You wake up in a dark cave with no pants and a voice in your head. That’s how The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild starts, and honestly, it’s how most of us felt for the first ten hours. You’re lost. Link has amnesia. The world is a beautiful, ruined mess. Then you meet Impa in Kakariko Village, and she hands you a heavy burden: a Sheikah Slate filled with old photos. These are the Breath of the Wild captured memories, and they are the only way you’re going to figure out who Zelda actually was before everything went to hell.
Most games force-feed you a plot. Not this one.
In Breath of the Wild, the narrative is a scavenger hunt. You have twelve photos—thirteen if you count the final one—and a massive map of Hyrule. No waypoints. No hand-holding. Just a faint visual clue and your own willingness to climb every mountain in sight. It’s a risky way to tell a story because a player might find Memory #15 before they find Memory #1, but that’s exactly why it works so well. It mimics the way real memory works—fragmented, hazy, and triggered by a specific smell or a certain view of a lake.
The Brutal Reality of Zelda’s Failure
When people talk about Breath of the Wild captured memories, they usually focus on the "where" of it all. But the "what" is much more interesting. These memories don't show a heroic journey. They show a disaster in slow motion. We see Zelda, a teenager with the weight of a dying kingdom on her shoulders, failing repeatedly. She can't unlock her sealing power. She’s frustrated. She’s actually kind of mean to Link at first because he represents everything she hasn't achieved yet.
It’s raw.
If you go to the Submerged Gateway (Memory #15), you see the exact moment the world ends. The Calamity returns, the Divine Beasts are hijacked, and the Champions are essentially murdered in their cockpits. Seeing this after spending forty hours wandering a peaceful, quiet Hyrule is a gut punch. It recontextualizes the ruins you’ve been looting for arrows. Those aren't just obstacles; they're gravestones.
How the Paintings Change Everything
You aren't totally alone in this hunt. There’s a guy named Pikango. He’s a traveling artist you’ll find at various stables, and he’s the secret weapon for finding Breath of the Wild captured memories without looking up a map online. If you show him a picture, he’ll give you a hint based on the landscape.
"Oh, I know those twin peaks," he might say. He's a local. He knows the geography. Following his advice feels like actual detective work. It’s a lot more rewarding than just following a golden line on a mini-map.
Take Memory #9, located at Spring of Power. Pikango tells you it’s in the Akkala region. When you get there, the memory shows Zelda’s despair as she prays in the water, begging for a sign from the Goddess that never comes. It’s one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the series. It makes the final fight with Ganon personal. You aren't just saving the world; you're finishing the job Zelda started a century ago.
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Every Memory Location and Why They Matter
If you’re trying to track these down, don’t do them in order. It’s better to find them as you explore. However, some are notoriously tricky to pin down.
The Sacred Ground Ruins (Memory #1)
This is right in front of Hyrule Castle. It’s dangerous. Guardians are everywhere. This memory shows the "Ceremony" where Link is knighted. It’s stiff and awkward. You can tell the other Champions—Daruk, Revali, Mipha, and Urbosa—are skeptical or worried. It sets the tone for the entire back-story.
Lake Kolomo (Memory #3)
Just north of the Great Plateau. This is a quiet moment. Zelda is talking about the ancient technology, trying to find a scientific solution to a magical problem. It’s the first time we see her passion for research, which the King eventually tries to crush.
Ancient Columns (Memory #5)
Located in the Tabantha Frontier, near the Tena Ko'sah Shrine. This one is vital. Zelda is trying to convince herself that she’s doing enough. The view from these columns is incredible, looking out over the lands you've likely already traversed.
Kara Kara Bazaar (Memory #7)
In the Gerudo Desert. This is where Link saves Zelda from the Yiga Clan. It’s the turning point in their relationship. She stops seeing him as a reminder of her failure and starts seeing him as a person.
Spring of Power (Memory #9)
As mentioned, this is in Akkala. It’s a deep pit of water surrounded by fall-colored trees. The emotional weight here is heavy. Zelda’s scream of frustration is one of the few times the game breaks its quiet, stoic atmosphere.
Sanidin Park Ruins (Memory #10)
On Safula Hill. There’s a giant horse statue here. The memory shows Zelda and Link riding together. She talks about Mount Lanayru, the "Mountain of Wisdom," where only those seventeen and older can go. It’s a ticking clock. Her birthday is coming, and if she doesn't have her powers by then, Hyrule is doomed.
Hyrule Castle (Memory #12)
This one is a nightmare to get. It’s in Zelda’s Study, a detached tower on the west side of the castle. You have to sneak past flying Guardians and potentially a Lynel depending on your path. It shows a rare moment of tension between Zelda and her father, King Rhoam. He’s a jerk, honestly. He tells her to stop playing scholar and start praying. It’s the ultimate "you had one job" lecture, and it’s devastating.
