In certain cult games, such as the Zelda universe, players ask themselves fundamental questions. Sometimes developers try to answer them to clarify things.
In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the exact nature of Link and Zelda’s relationship remains a mystery. The game doesn’t really delve into this topic, leaving players to speculate and think of different possibilities. To answer these questions, the studio has attempted to partially answer this question, which is always welcome. Especially if you’re a fan.
Zelda and Link, a couple?
Producer Eiji Aonuma pointed out the intentional ambiguity of Link and Zelda’s relationship in The Legend of Zelda games. He claimed that the exact nature of their bond is never explicitly defined, leaving it up to players to interpret their relationship. In his opinion, Zelda games are not designed to impose a specific story or relationships. Aonuma mentioned in an interview with IGN that everything the development team wanted to convey has already been integrated into the game and the rest is up to the players’ personal discretion.
This approach leaves open the possibility that Link and Zelda are simply friends or lovers. Although there have been hints of a romance, particularly at the end of Skyward Sword and in Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom, no official confirmation has been given. Thus, the relationship between Link and Zelda remains subject to speculation and individual interpretation, part of a tradition of ambiguity that is characteristic of the series.
Interestingly, Patricia Summersett, the voice of the princess, expressed a similar opinion in May: “When I look at the overall relationship between Link and Zelda over time, I personally like the ambiguity and the fact that if there is something, it’s up to us. In my own life, I can respect and celebrate unconventional relationships.”
The question remains what approach director Wes Ball will take in his live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. It’s uncertain whether the film will follow the franchise’s tradition of relational ambiguity or whether it will opt for a narrative with a more assertive romantic dimension.
