Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomhave helped pushThe Legend of Zeldato another echelon, being arguably the two biggest titles on the Nintendo Switch, even thoughBOTWlaunched on the Wii U. Still, it is known widely as a Switch title, and the Switch’s run has largely been very generous toward theZeldaseries, with twoHyrule Warriorsgames, twoWildsera games, andEchoes of Wisdom. Outside theWildsera games, Princess Zelda has been playable, something fans have wanted for a long time, and there’s a chance this trend could continue.
Princess Zelda seems to be the protagonist of the nextHyrule Warriorsgame,The Imprisoning War, hot off the heels of being the main focus ofEchoes of Wisdom, and it certainly seems that fans are lapping it up. TheWildsera version of Princess Zelda has been a fan favorite, with her short hair reveal forTOTKbreaking the internet alongside a dehydrated Ganondorf and the idea of getting a hunky, hydrated version in the full game. Still, this won’t stop Link from getting the spotlight he’s held since the series' inception, althoughBOTW’s producer has hinted at another version of Link.
BOTW Rumors Suggested A Female Link
Linkle Could Make A Mainline Return
When players first gota look atBreath of the Wildand its open world, there were rumors that Link could have been a woman, and this wouldn’t have been as bizarre as many believed at the time.There is already an official, female version of Link called Linkle, appearing inHyrule Warriors Legends. Although a counterpart of Link, she fights quite differently, utilizing twin crossbows and swift kicks inHyrule Warriors. This design resonated with many fans, her green cloak and brown boots taking elements of Link’s iconic design and integrating them well.
There was a concept to make Linkle Link’s sister, but it was scrapped for fear of her being confused with Aryll, his sister inTheWind Waker.
Linkle would actually find herself inBreath of the Wild, although not officially.A popular mod replaced Link with Linkle, remaking all the armor to fit this female version. It managed over300 thousand downloads on Game Banana, an impressive tally considering that the Switch isn’t the most receptive to mods, showing a desire to play a female Link. Linkle could make a proper debut in the main series, becoming more than a fun side character, considering that she already has a concrete design that fans seem to like. It isn’t as though the market isn’t there.
Eiji Aonuma Says Female Link Could Happen Someday
Or Perhaps Link Could Be Someone Completely Different
In aninterview with Vice,BOTWproducer Eiji Aonuma discussesthe possibility of a female version of Link, having made comments beforeBOTW’s release that Link didn’t necessarily have to be male. This was after initial trailers showed an androgynous-looking Link with a bow, although it should be noted that Link has always looked quite feminine, due to his youth and fairy-like design. Still, the idea of playing a female Link got people talking, and Aonuma isn’t opposed to the idea of Link getting gender-swapped, as he explains in the interview.
Aonuma stated in 2017 that the idea of Link being someone completely different, or theprotagonist being ‘radically different from what we’ve seen before’was’a possibility’in the future, yet it isn’t something that has happened as of April 2025. This is largely due to Nintendo staying in theWildsera with theZeldaseries sincetherelease of BOTW, which makes sense given its success.BOTWtook the series in a new direction, and when Nintendo eventually leaves theWildsera behind, it could go in another direction, which Aonuma has already mentioned.
The Next Zelda Game Should Have A Different Kind Of Link Protagonist
BOTW Proved That Changing The Formula Can Work
Although many look atWildsera Link as though he is normal now, back in 2017, his new design was a big deal. The blue tunic was a massive talking point, losing the traditional green garb and floppy hat that he had worn since his debut in the 80s, but this proved to be the right move.This version of Link is well-loved, as isWildsera Zelda, making the pair distinct compared to their many counterparts. Nintendo could do this again by introducing a different kind of Link, whether that be a female variant, like Linkle, or an older, adult version.
Link tends to be either 10 years old or 17, and was both ages inOcarina of Time, but is roughly 117 inBOTWafter his 100-year nap.
This doesn’t have to be for a mainlineZeldatitle, since the series is pumping out spin-offs at a faster rate than the main titles. Therewill be threeHyrule Warriorsgames soon, two set in theWildsera, and as popular as the era has been,an experimental title in a different period of Hyrule’s history would be a nice change of pace. This is exactly whatEchoes of Wisdomdid, presenting an entirely different aesthetic and gameplay style with Princess Zelda as the protagonist. Another title could do the same with Linkle at the helm.
A Female Link Seems Possible After Zelda In EoW
Nintendo Has Been More Experimental Since BOTW
Echoes of Wisdomwas a massive dealfor theZeldaseries, and similar toPrincess Peach: Showtime!it allowed the usual damsel to shine without their hero. To be fair to Zelda, many versions of her often help Link just as much as he helps him, but that didn’t result in the princess as the protagonist untilEoW. WithHyrule Warriorsmaking more ofZelda’s female cast playable too,it seems that Nintendo is more willing to let the women of Hyrule shine on the big stage. It could be a way for the company to experiment more with the IP.
Breath of the Wildwas very experimental for theZeldaseries,introducing an open world, climbing, a hilariously exploitable physics engine, different weapons types, and much more.Tears of the Kingdomadded constructs,Hyrule Warriorsbrought the IP to the Musou genre, andEoWmade Princess Zelda the protagonist. These have all been risky decisions that have paid off for Nintendo, pushing the IP to new grounds while turning heads. There isn’t a reason for Nintendo to stop experimenting, since theZeldaseries is yet to be burned after 2017.
Given Linkle pre-established existence, her fighting style, powers with her compass, and a liking from fans, which resulted in a massive mod,perhaps this experimentation will make herThe Legend of Zelda’s next protagonist. There have already been signs and withEchoes of Wisdom’s reception, it doesn’t seem impossible. If Eiji Aonuma’s words still hold true to the future of the series, another experiment seems more like an inevitability than a minor possibility, and it will be exciting to see where the franchise ends up in the coming years.
