For Hyrule: The Heart-Wrenching Sacrifices Across the Zelda Series

This article contains spoilers for the following games: Link’s Awakening, Majora’s Mask, Oracle of Ages, Twilight Princess, A Link Between Worlds, Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom. It is recommended that you experience those stories as intended if you have not already. Proceed at your own risk.

The Zelda franchise is one that has a history of diving headfirst into narratives that keep us on our toes. Although there are exceptions, the story teams over at Nintendo know how to play with our expectations and navigate our collective emotions. When it comes to the stories that involve characters that perform some sort of sacrifice, however, they have a more specific and far harder task. They have to ensure that a character is lovable and/or memorable enough for said sacrifice to have the desired impact and they have to ensure that those emotions are consistent across the entire globe of Zelda fans.

For example, in Twilight Princess, implied love interest Ilia has a lack of personality and substance that makes her being in danger a very low-stakes occurrence for the players. We are not invested enough in her well-being to care about her as much as characters like companion Midna or Ordon Village youth Colin. When done properly however, a twist of fate for a character can be impactful on a large scale, especially when it’s a twist of fate that they have chosen. Whether this be risking putting something important on the line, putting aside ideals that they always thought they’d have, or putting themselves in the face of physical harm (or even death), here are some of the sacrifices that hit the hardest.

Link – Link’s Awakening

Every Link has a certain level of sacrifice hewn into the simple fact that he is the hero. It goes without saying that each respective Link as the protagonist gives up their time and their safety to save whatever land is in peril. The Link in Link’s Awakening, however, faces a dilemma in which he must sacrifice much more. He must not only sacrifice his preconceptions of what is and isn’t reality, but also sacrifice the notion, the moral altruism of being able to save everyone.

Link’s Awakening‘s story is built upon a premise that is revealed to players late in the journey. Developers purposely concealed the information so that tropical island of Koholint and all of its residents would charm players in an irreversible way. By the time Link discovers that what he thought was his new reality is actually the Wind Fish’s dream, a conflict breeds within him. Waking the Wind Fish and saving Koholint from the nightmares that plague it simultaneously erases Koholint from existence.

Although, technically, it isn’t real people that are dying but rather illusions of a dream that is fading, Link still has to let go of them. There was no possible situation where Link simultaneously saves the island from all the nightmares and keeps the Wind Fish asleep. A complete turnaround from the conventions of the series thus far, where one act of heroism fixes everything, Link sacrifices the easy and convenient definition of being a hero. Although A Link to the Past was definitely not without difficulty as far as what Link had to do to save Hyrule, this is the first Zelda game where the player directly confronts and doubts what it means to be a hero. He didn’t save an entire land, and he had to give up the false notion that it was a possibility to do so.

Ralph – Oracle of Ages

An already overlooked game as it is, characters unique to Oracle of Ages are even more obscure within the fandom. Unlike Tingle or Beedle, there are characters in the Zelda series that you completely miss if you miss playing one game. Like Anjean from Spirit Tracks, Ralph is tied to his own game the way Oracle of Ages will be forever tied to the years it spent inaccessible to anyone who lacked a Game Boy or a Nintendo 3DS. While one-off characters make a game more unique, they also make it harder for said characters to be truly memorable and iconic series-wide. After all, not every character can be a Ghirahim and not every game has always been so accessible.

For those who don’t know, Ralph is the bodyguard of the literal Oracle of Ages, Nayru. Throughout the adventure, Ralph is on the chase for the kidnapped Nayru as him and Link go on their separate adventures betwixt two eras of Labrynna. After Nayru is no longer possessed by the evil Veran, Ralph goes after the newly-possessed Queen Ambi. What makes this a remarkable sacrifice is that he does this with the knowledge that Queen Ambi is actually one of his ancestors, and that killing her to stop Veran’s wrath would cause his own demise in the process. Although he only passes out and sets the stage for Link to battle her instead, the intentions to keep Nayru and all of Labrynna safe by giving his own life are incredibly heroic.

