Zelda fans were thrilled to learn that the upcoming game, Tears of the Kingdom, will see the return of one of the franchise's most iconic villains, Ganondorf. However, some confusion still exists among fans regarding the distinction between the names Ganondorf and Ganon. We'll explain it to you.
Ganondorf has been a part of the Zelda franchise from the beginning. He is THE villain and THE end boss of nearly every single game. Even Nintendo's upcoming Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has already been announced to feature his return once again. If you're into Zelda, you must have heard the names "Ganondorf" and "Ganon" quite often, especially after the latest Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailer.
But is there a difference between the two names? Oh yes, and it is actually quite important not to mix them up.
The Difference Between Ganondorf And Ganon
Since I've seen many new and even older Zelda fans struggle with this, let me explain the difference between the two once and for all.
Ganondorf is the classic Zelda villain that we all know and love. He has appeared in nearly every Zelda game and is one of the most popular villains in video game history. He's got that slick red hair and some pretty impressive facial hair, if I do say so myself. Furthermore, he is a powerful Gerudo, that thrives to usurp the Kingdom of Hyrule. As the incarnation of Demise, the literal God of all evil, Ganondorf will destroy anything that tries to stop him from his plans.
But when we talk about Ganon, we don't mean the muscular, bearded and daddy-like Gerudo, no. Ganon is his beast form that has horns, tusks and a generally fearsome appearance. When Ganondorf gets his hands on the Triforce, he transforms into Ganon and becomes even more powerful than before.