As the latest game in the series, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has plenty of Easter Eggs and references to past Zelda entries - but to see one of the game's best small details, players will need to have a certain DLC. Far from simply just referencing other Zelda games, Tears of the Kingdom is a rare direct sequel in the series, taking place in the same Hyrule and starring the same Link and Zelda as Breath of the Wild and expanding on the previous game's world, story, and gameplay.
As possibly the largest and most ambitious Zelda game yet, Tears of the Kingdom has many Easter Eggs spread throughout its expansive world, most of which are just small references to the history of the series. At the same time, however, many of the game's connections to its direct predecessor, Breath of the Wild, are somewhat obscured - returning NPCs tend not to recognize Link despite having questlines in BOTW, for example, and the events of the previous game are mostly only referenced vaguely. One particular Easter Egg, however, creates a stronger connection between the two games, although players will need a certain DLC in order to see it.
One TOTK Easter Egg Requires BOTW DLC
In Link's house in Hateno Village - or Zelda's, as it is in Tears of the Kingdom - there's one interesting Easter Egg in the form of a group photo of BOTW's Champions, Link, and Zelda hanging on the wall near the bed. However, this photo will only appear if players have previously completed some of the content in BOTW's second DLC pack, The Champion's Ballad. This involves completing a number of trials and quest objectives, including rematches against each of the game's Divine Beast bosses and an additional secret boss fight, and at the end, rewards players with the picture which can be hung up in Link's house in Hateno.
TOTK's Champion's Ballad Easter Egg Connects the Game to BOTW
If players have hung up the picture in BOTW, it will then show up in the house in the same spot in TOTK - one of the few examples of something directly carrying over from the previous game, along with any horses caught in BOTW showing up again at stables in TOTK. While it might seem small, it's nice to see a more direct acknowledgment of BOTW's story in the sequel, and provides a rewarding moment for players who took the time to complete the previous game's DLC content. On the other hand, however, the picture is a small enough touch that it could've likely stayed in the game regardless.
Though TOTK is full of Easter Eggs and references to other Zelda games, such being able to find and equip the outfits of Links from past entries, the Champion's Ballad picture is a nice touch that creates a stronger connection between the game and its predecessor. While The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has yet to gain its own DLC, more details like the photo from The Champion's Ballad could go a long way towards making the game's Hyrule feel more cohesive.
