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The Lost Woods (JP) (Meanders Forest in the French version) is a recurring location in The Legend of Zelda series. It is a mysterious forest in Hyrule that causes unwary travelers to wander in circles endlessly. They say that any who become lost within the forest will eventually turn into monsters. In all of it's appearances, the player will have determine the correct path out of multiple incorrect pathways in order to navigate the forest. Going the wrong way causes Link to eventually become lost sending the player back to the forest's entrance. It is said that fairies inhabit the deepest regions of the forest, watched over by their guardian, the Great Deku Tree.
Appearances[]
The Legend of Zelda[]
The Lost Woods first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda. Here the Lost Woods was a single-screen, repeating area filled with trees, with one path forming a cross. It required a certain pattern of directions (north, west, south, west) in order for the Link to pass through successfully. If the player did not know the correct pattern, they would be unable to reach western Hyrule without having to cross the river north of the large lake.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past[]
In A Link to the Past the Lost Woods is located in the northwestern section of Hyrule, directly north of Kakariko Village. Hidden in the deepest part of the woods is a shrine holding the legendary Master Sword. The forest is patrolled by several thieves, who won't hesitate to rob passersby of their rupees, should they come too close. The dark shadows of the trees are also good growing conditions for the Sleepy Mushroom, which can be given to the potion shop witch and turned into Magic Powder.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time[]
In Ocarina of Time, the Lost Woods is located in southeastern Hyrule. At the start of the game Link lives in Kokiri Forest, a part of the Lost Woods inhabited by the Kokiri. Early in the game, Link is sent by the Deku Tree to meet Princess Zelda and is forced to leave the forest, something the Kokiri believe they must never do. After meeting Princess Zelda for the first time he returns here to talk to his childhood friend Saria and is told she is playing her ocarina at "the usual spot" within the Lost Woods.
The entrance to the Lost Woods lies directly to the northwest of Kokiri Forest. The forest is navigated by following the sound of Saria's ocarina leading Link to the Sacred Forest Meadow where Saria teaches him her song. Taking a wrong path leads the player back to the entrance in Kokiri Forest. In addition to finding Saria, portals to Goron City and Zora's River are also hidden within the Lost Woods providing a shortcut to those locations once Link has visited them first. There are also mini-games such as a shooting challenge, where players can win a Bullet Bag upgrade. Adjacent to this challenge, there are two friendly Skull Kids who play flutes. There are a few Business Scrubs located in three major places in the woods. Located in the northern portion of the woods is the Sacred Forest Meadow, which contains the Forest Temple.
According to local lore, anyone who gets lost in the forest will turn into a Stalfos (if Hylian) or a Skull Kid (if Kokiri). A Gossip Stone reveals that only Kokiri who have fairy partners may enter the forest and not become lost. In the Ocarina of Time manga, it tells of how the forest tricks human hearts into wandering the same paths over and over, and if the poor soul loses the sight of the exit, he or she will never return again.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask[]
Majora's Mask begins with Link traveling through a previously unexplored part of the Lost Woods in search of Navi. After getting attacked by the Skull Kid, he gives chase and falls into a portal to the land of Termina.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess[]
While the Lost Woods is not mentioned by name in Twilight Princess, Faron Woods seems to be the same general location and the Lost Woods is heavily alluded to by the Sacred Grove. The grove plays Saria's Song as background music, is the home of a Skull Kid, and is easy to get lost in due to convoluted design and the lack of a map.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild[]
The Lost Woods is located in the Woodland region of Hyrule, surrounded by Lake Mekar. The woods are filled with a dense fog that consumes travelers if they get lost, requiring Link to use a torch; if he makes it through the woods, he will find Korok Forest.
Similar forests[]
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening[]
In Link's Awakening, set on Koholint Island, the player had to go through the Mysterious Forest to find Marin's father Tarin who's been transformed into a raccoon.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask[]
In Majora's Mask, set in Termina, the Woods of Mystery can be found in the Southern Swamp. Like the Lost Woods it branches off into four pathways and sends the player back to the entrance if they take a wrong turn. The witch Koume went missing here while searching for mushrooms and her twin sister Kotake sends Link into the woods to find her. This time, Link is lead through by a monkey.
