tomany iconic charactersover the years. Some of them reappear throughout theZeldatimeline, while others are given one opportunity to earn their spot in the franchise’s history.
Certain characters have backstories that date hundreds or thousands of years back from the game they initially appear in. In addition, some characters are enigmatic to players who don’t dig deep enough. These ten characters, however, have the most fascinating backstories in the entire franchise, no matter how big or small their role.
10King Of Red Lions
Link first encounters the mysterious talking boat known as the King of Red Lions early on in his adventures inThe Wind Waker. The King of Red Lions serves as Link’s primary companion throughout the game,advising him and helping him traverse the Great Sea. However, a twist later on reveals the boat’s true identity.
When Link travels underneath the Great Sea to explore the sunken Hyrule Castle, the King of Red Lions reveals himself to be the King of Hyrule. Known as Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, the king has used the ship as a way to assist Link from afar. In addition, Daphnes also reveals Tetra’s true identity to be that of Princess Zelda.
9Kass
Kass is a recurring character in the vast open world of Hyrule seen inBreath of the Wild. This Rito Bard is a traveling minstrel who Link can encounter all throughout Hyrule. When talked to, Kass will sing Link a song that gives him clues to solve a nearby puzzle. However, more conversations will reveal lots about Kass’s origins.
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If Link comes across Kass at Rito Stable in the region of Hebra, Kass will open up about being homesick. He even mentions that he has a family who are waiting for him back in Rito Village. Additionally, Kass also reveals that his music teacher was a Sheikah poet at Hyrule Castle who was in love with Princess Zelda.
8Ravio
Compared to mostZeldacharacters, Ravio certainly has one of the most surprising backstories. The character appears inA Link Between Worldsfor the 3DSas a shopkeeper who sets up an item rental service in Link’s house. His role is mainly comical and supportive, but the ending of the game throws players for a loop.
During Link’s final confrontation with Princess Hilda, Ravio intervenes. It turns out that he was a servant of the princess of Lorule, removing his mask to reveal he looks identical to Link. After betraying his princess and helping Link and Zelda return to Hyrule, he remarks to Link that some of his courage may have passed onto him.
7Impa (Skyward Sword)
Impa appears many times throughout theZeldaseries, notably as Princess Zelda’s personal guardian inOcarina of Timeand a wise sage inBreath of the Wild. However,Impa’s biggest role in the series came inSkyward Sword, where players get to interact with two separate Impas a hundred years apart.
When Young Impa first appears inSkyward Sword, she assumes her role as sworn protector of Zelda when the princess first lands in Hyrule. However, Impa sends Link and Zelda on their way to meet her future self before returning to the past. In the intervening 100 years, Impa guards a sleeping Zelda and awaits her awakening.
6Mipha
When the events ofBreath of the Wildbegin, Mipha is sadly a ghost. A hundred years in the past, she was one of four Champions who joined Link and Zelda in their quest to fight the Great Calamity. She was also the pilot of the Divine Beast Vah Ruta before the beast known as Waterblight Ganon possessed it and killed her.
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However, Mipha’s backstory goes deeper than just being one of the four Champions. In a flashback, it is revealed that Mipha was in love with Link, despite knowing that they could never be together, as he was Hylian, and she was a Zora. However, she made him the Zora Armor before she died, which Link utilizes 100 years in the future.
5Link (Breath Of The Wild)
Many incarnations of Link appear throughout theZeldagames. InOcarina of Time, Link is an orphaned Hylian living in the woods, while inThe Wind Waker, he’s a villager on an Island living with his grandma. However,Breath of the Wildfeatures the most interesting Link of all, after he awakens from a 100-year slumber.
Many side-quests inBreath of the Wildfind the amnesiac Link recalling memories from a century before. In these cinematics, it’s revealed that Link became a Knight of Hyrule, learning swordsmanship skills during his youth. He later obtained the Master Sword and accompanied Princess Zelda on her quest to defeat Calamity Ganon.
4Ganon
Alongside Link and Zelda, Ganon is one of the three carriers of the Triforce, doomed to be reincarnated every few generations. Each time, however, the powerful Ganon is defeated by the courage and wisdom displayed by Link and Zelda, respectively. However, Ganon didn’t come from nowhere, and his origins are what tie him to Link.
InSkyward Sword, Link defeats the demon king Demise at the very end of the game. As a consequence of his hatred for Link and Zelda,Demise becomes cursed with reincarnation as Ganon. This fuels Ganon’s returns in games likeThe Wind Waker,Twilight Princess, andFour Swords Adventures.
3Princess Zelda (Twilight Princess)
The lineage of this titular character traces back to the goddess Hylia, who is reborn as Zelda inSkyward Sword. While there are many fascinating Zeldas that appear throughout the games, the one that appears inTwilight Princessmay take the cake. Before the events of this game, Zelda ruled Hyrule until Zant’s invasion.
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As a result of Zelda’s surrender to the Twilight King, a dark cloud of twilight casts itself over Hyrule. Zelda is the only Hylian protected, thanks to the Triforce, and remains imprisoned in Hyrule Castle, shielding herself with a cloak. She waits there for the arrival of Link, the destined hero, to be brought to her by Midna.
2Skull Kid
Majora’s Maskis a unique entry in theZeldaseriesfor not featuring either Ganon or Zelda in its main story. Instead, a young Link fromOcarina of Timeis ambushed by the mysterious Skull Kid. This child of the forest wears the cursed Majora’s Mask and is flanked by two fairies, but later in the game, his evil origins are revealed.
Skull Kid was once friends with the Four Giants who protected the land of Termina. However, the Giants abandoned the Skull Kid, and later banished him when he caused mischief out of anger. He later befriends the two fairies while taking shelter from a storm, and he steals the evil Majora’s Mask, granting him magical powers.
1Midna
Despite only appearing in one game,Twilight Princess, Midna has become one of theZeldafranchise’s deepest characters. The impish character encounters Link after the hero was transformed into a wolf by a Shadow Beast. Midna becomes his companion, aiding him in his journey to battle Zant, and later Ganondorf.
However, it is later revealed that Midna was the ruler of the Twili People from another dimension. She was overthrown by Zant, a minion of Ganon, andcursed to inhabit her punier form. Before she returns to the Twilight Realm at the end of the game, Link gets to see her true form, as a tall, beautiful woman with flowing orange hair.
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