Archive:Timeline Theories

There is a wide panorama of views on the timeline that includes pretty much any order conceivable. Some of these ideas are better justified than others, but all of them arise from a personal view of the series. As such, with no official categorization of Zelda canon and no officially-released complete timeline, any personal view is as valid as any other view. This does not, however, mean that all views are equally justified. This is where timeline debates arise, and why they are so popular among timeline theorists.

The theories themselves are the fruit of these personal interpretations and the conclusions reached in debate. They are the most important products of timeline discussion and as such it is important for all theorists to carefully examine them before they attempt to draw conclusions on the quality of their content.

Compiled below is a list of all active timeline theories from the ZeldaWiki affiliate sites, for theorist reference and for easy and free access to all paradigms on the Zelda timeline.

GentleArtillery's Timeline (ZU)
Child: TMC - OoT/MM - TP - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA

Adult: TMC - OoT - TWW/PH


 * The Light Force is the "complete" Triforce, before Vaati drained part of it from Zelda in TMC.


 * The Twilight Mirror is not the same as the Dark Mirror.


 * The late part of FSA is the IW.


 * AoL's backstory takes place between TMC and OoT.


 * TMC takes place very long before OoT, which means that most of it is forgotten.

Sign of Madness/Sign of Justice/Som's Timeline (ZU/ZD/ZI)
Adult: TMC - OoT - tWW/PH

Child: TMC - OoT/MM - TP - FS/FSA - LttP - OoX


 * LoZ/AoL can go after TWW, after TP, after LttP before OoX, or after OoX.
 * LA could go after OoX or LttP.
 * There are blatant contradictions between the SNES manual Seal War and OoT. Therefore OoT could not be the SW.

Bitterlime's Theory (ZU)
Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - TMC/FS/FSA - ALttP/OoS/OoA/LA - LoZ/AoL

Child: OoT/MM - TP


 * Hyrule of TMC is the result of the Koroks/Deku Tree's success.


 * The Dark Mirror of FSA is the Twilight Mirror of TP (but not the Magic Mirror of ALttP).


 * OoT is still the IW, but the OoT Ganon is not the one sealed in ALttP. That is FSA Ganon.


 * Knowledge of the Triforce, the Sacred Realm and the IW, resurfaced after the waterlevel drop inbetween FSA and ALttP, probably in written form (Book of Mudora).


 * The AoL manual is still canon, but doesn't happen at the start of the timeline.


 * The Trident of Power is the reason for blue Ganon.


 * There are two Ganon(dorf)s: the one from OoT and the one from the 2D games.

Erimgard's "Freshly-Picked Oracles" Timeline (ZI)
Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA - [FPTRR] - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA

Child: OoT/MM - TP


 * Hyrule of TMC is the result of the Koroks'/Deku Tree's success.


 * The Dark Mirror of FSA is the Twilight Mirror of TP (but not the Magic Mirror of ALttP).


 * OoT is still the IW, but the OoT Ganon is not the one sealed in ALttP. That is FSA Ganon.


 * The AoL manual is still canon, but doesn't have to happen at the start of the timeline.


 * FPTRR is canon and timeline relevant
 * LoZ Hyrule does not necessarily have to be the same as TMC Hyrule


 * Places in TMC Hyrule such as Lon Lon Ranch are not related to the places in OoT, but instead to the islands of FPTRR.

NOTE: FPTRR is included with this timeline because it serves as the basis for part of the placement.

Ollathir's "Growing Hyrule" Timeline Theory (ZU)
Adult: OoT - AoL BS - TWW/PH - AoL BS - OoX & TMC BS - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA -LoZ/AoL

Child: OoT/MM - TP

NOTE: This timeline is based on Erimgard's timeline, which I think is improved by moving LoZ and AoL to after ALttP and LA. The following points are my explanation of why I believe so.


