What is the Zelda timeline/What order is the games in?

[Incendius]

What is the the order of the Zelda games timeline or in what order are you supposed to play (if you count getting thrown back in time)

[PyrosNine]

Well, it's not set in stone, but as I understand from this one site had a theory like this:

Zelda Ocarina of time. ---\---Zelda Majora's mask
|-------------------------------|
Zelda Twilight Princess-------Zelda (Nes)
|-------------------------------|
Zelda Wind Waker------------Zelda 2: The adventure of Link.
|-------------------------------|
Zelda: Minish Cap------------Zelda: A link to the Past.
|-------------------------------|
Zelda Four swords-----------Zelda: Link's Awakening
|-------------------------------|
Zelda 4Swords Adventures---Zelda:Seasons and Ages.

It may be that Seasons&Ages comes before Awakening, as I think Link gets on a boat or something at the end, but eh, What do I know? Besides the enormous amount I just drew upon to make this list. Also, the \ indicates a time parrallel, as caused by Link's messing with the space time continuum. Also, I recall something about Twilight princess being the change from OOT's hyrule to that of Windwaker. Or something like that. If need be I'll revise it later.

And if you need any evidence, I'm willing to back it up, but not now. My arm hurts as I type. Remember kids, if your heavy book bag cuts off the circulation at a pressure point on your shoulders, don't just grin and bear it.

Yes, there are indeed two Zelda Dimensions, this is backed up by Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo.

Edit: The rows of "-----------" are there to seperate the Zelda dimensions. This forum doesn't allow large amounts of space used in posts, I think.

[Incendius]

So its two diferent dimensions and the games roughly correspond. Thats really cool thank you, if you could provide evidence though I would like to see it since I have only like played 3 or 4 of the games.

[Magus]

The two dimensions things will change eventually. These games are just about impossible to have a canonical plot set in stone. The original "every Link is a different Link" seems the best to me. The "every Link is the same Link" lasted a very short time. This new "seperate dimension" thing seems better than "every Link is the same Link" but not "every Link is a different Link". Of course, obviously, some Links are the same, it's the same Link in Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Twilight Princess.

[EVILNess]

Well, My theory is this

LOZ: A link to the past. It states in the manual that it takes place 100 years before the first game.
Links Awakening: It states in the manual that this is the same link from LttP.
The Legend of Zelda
Link's Adventure
Orcarina of time
Majora's Mask
Twighlight Princess: I may be wrong on this, but I am sure that I read in a magizine that this is the same link from the N64 zeldas, only grown. Regardless, I think this came before Wind Waker due to the fact that Hyrule is still above sea level, and may provide some clue as to what happened to Hyrule before Wind Waker.
Wind Waker

I think that the Oracles games and Minish Cap occur outside of the normal zelda Canon. But If I would have to place them I would put the oracle games as being either the Orcarina Link or the Lttp link. The Minish Cap is almost impossible to place due to the lack of Ganon or the Master Sword.

[Sky Warrior Bob]

Uhm, while I don't know Zelda all that well, I thought it went something like this...

Orcania of Time
Majora's Mask
Wind Waker
A Link to the Past
Legend of Zelda
Link's Awakening

I mean, from the way I understood it, the Link & Zelda in Orcania were in fact, the very first Zelda & Link. LttP was something of a prequel to the NES titles, but the N64 titles went even further.

Also, as I understand it the exact Link in question seems to change with every new system. For NES it was the same link both times. SNES a new Link. N64 had the same Link in its two games.

Plus, while I've yet to hear all that much about the next Zelda game (which wouldn't get released until 2006, damn you Nintendo) I'm going to hazard a guess it has the same Link as Wind Waker.

SWK

[Lockeownzj00]

How about a guy who's spent entirely too much time on multiple parts of his site on developing factual and hypothetical theories?

Every Link is different--there's no denying that. Miyamoto has said it himself.

[PyrosNine]

Oh yeah, that guy. Wonder if he's the idiot who started up that rumor/theory of the Uniforce? You know, that upside down triangle that the phoenix holds on the Hylian shield? "The triforce is Incomplete! There are actually four pieces! Completely Forget the 'tri' part!"

(And my take on that is it's symbolic of the wielder of the triforce, because in order to be able to use the triforce, you have to have all three traits in you. So the "uniforce" is link, who defeats Ganon not just because of the triforce of courage, but because he's Wise, Powerful, and Courageous. And also it's shown that one Link's wish became true with no reciprocations.)

Maybe I should start my own theory site! ....Nah.

[Magus]

I think we can all be assured that Ocarina of Time is the earliest so far, since it involves the rise of Ganon and his being sealed into the Golden Realm, which is involved in Link To The Past, Wind Waker, etc.

And I think we can all be assured that The Wind Waker is the most recent, since not only has the world been covered in water (and I know it could recede, but look at my next point), it involves the fact that Zoras and Kokiri have evolved into entirely different lifeforms and are thoroughly extinct due to the ghosts you meet at the two temples. Since Zoras have been involved in all other games we can be assured that The Wind Waker is the most recent game in the series timeline.

As for all the others, they could have occured anywhere in between. But, I say that Majora's Mask and now The Twilight Princess are direct sequels to Ocarina of Time, since they involved Epona. So, The Link To The Past, Zelda 1, Zelda 2, Awakening, etc. are all after Twilight Princess, probably. And before Wind Waker. The Minish Cap and Four Swords games are the only ones I MIGHT hazard to guess take place after the Wind Waker, but there's no real proof, I don't think.

[Incendius]

Wait the Zoras and Gorons evolved? In what way?