Before we get into the review, I should preface it with the fact that I am and always will be 100% a Legend of Zelda fan. I have fond memories growing up playing Ocarina of Time and Majoras Mask on my Nintendo 64 (of which I still pull out from time to time) all the way up to exploring the wondrous world of Breath of the Wild. So as soon as I saw this book I knew I had to read it. I thought I would note down a few thoughts I had below, while reading each of the essays.

Embodying the Virtual Hero

How does the silent hero allow us to project our own personality and psyche into Link? Do we enmesh ourself with Link more when the hero character gives us space to form our own narrative of what is going on in his head or how he would respond?

It’s Dangerous To Go Alone

How does the implementation of the typical heroic journey influence our connection to the series? Does the fact that we have personal input/control over the story make us more empathetic towards the heroes plight?

The Nocturne of (Personal) Shadow

In order to truly live an authentic courageous life, one must acknowledge, accept and work on both parts of the psyche. Light coexists with dark and two halves make a whole.

The Archetypal Attraction

How does working through issues in a fantasy setting assist in our ability to tackle these issues in our day to day life? As adults, who no longer have the freedoms or inhibitions of child-like play, do video games hold the key to allow us to unlock and mold our habit forming opinions?

Unmasking Grief

Wow. I have no words for this one. Probably my favourite essay of the book. My mind is completely blown at this concept.

The Protective Power of Destiny

Does playing as a character who exhibits healing and growth from traumatic events assist the player in reshaping their own personal experiences of trauma?

The Quest for Meaning in The Legend of Zelda

How does Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy apply to Link’s personal journey and how is it different to the hero’s journey? Does witnessing this theory of existentialism in a fantasy setting allow the player to ponder this theory and its applications in real life easier?

The Songs of the Ritos

The application of musical conditioning throughout the Zelda series is so well done that even when thinking about how this could be applied, my mind was already humming Zelda’s Lullaby to itself.

Triforce Heroes and Heroines

Does the relation of the Triforce to the identify of self assist the player in better understanding themselves? Does it give the player more of a personal connection to the idea of the whole and unified Triforce?

I enjoyed the highlights of the importance of femininity within the series – I thought this was really well explained and written.

The Legend Herself

Explanations of feminist teachings in The Legend of Zelda? Yes please.

All in all this was a highly enjoyable and thought provoking read. It has opened my eyes up to not before seen depths of my favourite childhood series and now I want to go and replay them all with a fresh set of eyes and my broadened mind.

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*thank you to BenBella Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a life long fan of the Legend of Zelda. This book was a fun and albeit easy read. Nothing new to learn here, but I liked it all the same.

The Psychology of Zelda: Linking Our World to the Legend of Zelda Series is an in-depth guide to the series, detailing the many psychological aspects of the narratives, character arcs, and the decades-long dedication players have to Link and his world. It’s an incredibly insightful book that acts not only as a review of the games, but as a primer for a number of basic and complex psychological concepts.

The essays are well-written and heavily researched. You’ll learn about how players project themselves into their favorite video games. How grief plays out in Link’s journey in Majora’s Mask. These ten essays are exciting to read and compelling. Expect to deepen your understanding of the games and to potentially become a bigger fan.

As the most obvious disclaimer ever written, this book would be best enjoyed by those who have a passion for the games and want to understand them on a deeper level. Admittedly, I haven’t played the games, so the fact that I was able to enjoy and learn a ton from this collection is a testament to the writers and the material.

This was a highly engaging book. The way each essay handles different psychological processes and ideas was fascinating to read about. I especially liked how they all linked to our own world. The concepts were explained very well and connected to the game in ways I personally hadn't considered. It made me want to play the games again with a new understanding of the psychology behind them. And while I don't think being a (hardcore) Zelda fan is necessary to gain something from this book, it does aid somewhat in the general enjoyment. My one very minor complaint is that it seemed like a lot of the essays heavily focused on OoT, MM, and BotW with honorable mentions going to the first installment, as well as the 1991 release and Twilight Princess. However, I felt that titles such as Wind Waker and Skyward Sword were mentioned only a handful of times in a couple of essays. I would have loved to see these games have more of a spotlight in analyses. Overall, though, this was a great book that makes different psychological phenomena fun and engaging.