 * In TWW, the Deku Tree says that he wishes to create more land by planting trees and eventually connect the islands on the Great Sea. In FPTRR, we see land growing, and in OoA, there is more land in the present than there is in the past. All these things point to land growing over time.


 * More land is seen in AoL than in any other game. Based on TWW, FPTRR, and OoA, this leads us to assume an end-of-AT placement for AoL, along with LoZ.


 * In FSA, which was the next game made after TWW, the land to the north of Hyrule on the AoL map is not there. This directly points to AoL, and LoZ, being after FSA, and logically, after ALttP.


 * The Triforce being in Hyrule Castle before LoZ is explained by the "vanishing" of the DW at the end of ALttP. Since the Pyramid of Light was the parallel to Hyrule Castle, the Triforce would end up in Hyrule Castle when the DW vanished.


 * Ganon in LoZ can be explained by a resurrection like in OoX.


 * The AoL BS takes place shortly after the founding of New Hyrule, in accordance with the "first generation Zelda" quote in the4 AoL manual.


 * The TMC BS takes place in Hyrule during OoX. This explains Link's absence from the TMC BS. Also, the darkness in Hyrule during the TMC BS is similar to the darkness in Labrynna and Holodrum during OoX. Lastly, TMC has a lot of connections to OoX, (books in library, Din and Nayru) so it works out well to have the TMC BS taking place during OoX.

SUMMARY: With no sure explanation for Ganon in LoZ in Erimgard's timeline, it is beneficial to move LoZ and AoL to after ALttP and LA, making the explanation for Ganon in FSA available for use to explain LoZ Ganon. The only thing that is sacrificed in doing so is geography.

NOTE: Ollathir no longer follows this theory because he now believes that either TMC and FSA show a loss of land or that FSA's map is not Canon like Pinceove does.

Pinecove's "Ganon's essence" Timeline Theory (ZU/ZI)
Adult: OoT - AoL BS - TWW/TT/PH - TBF - ST - FPTRRL - LoZ/AoL - OoX & TMC BS - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA - AST

Child: OoT/MM - TP/LCT

NOTE: While this theory is based highly off the state of the Dark world, the Seal war, and Ganon, Geography is also incorperated into it.


 * OoT is the SW.


 * Before TWW, Ganon uses a bushin to escape his seal from Hyrule and the Sacred Realm. This bushin is what apears in the LoZ.


 * The Deku Tree in TWW is successful in his plans to connect all the old islands together to form the new Hyule.


 * After LoZ when Ganon is destroyed OoX shows the ressurection of his spirit and his essence of darkness being put into a Trident.


 * TMC shows us the completion of the new Hyule setting as it is surrounded by mountains and forests.


 * FSA either shows us a slow loss of land from TMC or it's map is not Canon.


 * FSA shows us A New Ganondorf getting the Trident and gaining the dark essence of the old Ganon.


 * FSA Ganon once sealed in the FS is transported to the SR (the official art of the seal from the SW is reminicent to FSA's seal at the end of the Game.


 * ALttP's map is retconned by FSA is there is a loss of land.


 * ALttP shows us the escape of Ganon from the FS and the formation of another Bushin to escape the seal.


 * ALttP shows us the destruction of Ganon's Trident.


 * In AST the "malicious essence that could not be sealed" was the half of Ganon's bushin from ALttP used to posses Aghanim which was never fully destroyed.


 * AST shows us the finall destruction of Ganon.

SUMMARY: The Ganons from LoZ and AST can be explained by bushins, not a essence which is randomly revived. TMC and FSA can either show us that there is a loss of land over the coarse of time and ALttP's map is not surrounded by mountains and forest anymore, or FSA's map is not Canon. If the latter, Pinceove might decide to move to a Child timeline placement.

