Have you ever played a Zelda game and thought to yourself: Why is that mask salesmen in Majora’s Mask so weird? Why is this area so familiar? Or, damn this is some dark stuff! I know I have.
The Legend of Zelda is an old series. For over thirty years, each game has reinterpreted the familiar lands, peoples, and themes of Hyrule. One would think that in all this time, everything Hyrule had to offer would be well understood. However, the developers at Nintendo are a creative bunch. They have created a world so deep and enriched with character, that fans have come up with a variety of theories to explain them — which are quite often creepy.
People like to have answers for mysteries in life. They often even demand it, leaving the dedicated fanboy chomping at the bit. However, developers at Nintendo seem to relish the idea of mystery and interpretation. Many things are left intentionally abstract or ambiguous. Enter the world of Zelda fan theories. It’s a fascinating space filled with meta-arguments about alternate dimensions, remembrance, the macabre, and even death. When not given answers, the mind can go to some dark places. But, the most interesting thing about these theories, is just how logical they are. So let’s explore the depths of fan theory sub-reddits and YouTube channels for creepy Zelda theories that make sense.
The theories are many, and time is sparring. Did I miss any dark theories in the Legend of Zelda? Hit me up in the comments and let me know!
20 Rivals In the Periphery
The Fierce Deity mask is as mysterious as Majora’s. It is believed to be possessed by a spirit, possibly evil. Majora does describe the Fierce Deity as the true evil behind Termina’s fate.
This theory speculates that the Fierce Deity was a god, and that Majora is a sort of demon. This leaves a few possibilities. Either the Fierce Deity is the fourth piece of the Triforce, as he has a golden triangle on his chest. Or he is the true evil, one so dark that even Majora fears him.
However, I am inclined to believe that, like all the other citizens of Hyrule who have counterparts in Termina, the Fierce Deity is Link’s counterpart. Who was sent by the gods to defend Termina from Majora’s mischief.
19 A Link To A Past Game
Majora’s Mask is such an odd game. It breaks many Zelda franchise traditions: no Gagnon, no triforce, no Hyrule. It really is a bizarre departure, but not without potential connections to other Zelda games.
The Twili—villains of Twilight Princess—were sealed away in the Twilight realm for attempting to steal the Triforce. Now, think of that alongside the mask salesman’s story of Majora’s Mask: “The mask that was stolen from me… It is an accursed item from legend that is said to have been used by an ancient tribe in its hexing rituals. (…) According to legend… the troubles caused by Majora’s Mask were so great… the ancient ones, fearing such catastrophe, sealed the mask in shadow forever…” (zelda.gamepedia)
This lends credence to the aforementioned Gerudo theory. Such connection, very meta, much creepy. Wow.
18 Termina’s True Meaning
Link’s pursuit of Navi in Majora’s Mask, ties well into this theory. The idea is that the five main areas of Termina represent the five stages of grief. This blew my mind when I first heard it, but makes absolute sense.
Clock Town is in denial because no one acknowledges the certain destruction of the falling moon. Woodfall represents anger because the Deku King is blinded by anger over his missing daughter. Snowhead is bargaining since the deceased Darmani begs Link to use his magic to save his people. The Great Bay embodies depression, as Mikau dies attempting to save Lulu’s eggs. She ends up distraught with depression, just staring into the sea. The Ikana Canyon demonstrates acceptance as there are no more masks to acquire. Link is forced accept himself as is to progress.
But what is there to accept? With Navi gone, what is Link’s fate?
17 Lost In Purgatory
It is understood that Termina is a parallel universe to Hyrule, as Termina has its Hylian doppelgangers. However, the actual reason could be considerably darker.
Hyrule bares the power of the Triforce, making it the promise land. But where does this leave Termina, since the Triforce is nowhere to be found? The theory is that Termina represents purgatory or even a hell of some sorts. Link falls down a hole, finding himself in a land with its own moon, endlessly repeating its impending destruction. The three main masks represent individuals who have passed away, and in turn, these deceased people are each represented by an elegy statue.
What’s really creepy is that there is a Link statue as well. What does this mean for Link?
16 Is Link Alive?
What is Link’s real story in Majora’s Mask? With his friend Navi lost, and likely dead, Link stubbornly searches for her. He falls down a hole… Did he survive? Who is this strange mask salesman… is he alive?
This theory suggests that Link is indeed dead, and trapped in Purgatory. The concept of Purgatory is a Catholic belief in an intermediate state between death and heaven, where one must undergo ‘purification’ before passing on. (Vatican) If we combine the idea of Link being distraught over the death of Navi, with his navigation through the five stages of grief that is Termina, it becomes clear that Majora’s Mask is Link’s journey through Purgatory.
The fact that Link has an elegy statue like the other main characters seems to seal the deal for this theory. Which is certainly heavy, especially for a company whose mascot is a loveable middle-aged man with a mushroom addiction.
15 When Exactly Is Breath Of The Wild Happening?
Breath of the Wild opens with Link in a chamber. It’s easy to miss as the game often refers to Link being awoken from a slumber. However, that chamber is called the Shrine of Resurrection. The reality is quite clear, Link had died.
