If Nintendo intended forThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2to be a huge mystery, then it certainly succeeded. For years, fans have been speculating about all kinds of details about the game, but on the whole, Nintendo has managed to keep fans guessing. Not even the real title ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2is public knowledge; it’s often simply referred to as theBreath of the Wildsequel by official materials from Nintendo. Without the power to even call the game by its real name, fans are left to theorize based on what little information Nintendo has shared so far.
Even thoughBreath of the Wild 2’s true titleis a mystery, one can guess at what it might be like. As a general rule,Zeldagame titles fall into one of two categories. Some of them reference important objects or mechanics at the center of the game’s story, likeOcarina of Timeand its extended use of time travel. Others emphasize a new character at the heart of the game whose story becomes intertwined with Link’s, such asTwilight Princess,where Midna and Link work together for almost the entire game.Breath of the Wild 2’s official title will probably refer to either a plot-relevant mechanic or to a major figure in the narrative, meaning the name itself will tell fans a lot about the game’s direction.
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Potential Star Mechanics in Breath of the Wild 2
The various incarnations of Link have come up against a lot of unique mechanics over the course ofThe Legend of Zelda,fromThe Wind Waker’s titular baton toA Link Between Worlds' passageways between realities.Breath of the Wild 2could still have some innovations up its sleeve, though.Link’s seemingly magical arminBreath of the Wild 2seems like the perfect gateway for new mechanics, for instance. It’s possible that the force that enchanted Link’s arm will become such a central element in the plot that it inspires the game’s title. Alternatively, the game’s name could refer to whatever new abilities Link gains through the magic in his arm.
Breath of the Wild 2’s title could also refer a more simple but no less important mechanic, such as the introduction of new areas in Hyrule.Breath of the Wild 2’s E3 2021 trailer showed how Hyrule now featuresfloating islands for Link to investigate, emphasizing that theBreath of the Wildsequel uses the old map of Hyrule, but intends to modify it to keep things fresh. The ways Hyrule changes because of the dark forces lying beneath Hyrule Castle could be the title’s focus. Much like howBreath of the Wild’sname emphasizes open-world exploration and Link’s reliance on the wilderness,Breath of the Wild 2’s title could hint at how exploration and resource gathering are changing.
Alternatively, Nintendo might be hidingBreath of the Wild 2’s name because it refers to a demanded mechanic that it intends to save as a surprise. For a long time, fans have hoped to play as Zelda inBreath of the Wild 2,now that she’sfree from Calamity Ganon’s grasp. While she may be in new danger in the sequel, which would probably make Link the sole playable character, there’s still some hope that Zelda could be playable, too.Breath of the Wild 2could be named after a new ability to switch between Link and Zelda, somehow noting the two protagonists' differing skills and the importance of teamwork.
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Breath of the Wild 2’s Central Characters
There’s lots of mechanics that the game could name itself after, but the narrative could still take priority in naming the game. Fans have spent years speculating about what characters might make unexpected returns inBreath of the Wild 2,and if any of those theories are right, then Nintendo has good cause to hide the title as a means of building suspense. The return of Ganondorf would definitely warrant a reference in the title, for example, especiallyif Ganondorf gets a redemption arcas fan hypotheses state. The corpse under Hyrule Castle certainly looks like Ganondorf, but his true role in the game remains to be seen.
If Ganondorf turns his back on his selfish past inBreath of the Wild 2,then one wonders if his demonic ancestor Demise will star in the game as well, returning to power and punishing his traitorous heir. Demise returning to life at the start ofBreath of the Wild 2and serving as the game’s main antagonist throughout the game would certainly warrant some reference to Demise inBreath of the Wild 2’s real title. As the force responsible for so many of Hyrule’s woes over millennia,Demise could steal the showby getting a greater presence in the nextZeldagame.
Demise isn’t the onlySkyward Swordcharacter who could impactBreath of the Wild 2’s title. Ifthe Master Sword spirit Ficomes back, then the game’s title might refer to her, too. Lots of questions aboutBreath of the Wild 2have been directed at the significance of the Master Sword, which played a pretty small part inBreath of the Wild.Nevertheless, Zelda mentioning a voice inside the sword and a reference to Fi’s iconic sound effects at the Trial of the Sword’s conclusion suggest Fi is more active than she has been in many generations. She could return inBreath of the Wild 2,which therefore could make her a central influence onBreath of the Wild 2’s name.
The True Mystery of Breath of the Wild 2
Of course, it’s also possible that the game’s title refers to multiple things at once. For instance, one could argue thatSkyward Sword’s title referred to many things, includingSkyward Sword’s motion controls, the sky islands, and Fi herself.Breath of the Wild 2’s title could simultaneously hint at a new mechanic building onBreath of the Wild’s work and reveala majorZeldacharactermaking a return to the series. With all these possibilities in mind, it’s impossible to nail down an obvious canddiate for the game’s title, but one thing is clear: onceBreath of the Wild 2’s title gets revealed, conversations around the game will shift. The title will tell fans what Nintendo wants fans to focus on in this game, whether it’s something fans saw coming or something completely unexpected.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WIld 2releases in 2022 for Nintendo Switch.
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