Legend of Zelda: Age of Imprisonment Declared Canon

Nintendo's July 2025 Direct has confirmed that Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is an official canonical prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Discover more about the upcoming game and what it entails.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Joins the Official Timeline

Setting the Stage for Tears of the Kingdom

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a canonical story set before the events of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. A story-rich trailer debuted during the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase on July 31, 2025, showcasing scenes from the Imprisoning War. Players will join familiar characters like Princess Zelda, King Rauru, Queen Sonia, and Mineru in battle.

The series protagonist, Link, is notably absent, which aligns with the game's setting in the ancient past. However, the trailer's final moments reveal a mysterious Construct reassembling within a subterranean altar, hinting at deeper secrets yet to be uncovered.

First mentioned as backstory in Tears of the Kingdom, the Imprisoning War chronicles the betrayal of Ganondorf, the Gerudo tribe's then-leader and a primary antagonist of the series. King Rauru of the Zonai and his allies unite to confront and seal Ganondorf, preventing him from casting the world into eternal darkness. While this pivotal conflict was previously only shown in ToTK's cutscenes, Age of Imprisonment brings this chaotic period to life through immersive, interactive gameplay.

The nearly two-minute teaser also offered glimpses of fast-paced, hack-and-slash combat. Players can execute powerful area-of-effect attacks, such as the combined beam of light from King Rauru and Zelda, or Mineru's whirlwinds that launch foes. These mechanics are reminiscent of earlier Hyrule Warriors titles and KOEI TECMO's Dynasty Warriors series, tasking players with clearing massive enemy waves and defeating formidable bosses.

A specific launch date has not been announced, with the game currently slated for a "Winter 2025" release window.

For further updates and information, explore our related article below.