The 30 Best Secrets & Easter Eggs in the Legend of Zelda Series

The Legend of Zelda series is absolutely jam-packed with easter eggs. The illustrious fantasy realms Link explores in his many incarnations are rich with secret references and hidden discoveries. Ever since the very first game in 1986, fans have been scouring the titles, and in that time, they’ve discovered a lot of wild and fascinating things. Here are thirty of the coolest and strangest discoveries in the Zelda canon. This is just a small fraction of the secrets waiting to be found. If this list inspires you, get out there and hunt for secrets yourself.

Ocarina of Time: L is Real

Admittedly, this one probably isn’t an intentional easter egg. Its history is so significant, though, that it’s definitely worth exploring. 1996’s Super Mario 64 sparked a massive hunt when players thought a blurry sign texture read “L is real 2041.” They interpreted this as a teaser indicating that they could unlock Luigi as a playable character. This was not the case, of course, but the L is Real debacle is still one of the oldest major secret hunts in video gaming. The same sign texture can be found in Ocarina of Time, and while this is probably just a basic texture reuse, it’s also a fun, possibly unintentional nod to Nintendo’s rich history.

Link Between Worlds: Ravio’s Journal

2013’s Link Between Worlds introduces players to Ravio, a wacky masked merchant who sells Link the items he needs for his quest. Toward the end of the game, it’s revealed that Ravio is Link’s counterpart from the world of Lorule. He journeyed to Link’s world to enlist the hero’s aid in saving his realm. If you start a new game, you can find his journal during your travels in Lorule. The book sheds light on Ravio’s motivations and adds tragic depth to an otherwise quite comical figure.

Skyward Sword: LD-Link-16

A minor easter egg appears in Skyward Sword when Link meets the dragon Lanayru. This illustrious figure gives Link the name “LD-Link-16,” matching the designations used for the Ancient Robots populating the area. LD unsurprisingly stands for Lanayru Desert, but the 16 has surprising significance as well. Skyward Sword was the sixteenth main series game in the franchise.

Twilight Princess: Hero’s Shade

During your quest in Twilight Princess, you will regularly receive instruction in advanced swordplay. Your teacher is the enigmatic Hero’s Shade, a grim, skeletal figure and a powerful fighter. This mysterious specter was long theorized to be an undead version of the Link from Ocarina of Time since he matches that character’s left-handed stance. This was explicitly confirmed in the Hyrule Historia, a book of lore and history for the franchise. The history of the Hero’s Shade is a famous example of how deep the lore of this franchise runs.

Ocarina of Time: Mario and Luigi

Many of the best easter eggs in the Legend of Zelda franchise call back to other Nintendo games. One particularly strange example can be spotted in Ocarina of Time. Two major characters Link meets on his journey are Talon, owner of Lon Lon Ranch, and his scheming underling Ingo. With their large noses, prominent facial hair, and red and green color schemes, these two bear a striking resemblance to Mario and Luigi, from the beloved Super Mario Bros. franchise.

A Link to the Past: The Chris Houlihan Room

The Chris Houlihan Room has a very strange history behind it. This mysterious chamber is allegedly named for a fan who won a Nintendo Power magazine contest and earned the right to get his name in the game. The room itself, however, is nearly impossible to find. You have to essentially exploit the code to get there intentionally. It’s been theorized that the game is a sort of failsafe; if Link enters an area that’s broken by some sort of glitch, he’ll go to the Chris Houlihan room instead. Even today, though, there are more questions about the room than there are answers.

Skyward Sword: Titanic

One prominent part of Link’s journey in Skyward Sword is his voyage with Skipper, a seafaring ancient robot who trawls the seas in Lanayru Desert’s past. Your travels eventually take you to Skipper’s own home, where you can eventually find a surprising reference to James Cameron’s Titanic movie. One of the framed pictures on the wall depicts Skipper holding up another ancient robot in a pose that will be strikingly familiar to anyone who’s seen the iconic film.

