There is a tragedy hidden in plain sight in the ending of , which puts a very different spin on the supposedly happy conclusion.
On the surface, the game’s final moments seem to be nothing more than a collection of positive scenes from across Hyrule, showing the final results of Zelda’s efforts to protect her kingdom.
However, closer examination reveals a much darker side to one of these moments. There are plenty of darker details in, many of which only reveal their full depth on close examination or reflection.
For example, ’s regional phenomena all have terrifying implications for the people of Hyrule. Of course, the pervasively dour atmosphere of often sees it labeled as the darkest entry in the franchise, but ultimately it is far from the only game to include such elements.
The ending of is merely the most recent example of this trend. Zelda engages with the stories of many NPCs in , many of whom can then be seen depicted living happy lives in the game’s ending credits.