What is arguably the strangest experience in The Legend of Zelda franchise draws heavily on a real-life ghost story for inspiration. Link can have several different kinds of spiritual encounters throughout the franchise, interacting with spirits that range from being entirely benign to extremely hostile. These can be distinctly unsettling at times, but one encounter in particular blurs the line between Hyrule and urban legends in a way that many people may not expect.

There are plenty of strange occurrences and mysterious enemies in The Legend of Zelda, with many games in the franchise including at least one scenario that defies easy explanation. It is also well-established that the supernatural is an integral part of Hyrule; ghosts can be among both Link’s toughest enemies and firmest allies. However, while there have recently been prolific depictions of spirits, such as the haunted Depths of Tears of the Kingdom, the most...