The Viral Timeline (ZI)
Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - LoZ/AoL - OoX - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA

Child: OoT/MM - TP


 * The Deku Tree in TWW is successful in his plans, and LoZ's setting is the "new" Hyrule.
 * OoT is the IW, and FSA along with the aLttP remake fixes the problems posed by WW.
 * ALttP refers to OoT as the IW, but does not refer to OoT Ganondorf being sealed.
 * OoX shows Twinrova binding Ganon's soul to the Trident.
 * FSA features a new Ganondorf who claims the Trident that was used by OoX Ganon. The soul of this Ganon is bound to the Trident, and so when Ganondorf claimed the Trident, the old Ganon's soul took over his body.
 * After Ganon is sealed within the Four Sword in FSA, the Four Sword was then sealed within the Sacred Realm. Ganon then broke out of the Four Sword which sets up for aLttP, as shown in the GBA version of aLttP.
 * Ganon was likely able to make his wish by combining the 3 seperate Triforce pieces, after his minions stole it from Hyrule castle and brought it to him in the Dark World (According to the LttP Sound and Drama). He would not be able to wish on the complete Triforce, as it would split once he touched it.
 * An alternative to the above is that the Triforce, as separate pieces, returned to the Sacred Realm after OoX.

Melchizedek's Timeline (ZI)
Adult: OoT - WW/PH - LoZ/AoL - OoX - TMC - FS - FSA - aLttP/LA Child: OoT\MM - TP

Lexxi’s New Hylian Kingdom Theory (ZI)
Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA

Child: OoT/MM - TP


 * The kingdom of LoZ/AoL is founded on the islands of the Great Sea, made larger and brought together by the Deku Tree and christened with the Triforce’s blessing at the end of AoL.


 * The Master Sword is either reforged by the Zoras in OoA.


 * The Triforce returns to the Sacred Realm after OoS/OoA.


 * The Light Force is a powerful Force Gem introduced after the Triforce leaves the new Hyrule.


 * The Dark Mirror from FSA is the Mirror of Twilight from TP.


 * OoT is the IW of ALttP, and TP’s prolonged wars are the wars told as leading up to the IW.


 * The demon Ganon is one entity throughout the entire series, taking on multiple incarnations over time.


 * The Four Sword is sealed in the Sacred Realm by the maidens after FSA. This accounts for Ganon's appearance there in ALttP.

MoonMan's Subrosian Theory (ZI)
Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - OoS/OoA - [FPTRR] - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA - LoZ/AoL

Child: OoT/MM - TP

NOTE: FPTRR is included with this timeline because it serves as the basis for part of the placement.
 * Ganon of LoZ is the result of Ganon splitting his soul in ALttP to form Agahnim, who was never properly killed.
 * The location of the Triforce after OoS/OoA is unknown, either having been hidden or locked away by the royal family or having returned to the Sacred Realm.
 * OoS/OoA must come before FPTRR because of the appearance of the Salona, whose ancestors (implied to be Subrosians) had contact with the hero (OoS/OoA).
 * FPTRR must come after TWW due to the island structure of the world.
 * TWW-OoS/OoA-FPTRR-TMC-FSA represents a world transitioning from islands to continents.
 * OoT is still the IW, but ALttP Ganon is not OoT Ganon, it is FSA Ganon.
 * The Master Sword is recovered and reforged in OoA.

Sage of Earth's Paradox Theory (ZU)
Adult: OoT/MM - TWW/PH - ALttP/LA - LoZ/AoL

Child: OoT - TP


 * Link's choices in the past result in a grandfather paradox that leads to TP. The rest of the timeline remains as it would were it a single timeline.

NOTE: The Oracle and FS games are not included with this timeline.

Digific Writer's Timeline (ZU)
Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA

Child: OoT/MM - TP - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA

- The Legend of Zelda spoken of in the AoL backstory does not necessarily have to be based on an actual event; it could be a compilation of events or a fable.
 * The split creates a double of Ganon/dorf, existing solely in the Adult Timeline, who appears in most of the games which occur on that branch.
 * The flooding and destruction of the original land of Hyrule eventually leads to the founding of a new Hyrule; similarities in names, places, and legends between the two Hyrules is due to the passing-down of history from generation to generation.
 * The events of OoT and FSA combine to create the IW spoken of in ALttP.

