The Legend of Zelda series is robust, spanning a total of 15 games (not counting spin-offs). As in most adventure games money, rupees, are needed to buy equipment and other various items. And once currency appears in a game at least some form of economy is sure to follow.
The Legend of Zelda has had years and years to build its economy, and the result is a little ridiculous. Here's why.
10 The Size of Rupees Is Ridiculous
Rupees have been depicted throughout countless games. Generally, a rupee seems to be the size of Link's hand. That's massive considering the number of rupees Link or anyone in Hyrule, can carry throughout various games.
Theoretically, every character carrying money should be completely weighed down with rupees. Players are informed, in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, that rupees are mined from rupee ores. Being made from ore, they probably aren't the lightest items in the world. Maybe that's why Beedle's pack always looks so heavy in Breath of The Wild.
9 Money is an Endless Resource
The whole point of an economy becomes lost when your currency is basically infinite and easy to come by. Want to make a quick buck? Cut some grass. Want to have a steady income? Keep cutting grass.
There seems to be very little point in running a shop or any kind of business when you could instead cut grass or mine rupee ore directly. Maybe that’s why so many people seem to be unemployed in the games.
8 Robbery is Part of the Economy
Sure, thievery is present in several games throughout the series. In both Link’s Awakening and Twilight Princess, Link is capable of shoplifting from specific shops. There are also several enemies capable of stealing rupees from Link, such as the Takkuri from Majora’s Mask and The Minish Cap.
While both of these effect players’ financial experience, they are not literally part of the economy like the rupoor. With the appearance of a black rupee, the rupoor is an anti-currency of a sort. When picked up, they cause Link to lose either 10 or 50 rupees. Maybe, this is meant to battle the ever-rising inflation in the Hyrulian economy.
7 Paying Money to Hold More Money
Shops are expensive and supplies are always needed by wandering heroes, so having money on hand is essential. That being said, there aren’t other options for where money can be stored so on hand is the only choice.
Since rupees are massive, perhaps this is why there is a general limit to how many Link can hold at a time. Of course, there is a way to expand this limit- by purchasing a larger wallet. Wallets are usually obtained either through paying a large sum of rupees, to then hold more rupees, or through completing quests.
6 Banks
Majora’s Mask is the only game in the Zelda series with a bank. Which is unfortunate considering how useful they could be.
With banks, maybe adventures wouldn't have to worry so much about expensive wallet upgrades and limits. NPC's throughout the game series must feel the same way- why else would they store their rupees in pots and jars?
Maybe some of this is for convenience, but some villagers clearly go out of their way to hide rupees in odd places. A bank would just provide better peace of mind.
5 Price Comparisons
Prices in The Legend of Zelda series range from unbelievably cheap to shockingly expensive. Even when prices aren't sky-high, they don't always make sense.
In Ocarina of Time a recovery heart, which immediately heals one heart in Link’s health bar, costs 10 Rupees. In the same shop, Link can also buy a Deku Stick for 10 rupees. That’s right, a stick is worth the same amount as an item that instantly heals the player. Meanwhile, a fish costs 200 rupees, because that makes sense.
4 Bugs are a Precious Commodity
Seriously. When bugs appear in a Zelda game, they are generally useful and even potentially lucrative.
In Ocarina of Time, beetles can be released in certain locations to find rupees and items. Breath of the Wild allows players to use bugs they’ve caught by selling them or using them to make potions and elixirs.
The best (and most ridiculous) example of how prized bugs are occurs in Twilight Princess. Agitha, the apparent bug princess, rewards the player for bringing her special golden bugs. She rewards two wallet upgrades and hundreds of rupees throughout the delivery of the 24 golden bugs.
3 Exclusive Items Run the Market
Shops are a necessity in Hyrule. Not only are they places to obtain supplies or ingredients, but they also act as resources for essential items at times. Of course, such essential items are often only sold at one store in the game.
Now, as the legendary Hero of Courage, traversing wild and potentially dangerous areas to reach a distant shop and obtain an item may not be a big deal. But for the common citizen, it would be a massive struggle. It's rather ridiculous when considering that a citizen might have to face near-death experiences just to reach the one shop that sells shields.
2 Taxes
Hyrule is consistently under threat from the forces of Ganon. Therefore, it’s unsurprising that the various landscapes that appear in the series (Castle Town in particular) can be in rough shape. How long does it take to put everything back together again after each game? The bigger question is- how could they afford it?
There are no taxes anywhere in the games. Merchants make have no clear ties to the Hylian monarchy, or any other government for that matter. How does the country constantly fund repairs with no income?
1 Inconsistencies
One of the most convoluted aspects of the economy in The Legend of Zelda series is the inconsistency that occurs between games. Sure, The Legend of Zelda has multiple timelines, which admittedly can get rather confusing. But even between games on the same timeline discrepancies still, occur.
For instance, rupoors only exist in four games while big or huge rupees occur in seven games throughout the series.
The biggest difference takes place in Breath of the Wild, turning the whole economy on its head. Suddenly, monster killing, pot breaking, and grass cutting are no longer the optimal ways to obtain rupees. The whole structure changes; now Link must scavenge, craft, and sell goods to make money. Somehow such a realistic change in the economy feels like the most ridiculous one after the precedent all previous games have set.