Rumor: Could the Next Legend of Zelda Mainline Game Be Inspired by the Excitement of Hyrule Warriors?
The Nintendo Switch 2 has been out for six months, but it lacks a mainline The Legend of Zelda game. Yes, it has the spin-off game Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, but fans are eagerly awaiting a mainline game in the series, preferably one that takes full advantage of the Switch 2’s next generation hardware. Well, there’s a chance that we just got a hint about what the next mainline game will be like.
Will the Next Mainline The Legend of Zelda be Inspired by Hyrule Warriors?
In a translated interview with Eiji Aonuma, general producer of The Legend of Zelda series, and Hidemaro Fujibayashi, director and producer of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the two discussed how Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment expanded on the lore set up in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. However, one particular quote stands out as perhaps quietly setting up the next mainline game.
Aonuma stated, rather cryptically, that the “inspiration” from the collaboration between Nintendo and Koei Tecmo for the Hyrule Warriors spin-off series “may be reflected in the (next) Zelda we create. Please picture this while playing Age of Imprisonment, and look forward to our Zelda.” Fans have speculated that this could mean that the next mainline Zelda game could borrow from the Hyrule Warriors series.
What Would a Hyrule Warriors-Inspired Mainline Zelda Game Look Like?
For those not in the know, the Hyrule Warriors series focuses on hack-and-slash combat against massive hoards of enemies, contrasting with the exploration-focused gameplay of the mainline Zelda games. The games are fast-paced and give you an adrenaline rush as you slash your way through enemies. I love them, but there are some Zelda fans who prefer the dungeon puzzles and world exploration of the mainline games and don’t care for the high-octane action in Hyrule Warriors.
As such, how would a mainline entry in The Legend of Zelda blend the mighty adrenaline rush of Hyrule Warriors with the more traditional exploration? It could be pulled off. Perhaps there could be sections where the player faces rushes of enemies, and other sections where the player just gets to explore. Dungeons might be good places to incorporate Hyrule Warriors-style gameplay.
What Do We Want for the Next Zelda?
Wherever The Legend of Zelda goes for its next mainline game, it will undoubtedly be full of creativity. I personally hope that we get a new story that doesn’t merely continue the Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom saga. Something fresh and new could make Zelda’s Switch 2 entry stand out. Incorporating some Hyrule Warriors-style might be exactly the thing that could give the series new life.