Hombre's Double ALttP Theory (ZU)
Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - TMC/FS/FSA - ALttP(GBA)/LA

Child: OoT/MM - TP - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA - ALttP(SNES)


 * Hyrule of TMC is the result of the Koroks'/Deku Tree's success.


 * The Dark Mirror of FSA is the Twilight Mirror of TP (but not the Magic Mirror of ALttP).


 * The IW is a separate event, most likely taking place in between FSA and ALttP.


 * LoZ takes place in Holodrum and the "region of Hyrule" is bigger than just the kingdom Hyrule.

Humulation Theory (ZU)
Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - TMC - FS/FSA

Child: OoT/MM - TP - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA

Adult and Child lines merge to lead to ALttP/LA


 * The Picori Blade is the Master Sword, but changed and reforged over time.


 * The Merge is necessary because ALttP's backstory has elements that seem to come from both OoT Adult Side (the Seal) and TP Ganondorf leading a band of thieves in attempt to rule over the Sacred Realm).


 * The Merge is caused by Ganon's physical body being destroyed in one timeline, and his soul in another. The two separate parts of him on separate timelines merge together, and the timelines themselves do as well.

Prince of Darkness's Theory (ZD)
Adult: TMC - OoT - TWW/PH - FS/FSA - ALttP

Child: TMC - OoT/MM - TP - OoS/OoA/LA - LoZ/AoL


 * The full Triforce recombines and is recovered by the Hylian Royal Family after TP.
 * Twinrova is Ganon's vessel in OoS/OoA (i.e., he possesses their body).
 * Ganon is not killed in OoS/OoA.
 * Ganon is able to dispel the power of the Master Sword before LoZ (like he did in TWW).
 * Ganon is sent back to the Dark World at the end of TWW.
 * Agahnim is a possession, not a spirit form.
 * The Triforce's power makes Ganon's spirit immortal.

Reign and Kisiro's Theory (ZU)
Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - LoZ/AoL

Child: OoT/MM - TP - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA - OoS/OoA


 * The sages in the ALttP are related to the TP sages.
 * Ganondorf led the shadow tribe in TP's backstory, and was able to touch the Triforce.
 * The Ganondorf legends and the story of FSA were both passed down as the IW of ALttP.
 * In both timelines, there are two Ganondorfs, each of whom take on the blue Ganon form.
 * Koume and Kotake in OoS/OoA are the same characters from OoT.
 * The AoL backstory takes place after PH.
 * LoZ/AoL take place on a partially deflooded Hyrule.
 * The Twilight and Dark Mirrors are not the same.

ZG's Theory (ZU)
Adult: OoT - TWW/PH - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA

Child: OoT/MM - TP - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA


 * FSA is the IW or the IW is after FSA.
 * Games after TWW/PH take place in a new land.

Planet Hylia's History
Timeline A (Original): MC - OoT - WW/PH/ST Timeline B (Alternative): MC - OoT/MM - TP - FS/FSA - ALttP - OoS/OoA/LA - LoZ/AoL


 * The three Golden Goddesses descend upon the cosmos and create the planet, Hylia.
 * Different organisms live on Hylia. The creatures are placed into four groups
 * Animals: Non-sentient creatures that have animal cells. They can form packs but aren't smart enough for societies or languages. (i.e., Dogs, cats, birds, frogs)
 * Plants: Any foliage that consists of plant cells and doesn't have sentient (or any) mind. (i.e. Trees, plants, flowers)
 * Monsters: Non or near-sentient creatures that form packs. The term is usually degrading and subjective as many monsters are highly intelligent. However, they are considered to be subhuman and beneath the People. Monsters are broken into Sub-groups, or species. (i.e. Moblins, Octoroks, Darknuts)
 * People: Sentient life-forms who have the intelligence to create society and all of its add-ons, such as language, government, arts, and tools. People are usually considered to be the highest of the "food chain" and look down upon Monsters. People currently rule Hylia (i.e. Hylians, OoT/MM/TP Zoras, Gorons, Calatians)