Ravio – A Link Between Worlds

The year in which A Link Between Worlds released made one-off character Ravio much more well-known. In 2013, the gaming industry was thriving and the 3DS was a popular console. A Link Between Worlds appealed to both new and old Zelda fans, being something that was reminiscent of A Link to the Past, but had the mind-bending gimmick of being able to merge with the walls.

Players first meet Ravio when he takes over Link’s house, popping into frame as unexpectedly as his item rental service. The mystery surrounding who could be behind Ravio’s purple bunny hood added a level of intrigue to the new character, and the chaos of the purple-clad figure taking over Link’s house to set up his own shop added charm.

Just like there are different types of sacrifices, there are also different types of courage. Ravio, eventually revealed to be Link’s Dark World counterpart, is a coward at face value. The Dark World, also known as Lorule, in its entirety is a presentation of Ravio’s failure, the land full of ruins, thieves, and monsters. And, when Hilda and Yuga plotted to steal Hyrule’s Triforce, he did not try to stop them directly.

Ravio instead recruits Link to be the hero of both worlds, but what makes him truly courageous is what he was at risk of sacrificing in the process. Ravio worked in the best interests of Lorule, placing all his hopes in Link, but he risked being in good graces with his own friend, Princess Hilda. He does things counterproductive to what Hilda wanted for Lorule, and eventually confronts her, saying that what she has been doing was the same sort of thing that made their kingdom how it looked today. He risked their friendship for the potential greater good of both worlds, which included Hilda’s well-being and detracting her from a path of destruction. As Albus Dumbledore says in reference to Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: “There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

Anju & Kafei – Majora’s Mask

One of the most famous side quests in not just the Zelda series but in the whole of gaming history, reuniting Anju and Kafei is a timeless journey for the player. Although there are things in Majora’s Mask that have aged poorly, like how disturbing Tingle looks in the original N64 version or how in some places it’s easier to get a fish in a bottle than just plain water, this particular side quest will never show its age.

If done correctly, the multi-layered side quest culminates in lovers Anju and Kafei reuniting just before the end of the three-day cycle in Majora’s Mask. The player by then has the knowledge pressing upon them that soon, they will be resetting time and everything they did will be wiped from reality. The citizens of Clock Town think that they face the end of the world and flock to get as far away as possible. But, the newly united couple stays where they are, saying that they shall “greet the morning together”.

At first it seems foolish. Why not run away? Why not go through the extra effort to save their lives? Especially when they just spent the past three days worried sick about each other. My answer?

They are the only ones not in denial. The citizens of Clock Town are no longer in denial that the Moon will fall, they are in denial of the fact that nowhere in Termina is safe. The massive size of the moon is later shown completely obliterating not just the small town, but miles and miles beyond it. There is nowhere to run and there is nowhere to hide. It is very a dark look at things but it is what makes Anju and Kafei’s statement so hard-hitting.

They aren’t actually expecting the greet the literal morning. Anju and Kafei are ready to die together.

They are sacrificing their ignorance and they are sacrificing their hope. They could have spent their last hours pretending to try and escape, but they’d rather stay in, and hold each other until the end.

Princess Zelda – Twilight Princess

Princess Zelda’s role in the story of Twilight Princess is famously one of scarcity and stoicism. I have always admired her bravery in the face of danger, but critics of her level of inclusion certainly have ground to stand on. Especially after Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask and Twilight Princess must have seemed incredibly sparse as far as the titular character.

One of her greatest contributions to the story, however, comes at a pivotal point in the narrative. Our companion Midna — who by now has charmed us plenty enough to care about her well-being — is dying on our backs. Midna barely is able to point us back in the direction of the castle, where we meet up with Princess Zelda. Seeing Midna’s desperate state, Princess Zelda transfers to her a sparkling, powerful essence which revives Midna and simultaneously makes Zelda disappear.

