Can you play as Zelda in Tears of the Kingdom?

Nathan Warby
Zelda in Tears of the Kingdom

Princess Zelda returns in Tears of the Kingdom to join Link on his journey, but fans are wondering if she is a playable character this time around. Here’s everything we know so far about Zelda in TOTK.

From the very start of The Legend of Zelda series, fans have followed Link on his adventures, exploring vast worlds and solving complex puzzles. However, in recent years, there has been a growing desire among the fanbase to see Zelda as a playable character.

With The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom adding new features like the Recall and Fuse abilities, fans have been wondering whether they can finally experience Hyrule from Zelda’s perspective.

Here’s everything we know about playing as Zelda in Tears of the Kingdom.

Can you play as Zelda in Tears of the Kingdom?

No, you cannot play as Zelda in Tears of the Kingdom. As you progress through Tears of the Kingdom, which should offer between 50 and 80 hours of gameplay for the main story, you’ll notice that Zelda is not a playable character.

Prior to release, Nintendo remained tight-lipped on the issue, but that didn’t stop players from speculating.

One of the key factors fueling the rumors prior to launch was the game’s trailer, in which Zelda says: “I know why I am here. It’s something only I can do.” While Zelda isn’t a playable character, she does have a larger role than in Breath of the Wild.

As fans get their hands on Tears of the Kingdom, some have pointed out that the series has already experimented with Zelda as a playable character in spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors and Cadence of Hyrule.

Although these titles are not part of the main series, they do demonstrate Nintendo’s willingness to put Zelda front and center.

For now, Zelda won’t appear as a playable character in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. However, that doesn’t rule out the possibility of Zelda being playable in an upcoming title.


For more on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, check out our other guides:

Will there be DLC for The Legend of Zelda | When is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom set? Timeline explained | What is Ascend ability in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom? | What is Ultrahand ability in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom? | Are Shrines in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer for CharlieIntel and Dexerto, primarily covering FIFA and Call of Duty, as well as general gaming news and guides. After leaving university with a degree in Sports Studies and a master's degree in Magazine Journalism, he took on a role as a local news reporter before moving into games media. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].