Link is the main protagonist in the popular video game franchise The Legend of Zelda. Determining Link’s exact age has been a topic of much debate and speculation among fans over the years. This is largely due to the fact that Link’s age seems to vary from game to game, sometimes quite significantly. In this article, we will analyze Link’s apparent age in each of the mainline Zelda games and attempt to pin down a definite answer to the question: What age is Link?
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda (1986)
The original Legend of Zelda game for the NES was released in 1986 and introduced players to Link for the very first time. However, the game itself does not give any definite indication of Link’s age. The instruction manual refers to Link as a “young lad” who must save Princess Zelda from the forces of evil. Based on his sprite and other contextual clues, most fans assume Link is intended to be around 10-12 years old in the first game. This would place him at a believable age for a child hero while also explaining his small stature compared to the adults around him.
Link’s Age in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987)
The second game in the series, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, is a direct sequel to the original Legend of Zelda. It features the same incarnation of Link from the first game. Therefore, Link is likely around 11-13 years old given that only a short time seems to have passed between the two games’ stories. His sprites appear very similar in size and design to the first game as well.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
A Link to the Past features a new Link separate from the one in the original games. This time, the game’s instruction manual directly states that Link is 16 years old. Additionally, his in-game sprite shows him as taller and leaner than before, befitting a teenager rather than a child. So in A Link to the Past, Link is definitively aged up to 16 years old.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993)
Link’s Awakening is a direct sequel to A Link to the Past featuring the same incarnation of Link. Less than a year seems to have passed between the two games’ stories. Therefore, Link is most likely still 16 years old in Link’s Awakening as well. His sprites remain similar to those in A Link to the Past.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
Ocarina of Time features another new incarnation of Link. This time, Link begins the game as a 9-year-old boy. He then goes into stasis for 7 years and awakens as a 16-year-old. Players control Link at both ages over the course of the full game. So Ocarina of Time presents the youngest and oldest incarnations of Link yet at age 9 and 16 respectively.
Young Link
When Link is first introduced in Ocarina of Time, he is established to be 9 years old. He is sent off on his adventure as a humble village boy after receiving the Spiritual Stone of the Forest from the Great Deku Tree. His childlike size and proportions match his tender age storywise.
Adult Link
After pulling the Master Sword from its pedestal, Link’s spirit is sealed for 7 years until he is old enough to be the Hero of Time. When he awakens, he finds his body has aged to 16 years old. His sprites are taller and fuller featured to match his teen hero role.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000)
Majora’s Mask directly follows Ocarina of Time and even retains Link’s child form from that game. The opening cutscene shows Link travelling alone through the Lost Woods after parting ways with Navi. Given no time has passed since Ocarina, Link remains 9 years old throughout Majora’s Mask.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons (2001)
The Oracle games for GameBoy Color introduced a new Link separate from those in the N64 titles. His sprites appear very similar in stature and proportion to the Link from the original NES games. Most fans believe this Link is intended to be between 10-12 years old, though his exact age is not definitively stated anywhere.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords (2002)
Four Swords features childlike sprites even smaller and squatter than Link in the Oracle games. Since Four Swords takes place chronologically before most other Zelda titles, it’s assumed this Link is younger than usual, likely around 8-10 years old.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)
The cel-shaded art style of The Wind Waker makes judging Link’s age from his sprites difficult. However, the story establishes he is celebrating his coming-of-age birthday, meaning he turns 12 years old over the course of the events of the game. His childlike size and personality throughout support him being approximately 10-12 through the adventure.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (2004)
Link in Four Swords Adventures appears very similar in design and proportions to Link in The Wind Waker. Given this game takes place chronologically sometime after The Wind Waker, it’s likely this Link is also intended to be around 10-12 years old.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004)
The Minish Cap features another new Link separate from previous incarnations. His diminutive size and childlike features strongly imply he is intended to be quite young, likely around 8-10 years old or potentially even younger.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)
Twilight Princess features one of the oldest looking incarnations of Link yet. While his exact age is not defined, he appears and acts like a mature teenager or young adult. Most fans estimate Link is likely around 16-18 years old in Twilight Princess.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007)
Phantom Hourglass directly follows The Wind Waker and retains the same cel-shaded art style. Given it picks up shortly after The Wind Waker’s ending, Link is still around 12 years old as he continues his journey across the seas.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (2009)
Taking place 100 years after Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks features a new Link distant descendant of The Wind Waker’s hero. His design mirrors The Wind Waker’s Link, implying he is once again meant to be around 10-12 years old.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)
Skyward Sword serves as the first game chronologically in the overall Zelda timeline and introduces players to the earliest known incarnation of Link. While his exact age is not defined, he appears to be in his mid-late teens based on his character model and personality, likely around 16-18 years old.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013)
A Link Between Worlds features the same Link from A Link to the Past now several years older. While his exact age is not confirmed, he appears a little older than in A Link to the Past, likely in the 17-19 year old range.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (2015)
Tri Force Heroes contains little concrete story information, but the Link featured visually resembles the one from A Link Between Worlds. If so, he is likely still around 17-19 years old as he adventures to the Drablands.
Link’s Age in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
Breath of the Wild is set latest in the overall Zelda timeline and features one of the oldest incarnations of Link yet. His weathered appearance and seasoned warrior skills strongly imply he is an adult potentially in his late teens or even early 20s.
Conclusion
In summary, Link’s age ranges hugely across the many different Legend of Zelda games and incarnations of the character. He has been portrayed from as young as 7-8 years old in early titles like Four Swords to as old as near 20 in games like Breath of the Wild. Most commonly he tends to be depicted as either a youthful child around 10-12 or an older courageous teenager around 16-18. Only on rare occasions has he been shown as a full adult. His varying ages allow players to experience Link grow and mature over the course of his many legendary adventures and reincarnations.