Okay, The Legend of Zelda. When you think about the Zelda games, you don't immediately imagine unsettling, upsetting stuff. But it's there. Oh yes, it's there.

The Zelda games have been a staple of gaming legend for years. Fun and quite deep, they've been responsible for some serious unit shifting. The new entry, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild may have a ridiculous name, but it is also an incredibly popular title. It sold more copies on the new Nintendo Switch than the Switch itself has sold. Yes, we don't know how that works either.

Back in 1998, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (which just shows how the titles have become more sensible over the years) sold a massive 7.60 million units. The series is showing no signs of flagging, either.

Oh, and it does weird too, really weird. For a game series that's supposedly for kids, that most of us started out with when we were first discovering video games, it's got a lot of strange themes. The series can get downright disturbing at times, whether it's a dark storyline, weird character, or even behind the scenes drama that you didn't know about. Check out this list of unsettling stuff that you probably don't know, but be warned that it might make you look at this series in a different light.

20 Parental Neglect Leading To Inspiration

via: nintendotoday.com

Okay, maybe not awful, but they could have worked a little harder to keep him safe. When Shigeru Miyamoto (the creator of the series) was but a young boy, his parents thought it was perfectly acceptable to let him wander the desolate landscape near his home. Alone.

Happily, this meant we got the Zelda series because while travelling around like a very lost tourist, Miyamoto discovered some amazing stuff, including a very deep, dark hole in the ground. While exploring the hole, he kind of stumbled into a complex cave network. This is true. We're not making it up.

He could have died. And then his parents would have been racked with guilt. But he survived, and his young imagination started to think up lots of fantastic stories that could have been set in all the places he went on his travels. So, bad parenting equals a multi-million dollar game franchise, apparently.

19 The Curious Case Of Tingle

Via: IGN

Tingle is a weird, unsettling character. Anyone who has played the game will know just how he affects the player. Something about him just doesn't feel right. And when you throw his generally annoying demeanour into the mix, you have a character that gamers pretty much hate. Nintendo wanted a character that could be used to sell maps, so they picked a guy who makes many people think of a killer.

He's in his mid-30s, according to Tingle himself. But the fact that really unsettles us here at TheGamer is his assertion (in the game Majora's Mask) that he doesn't want to grow up. Nintendo has described him as a 'Peter Pan' character. So basically, he's  a very misunderstood and confused person in a green suit.

18 Twin Peaks Meets Legend Of Zelda

via: pastemagazine.com

Twin Peaks (created by David Lynch) is still a great TV show (the new series arrived this year) but back in the early 1990s, it was an international TV sensation. Even if you hadn't watched it, you knew all about it and could probably talk about the characters. It was that popular.

In 1993, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was released. It proved to be incredibly popular too, but we can pretty much guarantee that many of the fans of the game did not realize that Twin Peaks inspired the whole thing. This is unsettling, mainly because while David Lynch is a true maverick director and talented to boot, his stories (including the world of Twin Peaks) are usually centred around some huge human tragedy. If you still have your Game Boy, and a copy of the game, give it a whirl.

17 Something Seems A Bit Off About This Old Man

Via: Oldiesrising.com
He wasn't much of a talker.

The original Legend of Zelda game is a sweetie. It's really cute, with its 8-bit graphics and genuinely heart-warming mood and fluffy feel. That cuteness takes a massive time out when Link meets the Old Man in a cave.

The Old Man is famous in Zelda lore for simply disappearing from the story as soon as he gives Link the wooden sword. No advice, no jokes, no sense that he was excited for Link in any way. And he returns later in the game running what looks like a gambling den. Again, no advice, not even a riddle (which, for some reason, we expect Old Men in caves to do).

Frankly, we are quite surprised that this part of the very first game didn't give kids a negative 'message' about old people. Don't get us wrong, we weren't expecting Ben Kenobi, but if we ever meet an old man in a cave, we would hope that he would indulge in perhaps a little small talk.

16 Who Would Want To Live In A Toilet?

Toilet Hand Guy in Majora's Mask
Toilet Hand Guy in Majora's Mask

The hand in the toilet, generally known as '???' is a legend in itself. It appears in a few of the Zelda games, and generally, asks for some paper when it pops up. It is creepy beyond belief because it touches on one of the great fears people have. No one likes to think that a hand is going to come up through the toilet and attack you, the possibility for trauma is just too much.

Worse, a later version turns out to be the hand of a young girl. In Skyward Sword it is her ghostly hand that pokes up and ask for paper. This is all done with the nonchalant humour that the series usually delivers, even as you realise that there is probably a terrible murder (or two) behind all of this.

15 Romani And The Aliens

Via: Alien Species Wiki

Romani's a sweet girl and is a big part of Majora's Mask. Around ten years old, she looks after a farm and her sister, who sleeps for most of the time. She asks Link to help in protecting the Romani Ranch against aliens. The aliens are planning to come to the farm and steal the cows. We don't know why. Maybe they're into steak.

