Skip to main content

Doc Brown explains The Legend of Zelda timeline in this epic fan film

legend-of-zelda-time-travel-as-explained-by-doc-brown-of-back-to-the-future
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Legend of Zelda has become one of the most beloved and revered franchises in the history of video games both for its gameplay innovations and stories. However, 25 years of sequels does come at a cost. While its chief architects at Nintendo, Eiji Aunoma and Shigeru Miyamoto, maintain that all of its Zelda games somehow fit together in the Zelda chronology, no official timeline has ever been released. And due to the vague nature of the games (they are ‘legends,’ after all), even most studious fans of the series bicker about the order of the games. While many theories have been developed (some very good), there is no official consensus among the community. With new games coming out every year, the timeline has become as legendary as Link’s adventures.

If only we had Doc Brown to explain it all. This fan created video recreates the end of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, but what happens after that (about a minute in) is far more interesting. Using a chalkboard, Doc Brown from Back to the Future maps out a good portion of the Zelda series. We haven’t done due diligence on the timeline, but it is at least broadly accurate (according to some fan theories). Ever wonder just how many times Link has fought the malevolent Ganon? Count up the pigs above.

(Side note: If this is how annoying Link sounds, we are glad that he never talks in the games.)

Editors' Recommendations

Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
PlayStation Plus’ most notable free April offerings come from Microsoft
Four players stand together in the 4v4 PvP mode of Minecraft Legends.

Sony outlined all the new offerings PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers can expect in April; surprisingly, Microsoft is the company behind two of this month's four offerings, Minecraft Legends, and the Overwatch 2 Mega Bundle.

On April 2, PS Plus can get those two things free of charge in addition to Immortals of Aveum and Skul: The Hero Slayer. Immortals of Aveum is a single-player shooter where players use magic instead of weapons. Although the thing it's most notable for is flopping upon its release, Immortals of Aveum is still a solid shooter that you might have missed out on, and you should give it a shot now that you can get it through PS Plus. Meanwhile, Skul: The Hero Slayer is a tough 2D platformer roguelike that should entertain fans of that genre for quite some time.

Read more
These are the 10 best gaming PCs I’d recommend to anyone
Graphics card in the CLX Hathor PC.

We review dozens of gaming PCs each year. In 2024, there are a ton of great options, but we've narrowed down a list of the 10 best gaming desktops that deserve your hard-earned money.

In 2024, we still recommend the Alienware Aurora R16 due to its fantastic design, solid performance, and decent value. However, there are several other options depending on your needs and budget. If you want a deeper look into how we evaluate gaming PCs, make sure to read our post on how we review desktops.

Read more
Mecha Break’s robot customization shakes up the battle royale formula
Mecha Break robot head with glowing blue eyes

Mecha Break isn't the kind of multiplayer game you can master right away.

You might equip a lance that you barely know how to use because it seemed like a good idea, and spend the rest of a round attempting to bash yourself into enemies to help your teammates. It incorporates action that's more similar to that of Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon than it is to the shooter-focused gameplay in Gundam Evolution, Bandai Namco's multiplayer mecha shooter that shut down last year. Overwatch does come to mind, but in a way where mechs are still the focus rather than the pilots within them.

Read more