There is no better feeling in The Legend of Zelda better than when you first step out onto Hyrule Field, right? It is the the moment when the games shake off the training wheels and let you into the world of Hyrule, free to go in whatever direction you want.
Where on earth do I begin? What is that settlement like over there? Oh god, why are skeletons sprouting from the ground? Whether you’re galloping with Epona or simply riding in your trusty brown boots, cruising Hyrule Field truly captures the adventurous spirit of the Zelda series.
However, as with any recurring location or feature in video games, there are some that do it better than others. Today we’ll take a look at which Hyrule Field is top of the crop, which may have been seeded, and everything in between. And if you don’t agree with our selection, there is a poll at the bottom to give your opinion.
Before we begin, how do we define ‘Hyrule Field’? Should it be limited to an actual named location within the wider world of Hyrule? Or is it simply a part of the Hyrule map that could make up a ‘field’? For the purposes of this list, we’ve chosen the former, so the following entries are all locations that are actually called ‘Hyrule Field’ in their respective games.
So without further ado, let’s get started with… It ends? Ok then.
So, according to our own rules, we cannot rank Termina Field here because it is very clear not field of Hyrule. But we couldn’t go down this list of Zelda’s most iconic lawns without mentioning this one, right?
Termina Field feels just as different from Ocarina of Time’s Hyrule Field. Its circular layout, with the clock city serving as the focal point of the region, seems almost overwhelming to new players embarking on their journey; where on earth should you go first? It reawakened the sense of adventure that Ocarina so gracefully evoked the first time around, but now with an added sense of mystery.
We have to say a special hello Termina Field topic, the same. After an almost identical opening to Ocarina’s Hyrule Field theme, it segues into the classic Zelda overworld theme that was absent from its predecessor, an upbeat tune that longtime fans absolutely adore, but with a bit of added menace and whimsy that can only be associated with Majora’s Mask. Me love it.
Ok then. It’s time to return to Hyrule…
Something had to come eventually, right?
Hyrule Field appears as a stage in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (and actually, you can check it out for yourself in the free eShop demo). The reason why it appears at the bottom of our list is simply due to the fact that Hyrule Warriors sets a many more emphasis on fighting and counting enemies at the expense of the environment.
While the stage works it looks pretty nice, it’s still not on the same level as Breath of the Wild, and given the structure of the game, you don’t get to fully explore the environment as much as you’d probably like. The level of interaction is also greatly reduced; yes, you can still cut down trees, but it just doesn’t feel the same.
We still like it, just not as much as others.
Compared to its portrayal in Age of Calamity, Hyrule Warriors features a Hyrule Field that is arguably more interesting than its successor. Rather than being based on another game, this location is completely unique and feels like a sort of mash-up of all the Hyrule Fields we’ve seen so far. Stylistically, it’s probably the closest to the Hyrule Field seen in Twilight Princess, albeit with deeper colors and an altogether more gloomy atmosphere.
Yes, it lacks environmental detail a bit; the succulent grass seen in Age of Calamity is clearly not present here. But despite that, there’s definitely something unique about this version of Hyrule Field that we haven’t seen elsewhere. We’d love to see it come back in the main Zelda game.
Twilight Princess took the general concept of Hyrule Field in Ocarina of Time and made it all larger.
Instead of being limited to just one area, the location spans three provinces: Lanayru, Eldin, and Faron. Due to its hulking size, it really felt like it was built with Epona in mind, with the Twilight Princess placing a heavy emphasis on combat on horseback (remember that amazing announcement trailer?
One could argue that Nintendo made this version of Hyrule Field a little too big, with not enough to keep players engaged (and you’d be right), but it works successfully recapture some of that magic of riding across vast landscapes against one of the the best theme tunes throughout the franchise.
Minish Cap is an absolutely gorgeous game, so the Hyrule Field shown here is a real visual treat. It is divided into two parts—North and South—with the city of Hyrule in between and Link’s own home located in the southern region.
However, as nice as it looks, it’s not a particularly large area and can’t have the same effect as its 3D models. Given that it’s also one of the first areas you’ll visit in the game, it’s also devoid of any real threat of challenge, with Red Octorocks being the only enemies you’ll encounter.
But man, it is really looks nice doesn’t it?
Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule Field is a pretty dangerous place. Granted, there are monsters in every iteration of the location, but here you’ll be facing not only Bokoblins and other standard beasts, but a whole bunch of Guardians.
It’s designed to prevent the player from heading straight for Hyrule Castle, and while it’s definitely possible to get there early in the game, it won’t be easy. Needless to say, you won’t have much time to really take in the scenery here before the Guardian decides to blast you with its laser beam, and that’s the main reason it doesn’t make the top spot on our list, despite its visual splendor.
Based on what we’ve seen so far, we can’t imagine that Tears of the Kingdom will go out of its way to make Hyrule Field a more pleasant environment to visit (in fact, we’d wager that the area will even have more
For anyone who played Ocarina of Time back in 1998, nothing compares to stepping onto Hyrule Field for the first time, after a short lecture by Kaepor Gaebora. Seeing such a wide open space at a time when 3D console gaming was still in its infancy was simply amazing.
By today’s standards, the field does look a bit bare, with a few trees and buildings adding visual variety, but that doesn’t matter — . Whether you’re heading to Lon Lon Ranch in the middle of the field, Gerudo Valley in the west, or Kakariko Village in the east, there’s an unmatched sense of freedom and adventure that honestly wasn’t felt in quite the same way until Breath of the Wild arrived nearly 20 years later. And that music…
He’s still king in our books, and it’s going to take something truly magical to dethrone him.
Those are our picks for the best versions of Hyrule Field in the Legend of Zelda franchise. But what do you think, dear readers? Do you think we got it completely wrong? Be sure to vote in the poll below and tell us in the comments who you think is the best.