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons[]
In Oracle of Seasons, the country of Holodrum has it's own Lost Woods that serves as the location of the Noble Sword. Like the original Legend of Zelda this one features a cross shaped path with four pathways. This time however, Link is required to use the Rod of Seasons and change the time of year as well.
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker[]
Prior The Wind Waker, the Lost Woods was flooded by the gods along with the rest of Hyrule. The Forest Haven and Forbidden Woods are remnants of the Lost Woods.
Gallery[]
Locations in The Legend of Zelda | |
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Hyrule | Eagle Labyrinth • Moon Labyrinth • Manji Labyrinth • Snake Labyrinth • Lizard Labyrinth • Dragon Labyrinth • Demon Labyrinth • Lion Labyrinth • Death Mountain Labyrinth |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | |
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Light World locations |
Link's House • Secret Passage • Sanctuary • Graveyard • Haunted Grove • Kakariko Village • Kakariko Village Shop • Library • Lake Hylia • Lake Hylia Shop Cave • Wishing Well • Great Swamp • Desert of Mystery • Witch's Hut • Waterfall of Wishing • Zora's Lake • Zora's Waterfall • Death Mountain • Lost Woods |
Dark World locations |
Dark World Shield Shop • Pyramid of Power • Skeleton Forest • Skull Woods • Village of Outcasts • Lake of Ill Omen • Swamp of Evil • Misery Mire |
Light World dungeons |
Hyrule Castle • Eastern Palace • Desert Palace • Tower of Hera |
Dark World dungeons |
Palace of Darkness • Swamp Palace • Skull Woods • Thieves' Town • Ice Palace • Misery Mire Palace • Turtle Rock • Ganon's Tower |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | |
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Clock Town | Back Room • Bombers' Hideout • Bomb Shop • Clock Tower • Clock Town Bank • Curiosity Shop • Deku Scrub Playground • Fairy's Fountain • Honey & Darling's Shop • Knife Chamber • Laundry Pool • Lottery Shop • Mayor's Residence • Milk Bar • Post Office • Stock Pot Inn • Swordsman's School • Town Shooting Gallery • Trading Post • Treasure Chest Game |
Termina Fields | Astral Observatory • Cucco Shack • Doggy Racetrack • Gorman Track • Mama's House • Milk Road • Romani Ranch |
Woodfall | Road to Southern Swamp • Southern Swamp • Swamp Shooting Gallery • Swamp Fishing Hole • Magic Hags' Potion Shop • Woods of Mystery • Deku Palace • Deku Shrine • Swamp Spider House • Woodfall Shortcut |
Snowhead | Mountain Village • Mountain Smithy • Twin Islands • Goron Racetrack • Goron Village • Lone Peak Shrine • Goron Powder Keg Shop • Goron Shop • Goron Shrine • Goron Graveyard |
Great Bay | Great Bay Coast • Fisherman's Hut • Oceanside Spider House • Marine Research Lab • Fisherman's Island • Ocean Fishing Hole • Pirates' Cove • Pirates' Fortress • Pinnacle Rock • Zora Game Site • Zora Hall • Zora Shop • Zora Cape • Waterfall Rapids |
Ikana | Ikana Canyon • Ikana Graveyard • Beneath the Graveyard • Sakon's Hideout • Music Box House • Spirit House • Secret Shrine • Spring Water Cave • Beneath the Well • Ancient Castle of Ikana • Stone Tower |
Dungeons | Woodfall Temple • Snowhead Temple • Great Bay Temple • Stone Tower Temple • Moon |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons | |
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Holodrum | Advance Shop • Clock Shop • Eastern Coast • Eastern Suburbs • Eyeglass Lake • Goron Mountain • Graveyard • Hall of Secrets • Holodrum Plain • Horon Village • Horon Village Shop • Lost Woods • Moblin's Keep • Mt. Cucco • Natzu Prairie • Natzu River • Natzu Wasteland • North Horon • Northern Peak • Samasa Desert • Soothing Pool • Spool Swamp • Sunken City • Syrup's Potion Shop • Tarm Ruins • Temple Remains • Vasu Jewelers • Western Coast • Woods of Winter |
