Driver FixRecommendedSound, Wi-Fi or graphics acting up? Check drivers firstFind missing or outdated drivers fast.Check DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run Scan×
Skip to content
VGSources
Blog

What Happens After You Defeat Ganondorf in Tears of the Kingdom?

Defeating Ganondorf in Tears of the Kingdom leads to Zelda's restoration and the credits. Here is what follows, what the post-credits scene requires, and why your save reloads before the final boss.
WorldTears of the Kingdom? Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Defeating Ganondorf in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom starts a short finale. Zelda is restored to human form, and the credits roll. If you have also completed the Fifth Sage main quest, a second scene plays after the credits. The save you clear does not drop you into a permanently changed world. It reloads at your last manual save, before the final fight, so you can keep exploring the world as it was.

The ending sequence

GameSpot’s guide by Jason Rodriguez, published May 12, 2023, describes the finale in order. Ganondorf is defeated. The spirits of Rauru and Sonia then restore Zelda to human form. Link skydives and catches her, and the two speak in a field with Hyrule Castle free of corruption. After that, the credits play.

GameSpot identifies Rodriguez as a freelance game reviewer and guides writer. His description of the sequence is editorial, not an official Nintendo explanation. He summarizes the post-credits material this way: “The Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom true ending is, essentially, a post-credits scene.”

The post-credits scene

The scene after the credits depends on one condition: completing the Fifth Sage main quest, which recruits Mineru. In the guide’s account, the scene takes place in the Temple of Time in the Sky World. Mineru says her task is finished, the group promises to support Zelda, and Mineru finds peace as her Construct crumbles.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - For Nintendo Switch 2
  • Enhanced performance and visuals exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2.
  • Explore the skies, caves, and vast lands of Hyrule in a massive open-world adventure.
  • Wield new and returning abilities to craft solutions, vehicles, and weapons.
  • Discover the mystery behind the spreading gloom threatening the kingdom.
  • Use the ZELDA NOTES app to share, compare, and earn daily bonuses.

The same guide notes that the author did not see this scene on the first clear. It appeared only after the Fifth Sage quest was completed. To see it, you need:

  • The Ganondorf battle and the ending sequence completed.
  • The Fifth Sage main quest completed, so Mineru is recruited.
  • The credits watched through to the end, where the extra scene follows.

Why you are back before the final boss

Finishing the story does not advance your world save. The guide describes a different mechanism: a star marks the cleared save, and the save itself loads at the last area where you made a manual save. Because the game resumes before the final fight, you can keep exploring and still reach the final encounter.

Rank #2
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]
  • Persistent internet and compatible smart device required. Data charges may apply.
  • QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.

The reload works in this order:

  1. Open the cleared save, which shows a star to mark completion.
  2. The game loads at the last area where you made a manual save, which is before the final sequence.
  3. You can keep exploring the pre-finale world and return to the final encounter when you choose.

Manual saving is unavailable once you enter Ganondorf’s final chamber, according to the guide. That is why the reload point falls before the fight rather than after it. If you want a particular point to be your reload spot, make a manual save before you enter the chamber.

If the post-credits scene did not play

  • Check whether the Fifth Sage main quest is complete. The scene is tied to that quest, not to the ending alone.
  • Remember that the guide’s author did not see the scene on a first clear. A missing scene after a first finish is not unusual by that account.
  • Confirm you watched the credits through. The scene follows them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

How current this information is

The behavior above comes from a May 2023 GameSpot guide. Nintendo’s US store listing confirms the game is a Nintendo Switch title released May 12, 2023, but it does not describe the ending or save behavior. We have not found an official Nintendo explanation of post-clear saves, so treat the save details as the guide’s account rather than a confirmed Nintendo statement. Later game updates, if any changed this, would not be reflected here.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - For Nintendo Switch 2
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - For Nintendo Switch 2
Enhanced performance and visuals exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2.; Explore the skies, caves, and vast lands of Hyrule in a massive open-world adventure.
$77.99
Bestseller No. 2
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]
Persistent internet and compatible smart device required. Data charges may apply.; QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.
$79.88
Bestseller No. 3
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda - Tears of the Kingdom
$64.80
Rank #4
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]
  • Ultrahand: Using the new Ultrahand ability, Link can pick up, move, and rotate almost any object, and can even attach objects together to create bridges, vehicles, and more!
  • Fuse: Magically fuse almost any object to Link’s current weapon, shield, or arrow to increase durability, damage, or even add a new effect. Experiment with lots of different combinations to come up with surprising—and sometimes hilarious—results!
  • Ascend: Add a new dimension to your exploration with Ascend, which gives Link the ability to pass through solid objects above him. Rise up through ceilings, hillsides, and even certain enemies to create seemingly impossible shortcuts.
  • Recall: Use Recall to make objects in motion move backward through time, letting Link ride fallen boulders skyward, recover thrown weapons, or send projectiles back where they came from.
Rank #3
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom
  • The Legend of Zelda - Tears of the Kingdom

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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More quests from Patch Notes

  1. How to Turn On Vibrant Visuals in MinecraftMinecraftBlog3min
  2. Best Multiplayer Games for Low-End PCsBlog4min
  3. Minecraft: How To Use And Install OptiFineBlog5min
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.