Majora’s Mask: Star Fox

As the name suggests, masks play a large part in the gameplay of Majora’s Mask. Link will end up collecting many of them, and they’ll be neatly arranged and ordered in the game’s menu. When perusing your collection, you might notice five distinctly animal-themed masks all lined up next to each other. The Keaton Mask, Bremen Mask, Bunny Hood, Don Gero’s Mask, and Mask of Scents all bear a striking resemblance to characters from Star Fox 64. Fox McCloud, Falco Lombardi, Peppy Hare, Slippy Toad, and the treasonous Pigma Dengar are all represented.

Ocarina of Time: Arwing

The row of masks isn’t the only callback to Star Fox in the N64-era Zelda games. This secret requires a lot of digging and calls for a ROM hack of the game. If you delve into the files, you can find a functioning Arwing model that will fly around and shoot at you. The story goes that this little crossover was slipped into the game as a way to test the Z-targeting function. It might not officially be part of the game, but it’s still a worthy discovery for people who are willing to break the game to find it.

Twilight Princess: Distracting Ganondorf

The grim, moody tale of Twilight Princess culminates in a climactic showdown with the villainous Ganondorf. This evil wizard makes for a deeply menacing foe. But there’s a surprising and very strange tactic that will help you get an edge. By pulling out your fishing rod and casting a line near him, you can surprise and confuse Ganondorf for a few lengthy seconds, giving you time to quickly down a potion or rush in a few hits. It’s unclear exactly why this works, but he’s not the only final boss to react this way. In Skyward Sword, Ganondorf’s progenitor Demise is similarly flustered if you swing your bug net in his face.

Majora’s Mask 3D: R.O.B.

One particularly charming easter egg can be found in the remake of Majora’s Mask for the Nintendo 3DS. By peering through Kafei’s secret peephole into the Curiosity Shop, you can see R.O.B. This lovable robot was an ambitious video game peripheral released in 1985. The accessory didn’t do well, but it remains a classic piece of Nintendo’s character canon, and can even be used as a fighter in the Super Smash Bros. games.

Ocarina of Time: Stone of Agony

R.O.B. isn’t the only real-life video game accessory you can find in The Legend of Zelda. By aiding the cursed Skulltula family, you can acquire the frighteningly named Stone of Agony. Despite the dire title, this relic is visibly a stone version of the N64 Rumble Pak, which it’s required to function. The Stone of Agony used the Rumble Pak to vibrate whenever Link was near a secret hole, making treasure hunting in Ocarina of Time much easier.

Link Between Worlds: Majora’s Mask

The Legend of Zelda franchise is loaded with easter eggs that call back to previous entries in the series. One surprising reference can be found in Link Between Worlds. By merging into the wall of Link’s home, you can find Majora’s Mask itself. This dangerous, demonic relic, the source of endless woe and danger for the citizens of Termina, is casually hanging on Link’s wall. By positioning yourself just right while merged with the wall you can even look like you’re wearing it.

Breath of the Wild: Blood Moon Bonus

The Blood Moon in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom is a sinister, frightening time when all the monsters Link has slain return to life to menace Hyrule once again. Luckily, the hero is more than capable of making the best of a bad situation. It’s a little-known fact that the Blood Moon is a boon for cooking. Recipes made within half an hour of midnight during the night of a Blood Moon will have wildly increased stats, massively outperforming identical dishes cooked in the daylight.

Wind Waker: Ganondorf’s Swords

Ganondorf’s appearance in Wind Waker is one of his most frightening. The monstrous warlord looms large over Link and his allies. When his plans begin to fall apart, he snaps, viciously attacking Link and Zelda with his dangerous twin swords. These swords have been the subject of a unique, constantly changing easter egg. In the original Japanese version of the game, the twin swords had an inscription that read “Kotake Koume.” These are, of course, the names of Ganondorf’s adoptive mothers in Ocarina of Time. Oddly enough, the Super Smash Bros. Brawl statue for Ganondorf changes the inscription to Zubora Gabora, the name of the two swordsmiths from Majora’s Mask. This text is present in Wind Waker as well; it’s the inscription on Phantom Ganon’s swords. You can see the proof in this Zelda Universe forum post. The significance of this changing text is unclear.

