The Legend of Zelda’skingdom of Hyrule is a vast and beautiful land full of a myriad of different races. While many races, like the Gorons and Zoras, return in many of the games, some races only appear in one or two games.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild surprised many when it brought back The Wind Waker’s Rito, revamping the bird-like folk to better suit the game’s vision of Hyrule. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is bringing back the Deku in a more major role, which they haven’t seen since Majora’s Mask. With that in mind, anything is possible. Here are 10 Zelda races we’d love to see return next.
10Parella
Jellyfish-Like Proto-Zora
InThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the Parella were a race of squid-like creatures who lived in Lake Florian, serving their dragon god Faron. They lack the Zora’s ability to survive on both land and water, instead confined solely to the water.
The Parella would likely need a redesign if they were to fit in a more modern Zelda game, as their design was meant to be primitive for the ancient setting of Skyward Sword. Perhaps they could be redesigned to fit alongside races like theLand and Sea Zora, possibly forming some sort of rivalry with the Zora over land or relations.
9Kikwi
Timid Little Kiwi
Before the Kokiri or Koroks called Hyrule’s vast forests home, the land belonged to the Kikwi in Skyward Sword. Resembling some mix between a kiwi fruit and a kiwi bird, these adorable creatures have a naturally timid disposition, trying to disguise themselves as plants when frightened. It doesn’t work very well though.
The Kikwi may not need a redesign if they returned in a future Zelda title, but they’ll need to sharethe Lost Woodswith the Koroks if they choose to live there. Perhaps the two could have some sort of mutually beneficial alliance. Alternatively, they could call some other forest in Hyrule home. There are certainly many to choose from.
The Anouki are a strange race with penguin bodies, reindeer antlers, and a humanoid face. They first appeared in Phantom Hourglass, then later returned in its sequel Spirit Tracks. While friendly, these ice-faring folk pretend to keep to their communities.
If they returned in a future Zelda title, they would likely need to be redesigned to fit the more realistic humanoid races of Hyrule. Perhaps they could be given a more anthropomorphic reindeer design with heavy winter coats to resemble their original design. This rendition of the Anouki could live far to the north of Hyrule,amid the ice and snowwhere few other races dare venture.
7Mogma
These Claws Are Meant For Digging
The Mogma were another race that lived on the Surface in Skyward Sword. Though the Gorons are also present in the game, Eldin Province is populated by this mole-like race instead.These greedy soulsuse their claws to bury underground in search of rupees and treasure, even if it puts their lives at risk.
The Mogma likely wouldn’t need any sort of redesign, but the way they’re stylized might change depending on the game. Modern Mogma might travel across the whole of Hyrule searching for glittering treasures, or they might share Death Mountain with the Gorons. Perhaps the two could have some sort of mining rivalry, as the Gorons were shown to be miners in Breath of the Wild and its sequel.
In Oracle of Season’s land of Holodrum, there was a secret land hidden beneath the surface, known as Subrosia. This is where the hooded race of Subrosians lived, capable of surviving alongside lava. They enjoy lava baths and dancing.
Depending on the art style of the game the Subrosians returned in, they may or may not need a redesign. The Subrosians could live deep beneath the surface of Hyrule in hidden communities unbeknownst to most of the kingdom. There, they’d mine and live in comfort near lava, possibly hiding secrets relevant to the game’s plot.
The Lokomo only appeared in Spirit Tracks, where they helped Link and Zelda in their quest against the Demon King Malladus. Six of the seven Lokomo moved around in mechanical vehicles, while the seventh walked on foot. Fitting a game where you drive a train, this race is named after train-related puns.
The Lokomo may be stylized differently depending on the game, but their general appearance wouldn’t be unfitting in most Zelda games. The Lokomo would fit in a more futuristic The Legend of Zelda title, where they could be mechanically-inclined souls, helping Link understand futuristic technology or even upgrading his tools.
Fans theorized about what the Zonai might be like sinceBreath of the Wild, only forTears of the Kingdomto make their identity clear. In this alternate version of Hyrule’s history, these goat-like beings founded the kingdom of Hyrule when their leader Rauru married a Hylian named Sonia.
Were the Zonai to return, we would love to see Hyrule at the height of their rule. Though we know much about their technology, we know less about what their race was like. By the time of Tears of the Kingdom, only two remained. We’d love to see how they lived in an ancient Hyrule and how they interacted with the land’s other races.
The child-like Kokiri race first appeared inOcarina of Time, where they lived under the protection of the Great Deku Tree. By The Wind Waker, the Kokiri have all vanished, transformed into the Koroks by the Great Deku Tree to better survive in the vast Great Sea. Though the Koroks later appeared in Breath of the Wild, the Kokiri didn’t return with them.
The Kokiri are hard to distinguish from the other children in Hyrule, so the developers may choose to redesign them. Alternatively, they could stay the same, remaining mysterious as they lived in one of the many forests of Hyrule. They would likely livealongside the Koroks, as they’re both considered the children of the Great Deku Tree.
The Minish, also known as the Picori, was a tiny race no bigger than a child’s thumb. Their sole appearance was in the Minish Cap, where they lived in forests, mountains, and towns, hidden where no one might notice them. It’s said that only good children could see the Minish.
A race resembling the Minish appeared in early footage of Breath of the Wild, though they didn’t appear in the finished game or its sequel. In a new game, the Minish could live secretive lives, hidden throughout Hyrule,much like the Koroks. They could appear if you solved puzzles or looked in the right spots, possibly offering some sort of collectible for finding them.
The Twili appeared in one game -Twilight Princess- but fans have been begging for their return since then. When Midna shattered the Mirror of Twilight at the end of the game, we began to pray for a chance to restore it and visit the Twilight Realm once again. So far, we’ve never gotten that chance.
The return of the Twili would mean a return to the Twilight Realm. Perhaps this time we could fully explore the Twili’s home, getting to know its people and the world they live in. While Midna or Zant don’t need to return, we’d love to see characters similar to them, with their signature sarcastic and playful natures.
