Summary
While Hyrule may be the most iconic ofThe Legend of Zelda’ssettings, it is far from the only one. Plenty of times, spin-offs and side stories in the series have gotten dedicated settings all of their own, devoid of the machinations of Ganon and royal family of Hyrule.
From Tri-Force Heroes' Hytopia to the unsettling eeriness of Majora’s Mask’s Termina, the series has plenty of variety to offer, even if it’s only for a one-off appearance. While it may be hard to top Hyrule as a setting, plenty of these locations definitely put up a strong fight.
7Holodrum
Some of the only Zelda games sanctioned but not developed by Nintendo, the duology of Oracle games were developed by Capcom for the Game Boy Color. Both games featured extensive interconnectivity and each had a setting of its own independent of Hyrule, too.
In Oracle of Seasons, this setting was the land of Holodrum, a land that Link could change the seasons of at will. It was covered primarily in solid land though covered a great variety of biomes, from parched deserts to towering cliffs and waterfalls.
6Labyrnna
While Oracle of Seasons got its own setting in Holodrum, Oracle of Ages instead received Labrynna, a land thoroughly built around puzzle-solving. In contrast to Holodrum, Labrynna was only ever seen in one season, though with the added caveat that you could also see it in a wholly different time period as well, functionally doubling the amount of land to explore.
Labrynna, despite lackingthe biome diversityof Holodrum, is also exceedingly changeable in many regards. The Nuun Highlands will change completely based on the companion you bring with you, while exploring in the past can see oceans turn to islands.
Both Oracle games play differently depending on which one you play first and if you import your world state from the other.
5Hytopia
While often forgotten as a major entry in the series due to its focus on multiplayer, Tri Force Heroes is a sequel to A Link Between Worlds, featuring the same Link as played as there. This time around, the game takes place in the avant garde Hytopia, where fashion is the name of the game.
The city of Hytopia is freely explored, bearing plenty of resemblance to the neighbouring Hyrule. For the most part, you are exploring the various dungeons of the land, completing puzzles with the Link clones. Never forget to stop and get Link some fresh clothes though. It pays to be fashionable in Hytopia.
4Lorule
While the concept of a Dark World is fairly trodden ground in the Legend of Zelda series, none have found themselves with an identity quite as unique as Lorule. Originally envisioned as simply a twisted reflection of Hyrule in A Link To The Past, A Link Between Worlds grants Lorule a history of its own.
Much like Hyrule above it, Lorule was a land with a Triforce of its own, and the same lust for its power in its people. In the case of Lorule, however, this resulted in its destruction. What you see around this land is not a dark reflection of Hyrule, but its own world in ruin, and a warning sign for what may come to pass for Hyrule above.
3Koholint Island
When it comes to the Zelda games, the timeline is somehting many obsess over. Where does this take place, when did it happen, and so on. Then strolls in Link’s Awakening featuring enemies from Mario, Twin Peaks inspirations, and a dream-like feel to make you never question the timeline again.
Set within Koholint Island, Link journeys to reach its very pinnacle, Mt. Tamaranch to ask the Wind Fish to grant him safe passage back to Hyrule. It wouldn’t be a Zelda game without Link needing some musical instruments though, setting his new quest in motion. While Koholint Island may not have had the most impressive visuals, it had a world whose feeling has never quite been achieved since.
2Termina
While Zelda was by no means unknown prior to Ocarina of Time, that entry propelled the series to worldwide fame, and is still frequently regarded as the best game in the series. This was then followed-up by Majora’s Mask, a game that really bears next to no relation at all and is all the stronger for it.
Set in the land of Termina with next to no mention of Zelda or the recently defeated Ganon, you have three days to save the world. While Termina pulls much of its base aesthetic from Hyrule, the vibe of the land is entirely different.The moon hangs overhead, glaring at you. The people exist in dismay at their impending doom. And Link is made to watch it over and over again until he can finally stop the moon itself.
1Hyrule
There’s no beating the original. Hyrule is the main setting of the games for good reason. Over decades, the series has built a defined identity with Hyrule whereby even in drastically changed spin-offs, the land is still Hyrule. From the very first entry, Hyrule has never lost its appeal and only gained more history with each game featuring it.
The power of Hyrule is how it can be manipulated but still be familiar. You will always know where to find Death Mountain, be it Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild. Kakariko will always be nestled away nice and quietly. The grand Hyrule Field will always be right at the center. That memory of the land makes it a joy to always return to, no matter how much it is changed.