Ocarina of Time: Mario Portraits

A particularly amusing reference can be spotted in Ocarina of Time, during the first fateful meeting between Link and Zelda. By peering through a nearby window, you can see portraits of major characters from the Mario franchise, like Mario himself and his faithful steed Yoshi. This easter egg became a pretty well-known piece of Zelda lore, to the point that it was updated in the 3DS release. In that version of the game, you can peer through the window to spot a chamber that’s been decorated to look like a Mario game, complete with a green pipe and a question mark block.

Twilight Princess: Fishing Lineage

Fishing has long been a part of the Legend of Zelda franchise. Twilight Princess is no exception. The game has a very cozy little lake where Link can get his fishing on. Spending time with Hena, the owner of the fishing hole, will reveal a fun easter egg. A photo of the fishing hole owner from Ocarina of Time can be spotted in her home. Hena will proudly remark that that NPC is her ancestor. Like the aforementioned Hero’s Shade, this is another in a long series of easter eggs that link different Zelda games together.

Breath of the Wild: Octorok Repair

Weapon durability is a controversial topic in Breath of the Wild. Some fans love it, some fans hate it. But if you want to get the most out of your rusty weapons, you should look for an Octorok. These diminutive creatures will suck up whatever you place in front of them, including rusty weapons. They will then spit out a clean, refurbished version, giving you a substantial boost for your underwhelming weapons.

Phantom Hourglass: Dee Ess Island

Like its predecessor Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass spends much of the action out at sea. You can find a wide variety of islands out there. One island also serves as a charming little easter egg. The elusive Dee Ess Island looks just like a massive Nintendo DS carved from stone. This island serves as a delightful reference to the console you’re playing on, but it’s also jam-packed with secrets and treasure.

Wind Waker: Pikmin Statues

Early on in Wind Waker, you’re tasked with retrieving three sacred Goddess Pearls. These pearls must be placed on special statues throughout the sea, whereupon they’ll summon the Tower of the Gods. The statues hold a secret of their own, though. Each of the three statues has a distinct facial feature that connects it to the similarly-colored Pikmin from Nintendo’s beloved strategy franchise. The statue holding Din’s red pearl has a large nose like the red Pikmin, while the statue holding Farore’s green pearl has large ears like the yellow Pikmin. Nayru’s statue, meanwhile, has a mouth just like the blue Pikmin.

Skyward Sword: The Moonlight Merchant

The Moonlight Merchant is a particularly elusive secret in Skyward Sword. The creature resembles a gossip stone and is a deeply useful purveyor of rare treasures and goods. Some of the hardest pieces to acquire can be found here. It takes some doing to find the merchant, though. You can only find the Moonlight Merchant after you’ve completed Skyloft’s silent realm. Once you’ve done that, you can track this elusive statue down in the Waterfall Cave at night.

Link’s Awakening: Thievery

One of the more amusing easter eggs in Link’s Awakening happens if Link tries to steal items from the shop in Mabe Village. As a mark of shame for his crime, his name is permanently changed to THIEF in the game’s save data. The true punishment comes if he returns to the scene of the crime, though. The shop owner, upon seeing Link return, immediately blasts the hero with an electric attack that instantly kills him.

Breath of the Wild: Botrick

The expansive map of Breath of the Wild possibly plays home to one of the series’ most sentimental easter eggs. Botrick, a wandering guard and watchman, bears a striking resemblance to Satoru Iwata, the fourth president of Nintendo. He tragically passed away in 2015, which would make this easter egg a touching tribute. Botrick can tell Link about the Lord of the Mountain, an elusive nature spirit nearby, and the fact that the creature’s name is Satori is a pretty strong argument in favor of this potential easter egg.

