I just recntly finesh orcarina of time. Then it hit me. What's the zelda timelane. well after

much research I found that its confusing after orcarina of time.  My best theroy is

that there are two timelines. Any ideas of your own?

The two time lines are one of the few things confirmed about the storyline.... try watching gametrailers Zelda retrospective (Part 6 I think) It talks about this...

the are multiple timelines( here are some off the top of my head)

LttP,OoT,MM,TP

WW,PH,Spirit Tracks(didn't abbreviate because some ppl might not get it).

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/15194.html

This is probably what id go for, as the time line. I would agree with everything except the configuration for Wind Waker and Twilight princess.

I think, roughly, that it starts with the Minish Cap, then goes to Ocarina of Time, then the timeline splits into A and B. Timeline A contains in this order: Link's Awakening, the original game, Adventure of Link, Link to the Past, and one of the Oracle games (forget which). Timeline B has Twilight Princess, Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass, probably Spirit Tracks, and the other Oracle game, in that order.

 Yah but that timeline was made in 06. kinda outdated.

There's only a few games with an established order. I think the two timeline thing is suggested pretty strongly.

The thing to remember is, that it's the "legend" of Zelda, so to some extent some of the games are pretty much the same story with some elements changed, as if it's one legend retold through time. I sort of think that's a cop-out and uninteresting, but that seems to be the way that Nintendo is going with the litany of Zelda games with no real place in any sort of timeline over the last 10 years.

Theres actually 3 times with two been affected by Oot and the last is Four Sword timeline

I wouldn't bother with the Gametrailers timeline, it's wrong almost from the start. And before anyone denies it, the split timeline was confirmed by Aonuma.

Anyways my understanding of the timeline goes as:

The Minish Cap -> Four Swords -> Four Sword Adventures -> Ocarina of Time (SPLIT)

Past (Child) Timeline: Majora's Mask -> Twilight Princess -> Oracle of Ages/Seasons* -> Legend of Zelda* -> Adventure of Link*

Future (Adult) Timeline: Wind Waker -> Phantom Hourglass -> Spirit Tracks -> A Link to the Past -> Link's Awakening -> Oracle of Ages/Seasons* -> Legend of Zelda* -> Adventure of Link*

Games with asterisks can take place on either (or both) timeline because they don't seem to rely on specific events in prior games in order to take place.

I'm a little iffy with the Four Swords games though, they're the ones I'm least familiar with. Spirit Tracks can end up moving since nothing is set in stone or fully detailed, what with the game not being out and all, but it looks like it belongs where I've put it.

Specific facts about the placement of these games:

- Link's Awakening has to take place after LttP and Adventure of Link has to follow LoZ. These facts are set in stone by the games and their manuals. It can't be disputed.
- The Oracle games can't take place on seperate timelines. They both have to happen or the games themselves don't make any sense because of the complete conclusion.
- The Oracle games have to take place after a point where Ganon has "died"; the Link and Zelda featured in it are unique to these games.
- The intro to LttP details the "Imprisoning War." Said war is the events of Ocarina of Time's future portions. LttP can only take place in the Future/Adult timeline or else there would be no record of a war that didn't take place.