 * A War between the People (mostly Hylians and Humans) and Monsters occur. This is known as the War of the Bound Chest and ends with the Hylians sealing the Monster Race within a chest with the Picori Blade. The Hylians group together and a small settlement is formed. It is called Hyrule.
 * The events of Minish Cap occur. The son of a blacksmith defeats the sorcerer Vaati and frees the settlement from his control. Sometime later, before FS, Vaati is sealed inside the Foursword.
 * A Civil War erupts between the People races: Hylians (and humans), Gorons, Zoras, Gerudos, and Dark Interlopers for control of the Triforce. The Dark Interlopers gain access to the Triforce, but are banned to the Twilight Realm by the goddesses.
 * The Civil War continues and the Goddesses decide to let the People fight among themselves. The War ends in a peace treaty among the four great people and they all, except for the Gerudo, form the new Kingdom of Hyrule.
 * 10 years later, the child events of OoT occur. A split in the timeline happens and things become crazy.

Timeline A:


 * A young boy from the Kokiri Forest pulls out the Master Sword, allowing the Gerudo King, Ganondorf, to gain access to the Triforce of Power, which he uses to rule Hyrule for 7 terrible years. The young boy awakens from his coma and makes up for his sin by becoming the Hero of Time and saves the land from the Evil King. Ganondorf is sealed in the Sacred Realm for 100+ years, the Hero returns to his time (causing the split) and Hyrule rebuilds.
 * Ganondorf, in control of the Monster Race, uses them to kill the Sages of Earth and Wind, weakening the Master Sword enough for his body to enter the Light World. He uses this time to attack Hyrule. With no hero around, the goddesses flood Hyrule, allowing the citizens to live on mountaintops/islands.
 * Centuries past and the events of Wind Waker occur. The Hero of Winds defeats Ganondorf and the Triforce destroys the preserved Hyrule. The Hero and the pirate, Tetra, head out into the Sea in search of a new land to conquer. These events are depicted in Phantom Hourglass and probably Spirit Trackers.

Timeline B:


