Hyrule Compendium: What Makes a Good Dungeon?

Posted on October 24 2021 by Andrew Millard

Zelda dungeons. We’d like to think we know a little about them. But laying out the ingredients that create them isn’t necessarily enough to crack their formula. And maybe an easy-to-follow formula would ruin them anyway? Or at least keep any single example from standing out. So, Zelda Dungeon’s very own Mases Hagopian and Gooey Fame dig into the tropes and traits of one of The Legend of Zelda‘s defining features in their newest episode of Hyrule Compendium.

The discussion kicks off as you might expect: The duo tick down the list of most-recognizable Zelda dungeon characteristics. They point out the features that basically make up Zelda‘s greatest hits. For instance, there is giving each dungeon a theme and populating it with appropriate enemies. Plus, most memorable dungeons will feature creative puzzles. In turn, those puzzles will force the player to master the dungeon’s item treasure. All while subtly preparing them for the boss challenge. Mases quickly points out, though, that it is the variety among dungeons, not the recipe itself, that gives the series definition. Zelda fans will always be on the lookout for those touchstones. However, Gooey explains, it’s the ways in which designers have messed with those expectations that has kept the series thriving creatively. Creative limitation begets better art, after all.

You can follow Zelda Dungeon’s YouTube channel here, which is where you’ll find all of Mases and Gooey’s Hyrule Compendium series.

Give the newest Hyrule Compendium a watch, and let us know what you think makes for the quintessential Zelda dungeon down in the comments!