In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mipha is the clearest example of a character with romantic feelings for Link. Paya is also often read as having a crush on him, while Zelda and Link’s closeness leaves room for interpretation but is not confirmed as a mutual romance.
Who has a crush on Link in Breath of the Wild?
The strongest case is Mipha. The game’s director, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, described his impression of her feelings for Link as “a devoted love that seemed a bit too much for me.” That is a creator’s interpretation of the story, not a rule that every player must read the relationship identically. Fujibayashi’s 2017 interview transcript records the remark.
Paya is another plausible answer, based on her shy behavior and material associated with her diary. That conclusion is commonly presented as an interpretation of the character rather than a verified developer statement. Zelda’s bond with Link can also invite romantic readings, but the evidence here does not establish that they are a couple or that Link returns anyone’s feelings.
How strong is the evidence for each character?
| Character | What supports the reading? | What the evidence establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Mipha | Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi’s 2017 description of his impression of her feelings. | The clearest case of romantic affection in the Breath of the Wild material considered here; it does not establish Link’s response. |
| Paya | Her shyness and dialogue and diary material, as summarized in a secondary character entry. | A commonly inferred crush, not a directly verified developer statement. The character summary describes this reading. |
| Zelda | Her emotional closeness with Link and voice actor Patricia Summersett’s comments about possible romantic undertones. | Ambiguous interpretation, potentially unrequited—not confirmation of a mutual romance. GamesRadar+ reported Summersett’s view on February 27, 2026. |
Are Link and Zelda in love?
Their relationship is emotionally significant, but the sources cited here do not confirm that they are in love or a couple. Summersett described the possible romantic undertones as ambiguous and potentially unrequited; that is the actor’s personal interpretation, not a definitive statement of canon. The safest answer is that players can read their closeness romantically, but mutual romance is not established by this evidence.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
- Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequences
- Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
- Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
- Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
- Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls, objects and enemies in fun ways
Does Link love Mipha or Paya back?
The evidence cited here concerns how other characters feel about Link or how their relationships can be interpreted. It does not establish Link’s romantic preferences or confirm that he loves Mipha, Paya, or Zelda. A character’s affection for him should not be treated as proof of reciprocation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does this answer apply to every Link?
No. The Legend of Zelda features different incarnations of Link and Zelda across its games. These conclusions are most securely about Breath of the Wild; they are not an exhaustive series-wide list or a franchise-wide ranking. No official count of characters who have a crush on Link is established by the sources cited here.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Explore the wilds of Hyrule any way you like Climb up towers and mountain peaks in search of new destinations, then set your own path to get there and plunge into the wilderness. Along the way, you'll battle towering enemies, hunt wild beasts and gather ingredients for the food and elixirs you'll need to sustain you on your journey
- More than 100 Shrines of Trials to discover and explore Shrines dot the landscape, waiting to be discovered in any order you want. Search for them in various ways, and solve a variety of puzzles inside. Work your way through the traps and devices inside to earn special items and other rewards that will help you on your adventure
- Be prepared and properly equipped With an entire world waiting to be explored, you'll need a variety of outfits and gear to reach every corner. You may need to bundle up with warmer clothes or change into something better suited to the desert heat. Some clothing even has special effects that, for example, can make you faster and stealthier
- Battling enemies requires strategy The world is inhabited with enemies of all shapes and sizes. Each one has its own attack method and weaponry, so you must think quickly and develop the right strategies to defeat them
- amiibo compatibility Tap the Wolf Link amiibo (sold separately) to make Wolf Link appear in game. Wolf Link will attack enemies on his own and help you find items you're searching for. We will also introduce new The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild series of amiibo at E3 this year
Rank #3
![The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xVZUUZ1hL._SL160_.jpg)
- Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequences
- Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
- Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
- Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
- Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls objects and enemies in fun ways
Rank #2
- Enhanced resolution, framerates, and load times optimized for Nintendo Switch 2.
- Explore a massive open-air version of Hyrule with complete freedom.
- Solve physics-based puzzles, survive dynamic weather, and uncover hidden secrets.
- Customize your adventure with weapons, gear, and food you craft yourself.
- Use the ZELDA NOTES app for bonuses, item sharing, and social features.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
