Eiji Aonuma, the acclaimed producer behind The Legend of Zelda series at Nintendo, recently addressed discussions regarding the impact of Bethesda’s popular open-world RPG, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, on his creative approach to Zelda titles.
Aonuma, whose innovative vision has guided Nintendo's flagship adventure franchise through critically acclaimed releases like The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, offered new background on the connection—if any—between the two influential game worlds. In an interview with USgamer, Aonuma spoke candidly about the origins of his interest in Skyrim.
He noted that his initial decision to play the game was driven less by its widespread acclaim and more by curiosity over its title's similarity to Skyward Sword, a 2011 Zelda release for the Nintendo Wii and later remastered for Nintendo Switch.
“I’ve been a bit surprised by the attention my comments about Skyrim have received," Aonuma explained.
"I decided to try Skyrim simply because the title was close to 'Skyward Sword.' I wanted to see what the game was about, but my intention wasn't to draw ideas from it." Aonuma further clarified that while certain gameplay aspects in Skyrim might appear reminiscent of Zelda, there was no deliberate attempt to implement those features into future Zelda projects.
"It wasn’t about popularity or reviews—I just wanted to experience it myself.
Of course, there are mechanics that might feel 'Zelda-esque,' but my playthrough didn’t influence the direction I had in mind for the next Legend of Zelda installment," he stated.
Rather, he frames his time with other games as an exercise in broadening his perspective as a creator: “Any game I play in my free time is simply for personal enjoyment and keeping up with the medium.
If anything does inspire me, it’s purely incidental rather than intentional.” Offering a broader viewpoint, Aonuma likened his experiences to the way other developers often cite Zelda as an influence on their work.
"The reality is that everything you play can leave some impression, much like how younger game designers often mention Zelda as shaping their ideas.
But for me, playing other games isn't about actively seeking inspiration for Zelda.
If it happens, it's part of the creative journey rather than a conscious effort." Under Aonuma’s leadership, The Legend of Zelda franchise has not only maintained its place as a pillar of Nintendo’s lineup—reaching more than 125 million units sold across all titles as of 2023—but has also continuously evolved, as seen in the transition from more linear adventures to expansive, open-world experiences on platforms like the Nintendo Switch.
With continued fan interest and critical success, Aonuma’s commitment to authentic creativity reinforces The Legend of Zelda’s enduring legacy in the gaming industry.
Aonuma, whose innovative vision has guided Nintendo's flagship adventure franchise through critically acclaimed releases like The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, offered new background on the connection—if any—between the two influential game worlds. In an interview with USgamer, Aonuma spoke candidly about the origins of his interest in Skyrim.
He noted that his initial decision to play the game was driven less by its widespread acclaim and more by curiosity over its title's similarity to Skyward Sword, a 2011 Zelda release for the Nintendo Wii and later remastered for Nintendo Switch.
“I’ve been a bit surprised by the attention my comments about Skyrim have received," Aonuma explained.
"I decided to try Skyrim simply because the title was close to 'Skyward Sword.' I wanted to see what the game was about, but my intention wasn't to draw ideas from it." Aonuma further clarified that while certain gameplay aspects in Skyrim might appear reminiscent of Zelda, there was no deliberate attempt to implement those features into future Zelda projects.
"It wasn’t about popularity or reviews—I just wanted to experience it myself.
Of course, there are mechanics that might feel 'Zelda-esque,' but my playthrough didn’t influence the direction I had in mind for the next Legend of Zelda installment," he stated.
Rather, he frames his time with other games as an exercise in broadening his perspective as a creator: “Any game I play in my free time is simply for personal enjoyment and keeping up with the medium.
If anything does inspire me, it’s purely incidental rather than intentional.” Offering a broader viewpoint, Aonuma likened his experiences to the way other developers often cite Zelda as an influence on their work.
"The reality is that everything you play can leave some impression, much like how younger game designers often mention Zelda as shaping their ideas.
But for me, playing other games isn't about actively seeking inspiration for Zelda.
If it happens, it's part of the creative journey rather than a conscious effort." Under Aonuma’s leadership, The Legend of Zelda franchise has not only maintained its place as a pillar of Nintendo’s lineup—reaching more than 125 million units sold across all titles as of 2023—but has also continuously evolved, as seen in the transition from more linear adventures to expansive, open-world experiences on platforms like the Nintendo Switch.
With continued fan interest and critical success, Aonuma’s commitment to authentic creativity reinforces The Legend of Zelda’s enduring legacy in the gaming industry.
