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“Wilds Era” is useful shorthand for the period centered on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its direct sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It is not an official English era name established by the sources reviewed. Nintendo’s current Japanese chronology displays the games in a distinct section tied to Hyrule’s founding in the age of the Zonai, but does not explain how that section connects to the older timeline branches.
What “Wilds Era” means
In discussions of the Zelda timeline, “Wilds Era” describes the stretch of history associated with Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. It is a convenient label for those games and their surrounding events, not a formal English era name confirmed by Nintendo’s reviewed materials.
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The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia | $19.17 | Buy on Amazon |
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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 official Japanese chronology uses a separate later section for events involving the Zonai-era founding of Hyrule, Ganondorf’s rise, the Imprisoning War, the Calamity, and the conflicts depicted in the two games. The chronology’s visible organization is official; calling that section the “Wilds Era” is an interpretation. Nintendo’s Japanese Zelda chronicle
Where the games fit relative to each other
The relationship between the two games is clear even though their place relative to the older branches is not. Nintendo identifies Tears of the Kingdom as a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild. 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’s developer interview
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- A comprehensive collection of enemies and items, potions to poes, an expansion of the lore touched upon in Hyrule Historia, concept art, screencaps, maps, main characters and how they relate, languages, and much, much more, including an exclusive interview with Series Producer, Eiji Aonuma!
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How the Wilds section relates to the older timeline
Nintendo’s chronology shows the familiar outcomes following Ocarina of Time as separate historical paths, then presents the Zonai-era founding and the Wilds games in a distinct section. The page establishes that this is how Nintendo currently displays the chronology; it does not say whether the later section results from the old branches converging, Hyrule being refounded, or another continuity arrangement.
A 2026 GamesRadar+ report reads the separate founding as support for a refounding theory. That is the outlet’s interpretation of Nintendo’s display, not an explicit explanation from Nintendo. The official page supports the narrower point that it shows a Zonai-era founding separately from the earlier founding; it does not confirm that there are “two Hyrules.” GamesRadar+’s report on the chronology
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Why the placement has remained open to interpretation
In 2018, Aonuma said the team wanted players to imagine the world rather than impose a definitive timeline placement for Breath of the Wild. Nintendo Life reported his remarks via a translation of Creating a Champion: “We want players to be able to continue having fun imagining this world even after they are finished with the game, so, this time, we decided that we would avoid making clarifications. I hope that everyone can find their own answer, in their own way.” Nintendo Life’s report of Aonuma’s 2018 comments
Those comments explain why debate around Breath of the Wild’s placement developed, but they should not be treated as proof that Nintendo has never updated or reorganized its chronology. A Nintendo Life timeline guide updated in September 2024 summarizes the earlier three-branch discussion; it predates the current Japanese chronology page and is best read as historical context rather than the latest account of Nintendo’s display. Nintendo Life’s earlier timeline guide
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #3
- The Legend of Zelda: Art and Artifacts contains over four hundred pages of fully realized illustrations from the entire thirty-year history of The Legend of Zelda including artwork from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild!
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What is established—and what is not
- Established: Nintendo displays Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom together in a later section associated with a Zonai-era founding of Hyrule.
- Established: Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel, set in Hyrule shortly after Breath of the Wild.
- Not established: “Wilds Era” as Nintendo’s formal English name for that section.
- Not explained by the chronology: whether the older branches converge, the kingdom is refounded, or another continuity model connects the eras.
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