The Legend of Zelda can be quite perplexing for fans attempting to place a game within the franchise's chronology. The official timeline issued by Nintendo does little to simplify matters, as the series branches into three separate timelines following the events of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. One of these branches follows Ocarina of Time's adult Link, resulting in a unique scenario when the Hero of Time disappears from the world.
The divergence in the timeline stems from the conclusion of Ocarina of Time, where, after defeating Ganondorf, Princess Zelda sends Link back in time to his childhood. This action allows Link as a child to warn the royal family about Ganondorf's threat and prevent his rise to power. However, as Link is sent back in time, the timeline where he defeats Ganondorf as an adult is left without its hero, resulting in a different sequence of events compared to the timeline where Ganondorf is entirely stopped from assuming power.
Deciphering The Adult Link Timeline in The Legend of Zelda
Following the events of Ocarina of Time, during the Era Without a Hero, Ganondorf manages to escape his imprisonment in the Sacred Realm, where the Seven Sages had sealed him after his defeat in the finale of Ocarina of Time. Using his Triforce of Power, he conquers Hyrule and plunges it into darkness, prompting the gods to flood the world to prevent the Demon King from obtaining the Triforce of Wisdom, held by Princess Zelda. Subsequently, the Triforce of Wisdom is split between the King of Hyrule and Princess Zelda, while the Triforce of Courage is shattered after Link's time travel.
The Wind Waker
Centuries later, the world is reestablished within the Great Sea. However, Ganondorf escapes his watery grave and seeks out Princess Zelda and the Triforce of Wisdom. When Link's sister is captured by Ganondorf, a reincarnation of Link embarks on a quest with Tetra and her crew to thwart the Demon King's conquest. He undertakes the goddess' trial, proving himself worthy of wielding the Master Sword. After recovering the pieces of the Triforce of Courage and revealing Tetra as Princess Zelda, holder of the Triforce of Wisdom, the two defeat Ganondorf and set sail to rebuild Hyrule on a new continent.
Phantom Hourglass
During their quest to find a new continent, Link and Tetra reach the World of the Ocean King in the Era of the Great Voyage. When Tetra is abducted by the demon Bellum aboard the Ghost Ship, Link teams up with the fairy Ciela, her grandfather Oshus, and Captain Linebeck to brave the Temple of the Ocean King using the Phantom Hourglass. With Oshus' aid, revealed to be the Ocean King, Link forges the Phantom Sword and uses it to vanquish Bellum and rescue Tetra.
Spirit Tracks
Leaving the World of the Ocean King, Link and Tetra discover New Hyrule, home to the Spirit Tracks and the Spirit Tower built by the Lokomo to imprison the Demon King Malladus. Generations later, descendants of Link and Tetra encounter Chancellor Cole, a servant of Malladus, who derails their train and destroys the Spirit Tower to revive the Demon King. Together, Link and Zelda's spirit restore the Spirit Tower and defeat Cole and Malladus with the power of the Lokomo Sword, bringing peace to New Hyrule.