Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s Most Mysterious NPCs Are a Game Concept In Themselves

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In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, while the NPCs and collectibles weren’t the game’s most remarkable features, they could potentially pave the way for future installments in the series to delve deeper into the afterlife – a concept that has always been significant in Zelda’s narratives and gameplay. Characters like Link, Princess Zelda, and Ganon are tied together through cycles of reincarnation in the Zelda universe, and the afterlife has often been hinted at but left ambiguous in previous games. However, Tears of the Kingdom could be the first to shed light on this mystery.

In the statues scattered across the Depths within the game Tears of the Kingdom, the spirits known as Poes are described as beings who should return to the afterlife and lost souls wandering this land. Unlike previous games where fans could only speculate about such a realm, Tears of the Kingdom explicitly acknowledges the afterlife, which raises intriguing lore implications that warrant further investigation. Since reincarnation, supernatural forces, and otherworldly realms are integral aspects of the Zelda series, it seems fitting for a future game to follow in Tears of the Kingdom’s footsteps and delve into whether death truly signifies the end.

With the Bargainer Statues, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Crosses a Line Few Other Games Could

In the game “Tears of the Kingdom”, the Bargainer Statues may have hinted at more about the afterlife than many other “Zelda” games. However, this doesn’t mean that the concept of the afterlife was never touched upon before. For example, the Twilight Realm in “Twilight Princess” could be seen as a possible representation of the afterlife. In the opening cutscene, Rusl tells Link that twilight is when we can sense the lingering sorrows of spirits who have departed from our world. Furthermore, other games in the “Zelda” series also present spiritual realms, and various ghostly or undead characters further suggest the existence of an afterlife.

  • Recurring enemies like ReDeads, Gibdos, or Stalfos.
  • One-time enemies like Phantom Hourglass‘ Reaplings or Majora’s Mask‘s Garos.
  • Side characters like Twilight Princess‘ Hero’s Shade or Breath of the Wild‘s Champions
  • Realms like Spirit Tracks‘ Dark Realm or Skyward Sword‘s Silent Realm.

Although there may be plenty of evidence suggesting an afterlife in the world of Zelda, much of it can be dismissed as magic, mysticism, or common elements of fantasy stories. However, even when The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom employs these same elements, such as the hellish Depths, the Spirit Temple, and Mineru’s role as the Sage of Spirit, one statement from the Bargainer Statues could unintentionally serve as indisputable proof of the series’ afterlife. As a result, the next installment of The Legend of Zelda could make a significant departure after almost four decades by delving into this now-established afterlife, its connection with the interwoven timelines, and the ongoing curse of reincarnation.

An Afterlife-Centric Zelda Game Could Provide Long-Overdue Redemption

Moving forward from “Skyward Sword” and now heading towards “Tears of the Kingdom”, Nintendo could capture the audience’s interest by delving deeper into the mysterious supernatural aspects that underpin the Zelda series. Instead of fundamentally altering Zelda’s reincarnation narrative, they could craft a captivating story where Link strives to lift Hyrule, the Princess, and himself from Demise’s original curse, ultimately defeating Ganondorf forever. Such a game would present a wonderful chance for the Zelda series to reinvent itself, offering innovative storylines, gameplay mechanics, and character developments that steer clear of time travel and the Triforce tropes.

An Afterlife-Centric Zelda Game Could Pay Tribute To The Series

In a future game, delving into the concept of the afterlife could offer a fresh perspective on the Zelda formula. This approach would potentially bring back beloved characters such as Midna, Sheik, Saria, Groose, and others to assist the player, much like how the Hero’s Shade character in earlier games represents a previous Link. Additionally, it could provide opportunities for villains who have not been fully utilized, such as Zant, Ghirahim, Twinrova, or Vaati, to make a return. Such a game could be seen as a tribute to Zelda fans while still offering something original and exciting for all players.

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2025-07-26 20:04