The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis an absolutely enormous entry in the storied Nintendo series. The game carries over many of the characters and gameplay mechanics of its predecessor,Breath of the Wild, while introducing unique elements both new to the game and borrowed from the franchise’s history.
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With such a deep reverence for Zelda’s lore, story, and characters, there is no shortage of allusions and references to past Zelda games in Tears of the Kingdom. Many fans of the series will pick up on these right away, but here are a few that you just might have missed.
Updated on May 16, 2025, by Kendall Cunningham:Tears of the Kingdom is a very big game with a lot to discover. Its version of Hyrule is huge, and most players have only scratched the surface of its secrets. As time passes, we’ll continue to find more and more nods to Zelda’s rich history, so it’s worth revisiting this list with all the cool new references that we’ve found.
12The Game’s Memories Are Full Of Classic Zelda Tunes
Tears of the Kingdom’s various Dragon Tears are its version of the memories present in Breath of the Wild. These flashbacks give you a glimpse into the events taking place in Hyrule’s distant past, showing what Zelda’s been up to as she meets King Rauru and Queen Sonia.
Long-time Zelda fans will notice that a lot of the music played during these memories draws from Zelda’s past, with small allusions to Zelda’s Theme, the series' main theme, and more. These musical nods help the flashbacks feel tied to the deep history of Zelda as a series.
11The Stable Trotters Are Playing A Remixed Epona’s Theme
Music is a strong presence in every Zelda game, and Tears of the Kingdom uses it to great effect. One of the most notable music-based side quests is the journey to reunite the Stable Trotters, the stable-based band that plays for travelers throughout Hyrule.
As you follow through with the quest, you’ll start to see more and more members of the band at the stables you visit, and series veterans will notice that they’re playing a familiar tune. The Stable Trotters play a beautiful remix of Epona’s Theme, the classic Zelda song associated with Link’s famous horse, Epona. It’s a nice reference to the trusty steed from Link’s past.
10The Events Of Breath Of The Wild Are Barely Referenced
Although Tears of the Kingdom takes place in the same version of Hyrule as Breath of the Wild, some time has passed since the events of that game. Hyrule has begun to rebuild after the events of the Calamity, and that’s evident in the fact that Breath of the Wild’s eventsare rarely referenced.
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Even the Sheikah tech, present all throughout Breath of the Wild’s world, is mostly gone from Tears of the Kingdom. You’ll find very few Guardians left, with the exception being at the very top of the laboratory in Hateno Village. Some characters will still speak of the Calamity, like Hateno’s Shiekah schoolteacher Symin, but it seems most of the Hylians have moved on.
9The Depths Are The Game’s Dark World
The Zelda series has a history of including a more dangerous Dark World for Link to travel to. These ominous places are usually an inverted version of the kingdom of Hyrule, with stronger enemies and new bosses strewn across their familiar landscapes.
Tears of the Kingdom takes the concept of the Dark World literally by inverting Hyrule’s world map to create the underground area, The Depths. High cliffs become deep holes, rivers are impassable walls, andvarious key locationson the surface of Hyrule correspond with different interesting areas in The Depths, giving this version of Link his own Dark World to explore.
8Lurelin Village Still Feels Connected To Wind Waker
The lovely beachside settlement, Lurelin Village, has always drawn comparisons from Zelda alumni to Outset Island from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. Its layout is identical to Link’s scenic home island from that game, and Tears of the Kingdom takes this comparison a step further.
When you arrive at Lurelin Village, you’ll find that it’s been overrun by pirates, with their ship docked at Lurelin’s pier. This is the exact same place where Tetra’s pirate ship docked in Wind Waker, bringing even more of a connection to the two titles. What’s more, you’re able to unlock the familiar blue lobster shirt from Wind Waker by completing a side quest in Lurelin Village.
7The Concept Of Sages Dates Back To The Original Zelda
Tears of the Kingdom returns Zelda to its roots in many ways, with its elemental dungeons littered across Hyrule. These dungeons are each tied to one of the sages, a diverse group of significant individuals representing a variety of Hyrule’s citizens.
This is not a new concept, as tenured fans will recognize the series' tradition of including a group of sacred Sages with ties to the elements. While most fans will think back to the seven sages in games likeOcarina of Timeand A Link To The Past, the series has included sages since its first entry, with the wise old men who grant Link his original weapons.
6The Sage’s Masks Represent Their Respective Divine Beasts
With four of the Sages representing the four prominent kingdoms of Hyrule, their locations should prove familiar for fans of Breath of the Wild. The Goron, Zora, Gerudo, and Rito Sages are all represented, and all come equipped with special masks in the flashbacks that showcase them.
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Keen-eyed fans will notice that these masks are fashioned after theDivine Beasts,the four sacred protectors of the domain you explored in Breath of the Wild. While you won’t spot these massive beasts in the game’s open world this time around, it’s nice to see them being represented here.
5Rauru’s Name Has Its Own History
Among the sages from past Zelda titles, one name may stand out to players of Tears of the Kingdom. Rauru is one of the sages from Ocarina of Time, the group who built that game’s version of the Temple of Time.
This is, of course, also the name of King Rauru, the ancient Zonai ruler and one of the founders of Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom. With Zelda’s propensity toward twisting its timeline to tell its story, it should come as little surprise that this generation of Zelda has its own Rauru as well.
4The Master Sword Still Sounds Like Fi
TheMaster Swordis severely damaged in the early moments of Tears of the Kingdom, plagued by the gloom that shoots from the Demon King Gannondorf’s mummified corpse. While Link continues to travel with the sword for a bit, it begins to pulse with light and emit a specific sound.
This sound, also heard during key moments of Breath of the Wild, is recognizable to those who’ve playedSkyward Swordas the chime of Link’scompanion character, Fi.Fi is the spirit of the sword itself, so longtime fans are sure to notice this continued nod to her even early in the game’s story.
3Various Enemies Types Have Returned…
Tears of the Kingdom puts Gannondorf’s minions at the front and center, showcasing the new and improved forms of Bokoblins, Moblins, and the like. While many of these enemies have returned from Breath of the Wild, fans who have played Zelda for years are in for a number of surprises when facing down the game’s latest foes.
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A whole host of monsters from older Zelda games, such as Like Likes and Gleeoks, have returned for the Switch Zelda title. Though these are certainly formidable foes, it’s nice to see a few familiar faces, albeit with brand-new designs exclusive to Tears of the Kingdom.
