Breath of the Wild

BBreath of the Wild is set long after the earlier games, which survive only as legends. About 10,000 years before it, a princess with the goddess's sealing power and a hero with the Master Sword, backed by Sheikah machines called the Guardians and the four Divine Beasts, sealed Calamity Ganon away. The king later came to fear the Sheikah. The machines were buried.

A century before the game, Hyrule dug the machines up when Ganon's return was foretold. Champions of the Zora, Gorons, Gerudo and Rito piloted the Divine Beasts. Link, the knight who drew the Master Sword, guarded Princess Zelda. In the Great Calamity, Ganon turned the machines against Hyrule and the kingdom fell. Link now wakes in the Shrine of Resurrection with no memory, while Zelda's voice calls him to Hyrule Castle.

Old names are still on the map. The Temple of Time stands in ruins on the Great Plateau. There are places called the Arbiter's Grounds and Darunia Lake. The Sheikah and their elder Impa live in Kakariko Village. The Master Sword rests in Korok Forest under the Great Deku Tree. The Yiga Clan, Sheikah who turned against the royal family, serve Ganon.

Nintendo's chronicle shows Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom after the end of each of the three branches.