This is kind of a weird question, and it depends on your definition. I didn't want to make it a poll because I feel like there might be a wide range of opinions and I could easily forget some potential locations. So anyway I'll provide a brief overview of places that I think might be able to qualify as a mini-dungeon in some way, and then I'll give my opinion. I think the accepted definition of a mini-dungeon is that it is a place that has some but not all aspects of a dungeon. This makes sense because if it had all the aspects then it would just be a dungeon. The ambiguity comes in when you consider what are the aspects of a dungeon and how many of these aspects must be present. Some possible aspects of a dungeon are puzzle solving, enemies, an item, a mini-boss, a boss, a heart container, a quest item, keys, a big key, a map, and a compass (not limited to these because obviously I could have omitted some or included things that aren't necessary). Also obviously Woodfall Temple, Snowhead Temple, Great Bay Temple, and Stone Tower Temple are dungeons so they will be completely absent from this discussion. So here's my list of potential locations that have some aspects of dungeons in Majora's Mask.
Clock Town in the first cycle- This requires you to solve problems such as how to gain entry to the top of the clock tower, how to gain the bombers' trust, and how to get the deku scrub to let you use his deku flower. You have to navigate the bombers' hideout which has sort of a dungeon vibe in order to get the Moon's Tear. There's even a ''boss" of sorts- fighting the skull kid with Majora's Mask. You get a major item upon completion in the Ocarina. Also the magic meter could be considered the dungeon item since it's used in the puzzles presented in the area.
Deku Palace- Need to solve the major puzzle of how to gain entry to the monkey's cell. Have to avoid detection of guards, fight deku scrubs, and even get a new item- magic beans. This area culminates in obtaining a song necessary to progress in the quest.
Swamp and Oceanside Spider Houses- Enclosed areas that require puzzle solving to locate and kill 30 golden skulltulas. Kind of give off a dungeon vibe, and both reward with items upon completion (though neither is required to beat the game).
Pirates' Fortress- Very large area (probably larger than the Woodfall Temple) that requires significant puzzle solving. Must use stealth to avoid guards and has three mini-bosses (pirates). This area grants you the hookshot and finding all the eggs is required to progress in the quest.
Ikana Graveyard- This area begins with a boss fight against Captain Keeta which rewards you with the item useful at night in this same area (sounds eerily similar to how a dungeon item is useful in that particular dungeon). You must then enter a grave on the first night and fight keese in the first room as well as light torches. Then you fight a mini-boss for a song necessary to proceed in the quest. This area also has two additional graves that may be entered but are optional. They provide a heart piece and a bottle respectively after defeating a mini-boss in each grave.
Beneath the Well- This is a large underground labyrinth (sounds like a dungeon from LoZ) that contains many challenges- enemies, traps, and a mini-boss. You must solve verbal puzzles in order to progress, and you gain a necessary item upon completion.
Ancient Castle of Ikana- This place feels like a dungeon, and it has many enemies and puzzles. You fight a mini-boss as well as a boss/mini-boss at the end. You are rewarded with a song necessary to progress in the quest.
Hidden Shrine behind the waterfall in Ikana Canyon- This area has four mini-bosses and rewards you with a heart piece.
Moon Dungeons- These really have me confused. Can the entirety of the moon dungeons be considered a true dungeon since it has multiple mini-bosses (all in the Twinmold dungeon), a dungeon item (Fierce Deity's Mask), a boss (Majora), gives you a heart container (technically since there are four pieces), and contains numerous puzzles? On the other hand could each individual child's dungeon be considered its own mini-dungeon? In my eyes I'd say the moon has to qualify as either one dungeon, one mini-dungeon, or four mini-dungeons. My opinion would be that it's one extremely unique dungeon in which everything is optional except for the boss.
So those are the potential candidates I came up with but don't limit yourself to pick and choose from among these if you think I forgot a place. So up until now I have only presented evidence for the areas as potential mini-dungeons, but I have tried to avoid spilling my opinion on them (except in some cases like with the moon dungeons). One criteria that I'm using to make my final selections is that the mini-dungeon must be intended to be required to complete the game. This actually wouldn't contradict my opinion that the Moon is a dungeon because the Moon is always required to finish the game- it's just that most of it is optional.
So in conclusion my answer is that there are six mini-dungeons: Clock Town (first cycle), Deku Palace, Pirates' Fortress, Ikana Graveyard, Beneath the Well, and Ancient Castle of Ikana. I would guess that your answer would range anywhere from 0 to 13 (if you think all my potential options are mini-dungeons) or even more if you come up with more possibilities. I'd guess that most people would definitely say there are at least two- the Pirates' Fortress and the Ancient Castle of Ikana- since these areas are very large and self-contained as well as possess some of the dungeon criteria. Another important thing to consider is that if you believe a mini-dungeon can be an open area or not. Clock Town and Ikana Graveyard definitely have some aspects of a dungeon/mini-dungeon but are also definitely not typically thought of as dungeon-like environments. My rationale is thus- the first games in the series always had dungeons be enclosed underground areas; however, beginning in OOT with Inside Jabu Jabu the typical dungeon environment has been less essential. Other dungeons come to mind from WW, TP, SS that have "rooms" that are actually in the open air.
