Besides confirming that the spin-off series is still alive and well, the reveal of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment could also point to a new trend within Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda franchise that’s giving one central character a break. Among the exhaustive announcements made during April’s Nintendo Direct ahead of the Switch 2’s launch was the reveal of a third Hyrule Warriors game based on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Like its predecessor, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is set to be another spin-off prequel going back in time to follow Princess Zelda during the Imprisoning War.
With Tears of the Kingdom‘s story in mind though, the biggest and arguably most important question facing Age of Imprisonment is whether this means Link will not be returning in the upcoming prequel despite being Zelda‘s long-standing protagonist. Unless Omega Force is planning to repeat Age of Calamity‘s non-canonical rewrite of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Age of Imprisonment could be the first Hyrule Warriors game to go without Link as a playable character. However, if so, then Age of Imprisonment wouldn’t be the only recent Zelda game to sidestep Link, suggesting that significant changes are in store for the series’ future.
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Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Shouldn’t Miss the Chance to Include Some Key TotK Characters
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment should follow in Age of Calamity’s footsteps and include these key Tears of the Kingdom characters.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Will Have To Make Do Without Link
After the commercial success of Age of Calamity, it was likely inevitable that Hyrule Warriors would move on to Tears of the Kingdom for another spin-off to recapture the magic with this direct sequel as it had done with Breath of the Wild. But based on its Nintendo Direct trailer with no surprise appearance from Link, it seems that Age of Imprisonment is sticking to Tears of the Kingdom‘s canonical story for now. While this does mean that Age of Imprisonment can explore all-new playable characters, including Rauru, Sonia, and Mineru, it could be Hyrule Warriors‘ first game to not feature Link.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment and Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Put Link on the Back Burner
However, despite its significance as an all-new Hyrule Warriors game, Age of Imprisonment would actually be the second recent Zelda game to swap Link as the protagonist for other characters like Princess Zelda herself. Though previously only playable in the ill-reputed The Legend of Zelda: Wand of Gamelon and other Zelda spin-offs, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom marked the first mainline game where the titular princess led as the game’s protagonist. While Echoes of Wisdom could have been a one-off game intended to appease demands for Princess Zelda as a protagonist, Age of Imprisonment could indicate this might not be the case.
Nintendo Could Be Gearing Up For Future Link-lite Zelda Games
As the saying goes, if once is an accident and twice is a coincidence, then Nintendo and the Zelda series are just one princess-led game away from establishing a new trend within the flagship franchise. Considering that the future of the Zelda series remains uncertain as Nintendo moves on from Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, it shouldn’t be ignored that two of Zelda‘s newest games released in succession have been Link-lites. While Link may never be completely replaced or retired as Zelda‘s primary protagonist, Echoes of Wisdom and Age of Imprisonment could be examples of Nintendo exploring new ideas post-Tears of the Kingdom.
Ultimately, this could be a good change for the Zelda franchise, as the positive response to Echoes of Wisdom suggests there is a demand for similar games, while Nintendo appears keen to move away from Zelda‘s oversaturated timelines and refresh the overall series. By embracing this newfound potential with reimagined protagonists like Princess Zelda or more Zelda spin-offs on the Switch 2, Nintendo could revamp the franchise despite its apparent peak with Tears of the Kingdom. Alternatively, Age of Imprisonment could take the same approach as Age of Calamity, and open up new non-canonical options that Nintendo could explore instead.
- Released
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2025
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo