Should You Play Age of Calamity Before Tears of the Kingdom? A Comprehensive Guide

The question of whether to play Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity before diving into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a common one, and the answer is nuanced. The short answer is: no, you absolutely do not need to play Age of Calamity before Tears of the Kingdom. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. Playing Age of Calamity can significantly enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the world and lore of Hyrule, especially the events leading up to the Great Calamity and the world state at the beginning of Breath of the Wild. While Tears of the Kingdom builds upon Breath of the Wild, Age of Calamity offers a deeper dive into the world’s past, creating a richer experience for those willing to invest the time.

The most important factor is that Age of Calamity is a non-canon spin-off taking place in an alternate timeline, while Tears of the Kingdom is the direct sequel to Breath of the Wild. They are separate games, with different gameplay experiences, and they are not dependent on each other. Tears of the Kingdom assumes that you have played, or are at least familiar with, Breath of the Wild. However, the specific events of Age of Calamity are not required to understand its story.

Think of it this way: Breath of the Wild is the core story. Tears of the Kingdom is a continuation of that core story. Age of Calamity is a “what if” story set in the same world.

Understanding the Relationship Between the Games

Age of Calamity: A Prequel in an Alternate Timeline

Age of Calamity is a hack-and-slash musou-style game, developed by Koei Tecmo, which tells the story of the events 100 years before Breath of the Wild. It depicts the war against the Calamity and the fall of Hyrule. It is meant to give players a first-hand look at the world and characters in their prime, before the events that transpired in the main series. This game offers insight into the backstories of Link, Zelda, the Champions, and other crucial characters. However, due to the time-travel aspect introducing the small guardian Terrako, the events of Age of Calamity diverge into an alternate timeline. This is why it is considered non-canon. So while it explores familiar themes and characters, it does not directly affect the events of Tears of the Kingdom.

Tears of the Kingdom: A Direct Sequel

Tears of the Kingdom directly follows the events of Breath of the Wild. It assumes players have a basic understanding of the world, its history, and the characters. It expands on the open-world mechanics and lore established in its predecessor, introducing new mechanics and plot points. Tears of the Kingdom is the game that moves forward the core narrative. It doesn’t directly acknowledge any events within Age of Calamity.

How Age of Calamity Enhances Your Experience

Even though it is non-canon, playing Age of Calamity first can significantly enhance your experience with Tears of the Kingdom by providing a deeper understanding of:

• Character Backstories: Understanding the relationships and motivations of characters like Zelda, Link, and the Champions makes their roles in Tears of the Kingdom more impactful.
• Hyrule’s History: Witnessing Hyrule’s glory and the fall of its civilization gives a new perspective on the world in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
• The Calamity: Seeing the Calamity unfold in real-time adds gravitas to the events alluded to in the main series.
• Emotional Impact: It’s easier to appreciate the stakes in Tears of the Kingdom when you’ve seen how far Hyrule has fallen.

Why You Don’t Need to Play Age of Calamity

Despite these benefits, here’s why it’s not a requirement:

• Separate Storylines: As the timeline branches, the events of Age of Calamity are non-canon to the main Zelda series and therefore will not be pertinent to the narrative of Tears of the Kingdom.
• Different Gameplay: The musou-style combat of Age of Calamity is very different from the action-adventure gameplay of the mainline Zelda series. It is a game that might not appeal to all Zelda players.
• Sufficient Context in Tears of the Kingdom: Tears of the Kingdom provides all the necessary context to understand its story without prior knowledge of Age of Calamity’s narrative.
• Focus on Breath of the Wild: Tears of the Kingdom primarily continues the storyline from Breath of the Wild, and knowledge of that game is much more important.

Recommendation

Ultimately, whether you play Age of Calamity before Tears of the Kingdom depends on your preferences. If you are a hardcore Zelda fan eager to delve into every corner of the lore and don’t mind a different style of gameplay, then Age of Calamity is a worthwhile experience that will deepen your appreciation for the world. However, if you’re primarily concerned about experiencing the main story of Tears of the Kingdom and the gameplay of Breath of the Wild appeals to you, you can confidently jump right into Tears of the Kingdom without having to play Age of Calamity beforehand. It’s a bonus for avid Zelda fans, not a prerequisite.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does Age of Calamity take place before Breath of the Wild?

Yes, Age of Calamity tells the story of the events that occurred 100 years before Link’s awakening in Breath of the Wild. It’s a prequel that shows the fall of Hyrule.

2. Is Age of Calamity a prequel to Tears of the Kingdom?

No, Age of Calamity is not a prequel to Tears of the Kingdom. It is a prequel to Breath of the Wild, and it takes place within a separate, non-canon timeline. Tears of the Kingdom is the direct sequel to Breath of the Wild.

3. Can you play Age of Calamity without playing Breath of the Wild?

Yes, you can play Age of Calamity without playing Breath of the Wild. However, you will likely appreciate the story, characters, and references more if you have played Breath of the Wild first.

4. Is Ganon playable in Age of Calamity?

Yes, Calamity Ganon is a playable character in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, after he is defeated in the main story.

5. Is Age of Calamity canon to Tears of the Kingdom?

No, Age of Calamity is considered non-canon to the main Zelda timeline, therefore not canon to Tears of the Kingdom. It exists in an alternate timeline.

6. Does Age of Calamity affect the Tears of the Kingdom storyline?

Age of Calamity does not directly affect the storyline of Tears of the Kingdom due to the time-travel aspect that created an alternate timeline.

7. Is Age of Calamity a new timeline?

Yes, Age of Calamity creates a new, alternate timeline in the Zelda universe due to Terrako’s intervention.

8. Is Age of Calamity repetitive?

The gameplay of Age of Calamity, while fun, can be described as repetitive due to its musou hack-and-slash style, with many battles taking place on similar maps.

9. Is Age of Calamity a spin-off?

Yes, Age of Calamity is a spin-off game, not part of the mainline Zelda series. It is in the Hyrule Warriors franchise.

10. How is Age of Calamity different from Breath of the Wild?

The most significant difference is the gameplay. Age of Calamity is a musou-style action game, while Breath of the Wild is an open-world action-adventure.

11. How many hours is Age of Calamity?

The main story of Age of Calamity takes about 24-25 hours to complete. However, if you aim for 100% completion, it can take upwards of 76 hours.

12. Why does Age of Calamity have a “good” ending?

The ending of Age of Calamity is “good” because, in the game’s alternate timeline, the heroes succeed in averting the catastrophic events of the Calamity, thanks to Terrako’s time travel, therefore preventing the century of suffering that preceded Breath of the Wild.

13. What happens to Link’s arm in Tears of the Kingdom?

In Tears of the Kingdom, Link’s arm is cursed at the beginning of the game after the revival of Ganon, and is replaced by Rauru’s arm.

14. What is the purpose of Age of Calamity?

The purpose of Age of Calamity is to let players witness firsthand the events of the Great Calamity and the fall of Hyrule, and to play as various characters who fought during the events.

15. Is the Calamity mentioned in Tears of the Kingdom?

Yes, while the Calamity itself is not the main focal point, the consequences of the Calamity and its influence on Ganondorf’s resurgence are alluded to in Tears of the Kingdom.