TheHyrule Warriorsgames have been a surprise hit for Nintendo after crossing over theLegend of Zeldaseries with theDynasty Warriorsgames developed by Omega Force. With the third entry in the series,Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, set to tell Zelda’s side of the story fromTears of the Kingdom, otherWarriorstitles could be used to add to the stories of previousZeldagames as well.
Age of Imprisonmentis the follow-up to the previousHyrule Warriorsgame,Age of Calamity, which told the story of the war between Hyrule and Calamity Ganon at the center ofBreath of the Wild. These two games have taken a major departure from the originalHyrule Warrio, which was a non-canon crossover story that included characters from many differentLegend of Zeldagames rather than sticking with one point in the timeline. While it could also be promising for theHyrule Warriorsseries to return to its crossover roots, depending on the success ofAge of Imprisonment, another dive into the hidden lore of a previous game could be on the way. With such a storied franchise history, it raises the question of which previousZeldagame would be the best choice for the nextHyrule Warriorstitle.
Which Mainline Zelda Game Should Get the Warriors Treatment Next?
Skyward Sword
One of the great things about theHyrule Warriorsstories is that they can expand what players know about each era in Hyrule’s history. With that in mind, it would be interesting to learn more about the earliest era of the timeline, introduced inSkyward Sword. The largest empty spot on the timeline occurs betweenSkyward SwordandMinish Cap, so a game that shows what happened after the events ofSkyward Swordcould help fill that gap. Both Fi and Ghirahim were included in the firstHyrule Warriorsgame, but they’re not the only powerful characters from their time. Fan-favorite Groose, the Demon King and Ganon predecessor Demise, and prominent side characters like Scrapper would also be perfect warriors. WithSkyward Sword HDmaking the game freshin fans' memories, this might be a natural choice for the next Hyrule Warriors.
Minish Cap
In one of theGame Boy Advance’s best stories,Minish Capintroduced a fascinating, yet overlooked, aspect ofZelda’s lore: the Picori. Link spends much of this game transforming between his normal size, and a microscopic form that allows him to interact with the miniature inhabitants of Hyrule. This mechanic could allow for varied battlefields and inventive movesets if placed in a more serious context. The game does have a shortage of memorable characters, but Vaati and Ezlo are key figures who could lend inspiration to creative battles. Supporting characters like the Blade Brothers, the ghost of King Gustaf, and this era’s Great Fairies would round out the roster nicely alongside Link and a representative of the Picori.
Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass, and Spirit Tracks
In the Adult branch of theZeldatimeline, the world is flooded, leading toWind Wakerand its direct sequel,Phantom Hourglass.Spirit Tracksacts as a sneaky cap to a trilogy, taking place only 100 years after the other two. Because these three games take place so close to each other, a story could easily bridge the gap in that 100 years and allow players to explore theflooded cartoon world of Hyruleonce again.Wind Wakerintroduced fans to Toon Link and Zelda, Tetra, King Daphnes, and Medli, all of whom appeared in the firstHyrule Warriorsgame.
The beauty of this entry is that inspirations could be taken from all three games, such as Toon Zelda’s phantom armor, Link’s Train, and characters like Linebeck or Chancellor Cole. With over 100 years to span and three games worth of inspiration for stories and characters, a floodedHyrule Warriorswould stand out from the rest of the series in the best way.
It remains to be seen howHyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonmentand its unknown rosterwill be received, but if history is any teacher, theHyrule Warriorsgames aren’t going away any time soon.Age of Imprisonmentcan be played on the Nintendo Switch 2 later in 2025.
