GameTimeline

Release & story order

Hyrule Warriors timeline

Every main Hyrule Warriors entry in US release order—from the 2014 Wii U musou crossover through Definitive Edition on Switch and Age of Calamity's Breath of the Wild prequel. Not part of Nintendo's official Zelda chronology; Release and Story tabs explain the two separate musou universes.

Updated July 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Koei Tecmo and Nintendo shipped each Hyrule Warriors entry in the US—Wii U (2014), 3DS Legends (2016), Switch Definitive Edition (2018), and Age of Calamity (2020).

  • Play today → Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition (Switch)—includes Wii U + Legends content
  • BotW fans → Age of Calamity after Breath of the Wild (alternate prequel, not strict canon)
  • Skip Wii U and 3DS if you buy Definitive Edition—same crossover story
  • Main Zelda RPG order → separate page on /zelda—not required for musou
Story order tips

Two separate musou worlds—not the Hyrule Historia branches. Hyrule Warriors merges heroes from every Zelda era into one crossover war. Age of Calamity is an alternate Breath of the Wild prequel—different plot from the main Zelda Story tab.

  • Crossover saga → one Hyrule Warriors row (play Definitive Edition)
  • Age of Calamity → separate row—do not merge into Historia branches
  • No link between musou wars and Ocarina's Child/Adult/Fallen hero splits
  • Cadence of Hyrule and Link's Crossbow Training → /zelda Spin-offs FAQ

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Hyrule Warriors

    Hyrule Warriors

    Wii UMusouCrossover

    Musou debut—Link, Zelda, and Impa vs Cia's merged timeline invasion.

    Overview
    Omega Force hack-and-slash with Zelda characters, items, and bosses from every era mashed together.
    In-game setting
    Non-canon crossover—Ganondorf, Midna, and Young Link join the roster via DLC.
    Should you play it?
    Superseded for new players by Definitive Edition on Switch—keep for Wii U collectors.
    Release date
    US Wii U launch September 26, 2014.
  2. Hyrule Warriors Legends

    Hyrule Warriors Legends

    Nintendo 3DSMusouCrossoverHandheld

    Portable HW plus Wind Waker chapter and new characters.

    Overview
    3DS adaptation with exclusive Wind Waker stages, Medli, and Tetra.
    In-game setting
    Same crossover premise as Wii U with extra story maps—not a sequel plot.
    Should you play it?
    Content folded into Definitive Edition—buy DE instead unless collecting 3DS.
    Release date
    US 3DS launch March 22, 2016.
  3. Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition

    Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition

    SwitchMusouCrossover

    Complete Switch package—all Wii U and Legends content plus DLC characters.

    Overview
    Definitive roster and maps on Switch—portable and docked musou.
    In-game setting
    Best way to play the crossover saga in 2026—one purchase replaces Wii U + 3DS.
    Should you play it?
    Start here for the non-Calamity Hyrule Warriors experience.
    Release date
    US Switch launch May 14, 2018.
  4. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

    Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

    SwitchMusouBotW prequel

    Alternate Breath of the Wild prequel—Champions vs the rising Calamity.

    Overview
    Musou set in BotW's world with Zelda, the four Champions, and time-travel twists.
    In-game setting
    Different ending from Breath of the Wild's backstory—treat as its own branch.
    Should you play it?
    Play after Breath of the Wild if you want context— not required for Tears of the Kingdom.
    Release date
    US Switch launch November 20, 2020.

FAQ

Musou vs main Zelda canon, Definitive Edition vs originals, Age of Calamity placement, and other spin-offs.

Play order

See the Zelda games timeline for release order and the three official story branches after Ocarina of Time—from Skyward Sword through Tears of the Kingdom. This page covers musou spin-offs only.

Canon & Zelda hub

No. Hyrule Warriors is a non-canon crossover that pulls heroes and villains from every Zelda era into one war—it does not fit the Child, Adult, or Fallen hero branches on the main Zelda page. Age of Calamity uses Breath of the Wild characters but tells an alternate Calamity story that contradicts BotW's established backstory. Play musou for action; use /zelda for lore.

Age of Calamity is a what-if musou prequel starring the Champions. Its ending does not match the flashbacks in Breath of the Wild—Nintendo treats it as a separate branch for gameplay, not a chapter on the main Zelda Story order. Watch it as fan-service after BotW, not as required lore before Tears of the Kingdom.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.