 * The young boy returns from the future and warns Zelda and her father of the events. Upon seeing the Triforce mark on the boy's hand, the King believes him and raises his army for Ganondorf's attack. Ganondorf is defeated and imprisoned. He is executed, but because of the Triforce splitting in the alternate future, Ganondorf receives the Triforce of Power's power. He is imprisoned in the Twilight Realm.
 * The young boy, now a hero, travels to Termina in search for his buddy Navi. He saves the alternate world from uncertain demise and returns to see a significant amount of time has passed.
 * At some point, a colony of humans (probably led by the young hero) was formed in the forest, becoming Ordon Village.
 * The events of Twilight Princess occur, with a new Hero defeating Zant and Ganondorf. Ganondorf is killed but due to the reincarnation cycle that Hyrule follows (when someone dies, they become ghosts or are reincarnated), Ganondorf returns in FSA. He has no memory of his past, but does carry the power-hungriness from his past life.
 * FS/FSA occurs. Vaati escapes, but a new hero, the Foursword Heroes, defeat Vaati and seal Ganon, who has become corrupted with darkness upon touching the Trident of Power, into the Foursword.
 * Gates into the Dark World are everywhere, sucking people into the Sacred Land/Dark World. The Foursword is swallowed as well and Ganon appears in the Sacred Land. He touches the Triforce and because he completes all three requirements of the Triforce (He is powerful, his knowledge of his past self - awakened by the Trident -, and his fearlessness to continue to strive for his goals), he obtains the full power. However, he is stuck inside the Dark World when all the portals were closed.
 * The events of ALttP occur. The Royal Knights' Descendant defeats Agahnim and kills Ganon with the use of the Master Sword and the Silver Arrows. He then uses the Triforce to destroy the Dark World and reverts Hyrule to normal. He gives the Triforce to the Royal Family for safe keeping.
 * Some time later, a young lad travels to Hyrule Castle and locates the Triforce. He touches the golden triangles and is transported to Holodrum/Labrynna. The events of OoS/A occur, with part of Ganon returning from the dead (it is possible to be revived from the dead as long as the time taken to revive doesn't exceed the time it takes to be reincarnated, i.e. one cannot revive the Hero of Time after the events of TP because he is already reincarnated as the Twilight Hero.) and being defeated by the boy. The other portion of Ganon's soul floats between the realms. The boy goes on a journey throughout the world, but allows the Triforce to fly back to Hyrule.
 * The events of LA happen, with the boy awakening from his dream/adventure. He floats to the land of Calatia(?) and lives the rest of his days there.'
 * The Kingdom of Hyrule expands outward, becoming an Empire. What was originally Hyrule is now known as Southern Hyrule.
 * Years later, the King, knowing of the dangers of the Triforce, splits it up into three. The Triforce of Courage is hidden in the Great Palace. The Triforce of Power is placed in a different location, probably Death Mountain. And the Triforce of Wisdom stays with them. The Legend of the Sleeping Princess occurs.
 * The spirit of Ganon finds the Triforce of Power and regains a form. He attacks Southern Hyrule, laying waste to it. Zelda hides the Triforce of Wisdom in 8 places.
 * The boy from OoS/A/LA's descendant, after hearing countless stories of Hyrule, travels to the Kingdom, only to see it in ruins. The events of Legend of Zelda happen.
 * With Ganon fully dead, the young hero embarks on a new adventure to awaken the sleeping Zelda. This is known as the Adventure of Link.
 * What happened next in either timeline is unknown...

Chaltab's Single Timeline (ZL)
TMC - OoT/MM - TP - TWW/PH - FS/FSA - OoS/OoA/LA/ALttP - LoZ/AoL


 * The Wind People from TMC are the Sky People from TP.
 * A war broke out days after Ocarina of Time's final scene. Ganondorf tried to obtain the Triforce and was captured and executed, resurrected, and sealed in the Twilight realm. It's legend was later appended onto the Seal War.
 * A new Hyrule was founded after the flood, either on a new continent or by the Great Deku Tree's plan.
 * The Dark Mirror from FSA is an attempted replica or re-forging of the Twilight Mirror from TP, and contains the Twili.
 * Tbe Dark World from FSA is the same as the spread of Twilight in the first half of TP.
 * Ganondorf from the Adult Timeline is the Ganondorf of TWW. He circumvents the original seal and a second one is placed on his power via the Master Sword. Then he dies from severe cranial trauma.
 * The Ganondorf of TP is given the Triforce of Power by the sealed Ganon from the Adult Timeline.
 * The 'latter half' of the Seal War was FSA; it's legend was combined with the ancient stories of Ganon forming the version we read in the ALTTP manual. That reincarnated Ganondorf became Ganon upon obtaining the Trident, which is of uncertain origin.
 * Oracle takes place before Link's Awakening and ALTTP; The Wind Fish's dream contains elements of prophecy--Aghanim and the full-fledged return of Ganon.)
 * The scroll in AOL's manual was written over several generations and has multiple authors.

Jumbie's Split Gaiden Theory (ZL)
Adult: TMC - OoT - TWW/PH

Child timeline: TMC - OoT/MM - TP

Gaiden timeline: TMC - OoT - ALttP/OoS/OoA/LA/(AST) - FS/FSA - LoZ/AoL


 * The Wind People from TMC are the Sky People from TP.
 * TP's prolonged wars are when the Twili's ancestors were banished, and the same wars from ALttP's manual.
 * In a third timeline, Link is absent when Ganondorf takes the Triforce, so the Seal War unfolds instead.
 * The Dark Mirror from FSA is the Mirror of Twilight from TP.
 * Ganondorf and Vaati have the same right to be reborn as new persons as any other Hyrulian.

