The next entry in Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda series will feature inter-dimensional puzzle solving, as per a new rumor.
During the latest episode of The XboxEra Podcast, host Shpeshal Nick claimed to have some details on the next mainline entry in The Legend of Zelda series, including the kind of puzzles we can expect to see in the game. According to him, the next title will follow the design philosophy established by Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. This allegedly includes using the same underlying engine, albeit with notable enhancements, something that would make sense if Nintendo is aiming to fully leverage the additional power of the Switch 2. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the development team allegedly plans to “go to town” on the systems they have already refined over the past two games.
Inter-Dimensional Puzzles
With regards to gameplay mechanics, Nick claimed the next entry in The Legend of Zelda series is described internally with phrases like “tears in reality,” hinting at a heavy focus on inter-dimensional or cross-reality puzzle solving. While not necessarily the final title, the wording hints at mechanics built around manipulating rifts or tears between dimensions.
The Xbox Era Podcast host offered several examples to help illustrate the idea. In one scenario, a charging bull in one dimension could smash into a target, triggering an effect, such as unlocking a door, in another dimension entirely. In another, water or other liquids could be transferred between dimensions to solve physics-based puzzles. For instance, flooding a room in one reality may cause an object to float upward, pulling a chain and opening a path elsewhere. These puzzles would require players to think across realities rather than within a single physical space.
The concept also evokes classic Zelda ideas, such as the light world/dark world duality, but with a more systemic and physics-driven approach. Much like Tears of the Kingdom expanded on Breath of the Wild by introducing modular construction and emergent problem-solving, this next entry allegedly takes things a step further by merging puzzle elements across different realms.
Possible Release Schedule
Nick also speculated that many of these ideas may have originated as experimental concepts during Tears of the Kingdom’s development, only now becoming feasible due to improved hardware in the Switch 2 and a more mature engine.As for when the game will see the light of day, the game is believed to be several years away, possibly two to four, rather than being closer to release.