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Blatchery Plain (The Final Memory)
You only get this after finding the first twelve. Impa reveals one last painting in her house. It points to a battlefield covered in rusted Guardians. This is where Link "died." This is where Zelda finally found her power. It ties the whole game together.
The "Silent" Storytelling of the Landscape
The Breath of the Wild captured memories are only half the story. The other half is what the world looks like now.
Go to the ruins of the Lon Lon Ranch from Ocarina of Time (now called the Ranch Ruins). It’s not a memory point, but the layout is identical. Seeing it burnt and overgrown does more for the narrative than a ten-minute cutscene ever could. The game trusts you to be observant. It treats you like an adult.
There’s a common complaint that Breath of the Wild has "no story." That’s just wrong. It has a massive story; it’s just buried under a hundred years of dirt. If you skip the memories, you’re playing a physics simulator. If you find them, you’re playing a tragedy.
Why the Order Doesn't Actually Matter
Some players get stressed out trying to find Memory #1 first. Don't.
Finding them out of order creates a "Pulp Fiction" effect. You see the aftermath of an argument before you see the argument itself. You see Zelda’s resolve before you see her doubt. This non-linear approach makes you think about the characters more deeply. You start asking why they are acting this way, rather than just waiting for the next plot point to happen.
By the time you reach the Master Sword in the Korok Forest, you’ve likely seen enough fragments to understand what that blade represents. It’s not just a powerful weapon. It’s the literal anchor of Link’s identity.
Finding the Final Memory Without Spoilers
Once you talk to Impa after getting the first twelve, look at the painting on her wall. Don't look at a map. Just look at the painting.
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It shows a field of dead Guardians with two distinct peaks in the background (the Dueling Peaks). It’s near Ash Swamp. When you stand in that spot, the world feels heavy. This is the place where the "Link" you are playing now was born, and the "Link" from the memories died.
It’s a perfect loop.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
- Talk to Pikango at every stable. He is the most reliable way to find these without a guide. He usually stands near a cooking pot or under the stable's awning.
- Use the "Sheikah Sensor +" to find nearby landmarks if you're struggling, but honestly, the visual cues in the photos (like the shape of a mountain or a specific tree) are usually enough.
- Check Zelda’s Diary. While not a "captured memory" in the cutscene sense, her diary in Hyrule Castle provides massive context for what you see in the photos. It’s located in her room, across from the study.
- Watch the memories in order once you have them all. Go into the game menu, and you can replay them in chronological order. It hits differently when you see the progression of Zelda’s despair and eventual growth in one sitting.
- Don't rush to the castle. The more memories you have, the more impactful the final boss fight becomes. The game is designed to be beaten at any time, but it’s meant to be beaten once you remember why you're fighting.
The beauty of the Breath of the Wild captured memories lies in the effort. You have to earn the story. You have to climb, fight, and explore to earn every bit of character development. It makes the ending—where Zelda asks if you truly remember her—one of the most earned moments in gaming history.
Expert Insight: The "Memory" mechanic was so successful that Nintendo evolved it for Tears of the Kingdom using the Geoglyphs. However, many fans argue the original BotW version is superior because it focuses more on internal character struggle than grand, external lore events. It’s a more intimate look at a failing hero.
The next time you're wandering through the Lanayru Wetlands, look for the trees that match the photo. It’s worth the detour.
Key Landmarks to Watch For:
- Mount Lanayru: Always look for the snow-capped peak to orient yourself.
- The Dueling Peaks: The most recognizable landmark in the game; use it to find the final memory.
- Hyrule Castle: Use the spires to judge your distance for the memories located in the Central Plains.
Getting all the memories isn't just about completionism. It's about giving Link his soul back before he faces Ganon for the last time. Without those memories, you're just a guy with a sword. With them, you're the hero Zelda waited a century for.
Next Steps for Players: Head to Kakariko Village and speak with Impa to trigger the "Captured Memories" quest if you haven't already. From there, prioritize finding the memory at the Sanidin Park Ruins (Memory #10) and Spring of Power (Memory #9), as these provide the most significant emotional context for Zelda’s character arc. If you find yourself stuck, look for Pikango at the Wetland Stable—he provides the crucial hint for the memory located in the Lanayru Wetlands.
Once all thirteen memories are recovered, return to Impa for the final reveal. This unlocks the true ending of the game, which includes an additional scene after the credits that concludes Zelda and Link's 100-year journey. Without all memories, you will only see the standard ending, missing the closure for the narrative arc established in the ruins of Hyrule.