If you don't help Romani defend the farm, you watch in horror as she is taken with the cows, with a helpless, haunting scream as she flies up into the sky. The aliens are terrifying, and this is heightened by the creepy music that plays on their arrival at the farm. When she returns, she is shown to be sitting down, gripping her head periodically, a different girl to the one Link met.

14 There's Something Off About This Guy...

Via: universozelda.com

This character in Majora's Mask is often referred to as The Happy Mask Salesman because he is indeed quite happy at certain points of the plot. But he is a liar too. And he is keeping one big secret that makes him a thoroughly unpleasant individual.

He wants Link to get the mask for him within three days. He says he is 'busy' and has to leave in three days. Link has been turned into a Deku Scrub at this point in the game and needs the salesman's help to turn back so he agrees to go get the mask.

And this is where it gets weird. Link doesn't get the mask and this makes the salesman flip his lid. He starts shouting at Link and generally comes across as aggressive. And that 'three days' thing? Oh, that's because the moon is about to destroy the Earth.

13 Don't Bite The Hand That Feeds

via imgur.com

This group of bad guys in the series is pretty much universally hated by players. Let's work out why.

Firstly, they look scary. Blue zombie hands that pop out from the ceiling and grab at you. They are unsettling, to say the least, and they can be very quick and extremely difficult to dodge. This plays into the fear of dark places that many people have. Imagine walking into your cellar and a hand suddenly reaching out to grab you. A lovely, heartwarming image, we're sure you'll agree.

But then, it gets even worse. They aren't your normal type of enemy. If they succeed in grabbing you, Link is sent right back to the beginning of the level. And it doesn't matter if you were well into a level, you always went back. Get why they were hated now?

12 We're Happy The Moon Doesn't Actually Look Like This

Via: independent.ie
The Moon from Majora's Mask.

Tonight, take a look at the moon, wherever you are. It probably looks peaceful, calm and serene. Part of a beautiful night sky. In Majora's Mask, it is a malevolent, psychotic creature, with the evilest face, and some plans to destroy Termina.

We don't know why it wants to do that. It just does. But players were freaked out by the round, grinning face. Sometimes it simply looked like it wanted to eat you. Somehow, it was included in a children's game. Sometimes it looks just like a big fat, grinning zombie. It was summoned by Skull Kid, another source of stress for Link. And he wants to bring an end to the world. The solemn mood the moon provides is truly creepy, and arguably one of the few elements of the games that is simply not appropriate for children.

11 That's One Way To Get Rid Of Zelda

via: pinterest.com

That's right, Link does kill stuff, but at one point in the game, he nearly totally offed the main character.

Zelda was waiting to be rescued by someone and just as Link jumped in into the room where she was being kept, he very nearly took a swing at Zelda. If he had connected, the games would not be around today (or they might have required re-naming, to The Legend of Julie, or something like that).

Relax. It never happened, and the revelations that it could have done came from a leaked document that Nintendo had created. Personally, we think it would have added a lot of spice and excitement to a series that does plenty of both. But it would have been that added element that would have transformed the genre.

10 You'll Want To Leave This Place Quickly

via: youtube.com

This is a wonderfully atmospheric and scary part of the series, that moment when you first set foot into Ikana Valley. Or, if you look at it another way, it's enough to give you nightmares. Basically, the reason why the Ikana Valley section is so unsettling has a lot to do with the music. Rather than have some jolly, fun tune tinkling from your speakers, you get a funeral dirge, as performed by that family out of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. On bone instruments.

It's scary and is regularly referred to as the scariest part of any of the games. It all depends on your tolerance levels for how you feel it works. We just know it's a place we would never go to alone. Or with friends.

9 The ReDeads

These guys are all over the series, and nobody likes them.

What they do is they jump on Link's back and start to drain his life quickly, while managing to look like all of your nightmares rolled into one. They are basically zombies, but they drain you of energy. And as it happens to Link, it just looks disturbing.

But that's nothing. Before they jump on you and suck you dry, they emit a terrifying scream. It's a horrible sound and remains one of the few noises in games that are guaranteed to make everyone lose their nerve. The sound stops Link in his tracks, making him easy prey for the ReDeads. They are found in graveyards and 'dark places' in the games. So don't say we didn't warn you.

8 Don't Go Near The Stalchildren

Via: ModDb.com
Not pleasant, the Stalchildren.

Now, these guys just look wrong. If you've been fortunate enough to dive into the Five Nights at Freddy's series recently, you will see something similar in these guys. They will constantly attack Link, by the way, if he is in Hyrule Field as a child. So you will meet them, and they will give you nightmares.

Why? Well, they are basically kids who seem to have been trapped inside skeletons and have now been given specific licence to kill Link. They look creepy, and they keep on coming, for God's sake. We think these creatures (small, but deadly) are one of the most unsettling aspects of the games. While they're not incredibly dangerous, they still creep us out.