Wind Waker: Six Sages

Another easter egg calling back to Ocarina of Time can be found in Wind Waker. When Link ventures into the sunken Hyrule Castle to retrieve the Master Sword, he finds some striking stained glass windows. These windows depict the Sages from Ocarina of Time, enshrining their vital role in Hyrule’s past for an eternity. 

Link’s Awakening: Marin Plays The Crane Game

Stealing from the item store isn’t the only bit of mischief Link can get up to in Link’s Awakening. During the game, Link will have cause to bring Marin with him as a companion. If you visit the crane game during this time, Marin will ask if she can play. If Link acquiesces, Marin will immediately use the crane to pick up the proprietor of the game and drop him into the play area. This hilarious prank will get both youngsters immediately kicked out of the establishment. It’s a fun interaction that adds a charming bit of levity to Marin’s otherwise tragic tale.

Oracle of Ages: Vire Kong

The matched set of Oracle games contains one of the series’ more involved easter eggs. This secret gameplay segment only appears if you play Oracle of Seasons first and then link your data for Oracle of Ages. If you do, the miniboss Vire will eventually kidnap Zelda and attempt to flee with her. In giving chase, Link will find himself in a 2D platforming segment as he climbs after the demonic beast. This segment is uncannily similar to Donkey Kong, the classic arcade game that helped make Nintendo the video game powerhouse it is today.

Tears of the Kingdom: Ganondorf’s Show of Fealty

Throughout Tears of the Kingdom, you will get the chance to observe Zelda’s memories in the ancient past. Ganondorf’s rise to power and eventual defeat are cataloged extensively here. In one scene, he visits King Rauru and claims to swear loyalty to the kingdom of Hyrule. While the audience is all too aware that this is a complete lie, the more important part of this scene can be observed in two of the Gerudo guarding Ganondorf. These two distinctive soldiers have garb and weapons matching those of Koume and Kotake, the two witches who were, of course, integral to Ganondorf’s past in Ocarina of TIme.

Skyward Sword: Tingle Doll

The ever-divisive Tingle has a long and proud history in the Zelda franchise, to the chagrin of many. This bizarre, impish little man is obsessed with fairies, and despite his eccentricities rubbing some fans the wrong way, he’s constantly reappeared. He even received his own series of spinoff games. Tingle is not present in Skyward Sword, but his influence lingers. If you sneak into Zelda’s bedroom at the Knight’s Academy in Skyloft, you can find a little doll depicting Tingle on her dresser. While this has worrying implications for Zelda’s taste in accessories, it’s arguably preferable to the real thing.

Breath of the Wild: It’s Dangerous To Go Alone

Nintendo has hidden many secrets in the in-game Hylian text portrayed throughout the series. If you take the time to translate these messages, you can find a lot of secrets and easter eggs. One particularly charming example can be found in Breath of the Wild. Placing a pin on the world while looking through the Sheikah Slate results in a column of light and text that will guide you on your journey. This text translates into the now-iconic phrase “it’s dangerous to go alone.” This sentence, spoken by the old man in the original Legend of Zelda, is the first thing anyone ever says to Link, and its legacy has been passed down through the decades.

The Legend of Zelda: It’s A Secret To Everybody

On the topic of the original Legend of Zelda, it would be impossible to talk about easter eggs without bringing up the secret moblin. This monstrous creature hides in a secret cave and, rather than attacking Link like its fellows, it offers up a blue rupee to aid him on his journey. The creature does this with the enigmatic line “it’s a secret to everybody,” implying that its kindness to Link should be kept between them. Unfortunately for the moblin, “it’s a secret to everybody” is now one of the most iconic lines in the series. Multiple NPCs in other games say some variation on it as they share even more of the secret hidden discoveries that make these games so special.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Promotional image from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.