Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is confirmed to be a canon prequel to 2023’s Tears of the Kingdom, as revealed in the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase. Read on to find out more about the game and what to expect!
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Is Canon
Leading Up To Tears of the Kingdom
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is revealed to be a canon storyline predating the events of 2023’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. During the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase held on July 31st, 2025, a cinematic story-heavy trailer was dropped, presenting scenes from the Imprisoning War along with the introduction of familiar characters in battle like Princess Zelda, King Rauru, Queen Sonia, and Mineru.
Nintendo later confirmed that this significant moment in Hyrule’s history is fully canonical and directly tied to the series’ latest installment, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. In its official press release for the presentation, Nintendo stated, "The Imprisoning War led to the events of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and players can experience the thrill of battle in this canonical tale."
What immediately stands out in the trailer is the absence of Link, the series’ iconic protagonist—a detail that aligns with the game’s setting in Hyrule’s distant past. The footage ends on a more enigmatic note, with a mysterious Construct reassembling within what appears to be an underground altar, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.
The Imprisoning War, first introduced as part of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s backstory, depicts Ganondorf—then the Gerudo leader and future series antagonist—betraying Hyrule. In response, Zonai King Rauru and his allies unite to confront him and ultimately seal him away, averting an era of unending darkness. Previously shown only in Tears of the Kingdom’s cinematic sequences, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment allows players to experience this pivotal chapter in Hyrule’s history firsthand.
Aside from cutscenes, snippets of its fast-paced hack-and-slash gameplay were also seen in the almost 2-minute teaser, with powerful AoE attacks such as King Rauru and Zelda’s duo ability shooting lightbeams from their palms, and Mineru’s whirlwinds sending enemies flying. These gameplay mechanics echo those of previous Hyrule Warriors games and developer KOEI TECMO’s Dynasty Warriors, challenging players to wipe out hordes of enemies and to take down powerful bosses.
There has yet to be a specific release date for the game, with only a vague release window of "Winter 2025" confirmed.
To stay up-to-date with the game, check out our article below!
