Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom: Is Zelda Bad in TotK? Answered

If you’ve read the reviews, seen YouTube videos, or heard conversations about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom you may be wondering if Zelda is bad in TotK. Indeed, there are some things that could hint at her deeper, more nefarious storyline for the iconic princess. Although we don’t see a lot of her during the game, we can conclusively answer this question. Be warned: some spoilers follow.

Is Zelda Evil in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

The definitive answer, I can assure you, is that no: Princess Zelda is not bad in Tears of the Kingdom. While some of info might make it seem she’s gone full dark side, she’s very much still good.

Much like it was in Breath of the Wild, most of Zelda’s story is hidden in memories that you uncover while playing. Still, there are others you might not find! As a result, it’s easy to miss plot points and threads that tie Zelda’s story together. You may see or hear about what Zelda has been doing since the seal on Ganondorf was broken, but that doesn’t mean “Zelda evil.”

As interesting as a villainous Zelda could have been, I (along with many other fans, I’m sure) feel keeping her good was the right move. The developers did an excellent job with her role in Tears of the Kingdom — and being bad didn’t need to play a role in how they told the story.

Though it may seem like it, Zelda isn’t simply spending her time appearing at random, turning into a ball of light, then floating away. Her journey is full of her classic, noble intent to do everything within her power to help Hyrule, her friends, and Link.

It’s unlikely we’ll see a bad Zelda in the near future. Well, short of her being used as a puppet again like in Twilight Princess’ Ganondorf battle. Instead, I’d prefer a playable Princess Zelda over a villainous one if there’s a big change coming. Seeing her take on more important roles to help Link is an acceptable consolation for the time being.

But that’s the answer to whether or not Zelda is bad in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. For more questions and answers, tips, and walkthroughs, we have a list of the best side quests in TotK and the strongest Fuse combinations, as well as many others at our TotK guides hub.