Lexxi's Single Timeline (N/A)
OoT/MM - TP - TWW/PH - LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA - [TFPRR] - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA/[AST]


 * OoT is the IW of ALttP. Ganon is removed from the sealed Sacred Realm to be executed in TP, and is revived prior to TWW.
 * The hero in TP either is or predates the one who split the Triforce prior to TWW. All heroes who use the Master Sword are the "Hero of Time," whose title has the dual meaning of "Hero who travels through time" and "Hero who appears throughout time."
 * The KoRL is the prince from the AoL Sleeping Zelda story, and OoT Zelda is the Sleeping Princess. The Triforce of Courage is left in the Great Palace after TWW.
 * The kingdom of LoZ/AoL is founded on the islands of the Great Sea, made larger and brought together by the Deku Tree, and christened with the Triforce’s blessing at the end of AoL.
 * The Light Force is a powerful Force Gem introduced after the Triforce leaves the new Hyrule.
 * A new Master Sword is forged in OoA by the Zoras.
 * The Triforce returns to the Sacred Realm after OoS/OoA.
 * The Dark Mirror in FSA is a forgery of the Mirror of Twilight.
 * OoT is the IW of ALttP, and TP’s prolonged wars are the wars told as leading up to the IW.
 * The demon Ganon is one entity throughout the entire series, taking on multiple incarnations over time.
 * The Four Sword is sealed in the Sacred Realm by the maidens after FSA. This accounts for Ganon's appearance there in ALttP.

NOTE: This timeline is purely personal, and does not adhere to traditional "canon." See “Lexxi's New Hylian Kingdom Theory” for this theorist's traditional timeline.

Tounushi's Split Adult Time-Line Theory (N/A)
Adult Time-Line 1: OoT-tWW/PH

Adult Time-Line 2: OoT-aLttP/LA-tLoZ/AoL

Child Time-Line :  OoT/MM-TP


 * Wind Waker's opening story seems to give a feeling of a "what if" scenario instead of aLttP: Hero of Time seals Ganon (both) Ganon sneaks/breaks his way through the seal (both), Ganon practically conquers Hyrule (tWW) / Link kills Ganon before Hyrule is completely enslaved (aLttP).
 * tMC-FS/FSA continuity gives such a different story (e.g. light force), that the continuity is basically a Gaiden.
 * Oracles is before or after LoZ/AoL. Difficult to exactly bolt the arc down.  aLttP just had a major crisis, so the knigdom would've taken many years to recover to the level presented in Oracles.  AoL presents a large world that seems to prosper, even only a few years after LoZ, where people were living in caves.  Both options have the whole triforce and Ganon is definitely dead.
 * The "city in the sky" is a concept used in tMC and TP, but neither games' cities are related.
 * Whatever races resemble each other in the ATL2 and CTL is due to the fact that both have a common history from the time before OoT.
 * The ancestors of the Twili might've been the first/most powerful of the groups/tribes to lust, search and war for the Sacred Realm. They might've even existed before the building of the Temple of Time, as they DID MANAGE to enter the realm.  Afterward the goddesses and the spirits banished them to a world between the Sacred Realm and the Real World: Twilight Realm.  The ancient sages built the Temple of Time to prevent this from happening again, at the same time creating the old kingdom of Hyrule to protect the Temple OR granting an earlier kingdom of Hyrule to hold the territory where the Temple resided.  This made the kingdom the envy of other races/tribes/kingdoms or even rival nobles within the kingdom, sparking the Hyrulean Civil War.  The war may have even lasted for centuries on some level of intensity, before reaching its climax and end right before OoT.
 * Peculiarly, Ganondorf didn't seem to be as interested in reassembling the Triforce in TP as he did in the other games. This would be because he received his Triforce of Power "out of the blue" in the CTL, after the events of OoT, much like Zelda receiving her Triforce of Wisdom.  In the ATL, Ganondorf is consumed by his anger and frustration of having the complete Triforce slip from his fingers.  Sure, he might've had ambitions to attain the triforce from the beginning, but in ATL, he strived and failed to attain the Triforce, while in CTL he just received it without any effort on his part.  As he received this "blessing," he went on a thieving rampage, but was caught and tried before making any serious damage.  After harnessing the powers of Twilight, he had no further overriding desire to attain the last pieces of the triforce.
 * The Sealing War is OoT: The story has changed from accurate accounts over the years/centuries, downplaying the Hero of Time and promoting the Hylian Knights (how many could topple an evil kingdom and a demon king ALONE?). The temple of Time was deconstructed and moved OR the Hyrule castle was rebuilt elsewhere, to the east of Kakariko.  The Temple dacayed into ruins as a forest grew around it until the Pedestal of Time and the Master Sword were left.

