The Art of Subtle Storytelling — The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

How Breath of the Wild Uses Structures and Environments to Tell Compelling Stories

In 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild introduced us to a Hyrule, unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where Ganon destroyed the kingdom a century prior, the hero Link must traverse the broken and destroyed land of Hyrule and put an end to the Calamity, all while restoring hope in a ruined kingdom. A lot to take in right?

This game packs a punch in virtually all aspects, and it is definitely the most ambitious game in the series by far, but what stood out to me was the game’s excellent use of subtle storytelling. There are many subtle details that clue players into the occurrences of certain events unseen in-game, and these details really breathe life into the game, and make the world feel truly lived in.

Some of these details reveal silly jokes and stories, but others reveal true acts of bravery, tragedy, and the deep suffering of the people within Hyrule during the Calamity. So what are some of these subtle details, and what stories can they tell us?

This is the Fort Hateno Ruins. It's pretty rough. This ruin is located in the Eastern region of Hyrule, and it leads to Hateno Village. This structure looks strange, doesn’t it? Guardians litter the ground, and the walls are almost completely destroyed, but makeshift wooden barricades cover the exposed portions of the gatehouse. Well, what happened?

This was where the Battle of Fort Hateno took place. On the night of the Calamity, as hundreds of Guardians swarmed the land, dozens of brave soldiers decided to take up their weaponry and defend the fort, all in an attempt to delay the Guardians just enough for their families, and other Hylians to escape further East.

Many soldiers lost their lives during the battle but helped secure a future for the Hylian people. When exploring the ruins 100 years later, players can find loads of rusty weaponry and Guardian parts littered around the Fort Hateno Ruins. Pretty intense right?

Well for such a monumental battle in this Hyrule’s history, we never even see this battle take place at all in the game. This story was pieced together using vague dialogue and small details from in-game NPCs as well as the ruins themselves. In fact, you could finish the whole game without even knowing of this tragic battle.

What does this tell us about Breath of the Wild’s subtle storytelling? It largely depends on players to explore and use their imaginations.

Many elements of this game are left to interpretation, but there are tons of stories in the environment littered throughout the game. I believe the developers understand just how powerful our imagination can be, and using it to convey one of the most destructive events in the series was a great move.

Take another one, for example, the Hyrule Garrison located in Hyrule Field in Central Hyrule. The remains of a Guardian is surrounded by a plethora of rusted weaponry. What does this tell us? This lets players know that there must have been a fight between Hylian Soldiers and Guardians, where the soldiers managed to defeat the Guardian during the advent of the Great Calamity.

This type of storytelling prompts players to think outside-of-the-box and interpret these details in their own way, leading to many different interpretations of the same subtle detail.

My personal favorite use of subtle storytelling can found in Zora’s Domain. While adventuring through the outskirts of Zora’s Domain, you’ll find some mysterious monuments. These monuments were written by the leader of the domain King Dorephan himself, and they detail stories that have happened in the domain over time. One of these interesting stories was about the time a Guardian invaded the domain.

Not even his best soldiers could defeat it, and it seemed like the battle would be lost for sure. In a funny twist, the King himself goes up to the Guardian, carries it, and throws it in a ravine. The mad lad. This left many players wondering if the event was even true.

But, it just so happens that near Lanayru Tower there is a small pond where the remains of a Guardian lays in it. A direct callback to the event described in the monument. A subtle callback that adds a layer of personality to an otherwise flat character in the story, while also building up the world and making it feel like ours. A place that is lived in, with so much depth and history.

Subtle storytelling is a great way to spark creativity and imagination into players and helps us stay fully immersed in the game’s world. When exploring the land of Hyrule, I’m sure most of us were super shocked. Where are we? Why is it so quiet? By engaging with our surroundings, and observing the hints left behind, we can begin to form a semi-coherent picture of what truly happened all those years ago, without being told directly.

In conclusion, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a fantastic game that strategically uses the art of subtle storytelling to paint a richer picture of the history and lore of this version of Hyrule. The charm of this type of storytelling is that it allows players to use their imaginations to visualize the world and truly immerse themselves. Did it work for you? I know it worked on me! This game was an incredible progression of the series, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes next!