Of course this topic is subject to huge amounts of personal opinion and depends on your perspective. What do you think? Is the Moon a dungeon? How many mini-dungeons do you say Majora's Mask has?
Clock Town in the first cycle- This requires you to solve problems such as how to gain entry to the top of the clock tower, how to gain the bombers' trust, and how to get the deku scrub to let you use his deku flower. You have to navigate the bombers' hideout which has sort of a dungeon vibe in order to get the Moon's Tear. There's even a ''boss" of sorts- fighting the skull kid with Majora's Mask. You get a major item upon completion in the Ocarina. Also the magic meter could be considered the dungeon item since it's used in the puzzles presented in the area.
Deku Palace- Need to solve the major puzzle of how to gain entry to the monkey's cell. Have to avoid detection of guards, fight deku scrubs, and even get a new item- magic beans. This area culminates in obtaining a song necessary to progress in the quest.
Swamp and Oceanside Spider Houses- Enclosed areas that require puzzle solving to locate and kill 30 golden skulltulas. Kind of give off a dungeon vibe, and both reward with items upon completion (though neither is required to beat the game).
Pirates' Fortress- Very large area (probably larger than the Woodfall Temple) that requires significant puzzle solving. Must use stealth to avoid guards and has three mini-bosses (pirates). This area grants you the hookshot and finding all the eggs is required to progress in the quest.
Ikana Graveyard- This area begins with a boss fight against Captain Keeta which rewards you with the item useful at night in this same area (sounds eerily similar to how a dungeon item is useful in that particular dungeon). You must then enter a grave on the first night and fight keese in the first room as well as light torches. Then you fight a mini-boss for a song necessary to proceed in the quest. This area also has two additional graves that may be entered but are optional. They provide a heart piece and a bottle respectively after defeating a mini-boss in each grave.
Beneath the Well- This is a large underground labyrinth (sounds like a dungeon from LoZ) that contains many challenges- enemies, traps, and a mini-boss. You must solve verbal puzzles in order to progress, and you gain a necessary item upon completion.
Ancient Castle of Ikana- This place feels like a dungeon, and it has many enemies and puzzles. You fight a mini-boss as well as a boss/mini-boss at the end. You are rewarded with a song necessary to progress in the quest.
Hidden Shrine behind the waterfall in Ikana Canyon- This area has four mini-bosses and rewards you with a heart piece.
Moon Dungeons- These really have me confused. Can the entirety of the moon dungeons be considered a true dungeon since it has multiple mini-bosses (all in the Twinmold dungeon), a dungeon item (Fierce Deity's Mask), a boss (Majora), gives you a heart container (technically since there are four pieces), and contains numerous puzzles? On the other hand could each individual child's dungeon be considered its own mini-dungeon? In my eyes I'd say the moon has to qualify as either one dungeon, one mini-dungeon, or four mini-dungeons. My opinion would be that it's one extremely unique dungeon in which everything is optional except for the boss.
So those are the potential candidates I came up with but don't limit yourself to pick and choose from among these if you think I forgot a place. So up until now I have only presented evidence for the areas as potential mini-dungeons, but I have tried to avoid spilling my opinion on them (except in some cases like with the moon dungeons). One criteria that I'm using to make my final selections is that the mini-dungeon must be intended to be required to complete the game. This actually wouldn't contradict my opinion that the Moon is a dungeon because the Moon is always required to finish the game- it's just that most of it is optional.
So in conclusion my answer is that there are six mini-dungeons: Clock Town (first cycle), Deku Palace, Pirates' Fortress, Ikana Graveyard, Beneath the Well, and Ancient Castle of Ikana. I would guess that your answer would range anywhere from 0 to 13 (if you think all my potential options are mini-dungeons) or even more if you come up with more possibilities. I'd guess that most people would definitely say there are at least two- the Pirates' Fortress and the Ancient Castle of Ikana- since these areas are very large and self-contained as well as possess some of the dungeon criteria. Another important thing to consider is that if you believe a mini-dungeon can be an open area or not. Clock Town and Ikana Graveyard definitely have some aspects of a dungeon/mini-dungeon but are also definitely not typically thought of as dungeon-like environments. My rationale is thus- the first games in the series always had dungeons be enclosed underground areas; however, beginning in OOT with Inside Jabu Jabu the typical dungeon environment has been less essential. Other dungeons come to mind from WW, TP, SS that have "rooms" that are actually in the open air.
Forsaken Fortress, City in the Sky (this one even had a shop which further blurs the line between dungeon and overworld), and Sandship are my examples. Also I think the Snowpeak Ruins had an open courtyard in the middle; that dungeon is another example of a non-traditional dungeon as well.
Of course this topic is subject to huge amounts of personal opinion and depends on your perspective. What do you think? Is the Moon a dungeon? How many mini-dungeons do you say Majora's Mask has?
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