He wakes up in a dark room. No memories. Just a glowing slate and a pair of old trousers. This isn't the Link we grew up with, and honestly, that’s exactly why people are still arguing about him years after the game launched.
When Nintendo dropped Link in Breath of the Wild, they didn't just change the art style. They fundamentally rewired what it means to be the protagonist of a Zelda game. Gone was the green tunic as a starting requirement. Gone was the "chosen one" who immediately knows his destiny. Instead, we got a guy who spends his first twenty minutes picking mushrooms and nearly dying to a stray Blue Bokoblin because he forgot how to use a shield.
It's a weirdly humanizing take on a character that has historically been more of a "vessel" for the player than an actual person. But did it work?
The Amnesia Trope and the Weight of Failure
Let's be real: the "amnesia" plot device is usually lazy writing. In this case, though, it serves a mechanical purpose that changes how we view Link's personality. In Ocarina of Time, Link is a child thrust into adulthood. In Skyward Sword, he's a student in love. But Link in Breath of the Wild is a failure.
Think about that for a second.
Every other Link succeeds. They get the Triforce, they beat Ganon, they save the girl. This Link failed. He died—or came close enough—and spent a century in a liquid-filled bathtub while his friends were slaughtered and his kingdom turned into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. When you play as him, you aren't just adventuring; you’re performing a post-mortem on your own past.
Nintendo hid his character development in the "Captured Memories." If you don't go looking for them, he stays a blank slate. But if you find them, you see a Link who is suffocating under the pressure of his own silence. Zelda’s journals explicitly mention that Link stays quiet because he feels he needs to be the "strong, silent type" to carry the burden of the Master Sword. He’s literally suppressing his personality to fit a prophecy.
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That’s heavy. It’s also a clever meta-commentary on why Link has been a silent protagonist for thirty years.
How the Gameplay Redefines the Hero
In previous games, Link's progression was linear. You get the Hookshot; you are now the "Hookshot Guy." You get the Fire Arrows; you are now the "Fire Arrow Guy."
In the Wild era, Link is defined by his versatility. He is a chemist, a mountaineer, a scavenger, and occasionally, a guy who accidentally blows himself up with a remote bomb. This shift from "Hero with Specific Tools" to "Survivalist with a Chemistry Set" changed the power dynamic.
You feel his vulnerability.
Rain isn't just a weather effect; it’s a physical barrier that stops Link in his tracks. Cold isn't just a health drain; it’s a gear check. For the first time, the environment is a more dangerous antagonist than the actual monsters. This makes the version of Link in Breath of the Wild feel much more grounded in the world of Hyrule. He isn't walking on the map; he is surviving within it.
The Mystery of the Master Sword
One of the most jarring things for long-time fans was the Master Sword. It breaks. Well, it "loses its energy."
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Many players hated this. They felt it cheapened the most iconic weapon in gaming history. But from a narrative standpoint, it fits this specific Link perfectly. Everything in his world is fragile. His weapons, his memories, his relationships—it’s all temporary. Even the sword that defines his soul needs a nap every ten minutes.
Interestingly, the Master Sword is entirely optional. You can go straight to Calamity Ganon with a pot lid and a dream. This choice tells us something about this Link: he is defined by the player’s agency rather than a pre-ordained path. If you decide he’s the type of guy who ignores his destiny to go collect 900 Korok seeds, that is canonically who he is in your timeline.
Breaking the Gender Binary?
We have to talk about the Gerudo Voe outfit.
The developers, including Eiji Aonuma, have gone on record saying they wanted Link to be more "gender-neutral" in this game so that everyone could relate to him. They gave him a softer design, longer hair, and a lean build. When Link puts on the Gerudo clothes to sneak into the city, it’s played for laughs by some, but for a huge portion of the fanbase, it was a moment of genuine representation.
It reinforced the idea that Link in Breath of the Wild isn't a traditional masculine power fantasy. He’s a survivor. He does what he has to do, whether that’s parrying a Guardian laser or rocking a silk veil in the desert.
The Voice Acting Controversy
The introduction of full voice acting for the supporting cast made Link’s silence louder.
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When Zelda is screaming in frustration or Mipha is whispering her undying love, Link just... stands there. Some people find this incredibly awkward. Like, dude, say something! Anything! But if you look at his animations—the way he shivers, the way he hums while cooking, the way he looks at the Sheikah Slate—he’s actually the most expressive Link we’ve ever had.
He has a personality; he just doesn't have a voice box.
Technical Evolution: Why He Feels Different to Control
If you go back and play Twilight Princess or Skyward Sword, Link feels heavy. He’s locked into certain animations. In Breath of the Wild, he is fluid.
The physics engine is the real star here. Link’s weight affects how he slides down a hill. His stamina bar dictates his entire relationship with the verticality of the world. This Link is an athlete. The way he enters a "flurry rush" shows a level of martial prowess we usually only saw in cutscenes before. He feels like a master swordsman who is slowly remembering how to be a god of the battlefield.
What Most People Get Wrong About His History
There's a common misconception that this Link is the same one from a previous game. He’s not.
Well, technically, he’s a new incarnation, but the game is set so far at the end of every possible timeline that the previous games are basically just myths. This gives the character breathing room. He isn't bogged down by the specific lore of the Hero of Time or the Hero of Winds. He is a fresh start for a franchise that was starting to feel a bit stale and predictable.
Making Link Your Own: Actionable Insights for Players
If you're jumping back into the game or playing it for the first time, don't play it like a standard RPG. You’ll enjoy this version of the character much more if you embrace the "survivalist" mindset.
- Read the item descriptions: This is where Link’s "voice" actually lives. The flavor text for food and materials is written from his perspective, and it’s often surprisingly witty.
- Don't rush the Master Sword: The game is more rewarding when you’re struggling with breakable weapons. It forces you to be creative, which is the core of this Link’s identity.
- Find the diaries: Zelda’s diary in the castle and King Rhoam’s journal give context to Link that you won't get anywhere else. It changes how you view his silence from "blank slate" to "repressed trauma."
- Experiment with physics: This Link isn't just a fighter; he’s a scientist. Use Magnesis and Stasis in ways the developers didn't intend. That’s where the real "Hero of the Wild" experience is found.
The brilliance of Link in Breath of the Wild is that he reflects the player’s curiosity. He is as brave, as silly, as cautious, or as reckless as you are. By stripping away his memories and his signature green clothes, Nintendo allowed us to build a hero from the ground up, one shrine at a time. He isn't just a legend anymore; he's a guy who survived the end of the world and decided to keep going. That’s a far more compelling story than just "saving the princess."