Hyrule/Appearances by Game

The Legend of Zelda
Hyrule is first seen in The Legend of Zelda as the magical kingdom that serves as the setting for the adventures of a young man named Link in his quest to save Hyrule's young princess, Zelda, from the clutches of the evil sorcerer Ganon. In this game, Hyrule is described as a beautiful kingdom with deep forests and tall mountains bordering a vast ocean to its southern and eastern borders. As Link explores the kingdom, he visits all the different parts of it, including the Lost Woods to the west-southwest, the Graveyard in the shadow of Death Mountain to the northwest, the coastline to the southeastern and eastern borders of the kingdom and even the strange forests in the southeastern region of the country. In this original incarnation of Hyrule, the land is shown to have many forests and lakes in addition to the mountainous terrain of Death Mountain. This would mark the gaming world's first experience in the land of Hyrule and began several long traditions that would continue to be featured in later incarnations of the kingdom and would be vastly expanded upon and improved by the game developers.

The Adventure of Link
The second appearance of Hyrule was in The Adventure of Link; as the game progresses it is revealed that the overworld featured in The Legend of Zelda is only a small sector of The Adventure of Link ' s grand landscape, dwarfing it in size. Because this title features three major continents separated by large straits of water, and seven unique towns and settlements, this incarnation of Hyrule is one entirely unique to The Adventure of Link. The original Hyrule overworld, featured in The Legend of Zelda is still explorable, but it is a tiny landmass south of Death Mountain. Hyrule borders a vast ocean; the landscape is much more varied with swamps, mountains, a graveyard, deserts and islands, in comparison to The Legend of Zelda. The hero also visits several towns that would later provide the namesakes of some very important characters in Ocarina of Time. This game would also mark the first use of dungeons and palaces as a plot device in Hyrule, a formula that would come to be used time and again in future games. In this game, Link traverses Hyrule to restore six magical crystals to their proper places within six other individual palaces in order to break the seal on the Great Palace and awaken Zelda with the completed Triforce.

A Link to the Past
A Link to the Past marked the first appearances of such major landmarks as Lake Hylia, the Lost Woods, Zora's Waterfall, Hyrule Castle, and Kakariko Village. The mirror of Hyrule, the Dark World, was also made explorable and marks the only time that the Sacred Realm could be explored in any form. The Dark World appeared to be what Hyrule would be like if it were ruled by Ganon. The two worlds were closely linked, and what happened in one would even affect its twin in the other. This version of Hyrule began many of the more recurring elements of the kingdom, such as Hyrule Castle being the home of the Royal Family and the Lost Woods being the home of the Master Sword. This template of Hyrule would also be heavily replicated in future games as well.

Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time marks the first time the kingdom of Hyrule was represented in three dimensions. Familiar locations like Death Mountain and Lake Hylia returned, along with new locations such as Gerudo Valley, Lon Lon Ranch, and the Kokiri Forest. The geography of the land was rearranged, making Hyrule Field a central hub area between most of the major locations.

Four Swords
Four Swords features yet another incarnation of Hyrule that contrasts with previous versions of the kingdom. Several locations appear in the game that have not yet appeared in any other, such as the Sea of Trees, the Chambers of Insight, and Talus Cave. Death Mountain makes a reappearance as one of the few recurring places that appears in this version of Hyrule. There is also a region above the clouds featured, where Vaati's Palace resides floating high above the land.

The Wind Waker
The Wind Waker features a new incarnation of Hyrule, though it is sealed away beneath the Great Sea. This is the direct result of the Great Flood that occured as a product of the Goddesses in a timeline of events that occured before The Wind Waker; the survivors of the flood built a new country on the surface, where the highest mountains of Hyrule became islands. In terms of differences with other incarnations, Hyrule Castle now rests on an island in the middle of a large lake, fueled by a large river. On Hyrule's horizon, large, tall mountains exist; these help explain the existence of islands on the surface of the Great Sea. Ganon's Tower is located beyond a grand canyon leading into one of the kingdom-surrounding mountain ranges, not far from Hyrule Castle. Hyrule still retains a state of regality, despite its desertion and isolation on the seabed.

