Building Your Timeline

Perhaps the best way to understand the subtleties and conflicts involved in constructing a model of the Zelda Timeline is to attempt the process on one's own. Sources provided by this wiki allow an interested, new theorist to develop an informed sense of the chronology, with brief, focused blurbs concerning placement, game content, and troubleshooting.

The Basics
The most effective theorists are those who take the time to learn and enjoy the Zelda Canon before they begin. Prospective theorists should play through to completion any and every Zelda game they can. Information on any other games can be found on the wiki.

With this basic understanding, new theorists should be able to quickly memorize the small amount of jargon used in timeline discussion. For the most part, simply knowing the names of each game in the series well enough to recognize their abbreviations is all that is required.

Though not necessarily a requirement, new theorists will be taken much more seriously if they are able to understand the definition of Canon and have a general familiarity with the timeline's General conclusions. They may also be interested in SteveT's article; Timeline Theorizing 101.

The Arcs
The cornerstone of timeline knowledge is familiarity with the seven story arcs and their proofs. Some of these connection should be immediately obvious, while others may take some exploration.

SS - OOT
The first arc provides the backstory as to what will become the Split Timeline of the Zelda series.
 * Skyward Sword begins the arc, outlining the very first Link, the Master Sword, and Hyrule's origins.
 * Ocarina of Time provides further details as to the rise of the Hero of Time, reclaiming of the Master Sword, and the sealing of Ganon in the Sacred Realm.

OOT - TWW/PH - ST
The second Arc comprises those games which fill the first four chapters of the "Adult Timeline".
 * Ocarina of Time, as the Hero of Time's great adventure, begins the arc, and ends with Ganon sealed in the Sacred Realm.
 * The Wind Waker, which further details the fate of Hyrule after the Hero of Time leaves Hyrule, as well as one instance of Ganon's demise.
 * Phantom Hourglass, promoted as a sequel to The Wind Waker and its hero's second adventure.
 * Spirit Tracks details events occurring soon after a new Hyrule is founded by the Link and Tetra from The Wind Waker.

OoT/MM - TP
The third Arc is the most recently confirmed, and comprises the first three chapters of the "Child Timeline".
 * Ocarina of Time begins the arc when Link returns to the past after sealing Ganon away in the future.
 * Majora's Mask continues the arc by following Link's adventures after bringing peace back to Hyrule.
 * Twilight Princess completes the known games within the arc by closing the door on the threat posed by Ganondorf.

TMC - FS/FSA
The fourth Arc comprises those games which can be directly linked by their representation of Vaati and the Four Sword. For this reason, it is often referred to as the "Four Sword Trilogy", and is often removed from the main line entirely.
 * The Minish Cap, which details the forging of the Four Sword and the origns of Vaati, begins the tale.
 * Four Swords, in which the sword is used to seal Vaati a second time, occurs much later.
 * Four Swords Adventures, in which Vaati is finally defeated, completes the arc. Another backstory to Ganon is created in this arc.

OoS/OoA
The fifth Arc is simply the Oracle Series (and possibly Link's Awakening). Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons may be standalone, or they could directly connect to Link's Awakening. There is evidence that both games (Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages) can be both the first and last games in the Oracle Series. Often abreviated as "OoX" because there is no way to be sure which game is first and last in the Oracle Series, so it is abbreviated to the one title.

ALttP/LA/(KnS)
The sixth Arc comprises those games which were released around the time of A Link to the Past, and that can be linked in the manner of most gaming series. Whilst this arc is popular, the ALttP/LA connection is not confirmed.
 * A Link to the Past, which has alternatively been discribes as the earliest and the last game in the timeline as of its release.
 * Link's Awakening, its intended continuation, is placed subsequently.
 * (BS The Legend of Zelda: The Ancient Stone Tablets) is a sequel to ALttP, which takes place long after the events of that game. AST was never released in North America, and was only available on the BS-X Broadcasting System. It may or may not be canon, but it was created by the same team the designed ALttP.

LoZ/AoL
The seventh Arc comprises the original 8-bit games.
 * The Legend of Zelda gives little background information to place it in the timeline; it ends with Link claiming both Triforces of Power and Wisdom.
 * The Adventure of Link, the conclusion of the LoZ storyline, completes the arc. Link reforges the complete Triforce after securing the Triforce of Courage.

Dealing with Ganon and the Handhelds

 * Only ALttP, OOT, WW, and FSA include information pertaining to Ganon; it is the placement of these games which dictates the true grit of a timeline.
 * Placement of the Oracle titles is widely disputed throughout the community, however, they can be fit into the timeline with some certainty, depending on the location. The Oracles can be left ambiguous as well, along with the entire "Four Swords Trilogy", as they can function as standalone titles.