Next time you see them, check out their eyes. You won't sleep that night.

7 There's Something Weird About That Music...

Via: IndieDB.com
The Clock Town stage.

Clocktown is a totally engrossing part of the Zelda universe, and we accept that it contains key aspects of the plot. There is a lot to like about the place. There is also the music. Ever hear the kind of music that scares you in the same way a visit from Freddy Kruger would? That's the Clocktown tune. It's not exactly frightening, it's just got this undercurrent to it that makes it feel unsettling.

Add to the music the fact that you also have that darn moon hanging around in the sky. That chap is intent on destroying everything in the game, and the music simply does not help. Clocktown is atmospheric and loaded with drama and suspense. But a lot of that is down to the music. Seriously.

6 These Undertones Aren't That Subtle

via: publish.com

There is nothing wrong with religion. It's been keeping people happy for centuries. But everyone becomes a little worried when a video game has religious connotations that just won't quit. The Legend of Zelda games have a ton of religion in there.

Perhaps the biggest thing that got people all stressed about religion was Link's shield. It had a big old cross on it. Nintendo USA had made it clear to game developers that religious imagery was not to be allowed in games. But the cross stayed.

There was a bible in the game too, and this, predictably, made Nintendo USA think the Four Horsemen were about to touch down in Iowa or something. The good book was renamed outside of Japan. It was called The Book of Magic. In Japan it was called The Holy Bible. Watch out, Iowa.

5 A Truly Harrowing Boss Fight

Via: YouTube.com
Gomess.

A truly horrifying boss creature, Gomess scores all kinds of creep points with the way he was presented. Surrounded by bats, he also had a weapon that had the skull of a Stalchild on it. Now, we know the Stalchildren were evil, but this was just perhaps too close to the bone (sorry) for some gamers.

He also hits like a boss should. He's got plenty of power, and can't really be touched unless you dispose of the bats around him. He's got a big old orb type thing on his chest, which is his vulnerable point. But those bats have to move before you can get a good shot in. But back to that poor Stalchild. As Gomess is defeated, his weapon falls to the floor, and the gamer is shown the poor kid's skull, up close and personal.

4 When A Stone Becomes Scary

Via: youtube.com (EmptyGarbageCan)

Okay, these guys look creepy. If you take a real good look at them you will see the single eye (which is creepy enough in itself) and the three small arrows leading off from the eye. But right underneath all of that, you see lips that seem to be grinning rather maliciously.

But that's not the only reason why the Gossip Stones are unsettling. They don't add a hell of a lot to the overall story, but at one point, and while you're looking at a stone, the game will utter these immortal words to you: 'This statue's one-eyed gaze pierces into your mind...'

Now, we just can't deal with this thing looking into our minds (okay, it's Link's mind but you know what we mean). That statement alone about the piercing gaze should win the game's creators an award for the single most unsettling line in the whole series.

3 Take A Trip Into The Uncanny Valley

Via: destructoid.com

Right here is where the Zelda games cross over into the realm of really rather frightening. The Elegy itself produces copies of Link, which he can use to navigate around puzzles and all that malarkey. But we're not concerned with that, we've got other things on our mind.

Before we get to the nasty part, the statues the Elegy produces are just weird. They look scary, and the one that looks closest to Link (most of them don't) is just this blank, grinning face in a suit. It's thoroughly unsettling stuff. There are many theories as to why the Elegy is so strange, and why Link plays it on his Ocarina. But the biggest problem is the link from this section to a nasty little story called Ben Drowned. It's on CreepyPasta. That's all we need to say.

2 This Mask Looks Pretty Haunted

Link wearing mask of a zora

Link dons all kinds of masks in various parts of his story, and it's all jolly good fun. Before we continue here, just remember that the game was rated safe for 7-year-olds. So if you have a 7-year old child and they want to play old-school Nintendo games, grab any of the Zelda games. Then book yourself in for some family therapy sessions. You'll need them.

The Zora mask is innocent enough when you see it for the first time. Granted, it's not one that we would wear, but we can see some kids having a bit of fun with it around Halloween. When Link wears the mask, Halloween is out of the question. The resulting transformation is truly terrifying, and Zora will instantly enter your nightmares. It's not nice, and it certainly isn't for young kids to see.

1 I Place A Curse Upon Your Father

Via: Youtube.com
Pamela's Father.

In The Music Box House lives young Pamela and her father. Pamela's father researches ghosts. While at the well, he is cursed and turned into a Gibdo. This makes him incredibly scary. Link turns up to Pamela's house and is asked by the girl to help. He agrees.

If you let Pamela's father out from the basement, he walks towards you like a zombie, all misshapen and grim-looking. It's not pleasant and is genuinely scary. But the real issue here is the story. This poor girl has to protect her father, who has turned into a monster. She is therefore on her own in the solitary building, with evil Gibdos outside wanting to kill her. Link saves him, sure, but the context here is awful. We think it symbolizes the dark undercurrents in the world of Zelda.