The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom allows you to embark on a nostalgic journey through the world of Hyrule, and it also offers you some heartwarming character reunions. The events of the game take place roughly five to six years after Breath of the Wild, so there are bound to be changes.
As you immerse yourself in this highly anticipated title, you'll witness the evolution of beloved characters and experience the joy of reunions that have been years in the making. From Link and Zelda's enduring bond to unexpected new characters, Tears of the Kingdom delivers a poignant exploration of relationships and growth.
***Spoilers: This article contains major spoilers about Tears of the Kingdom!!!***
10 Link & The Great Deku Tree
The Great Deku Tree appears in almost every The Legend of Zelda game, always offering great advice for helping Link acquire the Master Sword. This time, when you arrive at the forest, you sense something is amiss.
Interacting with the Deku tree reveals its troubled state, as it laments its ailing stomach and releases ominous Gloom from its mouth. Before the heartfelt reunion can take place, Link has to dive into the depths to confront the source of this affliction.
9 Link & Kilton
Remember Kilton, the adorable monster-loving merchant? Well, he also makes an appearance in Tears of the Kingdom. Now, it is his brother Kolton that plays a bigger role, but Kilton is still available to interact with at Tarrey Town.
The first time you meet is in front of a cave, while he is waiting for his brother. To your surprise, though, it seems Kilton does not recognize you and only calls you a traveler.
8 Link & Paya
When you first meet Paya in Breath of the Wild, she is the shy granddaughter of Impa. In Tears of the Kingdom, her role has become greater.
When you visit Kakariko village you will notice Paya wearing Impa's hat as well as organizing the expedition on the Ring Ruins. She has become the new village chief and is as happy as ever to reunite with Link.
7 Link & Hestu
While you are wandering around Hyrule you will meet a familiar face. Hestu will greet you enthusiastically and open up about how the little Koroks have stolen and hidden the seeds from his maracas yet again.
This time, though, it seems there are more Korok seeds to be found than in the previous game. By returning them to your friend, you can take a small break and enjoy his adorable dancing.
6 Link & Impa
When you arrive at the stable in the North Hyrule Plain, you will see yet another familiar face. When you approach Impa, you will learn how she has stepped down as the village's chief and is now pursuing the life of an adventurer.
With exciting geoglyphs appearing around Hyrule, Impa can be seen traveling around the world with Cado to uncover their secrets. During your reunion, you can help her repair her hot air balloon to examine the nearby geoglyph together.
5 Link & Riju
When you first met Riju, she was the young chief of the Gerudo. Now, she can be found honing her skills and training deep in the desert.
Riju has grown into a young woman and has not forgotten the great responsibility that comes with her crown. After you exchange your greetings, you help her hone her powerful ability.
4 Link & Hudson With His Family
One of the best side quests of Breath of the Wild was to help Hudson build Tarrey Town as well as get married to the love of his life.
When you visit Tarrey Town, you will notice it has grown in size and popularity. Hudson is running a big construction company and even has a young daughter. By helping out the family, you can ride on a hot air balloon together and enjoy a heartwarming scene.
3 Link & Prince Sidon
When he first made his appearance in Breath of the Wild, Prince Sidon instantly became a fan favorite. The prince can be found in the Zora domain purifying the land's waters.
When you reunite, the prince is happier than ever to see his friend, but you can sense something is amiss. He does not make his usual pose and seems down. It is up to you and his fiancée to help him regain his confidence.
2 Link & Purah
When you first meet the sister of Impa, Purah in the ancient tech lab, she is a young child. After a failed experiment, she started regressing in age.
In Tears of the Kingdom, Purah has solved her problem and stopped her regression. When she hears of Link's return, she rushes out of her lab to greet the hero. She instantly became a fan favorite thanks to her messy young adult form.
1 Link & Zelda
By slowly completing the main quests, it becomes apparent that Princess Zelda has been sent to another timeline. The one appearing all over Hyrule is nothing but a puppet.
If you watch all of Zelda's memories, you will learn how she has turned into the Dragon of Light and has abandoned forever her human form. Or, that is what everyone thought, until Link — along with the spirits of Rauru and Sonia — help her regain her true form, and the duo shared the most heartwarming reunion of the series so far.