This scene is one of the most suspenseful in the game, as players care for the well being of both characters and don’t expect Nintendo to bring permanent harm to one of their staple characters. It is unclear what exactly Zelda gives Midna, whether it’s her portion of the Triforce, her life force, or even “her everything” (as supposedly translated from the Japanese version). Regardless, the intent of the sacrifice is one of the most selfless decisions in the series. Zelda knows that she will cease to exist, and that it’s possible she may not come back. She does it for Hyrule, and it shows her absolute trust in Midna to right not only the wrongs of Usurper King Zant but also the wrongs of an age-old Hyrule.

Link – Breath of the Wild

As mentioned previously, the role of Links across the series is by definition a sacrificial one. However, the two versions of Link in this list have a factor that is unique amongst the status quo. And no, it’s not just because this is the Link that has canonically been brought closest to death protecting Princess Zelda. It’s more complex than that. For this, I put on my lore hat.

This version of Link has been depended on to be the one to defeat Calamity Ganon ever since he pulled the Master Sword at 13 (Creating A Champion, pg #376). Zelda’s Diary exposes that such pressure put upon him at such a young age forced him into selective mutism, where he opted to be silent and stoic to not show the world his true fears and emotions. The Kingdom of Hyrule was assuaged by him looking like the perfect hero, similar to how the King wanted to be assuaged by Zelda having her sealing powers. However, the discussion about the weight of the world being on two teenagers is a discussion for another time.

At least four years after pulling the sword, Link was assigned the additional task of being Princess Zelda’s knight attendant. As the greatest swordsman in the land, this is a no-brainer of a choice. However, the King likely did not anticipate Zelda not activating her sealing powers in time, consequently not thinking about Link having to choose between defeating Calamity Ganon and personally making sure Zelda is safe. 

You might say, no, that’s not how it worked out. Surely Link and Zelda were on their way to the castle. Surely they had detours because the Guardians were just too rampant. Their journey and the reasons behind why they were where they ended up were vague and uncertain until Creating a Champion showed us this map:

According to the memories, the Great Calamity strikes while Link, Zelda, and the Champions are at the Lanayru Promenade. Urbosa volunteers to become the caretaker of Zelda’s safety, but Zelda declines, wanting to be of more use than just being a liability. Urbosa most likely volunteered this because Link needed to get to the castle to fight the “big bad” unencumbered. Since Zelda ends up with Link after all, we can assume that Link either offers to take her anyway, or she insists on going with Link. Whether this is because of their bond or because they are hoping Zelda’s powers will show up in the nick of time is also another discussion for another time.

We see from the maps that Link ventures to fulfill his duty, which is slaying Calamity Ganon at the castle. However, at that point, something happens and he abandons his duty, heading south with Zelda. Whether the task proved to be too immense or not is something we don’t know, but the fact remains that he chose continuing to protect Zelda over further attempts to slay Calamity Ganon.

This sacrifice is a unique one. It is still selfless and yet, it’s the least altruistic we have ever seen of Link. Anyone else could have assumed the task of keeping Zelda safe, but for some reason, he decided it had to be him. He made a decision that he would be the one to get Zelda to Kakariko safely. Maybe he felt like the survival of the two of them was just a more achievable and realistic goal or maybe it’s more poignant than that.

We know that Zelda came to care a great deal for Link, but Link’s actions during the Great Calamity suggest all on their own that he too, came to care a great deal for Zelda. It may sound very selfish, but logic points right to it. Link, being the only one who could wield the sword that seals the darkness, put Hyrule on the line to first make sure Zelda was safe. Zelda was his number one priority, not the Calamity, not even his own life. Yes, he had a duty to her, but he had an even greater duty to Hyrule. Whether the emotions behind it were romantic or platonic, whether it was the only thing he could do or the most selfish thing he could do, Link gave up the role he was meant to play in order to protect his princess.