Four Swords Adventures
The version of Hyrule featured in Four Swords Adventures shares many landmarks with the version of Hyrule featured in A Link to the Past. The Eastern Palace, Desert Palace, and what is suspected to be the Tower of Hera (the Tower of Flames) are in the same locations, as is Kakariko Village. Hyrule Castle also rests in a similar location to its A Link to the Past counterpart, at the very center of the kingdom, although this incarnation of the castle more strongly resembles the one featued in The Wind Waker. However, some locations have shifted as well. Lake Hylia is now in the northeast, and locations not featured in A Link to the Past are present, such as the Village of the Blue Maiden and Lon Lon Ranch. The southern part of the map is frozen due to Vaati's evil magic. The Dark World is again present, both as the northwestern portion of Hyrule and the base of Ganon's power, and as an actual mirror universe. Most of the Hyrulean races that were introduced in Ocarina of Time return in this game. The Gorons live on Death Mountain, the Deku Scrubs live in the Lost Woods, and the Gerudo live in the Desert of Doubt. A new race, the Zuna, are also introduced. The Zuna are a tribe of green-skinned desert nomads who are descended from the ancient Pyramid builders. Another major difference in this incarnation of Hyrule when compared to others is that a large ocean borders the entire continent upon which Hyrule rests.

The Minish Cap
The geography of Hyrule presented in The Minish Cap introduces new locations such as the wild marshlands of Castor Wilds, the rocky Mount Crenel, and the eerie Royal Valley, while such common landmarks as Death Mountain and Kakariko Village are absent. Hyrule Field is divided into sectors, and locations such as Lon Lon Ranch and Hyrule Town (a different incarnation of Hyrule Castle Town) serve as major populated areas. Another recurring locale is the classic home of the Royal Family, Hyrule Castle, which sits to Hyrule Field's northern borders and plays a pivotal role in the progression of the game. Many areas can only be explored while Link is small, such as Melari's Mines or the Minish Village in the Minish Woods. A large part of the map is also covered in clouds and is known as the Cloud Tops. This is the home of the Wind Tribe and the location of the Palace of Winds. There is some continuity with locations from the rest of the Four Swords trilogy, as this game likely shows the palace before Vaati began using it as his residence, in addition to the Tower of Winds, which is revealed to have begun as the home of the Wind Tribe in this game.

Twilight Princess
The Hyrule appearing in Twilight Princess is much larger than in previous games. The government is centralized in Castle Town, and Kakariko Village again appears at the base of Death Mountain. A sign at the entrance to the Hidden Village identifies it as "Old Kakariko," indicating that the Kakariko Village appearing in Twilight Princess may perhaps be the same one seen in Ocarina of Time. Hyrule Field is larger and again divided into sectors like it was in The Minish Cap. The kingdom appears to have a more developed system of roads, with fortified bridges like the Bridge of Eldin and the Great Bridge of Hylia guarding the roads. New locations such as Snowpeak and Ordon Village also appear for the first time. The Temple of Time reappears in this game, but has shifted locations. It is no longer in the main Castle Town as it was in Ocarina of Time, but its ruins are instead in the Sacred Grove, alongside the ruins of what appears to have been a city. This draws parallels with the Master Sword's location in A Link to the Past. This game also introduces the concept of Hyrule being divided into different provinces, such as Ordona, Faron, Eldin, and Lanayru.

Spirit Tracks
Hyrule's second most recent appearance in Spirit Tracks, which is referred to as by some fans, features a unique and complex railroad system that was born out of the war with the Demon King Malladus. Its most notable features are the titular Spirit Tracks that span four directions all across the land and the Tower of Spirits at the center of the kingdom. These special tracks, the tower, and the four temples connected to the tower by the tracks, serve as the means as a lock, by which Malladus is kept bound in his prison deep beneath Hyrule.

The re-established land of Hyrule features five realms: Forest, Snow, Ocean, Fire, and Sand. Each realm is different in climate, landforms, inhabitants, and culture.

Forest Realm
The Forest Realm is located in the southwest corner of "New Hyrule" and is a heavily forested area, but also features vast plains on its eastern side. The realm is home to most of the kingdom's Hylian population, who reside in the various settlements scattered around the Forest Realm. The capital of Hyrule, Castle Town, lies in the northern extreme of the realm. Other settlements include the lumberjack town of Whittleton, Aboda Village, the Trading Post, which is the home of the Linebeck Trading Company; Rabbitland Rescue, and the Forest Sanctuary. The Forest Temple, located deep within the realm's forests, provides power to the Spirit Tracks, and through the tracks the Tower of Spirits.

