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Link and Zelda are the two most important figures in nearly every game of The Legend of Zelda franchise. As such, we can see iterations of these characters in a majority of games. This leaves us asking the question, are they the same Link and Zelda each time?
The answer to this question involves a bit of explanation, but we are going to help answer it. Here, we are going to take a look at Link and Zelda across The Legend of Zelda franchise and determine if they are the same versions of themselves.
Are Link & Zelda Physically The Same?
The short answer to this question is no. Link and Zelda are not physically the same person in every game within the franchise.
There are some games, however, that involve the same physical versions of these characters. For example, Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, making the Link in both games the same physical person.
Additionally, Majora's Mask takes place right after Ocarina of Time, so Link is the same person in both of these games.
So, the long answer to this question would be: sometimes. Some games have the same physical Link and Zelda, but due to the number of games in the franchise, these two characters aren't physically the same the majority of the time.
Reincarnations Of Link & Zelda
If Link and Zelda aren't physically the same, how do they appear in multiple games? This can be explained through reincarnation. It may sound silly at first, but Link and Zelda are reincarnated across The Legend of Zelda franchise multiple times.
Thankfully, the reasoning for this reincarnation has an explanation as well. To find the answer, we need to look at the first game in The Legend of Zelda chronological timeline, starting with Skyward Sword.
Beginning The Cycle In Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword is thought to be the first game in the chronological timeline, set in a version of Hyrule where people didn't live on the surface.
Prior to the events of Skyward Sword, we learn that Zelda holds the power of the Goddess Hylia. There is a lot to the lore of this game; check out our Skyward Sword breakdown here.
In this game, you play as the familiar Link, while Zelda is the daughter of the Academy's Headmaster (not the Princess). At the end of this game, Link faces off against the main boss, named Demise. Prior to being defeated, he essentially curses himself, the Hero, and the Goddess, stating that the three of them will be reborn to continue the fight.
So, Demise reincarnates and is what we know as Ganon (or Ganondorf). The Hero becomes who we know as Link and the Goddess is none other than Zelda.
Overall, The Legend of Timeline spans thousands of years, and over this time, the trio is reincarnated multiple times. The consciousness of Link and Zelda aren't being reincarnated through time though; it's just their 'essence'. The two don't retain any memories because of this.
To answer the big question; no, Link and Zelda are not the same, but their essence remains.