Summary

• Time travel in TOTK creates paradoxes with multiple Zeldas and Master Swords existing simultaneously in Hyrule's history.
• Future Zelda games could use time travel for co-op gameplay with multiple Links, similar to Four Swords.
• Transition to a Soulslike experience for Zelda franchise could be a new direction with added difficulty and limited co-op features.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom takes place across thousands of years due to a bit of unintentional time travel. But because time travel easily causes strange events to happen later, TOTK poses more questions than it answers. However, the implications of Zelda's adventure through time open up new possibilities for interesting plots that could appear in future games set between the first king of Hyrule's reign and when Link faces Calamity Ganon. If this timeline is going to be the primary one used in future games, then there's the opportunity to use paradoxes in new plots.

[Warning: Spoilers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.]

Time travel is a tricky and convoluted feature to include in games, or any type of medium, because it almost always leads to the creation of paradoxes. In the case of TOTK, Zelda going back in time would result in two Zeldas technically existing at the same time at multiple points in history. Additionally, the ability to travel through time being canon opens up the chance to include more time-travel shenanigans in the future, and that could even lead to another co-op game like Four Swords. It could even open up the chance to use a Dark Souls style of co-op, summoning Links from parallel timelines for help.

The Existence Of Multiple Master Swords In Zelda's Timeline

A Co-op Opportunity

Although Zelda travels back in time by herself first, Link sends the broken Master Sword back in time to Zelda when he arrives at a certain point and finds what seems to be some sort of time rift. This means that there would be the broken Master Sword being kept by Zelda as the Light Dragon and the whole Master Sword – presumably in Korok Forest – existing at the same time for most of Hyrule's history. Considering that the developers have confirmed that there won't be a third game following TOTK to make a trilogy, it's possible that the next game may be placed somewhere else in this new timeline.

Between the time travel paradox of two Zeldas and two Master Swords and time travel being a real possibility that has been seen in the Zelda universe, the next game could use these paradoxes to create fun plots that could include multiples of the same characters. A new game could use these paradoxes as a foundation for a co-op experience using multiple versions of Link, like Four Swords, or having Link and Zelda work together. The potential is truly endless, and there's already a precedent in the Zelda universe for new timelines branching off from the existing main timeline.

Zelda Is In The Perfect Position To Become A Soulslike Title

A New Level Of Difficulty

BOTW and TOTK have already taken a different direction compared to past games, featuring an open-world map, crafting systems, and a new style that uses shrines instead of classic dungeons. If Nintendo wanted to capitalize on the use of time travel paradoxes, the possibility of limited co-op features, and the popularity of Soulslike games, then it would use the next Zelda game to commit to that transition. The timing is perfect, since the next game won't be tied to BOTW or TOTK directly, and the franchise is a perfect fit for the extra difficulty that comes with Soulslike titles.

Many games in the franchise already have tones that are reminiscent of Dark Souls games. Link is almost always the sole protagonist, filling the role of the chosen one who's the only hope for the land's problems to be solved, and facing the villain and winning. However, the core story formula of Zelda doesn't need to change for it to be considered Soulslike. The games already have, and have had for a while now, a lot of the main elements that make games Soulslike. Now, there's an opportunity to take it further and include the ability to summon other Links for co-op, using the idea of paradoxes or parallel timelines as an excuse.

As a franchise, Zelda has never been afraid of using time travel and other story elements that create paradoxes. While it might be sad that the next game won't continue the story that's been built in BOTW and TOTK, starting a fresh story that isn't tied to other titles is the best decision in this situation, and it brings more opportunities for the developers to be creative without restraints. This lack of constraints combined with time travel paradoxes leaves open a lot of potential for the game that will eventually follow up The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.