Summary
If there’s something that setsThe Legend of Zeldaapart from other fantasy franchises, it’s itshuge cast of characters. They can come in many shapes and sizes, originating from different races and wielding mysterious powers. Some of the most iconic video game characters ever were born thanks to this franchise.
But it’s inevitable for a long-running series likeThe Legend of Zeldato just forget about certain characters that haven’t appeared in a long time. Even if most installments feature brand-new storylines that are disconnected from each other, there are cases in whichsomeLegend of Zeldacharacters have disappearedeven when they’re from games that are direct sequels of another one. Here are some of the weirdest cases.
Updated on June 27, 2025, by Julián Fernández Loyarte: The Legend of Zelda series is home to a huge array of interesting fan-favorite characters who haven’t been seen for many years, and many gamers are still begging for their return. As a result, this list has received an update in order to expand on this controversial subject. Two new entries have been added: one on Vaati, the ruthless main antagonist ofFour Swords,Four Swords Adventures, andThe Minish Cap, and another one on Linkle, Link’s female doppelganger fromHyrule Warriors Legends.
Naviis Link’s loyal (albeit a bit annoying) fairy companion fromThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Since she’s featured in what is arguably the most popularZeldagame, she’s obviously a very well-known character who has had a big impact on the rest of the franchise. And that’s exactly why her departure at the end of the adventure is so emotional.
This is one of the most infamous cases of aZeldacharacter that has disappeared because the audience is never told where Navi went, and there are even somefans who theorize she passed away. The entire plot of the next game,Majora’s Mask, is centered on Link looking for Navi in other regions.
9Sheik
First Appearance: Ocarina Of Time
Since mostLegend of Zeldagames are disconnected from each other, it’s not always expected for every character to return. And sinceSheikis actually the alter ego of Princess Zelda’s incarnation fromOcarina of Time, the fact that they never came back may be understandable at first.
Regardless of their one-time appearance, Sheik became one of the most popular characters in the franchise, andthey constantly appeared in spin-offslikeHyrule WarriorsandSuper Smash Bros.CertainZeldacharacters, like Link, Zelda, Ganon, and Impa, are always reincarnated in new storylines, so it’s surprising that Sheik never came back in any way.
8Happy Mask Salesman
Even if theHappy Mask Salesmantried to help or guide Link at many different moments through the plot ofMajora’s Mask, most players couldn’t help but feel a tad uneasy at his eerie appearance and demeanor. He is one ofthe creepiestZeldacharacters, and some fans may even remember his brief role in the previous game,Ocarina of Time.
The Happy Mask Salesman’s most disconcerting action occurs at the very end of the game. After he retrieves the titular Majora’s Mask, he walks away and literally disappears in front of the player’s eyes. Who was this mysterious man really? What was his relation to the evil mask?
7The Deku Tribe
Hyrule is made up of several different tribes, like the Gerudo, the Goron, and the Zora. While most of them can still be found inZeldagames even to this day, there’s one that has completely disappeared from the franchise: TheDeku.
Back in the day, this tribe of forest-dwelling entities could be found everywhere, either playingthe role of enemies or allies. But no Deku characters were ever seen again, and they were omitted from important titles likeBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom. Most fans theorize they were replaced by the Koroks, as they share a lot of similarities with the Deku.
While it may sound strange nowadays, there was a time in whichTinglewas one of themost recognizableZeldacharacters, to the disdain of most Western fans. This bizarre middle-aged man dressed in fairy attire not only appeared in two mainline games, but he even starred in his own spin-off titles that were never released outside of Japan.
It’s quite clear that Nintendo had a soft spot for Tingle because it seemed that he resonated with the sense of humor of their Japanese audience. But he hasn’t been seen again in a very long time. However, his iconic costume did appear as an outfit for Link in bothBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom.
Vaatihas been very popular ever since his initial appearance inFour Swordsand its sequel,Four Swords Adventures. But there’s no denying that he truly became a fan-favorite after he shined in his role as the main antagonist ofThe Minish Cap, due to his slick design, ruthless personality, andepic boss battle.
The fact that Vaati never returned is quite odd, especially for a character that was already featured in three different games, something that is not common for a villain in this franchise. He even missed out onHyrule Warriors, a spin-off in which almost every bigLegend of Zeldaantagonist appeared as a playable character. On top of that, his involvement in theSuper Smash Bros.series was relegated to a forgettable spirit inUltimate, despite the fact that fans have been asking for him to become an actual fighter for years.
Because of the structure of theLegend of Zeldafranchise, it is not usually expected for every single character to come back in subsequent games. But sinceSkyward Swordis the very first game of the entire timeline, there are some really important characters in this game. Like Fi, the spirit who resides within the Master Sword who has been referenced many times since.
On the other hand, however, there’sthe main antagonist,Demise. This Demon King is a crucial figure who essentially triggered the events of the entire series. Even though the game itself implies that Ganondorf is the reincarnation of his hatred towards Link and Zelda, it’s quite odd that neither he nor his sword spirit, Ghirahim, were ever seen or referenced again.
The reveal trailer forBreath of the Wildgot fans speculating that they were going to play as a female version of Link due to the protagonist’s new design. While this didn’t end up happening, the idea ofa female Linkremained quite popular among fans. Because of this, the reveal ofLinklein the 3DS version ofHyrule Warriorswas quite a special occasion because it seemed like Nintendo was listening to the fanbase.
With her adorable design, quirky personality, and unique fighting style, Linkle did not disappoint and became very popular almost immediately. However, a lot of fans began speculating that Linkle’s inclusion inHyrule Warriors Legendsmeant that she – or another female incarnation of Link – was going to be the protagonist of a futureLegend of Zeldagame. But sadly, not only did this never happen, but Linkle is still stuck inHyrule Warriorsand hasn’t reappeared ever since.
Revali, Daruk, Mipha, and Urbosa were known asthe Four Champions, four characters from many different tribes who played a pivotal role during the events ofBreath of the Wild.Even though they died many years ago, their spirits lived on and managed to help Link defeat Calamity Ganon by letting him borrow their powerful abilities.
Even thoughTears of the Kingdomis a direct sequel toBOTW, the spirits of the Four Champions were not seen or mentioned anywhere. While it is most likely that their souls were finally laid to rest, their complete omission from this enormous world is odd, to say the least, and their powers would have been helpful in this new adventure.
1Kass
First Appearance: Breath Of The Wild
Kassis one of the most memorable and beloved characters inThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.This charismatic musician from the Rito tribe would appear from time to time and give Link important hints via his melodic songs. He even played an important role inThe Champions’ BalladDLC pack.
WhenTears of the Kingdomwas finally released, fans were eagerly waiting to encounter Kass once again, but sadly, he was nowhere to be seen in the entire game. MostZeldafans arestill wondering where he wentsince he’s not even mentioned by other characters. Omissions like this made people think that the plot ofTears of the Kingdomwas way too disconnected from its predecessor.