It is this not-so-noble sacrifice that is the crux of Breath of the Wild for me. A hundred years later, Link is remembering his failures as he navigates Hyrule’s ruins, not knowing which of those ruins are his fault. In an arc continued in Tears of the Kingdom, I believe he as a hero learns to balance his now unrestrained emotions with his duty to Hyrule. Even in Tears of the Kingdom, he drops the Master Sword to try and stop Zelda from falling. Balance, after all, is a key narrative theme in the game, considering the symbolism of the ouroboros and how Hyrule is visually balanced laterally via the depths, the surface, and the sky.

Midna – Twilight Princess

The story of Twilight Princess involves a lot of Midna risking her life, as her journey is about a shift from selfishness to selflessness. As Link’s guide and companion, Midna moves away from selfish ambition and a lust for power and into heroism and humility. Seeing Link’s unabashed courage and Zelda’s unflappable kindness helped her to truly respect Hyrule, and to feel guilt for the wrath that Zant had incurred across the land. Although the people of Hyrule had once banished their own kind to the Twilight Realm, Midna saw that in the present day that type of darkness had lifted, and that the golden lands of Hyrule were worthy of protection.

Midna’s sacrifice is not one that I’ll need to explain too much. Although a one-off character, her lasting power and her iconography point to multiple moments in her game that could contend, all of which are memorable across the series as a whole. Midna is willing to die getting Link to Princess Zelda so that she can tell him where to find the Master Sword and the Mirror of Twilight. Twice Midna uses the full power of the Fused Shadow without knowing for sure the full consequences to herself and her body, and one of those times she warps Link and Zelda away to take on Ganondorf herself. By the end of the game she has risked her life multiple times for a kingdom that wasn’t hers and yet, the biggest was yet to come.

During her time in Hyrule, Midna developed a bond with both Link and Zelda, the former through the journey they shared and the latter through their time spent sharing a spirit (of some sort, still not sure). When Midna cracked the Twilight Mirror during her departure, she was sacrificing those friendships for what she thought was in the best interest of both realms. She did not want darkness to seep into Hyrule ever again, as she believed that “light and shadow can’t mix”. She knew how fragile peace was, and she knew the price she had to pay. Whether it was the right decision or not, she likely rested easier knowing that Hyrule would not sustain any more harm by the hands of her people.

Groose – Skyward Sword

Groose is a definite instance of a character that has extended past his own game, becoming a fast fan-favorite. Whether it’s as superficial as the way he provides memes for the internet or as deep as his unexpected character growth, I’ve never come across a Zelda fan who has played Skyward Sword and doesn’t like Groose. I feel like that says a lot on its own, the Zelda fandom at times a quite divisive one, even on the most ridiculous of topics.

At first, Groose is in every way, shape, and form, an unlikeable character. Only his laughably foolish bravado comes off as an enjoyable quality for players. Otherwise, he is very much like the character of Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. His overconfidence leads him to assume he’ll get the girl of his dreams, that he is in charge of himself and the people around him. Groose’s pride and his arrogance are at the forefront, but even at the beginning we see a seedling of the insecurities he’s compensating for. He hides Link’s Loftwing because he’s intimidated by him, and knows deep down that Link and Zelda have a special connection that is not easily replicated. This however, is just subtext at this point in the game. He is meant to stir up dislike and disdain within the player, as Link and Groose are both vying for Zelda’s attention. One earns it without particularly trying, and one thinks he deserves it.

Groose is markedly upset when Zelda goes missing and, promising to be her gallant hero, follows Link down to the surface. It is here that he insists on being the hero, even when “Granny” tells him that Link is destined for that role. Humiliated and fragile, his ego is shattered and he pouts. However, once he sees how proficiently Links takes down the Imprisoned, Groose starts to accept that perhaps the old lady had a point.

