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“Wilds Era” is an informal label for the part of The Legend of Zelda chronology associated with Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Nintendo’s current Japanese timeline displays those games in a distinct section centered on a Zonai-era founding of Hyrule, but the sources reviewed do not establish “Wilds Era” as Nintendo’s official English name or explain exactly how that section connects to the older timeline branches.
What does “Wilds Era” mean?
It is convenient shorthand for the period represented by Breath of the Wild and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom. The phrase describes the games’ place in discussion of the chronology; it is not an official era name confirmed in the Nintendo material reviewed here.
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The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia | $19.17 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia | $31.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts | $23.37 | Buy on Amazon |
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Nintendo’s Japanese Zelda chronicle presents the two games together in a later section associated with Hyrule’s founding in the age of the Zonai. That section also covers Ganondorf’s rise, the Imprisoning War, the Calamity, and the conflicts shown in the games. The chronicle’s placement is official; calling it the “Wilds Era” is an interpretation used for convenience.
Where do Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom fit?
The games are directly connected to each other. In Nintendo’s 2023 developer interview, series producer Eiji Aonuma says, “This title is set in Hyrule shortly after the end of the previous game.” Nintendo identifies Tears of the Kingdom as a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, set in Hyrule shortly after it.
#1 Best Overall
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Their position relative to the much older games is less clearly explained. Nintendo’s chronicle displays the Zonai-era founding and the two Wilds games in a distinct section apart from the older outcomes associated with Ocarina of Time. It does not spell out whether that separation means the earlier branches converge, Hyrule is refounded, or another continuity relationship applies.
Is the Wilds Era an official timeline branch?
The available official display supports saying that Nintendo presents a distinct later section for the Zonai-era founding and the Wilds games. It does not, by itself, establish a formally named “Wilds Era” branch or define how that section relates to the older branches.
Rank #2
A 2026 GamesRadar+ report reads the separate founding as support for a refounding theory. That is the outlet’s interpretation, not an explicit explanation from Nintendo. The page is evidence of how the chronology is displayed, not a definitive answer to whether there are “two Hyrules” or how the older timelines connect.
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Why the timeline has remained open to interpretation
In 2018, Aonuma said the team wanted players to imagine the world after finishing Breath of the Wild and chose to avoid clarifying its timeline placement. Nintendo Life reported the statement, noting it came through a translation of Creating a Champion. It helps explain why the game’s connection to the older chronology prompted debate, but it is not a definitive account of later timeline revisions.
Rank #3
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For earlier background, Nintendo Life’s September 2024 timeline guide describes the three branches following Ocarina of Time. Because it predates Nintendo’s current Japanese chronology display, it is useful context rather than the latest account of how Nintendo presents the timeline.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
The clearest way to describe it
- Officially shown: Nintendo’s Japanese chronicle separates a later Zonai-era founding and the two Wilds games from its older timeline paths.
- Officially stated: Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel set shortly after Breath of the Wild.
- Not settled by those sources: whether the older branches converge, Hyrule is refounded, or another continuity model explains the later section.
- Informal shorthand: “Wilds Era” is a useful label for this later period, not a confirmed official English era name.
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