Officially Link dies only once in canon during an alternate history of Ocarina of Time. According to the Hyrule Historia, this is known as the “Hero is Defeated” timeline, which features Ganon destroying Hyrule in Links absence, just like Breath of the Wild.
With Ganon flying around, terrorizing Hyrule, and Link being resurrected to defeat him, it’s quite believable that Breath of the Wild is the consequences of a darker Ocarina of Time conclusion. Not to mention that the Temple of Time in Breath is identical to that of Ocarina!
14 It Was All A Dream
Have you noticed that many Zelda games open with Link sleeping? While it’s likely part gag, and part allegorical for the awakening of the Hero’s courage from within. It does feel a little odd that Link is superhuman, tireless, and never relents until Ganon is defeated and the Triforce restored.
The dream theory just makes good, convenient sense. It would explain the repeated themes, people, and places; never the same, but always familiar. When Link wakes up, perhaps he is waking up from a dream that was the previous game. Link adventures, defeats Ganon, and rests, only to wake up at the opening of a new game. Another dream?
This dream, within a dream, within a dream type storytelling would make Christopher Nolan proud.
13 Is The Mask Salesman Even Alive?
The mask salesman is one odd chap, even by Majora’s Mask standards. Many theories have been attributed to him. From being a figment of Link’s imagination or Majora itself. However, the most interesting theory is that the mask salesman is dead!
Think about it. His movements are erratic, and all over the place, he can manifest huge items out of thin air, and he makes instantaneous ghoulish expressions.
But the most convincing aspect is that he needs Link to retrieve three items for him. This seems to lend itself to the idea of a ghost’s “unfinished business,” where a spirit cannot move on without completing a certain task. Upon Link’s completion of these tasks, the salesmen walks away and vanishes.
Total creep show.
12 What’s Up With Agitha?
Another strange character is Agitha, who wanders Castle Town by herself during Twilight Princess. The theory suggests that this loner may indeed be Zelda’s sister. But that’s not all, she also seems to exhibit schizophrenic behaviour as well.
Being Zelda’s sister is the weaker part of the theory, as they attribute her seemingly unexplained wealthy lifestyle as connections to the royal family, or Zelda herself. A bit of a stretch. But the mental health aspect has some traction.
Agitha is a bug collector and believes her bugs have their own society. Complete with a mail service, inter-species insect balls, and the belief that she is the “princess of the insect kingdom.” Delusions of grandeur, or belief in a higher purpose are common symptoms of schizophrenia.
11 That Deku Scrub Looks Familiar…
The origins of this theory came around the release of Skyward Sword. The Octoroks in that game seem to be suspiciously similar to Deku Scrubs of old. The Deku Scrub debuted in Ocarina of Time as a kind of land-based version of Octoroks, who have been a mainstay in Zelda games since the 1980s.
The idea that Deku Scrubs are Octoroks is extended by Breath of the Wild. This is the first game to place Octoroks in areas outside of water, including forests, mountains, and in snow. This similar appearance and behaviour between Octoroks and Deku Scrubs certainly makes the two related, if not the same species.
Now, what does that make Deku Link?
10 It All Comes Back Around
The basic premise of this theory challenges the idea that the Legend of Zelda timeline begins with Skyward Sword and ends with The Breath of the Wild. Rather, the theory suggests that the history of Hyrule is cyclical, experiencing death and rebirth, centering around the battle between Ganon and Hylia—the goddess of Hyrule.
Hylia and Demise—the demon figure in the Legend of Zelda, take on mortal forms in the guises of Zelda and Ganon, respectively. Each time Demise manifests itself as Ganon, Hylia embodies Zelda, and they do battle (with the help of Link, of course).
The destruction and rebirth of Hyrule can sometimes severe but resolvable, as in Ocarina of Time. Or complete and total, like the flooding of all of Hyrule in the Windwaker. Either way, this destruction and rebirth is certainly believable in a franchise that is known for recurring themes and characters.
9 An Old Story, Lost To Time
As people played Breath of the Wild, fans believed the game to taking place eons after previous games, thus shooting holes in the aforementioned “Hero-defeated” timeline theory. However, how did this explain discrepancies like the Rito from Windwaker, the Temple of Time existing, and places named after older characters?
These discrepancies led some to believe in Zelda games existing in parallel dimensions whose timelines converged. Rather than, falling down a Quantum Leap rabbit hole. This theory proposes a more eloquent explanation.
All the games tell the same story of good versus evil, whose original events happened far beyond memories reach. This is why each iteration of the game describes similar motifs. An interesting way to present a story whose characters are long dead.
8 Its-A-Me, Mario. Wait… What?!
To lighten things up, let’s talk about everyone’s favourite Italian stereotype: Mario. Looking at the worlds of Mario and Link, one may see that both heroes fight similar baddies, pursue similar goals, and achieve similar results. Now, we could just attribute this to typical good versus evil archetypes. But come on! We’re trying to have a little fun here.
