Now, I didn’t know this, but it seems a bunch of Zelda-inspired albums have been released over the years. The Ballads of Hyrule III is the latest of these, a brand-new arrange album by ROZEN that loops back to the lush orchestral roots of the original release and fully steeped in the mythic atmosphere of The Legend of Zelda.
Released today via Mecha Dream Records, the album spans highlights from across the series: Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Breath of the Wild, and a few stops “beyond,” as ROZEN puts it. Think sweeping strings, soft piano, and arrangements that lean into Zelda’s signature sense of wonder—ancient forests, forgotten ruins, moonlit shores, and everything in between.
If you’re a die-hard Zelda soundtrack fan, that probably has you halfway to a preorder already.
A familiar team returns
Ballads of Hyrule III brings back several long-time collaborators, including the ETHEReal String Orchestra, David Peacock, REVEN, and Kristin Naigus.
ROZEN describes the project as a celebration of the “warmth and connection” Zelda’s music has offered over the years—something he hopes listeners will feel whether they’ve been on board since album one or are just wandering in now like a confused Kokiri seeing Hyrule Field for the first time.
“My hope with Ballads of Hyrule III is that listeners—whether they’ve followed the series for years or are discovering it now—feel the spark of nostalgia I feel for Zelda’s legendary music, which has always been a source of comfort for me,” he notes. “I hope these arrangements can bring a sense of warmth and connection to anyone who needs it.”
Ballads of Hyrule III is available right now on digital and streaming platforms. For collectors—yes, that means you eyeing your wall of game vinyl—CDs and vinyl editions are set to arrive this holiday season, with pre-orders already open.
The full Ballads of Hyrule III track list
If you want to know exactly what’s in store, here’s the full lineup:
- Ocarina of Time (Ocarina of Time)
- Legendary Hero (The Wind Waker)
- Dark World Fragments (A Link to the Past)
- Kokiri Forest (Ocarina of Time)
- Lost Woods (Ocarina of Time)
- Riding (Epona) (Breath of the Wild)
- Castle Town (Ocarina of Time)
- Ordon Village (Night) (Twilight Princess)
- Deku Palace Garden (Majora’s Mask)
- Song of Healing (Daylight) (Majora’s Mask)
- Mipha (Breath of the Wild)
- Korok Forest (Breath of the Wild)
- Temple of Time (Ocarina of Time)
- Kakariko Village (Sunrise) (Ocarina of Time)
- Song of Storms (Dusk) (Ocarina of Time)
- The Wind Waker (The Wind Waker)
If you’ve ever wanted a soundtrack for your next late-night Tears of the Kingdom session (or just need something peaceful while you pretend to reorganise your Joy-Con drawer) this is ready to hit play on now. Ballads of Hyrule III is available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, and other places.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