Snow Realm
The Snow Realm is located in the northwest corner of the kingdom and is covered with a blanket of snow which provides a suitable habitat for the conifer forests in the realm. The Anoukis, a race that migrated to the re-established land of Hyrule from their homeland of the Isle of Frost are also found in the realm, living in the Anouki Village. The realm also holds a number of stations including the Snow Sanctuary, Bridge Worker's Home, Wellspring Station, the Snowdrift Station, and the Slippery Station. At the northern end of the realm past a vast icy plain, where the Snow Temple is found. This temple possesses the same function as the Forest Temple.

Ocean Realm
The Ocean Realm is located in the southeast part of Hyrule and is a vast large ocean, dotted with small islands and flourishing with sea life. A group of Hylians who make their living off of fish live in the small coastal village by the name of Papuchia Village. However, the citizens of the realm have been having trouble with the local gang of pirates residing at the Pirate Hideout. Other stations found in the realm include the Ocean Sanctuary and the Lost at Sea Station. Found deep within the depths of the ocean is the Ocean Temple, which powers the tracks leading to the Tower of Spirits.

Fire Realm
The Fire Realm is located in the northeastern corner of the kingdom, and is comprised of a large number of volcanoes, lava lakes, rocky mountains, and underground tunnels. The Gorons reside throughout the realm living in the Goron Village/Fire Sanctuary, Dark Ore Mine, and the Goron Target Range. At the top of the large Mountain of Fire in the center of the Fire Realm is the Fire Temple. This temple is source of the Force Gem that powers the realm's Spirit Tracks leading to the Tower of Spirits, but it also the source of the evil causing the violent volcanic eruptions troubling the inhabitants of the realm.

Sand Realm
The Sand Realm is located in the eastern part of Hyrule, between the Ocean and Fire Realms. It is a desolate, arid region with few inhabitants other than Malgyorgs. Its only stations are the Sand Sanctuary and the Sand Temple, a fortress built to guard the sacred Bow of Light. It is home to the Three Trials, a test of the worth of anyone who wishes to possess this powerful holy weapon.

Skyward Sword
In Skyward Sword, Hyrule is known as the Surface for much of the game, and was also named Grooseland by Groose. Many enemies roam the land, as the armies of Demise. Link descends to Hyrule from Skyloft with the help of the Goddess Sword, and continues to travel back and forth between his homeland and the land below using Bird Statues. The surface is divided into three provinces, with names corresponding to their Twilight Princess counterparts. The woodlands in the Faron Province is the home of the Kikwi race and contains the Sealed Grounds, the Skyview Temple, and Lake Floria, home of the Water Dragon. Eldin Province is the northernmost province, inhabited by the Mogmas and home to the Earth Temple and Fire Sanctuary. Death Mountain does not appear by name in the game; its role is played by Eldin Volcano, which is generally believed to be the same location. Lanayru Province is a desert region in the far west, containing the Temple of Time, Lanayru Mining Facility, and the Sandship. This province was once a verdant green area surrounded by the sea, rich in minerals mined by the Ancient Robots.

Majora's Mask
Hyrule only plays a minor role in the opening and closing of Majora's Mask, where a new section of the Lost Woods is revealed in the opening of the game. Link is searching the woods for "a friend with whom he parted ways" after the Child Timeline ending of Ocarina of Time. The Lost Woods are home to a portal leading to a parallel world to Hyrule called Termina. Link stumbles upon this portal when he chases the Skull Kid through it after a chance encounter in the Lost Woods. The young Hero of Time also returns to Hyrule through this same portal at the end of the game after he succeeds in saving Termina from the demon Majora and frees the Skull Kid from Majora's grasp. During the ending cinematic, a crude drawing of Link and the Skull Kid is seen in the Lost Woods.

Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages
Hyrule in the Oracle games also plays only a minor role in the overarching storyline. The kingdom appears to be at peace, because Ganon was vanquished sometime in the past and the complete Triforce is safe in Hyrule Castle. When Link touches the Triforce, he receives a mark on his hand that signifies that he is the chosen hero of Hyrule. As the two games open, Link is shown riding a horse along a coastline (revealing that this version of Hyrule also has an ocean that borders it), and Hyrule Castle is shown from a distance when Link stops to take in the view and hears the Triforce's call from within the castle. These brief scenes are the only times gamers see Hyrule in the two games, and only one room is shown within Hyrule Castle, the room where the Triforce is kept. It is also revealed that, unlike in Termina, Hyrule is known to members of the two new lands visited by Link within the games. Nayru reveals that she knows that Link and Impa are messengers of Hyrule and Din is able to identify the Triforce mark on the back of Link's hand. This indicates that both Holodrum and Labrynna are different countries in the same universe as Hyrule, and not parallel dimensions like Termina.