He later risks his life more than once for the cause, but Groose’s sacrifice is something beautifully written. He sacrifices his pride and finds a way to help, in the end barely seeking his due credit. He finds himself humbled by the threats of The Surface, and develops a camaraderie with Link. He sacrifices his desire to spend time with Zelda and seeks out moving on from that, recognizing that Link and Zelda have a very special bond (one that I could argue to be a romantic one for the length of another whole editorial). He lets Link go ahead and wake Zelda up while he hangs back. Zelda chose Link, and he’s respecting that. This shedding of pride and entitlement is so refreshing and soothing, and always fills me with hope for the world around me.

Colin – Twilight Princess

One of the things Twilight Princess does well is play to our emotional instincts. Outside of video games we all have family (whether given or found) like offspring, siblings, pets, or cousins. They look up to us, depend on us to care for them, and even try to emulate us. To younger generations, we are the samples of an ideal human. While that adds a lot of pressure to be perfect, it is also an admirable trait, that at such a young age, we find things in people that we admire. Whether it’s a sense of fashion, a certain occupation, or a kindness we can’t yet describe, we look up to people for guidance.

Colin is a youth that hails from Ordon Village. He is shy and soft-spoken and often is overshadowed by the confidence of the other kids. Colin looks up to Link and how courageous he is, herding goats, being independent, and later, being Hyrule’s hero. When King Bulblin and his goonies attack Kakariko Village, young Beth is in complete shock, a natural instinct of being afraid. She cannot move from where the monumental horned boar barrels towards her. Seeing this, Colin pushes her aside and takes the hit himself, willing to die to save her.

Link likely feels guilty for not getting there in time, or for Colin getting hurt trying to be like him. However, Colin ends up being just fine with some care from the shaman of the village, and didn’t have to completely sacrifice himself for Beth.

Princess Zelda – Tears of the Kingdom

Here we are at the end of the list and it’s no surprise where we’ve ended up.

Princess Zelda in Tears of the Kingdom ends up trapped in the past, over ten thousand years before she is even born. An uncrossable rift stands between her and the Hyrule she knows. She must learn to harness her power in order to get back, which she tries. Ultimately, she decides that another path would be better for Hyrule.

It is made very clear to Zelda upon her arrival that ingesting a Secret Stone and undergoing draconification is an extremely drastic measure to return to her own time. The immortality it would give her would be a very long wait, but the true cost would be Zelda’s sense of self. Draconification had never been undone, and takes away the personhood, personality, and conscious awareness of the person who ingests the Secret Stone. For Zelda, it meant sacrificing herself, the life she built for herself in the future, and any chances of ever seeing Link again. The romantic might even say she sacrificed a future together with Link, given her feelings for him and his regard for her.

However, none of that mattered with the decayed Master Sword in her possession. Zelda had a chance to help Link save Hyrule, to restore the sword over 10,000 years into a blade ready to pierce even the darkest of evils. To her, the sacrifice was worth it, but it was not one she took lightly. The tears she shed in consequence of what she gave up, after all, dot the land.

Even though the combined power between Link, Rauru, and Sonia (that she later describes as a “warm embrace”) was able to return Zelda to her former self, this sacrifice cannot get more selfless.

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Disclaimer: In Tears of the Kingdom, Princess Zelda made a decision to bring her personage to an end as a sacrifice for the greater good. This is a story-driven decision and in no way sets an example for or glorifies taking one’s own life. Zelda cried because she knew had so much to live for. If you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please contact your health provider for mental heath services such as counseling and therapy. For emergency crises, the National Suicide Hotline for the United States is open 24/7 at the number 988. You are valuable.

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The sacrifices across the Zelda series show us the true nature of characters, but also the cost of maintaining peace. Whether this peace is within ourselves, amongst our friends, or amongst an entire kingdom, peace is what all true warriors strive for.

What do you think? Which sacrifice from the Zelda series hit the hardest for you? Is there any I missed that I should have given more credit? Which is your favorite character among these? Let us know in the comments below!