10 Epic Secrets Every Legend of Zelda Fan Needs to Know
If you’ve ever picked up a Legend of Zelda game, you know it’s more than just swinging a sword and solving puzzles—it’s an adventure that sticks with you. Whether it’s the eerie mystery of Majora’s Mask, the endless freedom of Breath of the Wild, or the classic charm of A Link to the Past, Zelda has a way of pulling you in and never letting go. But even the biggest fans might not know some of the wildest secrets, hidden mechanics, and behind-the-scenes stories that make this series legendary. Let’s dive into the magic, the myths, and the moments that make The Legend of Zelda one of gaming’s greatest sagas
1. The Original Zelda Had a Secret Dungeon Editor
Before The Legend of Zelda launched in 1986, Shigeru Miyamoto and his team used a built-in dungeon editor to create levels. This tool never made it to the public, but it allowed developers to experiment with different layouts before finalizing them. Imagine if Nintendo had released it—players could have built their own Zelda dungeons decades before Super Mario Maker!
2. Breath of the Wild Was Almost Multiplayer
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Nintendo initially experimented with a co-op mode for Breath of the Wild, similar to what we see in Dark Souls or Genshin Impact today. While the idea was scrapped, remnants of it exist in the game’s mechanics—like the way NPCs interact dynamically with the world. Could we see a multiplayer Zelda in the future? Only time will tell!
3. Link’s Name Has a Deeper Meaning
Ever wondered why Link is called Link? It’s not just a catchy name. Shigeru Miyamoto revealed that Link was meant to be the “link” between the player and the game world. Originally, early Zelda concepts involved time travel, with Link serving as a connection between the past and future.
4. The Lost Levels of Ocarina of Time
Several areas were cut from Ocarina of Time, including a mysterious Sky Temple and a more complex Wind Temple. Some remnants of these unfinished levels still exist in the game’s files, and modders have uncovered unused assets over the years.
5. The Secret Hand in Majora’s Mask
If you’ve played Majora’s Mask, you might remember the creepy hand that reaches out from the toilet in Stock Pot Inn. This eerie character is actually inspired by Japanese ghost stories, where spirits are known to appear in bathrooms. Zelda always finds unique ways to incorporate real-world myths into its lore.
6. Twilight Princess Has a Hidden Superboss
Most players remember Ganondorf as the final boss of Twilight Princess, but did you know about the hidden Darkhammer miniboss in the Snowpeak Ruins? If you revisit this area after completing the game, you can trigger a secret boss battle that isn’t part of the main storyline.
7. The First Zelda Had No Tutorial – On Purpose
When The Legend of Zelda launched, it didn’t hold players’ hands. That was intentional! Miyamoto wanted players to talk to each other, share discoveries, and explore without guidance. This philosophy is still alive today, especially in Breath of the Wild’s open-world design.
8. The Fierce Deity Mask’s True Origins
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The Fierce Deity Mask in Majora’s Mask is one of the coolest transformations in Zelda history. But did you know it was almost scrapped? Developers originally planned for multiple transformation masks like this one, but time constraints led to only a few making it into the final game.
9. There’s a Zelda Game Without Zelda
Zelda is in every Legend of Zelda game, right? Wrong! She’s completely absent from Link’s Awakening, making it the only game where she isn’t mentioned at all in the main story.
10. The Tingle Character Was Inspired by a Real Person
Love him or hate him, Tingle is one of Zelda’s most bizarre characters. His eccentric personality was inspired by an actual Nintendo developer who was obsessed with fairies. He became a running joke in the series and even got his own spin-off games in Japan.
Summary
The Legend of Zelda is full of hidden secrets, from unused levels to eerie folklore references. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer, there’s always something new to discover in Hyrule. Nintendo’s commitment to innovation and mystery keeps Zelda one of the most legendary franchises in gaming history.
FAQs
If you’re new to the series, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a great starting point for open-world fans. For a more traditional experience, try A Link to the Past or Ocarina of Time.
Nintendo keeps Link silent to allow players to project themselves onto him. This makes the adventure feel more personal and immersive.
While nothing is confirmed, Nintendo has experimented with multiplayer in games like Four Swords Adventures and Tri Force Heroes. Future Zelda games might explore this further.
Yes! Nintendo released an official Zelda timeline in the Hyrule Historia book. However, due to the series’ complexity, the timeline is always up for debate.
