If you’ve found yourself wondering how Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment connects to the massive world of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you’re not alone. This question has echoed across gaming forums since the game’s announcement, with players trying to unravel the chronological puzzle.
The relationship between these two games represents one of Nintendo’s most ambitious narrative undertakings — a canonical prequel that expands on the foundational story only glimpsed in Tears of the Kingdom’s flashbacks.
For the first time in the Hyrule Warriors series, we have a game that’s not an alternate timeline or “what if” scenario but an official part of the Zelda canon. This guide breaks down how the two games connect, the best order to play them, and the burning questions the community keeps debating.
🕰️ The Story Connection: Prequel Meets Sequel
Age of Imprisonment: The Untold Chapter
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment tells the complete story of what happened to Princess Zelda after she was transported back in time during the opening events of Tears of the Kingdom.
The story begins with Zelda awakening in ancient Hyrule, meeting the kingdom’s first rulers, Rauru and Sonia. Unlike their fleeting flashbacks in Tears of the Kingdom, here they get full character arcs and playable moments.
The narrative builds to the epic battle against Ganondorf, showing exactly how Rauru sacrificed himself to imprison the Demon King — the very event that sets up Tears of the Kingdom’s opening act.
Direct Narrative Bridges Between the Games
The link between these two games is more than thematic — it’s direct and consequential.
Here’s what Age of Imprisonment explains that Tears of the Kingdom only hints at:
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🧿 Rauru’s sacrifice and the origin of his mysterious glowing arm that aids Link.
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🐉 Zelda’s transformation into the Light Dragon, filling in her missing journey.
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👑 The foundation of Hyrule and the creation of the sage traditions.
As one fan analysis puts it:
“This isn’t a parallel universe or dream — it’s actually happening in the Tears of the Kingdom storyline.”
For lore enthusiasts, Age of Imprisonment is the missing puzzle piece that turns myth into history.
⚔️ Gameplay Comparison: Two Sides of the Same Hyrule
While both games share the same universe and cast, they offer totally different gameplay flavors.
| Feature | Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment | Tears of the Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Hack-and-slash Musou-style | Open-world action-adventure |
| Structure | Linear mission-based levels | Expansive, free exploration |
| Combat Focus | 1-vs-100 crowd combat | Tactical 1-on-1 and small group fights |
| Key Mechanics | Sync strikes, special attacks, character swapping | Ultrahand, Fuse, Recall, Ascend |
| Playable Characters | Multiple (Zelda, Rauru, Mineru, Sages, etc.) | Primarily Link |
| Exploration Scope | Battlefields & camps | Sky, surface, and Depths |
Age of Imprisonment borrows heavily from Tears of the Kingdom’s sandbox innovations — including Zonai device combat gadgets and multi-layered battle arenas spanning sky, surface, and Depths.
But the biggest difference? You can finally play as Princess Zelda. Her moveset blends light-based magic and sealing techniques, delivering the kind of gameplay moment many fans wished for in Tears of the Kingdom.
🧭 The Best Playing Order: Which Game First?
Scenario 1: Play Tears of the Kingdom First (Release Order)
Recommended for: Players who love mystery, discovery, and dramatic reveals.
This is how Nintendo intended players to experience the saga. Tears of the Kingdom introduces the ancient Imprisoning War as a mystery you slowly uncover through Link’s memories. When you later play Age of Imprisonment, you’ll feel the satisfaction of connecting all the narrative dots.
As one review puts it: “Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment finishes what Tears of the Kingdom started.”
This order preserves the emotional impact and gradual discovery that make Tears so powerful.
Scenario 2: Play Age of Imprisonment First (Chronological Order)
Recommended for: Story purists who prefer linear, historical narratives.
Chronological playthroughs give you a crystal-clear view of Hyrule’s origins — the rise of the sages, Rauru’s heroism, and Zelda’s divine transformation — before seeing their consequences in Tears of the Kingdom.
The only trade-off? You’ll lose a bit of mystery since you’ll already know the backstory Tears intends you to discover slowly.
Special Consideration: The Breath of the Wild Factor
If you’re new to this era of Zelda games, you may want to start with Breath of the Wild first — since Tears of the Kingdom is its direct sequel.
That said, some players suggest skipping straight to Tears after a quick recap video:
“Watch a YouTube BoTW story recap and jump straight into ToTK — you won’t be disappointed.”
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to play previous Hyrule Warriors games?
No. Age of Imprisonment is a standalone story. It shares gameplay DNA with Age of Calamity, but narratively, it’s the first Hyrule Warriors game that’s fully canonical to the Zelda timeline.
Is Age of Imprisonment required to understand Tears of the Kingdom?
Not at all. Tears is self-contained. Age of Imprisonment simply enhances your understanding with historical depth and emotional payoff.
Will I enjoy Age of Imprisonment if I don’t like Warriors-style games?
Possibly. While it follows the Musou format, its Zelda-specific systems, cinematic story, and Zonai-inspired mechanics make it accessible even for non-Warriors fans.
How significant is Zelda’s role in Age of Imprisonment?
Extremely. This is the first game where Zelda takes full control of her destiny, mastering light powers and time magic.
“We get to see her fight, fail, and grow — the journey many hoped to see in ToTK.”
🏰 Conclusion: Your Journey Through Hyrule’s History
The connection between Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment and Tears of the Kingdom marks one of Nintendo’s boldest experiments in storytelling — a canonical prequel that deepens the mainline narrative.
Whether you play by release order or chronology comes down to your playstyle:
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🎭 Release Order (Tears → Imprisonment): for mystery and emotional payoff.
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📜 Chronological Order (Imprisonment → Tears): for lore clarity and context.
Neither path is wrong. Together, they form the most complete vision of Hyrule’s mythic history — the rise of evil, the courage that opposes it, and the divine light that endures.
Which playing order will you choose? Share your take in the comments — the Zelda community is eager to compare notes on how you experienced Hyrule’s timeline.
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