The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises, and part of that popularity is because of its story. Gamers are deeply entranced by the characters and world-building in Zelda games, but every game has to end eventually.
Thankfully, Nintendo makes sure that every Zelda game goes out with a bang. There are many great endings in the Zelda series, but none of them can compare to Twilight Princess. The ending is upwards of 30 minutes, but that just adds to Twilight Princess‘ epic feel.
The End of Twilight Princess Is a 30-Minute Thrill Ride
The timeline of The Legend of Zelda can be inconsistent, but Twilight Princess is set somewhere in the middle of Link’s childhood. Once again, Link is saving Hyrule from some cosmic disaster, this time courtesy of the Twilight Realm.
Link gets caught up in the Twilight Realm, which gives him the ability to transform into a werewolf. While the transformation has its benefits, Link has to race against the clock to ensure that the Twilight Realm doesn’t consume the rest of Hyrule.
It soon becomes clear that the chief enemy of Hyrule, Ganondorf, has joined forces with the villainous Zant, who has usurped the throne of the Twilight Realm and invaded Hyrule Castle on Ganondorf’s behalf. Link learns he can rid the world of Zant and Ganondorf with an item called the Mirror of Twilight.
After Link successfully takes down Zant, all he has to do is defeat Ganondorf. Of course, since it’s a Zelda game, Ganondorf won’t go down easily. Link may have his werewolf form, but Ganondorf can transform into his native beast form, Ganon, which makes the battle more intense.
Thankfully, Link still manages to defeat Ganon and rescue Zelda. The pair is then rescued by the true ruler in the Twilight Realm, Midna, who plans to use the Mirror of Twilight to sever the connection between Hyrule and her realm. It appears that things are coming to an end, but Twilight Princess has more stories to tell.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Ending Has a Twist
Just when it seems like the day is saved, Twilight Princess throws one more twist at the player: Ganondorf is revived. Midna is incapacitated, and Ganondorf chases Link on horseback. The two eventually duel until the bitter end.
Eventually, Ganondorf is defeated by Link a second time, and his power disappears. This allows Midna to finally sever the ties between Hyrule and the Twilight Realm once and for all. Link pledges to protect his kingdom while Hyrule Castle is rebuilt.
From there, the game is over, aside from the end credits. While the 30+ minute ending is definitely long, especially for a Zelda game, it’s also one of the most intense endings in the entire series. Other games, like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, have epic boss fights too, but they don’t live up to Twilight Princess‘ ending.
Twilight Princess is one of the greatest Zelda games of all time, and it’s even better than most fans remember, especially its ending. It has everything fans could want from a Zelda game, from incredible boss fights to plot twists to an emotional finale, and it’s definitely worth going back to today.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- Released
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November 19, 2006
- ESRB
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T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo EAD
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Engine
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Proprietary Engine