Is Hyrule Warriors 2014 Canon?

The Hyrule Warriors game, released in 2014, is generally considered non-canon by Nintendo, as it draws inspiration from several different games in the Zelda franchise, including Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, but its storyline does not fit into the official Zelda timeline. The game’s placement within the Zelda chronology has been described as “not in the universe but connected to the timeline“, indicating a complex relationship between Hyrule Warriors and the main Zelda series.

FAQs about Hyrule Warriors and the Zelda Series

Game Canon and Timeline

1. Is Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity a prequel or sequel?: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, set 100 years before the events of the game, making it a part of the Zelda series timeline but with its own unique storyline.
2. Is Hyrule Warriors a crossover?: Yes, Hyrule Warriors is a crossover game that mixes the world and characters of Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda series with the gameplay of Koei Tecmo’s Dynasty Warriors series.
3. Does Hyrule Warriors change the timeline?: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity has split The Legend of Zelda timeline once more, creating a new branch in the already complex Zelda chronology.

Game Story and Characters

4. Is Ganon in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity?: Yes, Calamity Ganon is a character in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and players can unlock him as a playable character after completing certain challenges.
5. Why is Age of Calamity not canon?: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is considered non-canon because its order of events irreconcilably differs from what Nintendo has established as canon in the Zelda series.
6. Why is it called Calamity Ganon?: Calamity Ganon is called so because he failed to reincarnate properly, possibly due to the interference of a hero like Link, resulting in him devolving into a twisted mass of body parts and Malice.

Gameplay and Completion

7. How long does it take to 100% Hyrule Warriors?: Completing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity to 100% can take around 76 hours, depending on the player’s skill level and dedication to completing all aspects of the game.
8. Does Hyrule Warriors ever end?: Yes, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity has a final cutscene that can be unlocked after completing the main story and certain post-game challenges.
9. What is the true ending of Hyrule Warriors?: The true ending of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity requires players to complete the main story and then fulfill specific conditions in the post-game to unlock the secret ending.

Zelda Series and Canon

10. Is every Zelda game canon?: Not all Zelda games are considered canon, as some games, like Hyrule Warriors, are spin-offs that do not fit into the official Zelda timeline.
11. Are the old Zelda games still canon?: Most mainline Zelda games are considered canon, but their sequels and spin-offs may not be, with some exceptions where Nintendo has explicitly stated their canonical status.
12. What is the non-canon Legend of Zelda?: Hyrule Warriors is an example of a non-canon Legend of Zelda game, as it is a spin-off that draws inspiration from various Zelda games but does not fit into the official timeline.

Characters and World

13. Why does Link not talk?: Link does not talk because he feels the need to stay strong and silently bear any burden, which causes him to stop outwardly expressing his thoughts and feelings.
14. How old is Link in Zelda?: Link’s age varies across different Zelda games, but he is generally portrayed as being on the younger side, under the age of 18, with specific ages given in some games like The Legend of Zelda (10 years old) and Twilight Princess (17 years old).
15. How big is Hyrule canonically?: The size of Hyrule is not explicitly stated in the games, but estimates based on travel times and distances in Breath of the Wild suggest that Hyrule could be approximately 33,268 square miles (or 86,163 square kilometers) in size, although this is not officially confirmed by Nintendo.