Subrosia | Dance Hall • Great Furnace • House of Pirates • Lava Lake • Subrosia Cemetery • Subrosia Market • Subrosia Seaside • Subrosia Village • Subrosian Smithy • Subrosian Volcanoes • Subrosian Wilds • Temple of Seasons • Treasure Grove |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures | |
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Hyrule | Whereabouts of the Wind (Lake Hylia • Cave of No Return) Eastern Hyrule (The Coast • Village of the Blue Maiden) Death Mountain (Death Mountain Foothills • The Mountain Path) Near the Fields (The Field • The Swamp) The Dark World (The Lost Woods • Kakariko Village) Desert of Doubt (Desert of Doubt • Desert Temple) Frozen Hyrule (Frozen Hyrule • The Ice Temple) Realm of the Heavens (Realm of the Heavens • The Dark Cloud |
Dungeons | Hyrule Castle • Eastern Temple • Tower of Flames • Infiltration of Hyrule Castle • Temple of Darkness • Pyramid • Tower of Winds • Palace of Winds |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap | |
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Hyrule | Castor Wilds • Cloud Tops • Eastern Hills • Elemental Sanctuary • Fairy Fountain • Figurine Shop • Funday School • Great Fairy Fountain • Happy Hearth Inn • Hyrule Castle • Hyrule Castle Garden • Hyrule Castle Town • Hyrule Field • Lake Hylia • Link's House • Lon Lon Ranch • Mama's Cafe • Mayor Hagen's Lakeside Cabin • Melari's Mine • Minish Village • Minish Woods • Mount Crenel • Percy's House • Post Office • Rem's Shoe Store • Royal Hyrule Library • Royal Valley • Stockwell's Shop • Town Fountain • Trilby Highlands • Veil Falls • Western Wood • Wind Ruins • Witch's Hut |
Dungeons | Deepwood Shrine • Cave of Flames • Fortress of Winds • Temple of Droplets • Palace of Winds • Dark Hyrule Castle |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks | |
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Hyrule | Forest Realm (Aboda Village • Hyrule Castle • Whittleton • Rabbitland Rescue • Trading Post • Forest Sanctuary • Dark Realm) • Snow Realm (Anouki Village • Wellspring Station • Bridge Worker's Home • Snowdrift Station • Slippery Station • Snow Sanctuary) • Ocean Realm (Papuchia Village • Pirate Hideout • Lost at Sea Station • Ocean Sanctuary) • Fire Realm (Goron Village • Fire Sanctuary • Goron Target Range • Disorientation Station • Dark Ore Mine • Ends of the Earth Station) • Sand Realm (Sand Sanctuary) • Altar of the Demon King • Altar of the Mountain Goddess • Hyrule Castle Town • Linebeck Trading Company • Link's House • Mountain of Fire • Ocean Floor • Stamp Station • Train Station • Tunnel to the Towe |
Dungeons | Forest Temple • Snow Temple • Ocean Temple • Fire Temple • Sand Temple • Tower of Spirits |
Locations in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | |
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Great Plateau | Eastern Abbey • Forest of Spirits • Great Plateau Tower • Hopper Pond • Mount Hylia • River of the Dead • Shrine of Resurrection • Temple of Time • Woodcutter's House |
Faron Province | Faron Woods • Lake Hylia • Malanya Spring |
Akkala Province | Tarrey Town • Akkala Lake |
Central Hyrule | Hyrule Castle Town |
East Necluda | Hateno Village • Hateno Ancient Tech Lab • Link's House |
Gerudo region | Gerudo Town • Kara Kara Bazaar • Yiga Clan Hideout |
Eldin | Great Hyrule Forest • Lost Woods • Bridge of Eldin • Death Mountain • Goron City • Southern Mine |
Hebra Province | Hebra Tower • Snowfield Stable |
Lanayru | Zora's Domain |
Tabantha Frontier | Rito Village • Cuho Mountain • Forgotten Temple |
West Necluda | Kakariko Village • Dueling Peaks |
Dungeons | Vah Medoh • Vah Rudania • Vah Naboris • Vah Ruta • Hyrule Castle • Divine Trial |