The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has now found its official spot in the
franchise timeline, landing between Tri Force Heroes and the original Legend of
Zelda. While the latest entry draws heavily from Link's Awakening in terms of
its art direction, it is not a direct sequel. Echoes of Wisdom resides in the
same timeline branch but takes place much later.
As with every new Zelda release, fans immediately start speculating about
where it fits into the series' canon. Nintendo has provided an official
timeline, but it has sparked controversy over the years, with many players
arguing it doesn't align with fan theories. Even Zelda's director has
acknowledged that gameplay often takes precedence over the story, meaning
Nintendo may not focus as much on the timeline as its audience does.
Nonetheless, the official timeline holds great importance for many fans, and now
Echoes of Wisdom's place is finally clear.
Released on September 26, Echoes of Wisdom had left its timeline position
uncertain for a while. However, with an update to Nintendo's official Zelda
history page, the answer is now clear. Echoes of Wisdom is part of the "Hero is
defeated" timeline, which follows a universe where Link fails to defeat Ganon in
Ocarina of Time. Specifically, it falls after Tri Force Heroes, meaning it takes
place three games before Link's Awakening, which influenced its art style.
This timeline position places Echoes of Wisdom as a prequel to the original
Legend of Zelda, but not one that is immediately close. The official timeline
also includes a "decline of Hyrule" period between the two titles, suggesting
there was an extended gap of inactivity following Echoes and before the original
Zelda. This era of decline has long been part of the series lore, and while
previous clues suggested Echoes of Wisdom belonged to the downfall timeline, its
precise placement before Hyrule's downfall has now been confirmed.
The official timeline placement of Echoes of Wisdom likely won't surprise
fans, as it aligns with prior speculation. However, it's not a perfect fit. The
treatment of the Triforce in the game, as a mysterious and lesser-known power,
seems more fitting for the adult timeline rather than the downfall line. Yet,
such inconsistencies are common within the Zelda timeline, which is likely due
to Nintendo's focus on creating enjoyable games rather than building a coherent
overarching story. At least fans can now stop debating Echoes of Wisdom's canon
placement.