This theory suggests Mario and Legend of Zelda are the same story. Both stories tell of a villain who kidnaps a princess, and the hero has to rise up and save her. Link goes through dungeons, Mario goes through castles. Mario’s version of the story tells a modern version of the past culture that Zelda games describe.
An interesting theory, but I refuse to deny its creepiness. You run into a version of Link with a greasy moustache and tell me how you would feel!
7 Where Did All The Gerudo Go?
The Gerudo are a well-known race in the Legend of Zelda, but they are absent in Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword. There are a few theories to explain this. Since Ganondorf was a Gerudo, it is believed that after his banishment to the realm of Twilight, the Gerudo were shunned and driven from Hyrule.
The more interesting theory has it that the Gerudo were banished with Ganondorf to the realm of Twilight, and over the years lost their humanity and evolved into the monsters seen in the realm of Twilight. I like this theory because the Gerudo symbol can be seen on the throne and cape of Zant, the leader of the Twili. The discrimination this theory suggests is certainly a darker side of the Zelda franchise.
6 The Old Man And The Sea
During the opening of the Breath of the Wild, Link is greeted by an old man. Turns out this old man is the King Rhoam of Hyrule. While this certainly is a nod to the old man in the cave from the very first Zelda game, there is certainly a tradition of Nintendo revealing the origins of characters at later dates.
There is a similarity between the King Rhoam of Breath of the Wild, and the sentient boat Link sails in the Wind Waker, The King of Red Lions. This theory believes them both to be one and the same.
This reinforces the theory that Breath of the Wild takes place after Wind Waker. It also makes sense concerning the cyclical theory, as Link is once again guided by the former king of the realm.
Now if a talking boat that reincarnates as an old man who ‘guides’ a teenage boy isn’t creepy, I don’t know what is.
5 A Hidden Dark Side
Dark Link is one of the more mysterious characters in the Ocarina of Time. He seems to have no other motivation other than to kill Link. What is his deal?
It is logical to think that he is was created by Ganon as a way to test Link’s true power, or even eliminate him. However, I like to believe it to be more cerebral than that. This theory suggests that Dark Link represents Link’s anger. It seems to make sense, Link had no parents, was not a true Kokiri, and had no fairy. All the makings for an identity complex.
When Link pulls the Master Sword from its pedestal, the Hero is revealed, with his dark side fleeing to brood on revenge.
4 Yeah… The Shadow Temple Is Messed Up
This is by far the creepiest temple in the Ocarina of Time. It is believed that it was created as a torture chamber or prison. However, the idea that it is a nexus that channels and absorbs all the negativity in Hyrule certainly fuels this place a nightmare factory.
This theory would explain why the monsters in the temple are so grotesque, as they are misshapen by all the animosity flowing within. Even the boss of the temple, Bongo Bongo, has been corrupted. It is said that he was originally a Sheikah who betrayed the royal family. He was sent to the bottom of the temple where he was executed, and revived by the negative energy as Bongo Bongo. Damn…
3 Where Are All The Zoras?
The Zoras are missing from the world of the Wind Waker. Which is strange seeing that a water dwelling species is nowhere to be found in a world completely covered by water. So, where are they all?
It is believed that all of the Zora are extinct and that the bird-like Rito are their evolutionary descendants. This evolution was due to Hyrule being flooded by the gods to protect the Triforce from a resurrected Ganon. As Ganon scoured the sea for the Triforce, his monsters killed most of the Zora, forcing them out of the water.
A bit of a stretch, but rather than believe in a successful genocide, I’ll take the idea of fish people becoming bird people.
2 A Fruitless Search
Navi is one annoying character. She’s always yelling “HEY!,” “LISTEN!,” or “LOOK!” God damn right? But after all the constant yammering, and interruptions, at the end of Ocarina of Time Navi just peaces out. Gone. Not a word or anything. Really?
Looking at other fairies in the game, we see that their main purpose is to sacrifice themselves to keep Link alive. They seem to just disappear after they heal Link. This is what happened to Navi. She is a special fairy, charged with guiding the Hero of Light, rather than merely healing him. After her task, she just leaves rather than having Link watch his friend fade away.
This theory extends to Majora’s Mask. The game could be understood as Link dealing with the grief of losing Navi. At the beginning we see Link searching the woods for his companion, long since passed away… Oh, the feels.
1 Breath Of The Wild Is A Eulogy
In Breath of the Wild, Link encounters a man named Botrick who has a striking resemblance to Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s recently deceased CEO. Botrick tells Link to explore Satori Mountain. Satori is the Japanese Buddhist word for enlightenment, while it is also the root for the name Satoru. Deep right?
During certain nights, an eerie blue light can be seen shining from the peak. Reaching the peak, you will find quite an amazing sight: a single cherry blossom tree, and under its branches, an ethereal antlered creature. This is the Lord of the Mountain. The compendium ties the story together: “This noble creature watches over all animals that make their homes in the forest. Legends say this holy creature is a reincarnation of a sage that died on the lands it now protects… It’s sometimes known by its other name, Satori.” (Zelda.Gamepedia)
A fitting tribute to a beloved figure.
