Several years ago, Dark Horse released The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia.  I assumed that The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia would be more or less an updated version of the previous book.  Thankfully, I was completely wrong, and the encyclopedia has a ton of new information.

Unfortunately, the book was written before Breath of the Wild (the latest game in the franchise) was released, so it is not included and we still do not know where it lies within the Zelda timeline.

For those less familiar with The Legend of Zelda games, they follow Link and Princess Zelda as they protect the kingdom of Hyrule from the evil Ganon (also known as Ganondorf).  Each of them has been reborn throughout the ages and across a timeline that has splintered into three distinct paths.

Thanks to the split timeline, it can be difficult to keep track of everything, but the encyclopedia does a great job of breaking everything down so it can be unpacked and understood.  It gives an in-depth history on Hyrule, the surrounding worlds, and their inhabitants—showing how the creatures evolved across the timeline.  It illustrates how the different games connect and overlap while including maps from the various games and comparing them to show how Hyrule has changed over the ages.

This is the most comprehensive collection of knowledge on The Legend of Zelda around.  It breaks down each game, explaining the plot and including behind-the-scenes developer notes.  Even if you already own the Hyrule Historia, this is a must for every Zelda fan.

Creative Team:  Usa Nintendo
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Click here to purchase.