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Twilight Princess: Mini-Games & Secrets

Welcome, adventurer! Beyond the epic quest to save Hyrule from the Twilight Realm, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is packed with optional fun, hidden challenges, and rewarding secrets. From riverside archery challenges to puzzling mazes and elusive collectibles, there’s plenty to discover off the beaten path. This guide covers the major mini-games and secrets scattered across the land.

Mini-Games

Test your skills (and earn some nice rewards) with these fun diversions!

STAR Game (Castle Town)

  • Location: Inside the STAR Tent in Castle Town’s west street (available after restoring light to Lanayru Province).
  • Cost: 10 Rupees per play.
  • Objective: Ride inside a caged arena on rails and use the Clawshot (provided) to collect all the star-shaped orbs before time runs out. It requires quick aiming and predicting the movement path.
  • Reward: Completing it successfully for the first time yields the Big Quiver (holds 60 arrows). Subsequent wins reward Rupees.

Rollgoal (Hena’s Fishing Hole)

  • Location: Inside Hena’s Fishing Hole building (Lake Hylia), talk to Hena and choose “Have fun”.
  • Cost: Free (initially).
  • Objective: A classic tilt-maze game. Guide a small ball through increasingly complex mazes by tilting the board (using the Wii Remote pointer or analog stick). Avoid falling into holes. There are multiple levels (boards) to unlock.
  • Reward: Rupees. Winning subsequent levels requires paying a small fee but yields higher Rupee prizes. Clearing all levels might grant access to the Frog Lure (see Fishing section).

Iza’s Rapid Ride (Upper Zora’s River)

  • Location: Talk to Iza at her shop along the Upper Zora’s River (accessible after acquiring Bombs). Requires Bomb Arrows to destroy the initial blockage.
  • Cost: 20 Rupees per ride.
  • Objective: Ride a canoe down the rapids while shooting targets (pots) using your Bow. Initially uses regular Arrows, but switches to Bomb Arrows for more points after clearing the first time. Aim carefully and avoid hitting obstacles. Destroying all pots yields bonus points.
  • Reward: Scoring 25 points or more earns you the Giant Bomb Bag (holds more bombs). Subsequent high scores reward Rupees.

Falbi’s Flight-by-Fowl (Lake Hylia)

  • Location: Talk to Falbi at his game hut on a high ledge overlooking Lake Hylia.
  • Cost: 20 Rupees per flight.
  • Objective: Grab a Cucco and glide from Falbi’s platform down to a large, multi-tiered, rotating platform in the middle of Lake Hylia. Aim for the highest tiers and the chests located on them.
  • Reward: Landing on different tiers yields various Rupee amounts. The chest on the very top, highest tier contains a Piece of Heart.

Plumm’s Balloon Pop Challenge (Lake Hylia)

  • Location: Speak to Plumm, the parrot-like creature flying near the Howling Stone overlooking Lake Hylia (requires Double Clawshots to reach).
  • Cost: Free.
  • Objective: While Z-targeting Plumm and flying between Peahats high above the lake, use your Bow to shoot down fruit-shaped balloons. Aim for a high score by hitting balloons consecutively and getting high-value ones (like the Strawberry).
  • Reward: Scoring 10,000 points or more earns you a Piece of Heart.

Snowboard Race (Snowpeak)

  • Location: After clearing the Snowpeak Ruins dungeon, talk to Yeto or Yeta at the Snowpeak summit.
  • Objective: Race Yeto (and later Yeta, who is faster) down the snowy slopes on your shield like a snowboard. Stay on the path, avoid obstacles, and use shortcuts if you can find them.
  • Reward: Beating Yeto earns you a Piece of Heart. Beating Yeta rewards significant Rupees.

Secrets & Major Collectibles

Hyrule is full of hidden treasures and optional quests for dedicated explorers.

Hidden Skills

  • What: Seven powerful, secret sword techniques taught by the Hero’s Shade (a spectral warrior resembling Link’s ancestor).
  • How: Find Howling Stones scattered across Hyrule as Wolf Link and howl the correct tune. This marks the Hero’s Shade’s location on your map. Meet him there in Hylian form to learn a new skill.
  • Significance: These skills greatly enhance Link’s combat abilities (e.g., Helm Splitter, Mortal Draw, Great Spin). Essential for combat mastery. (Link to your dedicated Hidden Skills guide if available)

Golden Bugs

  • What: 24 pairs (male and female) of unique Golden Bugs hidden throughout Hyrule’s provinces.
  • How: Listen for their distinct chiming sound and look for their golden glow. Catch them like regular insects. Return them to Agitha in her house (“Agitha’s Castle”) in Castle Town South Road.
  • Significance: Agitha rewards Link with Rupees for each bug and provides Wallet Upgrades (Big Wallet, Giant Wallet) for returning specific numbers of bugs. (Link to your dedicated Golden Bug guide if available)

Poe Souls

  • What: 60 restless Poe spirits found across Hyrule, visible only with Wolf Link’s senses.
  • How: As Wolf Link, use your senses to see the Poes (often hiding in dark areas, at night, or underground). Defeat them and collect their lingering souls. Return the souls to Jovani in his house in Castle Town South Road.
  • Significance: Jovani rewards Link at intervals (20 souls = Bottle of Great Fairy’s Tears, 60 souls = Infinite Rupees). (Link to your dedicated Poe Souls guide if available)

Fishing Hole Secrets (Hena’s Fishing Hole)

  • Sinking Lure: Find this special lure hidden within the Fishing Hole. It allows fishing at deeper levels but Hena forbids its use if she sees you. It’s often found near the bridge pillar or along the western wall (try Clawshotting lilypads or using Wolf Link’s senses).
  • Hylian Loach: The rarest and largest fish in the game. Catching it requires patience, the right lure (sometimes easier with the Sinking Lure), and fishing in specific deep spots, often near the mother-and-child rocks or waterfalls. Catching one gets your fish journal updated and earns Hena’s admiration.
  • Piece of Heart: Sometimes found by fishing in specific spots without a lure (just the line). Try casting near the mother-and-child rocks.

Cave of Ordeals

  • What: An optional 50-floor combat dungeon located beneath a large rock on the Gerudo Mesa (requires Bridge of Eldin restored and path cleared, often using Ball and Chain or Bombs).
  • Objective: Descend through floors, fighting waves of increasingly difficult enemies. Certain floors have Great Fairies.
  • Significance: Reaching the end rewards you with a Bottle filled with Great Fairy’s Tears (fully restores health and temporarily boosts attack power). A true test of combat skill.

Other Secrets

  • Pieces of Heart & Empty Bottles: Keep an eye out everywhere! These vital upgrades are hidden across Hyrule in chests, received as rewards, or found in hidden areas. (Link to dedicated guides if available)
  • Hidden Grottos: Look for suspicious holes or bombable walls throughout Hyrule Field and other areas. Many contain chests with Rupees, Pieces of Heart, or even Poes.
  • Donations: Donating Rupees to the elder priest in Castle Town’s central square can yield a Piece of Heart after giving 1,000 Rupees total.

Hyrule is vast and filled with secrets waiting to be uncovered. Happy hunting, and enjoy exploring everything Twilight Princess has to offer beyond the main storyline!