Three Universe Theory (N/A)
Universe 1

Adult: OoT - TWW/PH

Child: OoT/MM - TP

Universe 2

TMC/FS/FSA - ALttP/LA

Universe 3

LoZ/AoL - OoS/OoA


 * Three separate continuities that do not intersect.
 * TMC and FS are notably first in their universes.
 * ALttP's IW is FSA.
 * AoL backstory refers to the first Zelda.

United Wise Men's Timeline (N/A)
OoT/MM - TP - TWW/PH - TMC - FS/FSA - ALttP/LA - OoS/OoA - LoZ/AoL


 * The hero in TP either is or predates the one who split the Triforce prior to TWW.
 * The Hyrule in the 2D games was formed by the success of the Koroks and Deku Tree in uniting the islands.
 * The Triforce returns to the Sacred Realm after TWW.
 * Ganon is revived in FSA and sealed in the Sacred Realm by the Four Sword.
 * The Triforce is kept by the royal family after ALttP.

NOTE: This timeline is outdated.

Alter's Trident Timeline Theory
Trident Theory Timeline:
 * Main Timeline: TMC - FS - OoT/MM - TRR/TWW/PH - FSA - ALttP/LA/OoA/OoS - LoZ/AoL
 * Ganon's Demise Timeline: TMC - FS - OoT/MM - TP


 * The Trident Theory is something I, Alter, came up with myself. I'm unsure as to whether or not someone else has had any similar ideas. The basic theory is that Ganon was once a Human/Gerudo. Once he stole the Trident (which transformed him into a "demon"), he was unable to ever return to his human form, and usually wields the Trident as a weapon from then on.


 * You may call this an adult/child timeline if you wish, as it is the section that it is going into. However, I don't believe that there is a reason to an adult/child timeline. Quite simply put, Ganon escaped from the Sacred Realm. It says in WW that there was no hero to stop him. This could mean anything from TP Link not having been born, to him failing in his task. There was never an intent for the developers to state that "the end of OoT never happened" when the game was created. They may resort to that, but it doesn't mean that it was intended.


 * Vaati was sealed after the events in TMC, and was released during in FS. He was sealed again, only to be released again in FSA, where Ganon obtains his Trident.


 * Sometime after MM, the land is flooded, explaining why there are islands in TRR, TWW, and PH. The land slowly drains, the Hyrule found in ALttP is uncovered. After Ganon is defeated in ALttP, Link travels across the now much smaller sea to the lands of Koholint, Holodrum, and Labrynna.


 * The game manual for LA states that Link went on a search for enlightenment after defeating Ganon. This makes sense, as ALttP had been it's predecessor, and the developers wanted to semi-continue the story. After leaving Koholint Island, he is warped to the lands of Labrynna or Holodrum, and then sailed to the other land after completing his journey.


 * The baby Deku Tree that Tingle helped in TRR grows up. The forest then becomes known as Forest Haven. Link later ventures there during the events of TWW.