In a surprise Nintendo Direct that has left the Zelda community stunned, Nintendo has officially announced that Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is indeed a canon entry in the Legend of Zelda franchise. This ensures a drastic shift away from all previous Hyrule Warriors games, which were handled as non-canonical spin-offs.
Let’s break down what this means, why it matters, and how this new game may be the most influential Hyrule Warriors game to date.
What Is Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment?
Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment is the next installment in the Hyrule Warriors series, being developed by Koei Tecmo in collaboration with Nintendo. The game is releasing in Winter 2025 on the Nintendo Switch 2, and it is a prequel to The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom.
Happening during the legendary Imprisoning War, a war that only appeared in passing previously in Zelda games, Age of Imprisonment finally gets to show us the world-destroying events that lay the groundwork for the world we toured in Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild. For additional coverage, see here.
A Canonical Turn for the Hyrule Warriors Series
Historically, the Hyrule Warriors series has also been viewed as a spin-off of the core Zelda timeline. In an interview in 2014, series producer Eiji Aonuma stated that the original Hyrule Warriors was somewhere in a “separate dimension” and that it was a crossover event like The Avengers. This perspective left the game outside of the official Hyrule chronology.
However, Age of Imprisonment dispenses with this tradition. Nintendo has confirmed that the game is a straight prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, delving into the Imprisoning War, a pivotal war in Hyrule’s past. This alignment with the mainline story is a departure from the Hyrule Warriors series.
Examining the Imprisoning War
Releasing this winter on the Nintendo Switch 2, Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment brings players back to the legendary Imprisoning War. As Princess Zelda and King Rauru unite to fight against the rise of Ganondorf, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment explores more of the lore revealed in Tears of the Kingdom.
The game will have massive-scale battles characteristic of the Hyrule Warriors franchise, with players controlling main characters such as Zelda and Rauru. Gameplay is reported to combine the series’ hack-and-slash gameplay with storytelling aspects, providing a deep exploration of this turning point in Hyrule’s history.
Implications for the Zelda Timeline
The canonical status of Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment has significant implications for the Zelda timeline. The addition of this title to the official timeline by Nintendo makes the grander narrative richer for the fans, creating a more cohesive image of Hyrule’s history. It also suggests that Nintendo is willing to add richness to the main narrative with varied gameplay experiences.
Similar to how Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity played out, Age of Imprisonment takes place before Tears of the Kingdom. In TotK, Zelda – spoiler alert here – was pushed back in time by the concealed stone she’d discovered earlier and was left there with no means of returning at all. Whereas players got to see what occurred through uncovering memories during the game, it’ll go deeper into what happened to her and her last dragon transformation into the light dragon and how that may affect the story more than what is seen.
Why This Canon Confirmation Matters
This backer doesn’t just elevate Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment beyond its peers—it also shifts how Nintendo makes spin-offs. For a company that usually maintains side games in a separate camp from its big franchises, welcoming this one in is a considerable departure.
It also adds weight to speculation that Nintendo may be constructing a more cohesive universe of Zelda, similar to the way Marvel expanded the universe of the MCU. If Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment is successful, we could begin to see more story-driven spin titles filling in the gaps within the timeline.
Hype Builds for the Upcoming Release
The announcement of Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment has generated a lot of hype among fans and critics. The fact that the game is part of the main timeline and is about a crucial time in Zelda’s history makes it a compulsory game for the series’ fans.
As the release date approaches, anticipation builds for what promises to be a major addition to the Legend of Zelda franchise. If you haven’t already played Tears of the Kingdom or, indeed, Breath of the Wild, then now’s the time to play them because they’re going to be coming onto the Switch 2, and they’re coming with enhanced quality!
