Treasure Chest Game (2024)

The Treasure Chest Game is a recurring Mini-Game in The Legend of Zelda series.^[1] They are commonly minigames in which Link picks from a choice of Treasure Chests to win Rupees or other items.

Mainline appearances[]

A Link to the Past[]

A Link to the Past has three places where the game can be played. One is on the south end of Kakariko Village (run by the Treasure Chest Game Keeper), another on the north end of the Lost Woods (run by a Forest Thief), and a third in the Village of Outcasts (run by a Dark World Shopkeeper). Each game differs in prices and winnings. While the other two allow Link a pick of only one out of three Treasure Chests per game, the Village of Outcasts has sixteen chests with a choice of two chests per game, and a Piece of Heart among its prizes.^[2][3][4]

Ocarina of Time[]

In Ocarina of Time, the Treasure Chest Contest is located in the Market. The shop is only open at night.^[5] For 10 Rupees, Link can play. The object of this game is to decide between two chests in each of the first five rooms. One chest will hold a set amount of Rupees, while the other will contain a Door Key. Receiving the Door Key will allow Link to enter the next room through a locked door, but earning the Rupee prize prevents him from going any farther.^[6][7] The sixth room at the end of the game has only one chest, with a Piece of Heart inside, unless Link has already taken the prize before, in which case it is a Purple Rupee instead.

According to a Gossip Stone, it is against the rules to use glasses in this contest. This gossip actually gives a vague hint that Link can use the Lens of Truth to ensure victory, as it allows him to see the contents of each chest before he even opens it.^[8]

Majora's Mask[]

In Majora's Mask, the Treasure Chest Game is played at the Treasure Chest Shop in East Clock Town. The cost and prize of the Treasure Chest Game is changed by the Treasure Chest Shop Gal depending on which form Link takes (Deku, Goron, Zora, or his own).^[9]

To win the Treasure Chest Game, Link must navigate across a black and white checkered floor to reach a chest on the opposite end of the building within 45 seconds. The catch is that the square segments of the floor will rise when Link is in close range of them. In this way, the black and white floor becomes a maze-like obstacle, and Link must move around the rising walls and guess which way to go to reach his goal. Because there is only a 45 second time limit, Link often must head in the correct general direction the first time; needing to turn back will cost precious time. When playing the game as a Goron, a Piece of Heart can found in the chest.

Oracle of Seasons[]

In Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, Treasure Chest Games can be played in the basem*nts of the Lynna City Shop in Oracle of Ages, and the Horon Village Shop in Oracle of Seasons. The basem*nts only open once Link purchases all of the items. For 10 Rupees, the shopkeeper will grant Link a choice between two chests. One of the two chests will have a large, red Rupee-like gem in it, the other will be empty. Link must guess the chest with the gem in it three times to win a prize, which is always a Magic Ring.^[10] The shopkeeper will ask after the third correct guess if Link wants to keep playing. Saying "OK" will continue the game. Saying "No thanks" will earn him the offered Ring. Going another round and guessing correctly will give Link yet another choice of a prize or ending the game.^[11] Winning the fifth round wins a Ring and ends the game.^[12] Continuing to play more rounds will reward Link with a rarer ring.

Four Swords Adventures[]

In Four Swords Adventures, the Links can gamble in two Treasure Chest Games. The first is in the Village of the Blue Maiden, in a home in the Dark World. In this house, Link must risk 100 Force Gems to pick between three chests, some of which hold less Force Gems, or significantly more than Link originally bet. The chests can contain a large purple Force Gem (300), a blue Force Gem (100) Rupees, or 1 single Force Gem.

A second Treasure Chest Game run by a Zuna can be found in the Desert of Doubt. The risks and rewards are unchanged.

The Minish Cap[]

In The Minish Cap, the Treasure Chest Game is hosted at the Chest Mini-Game Shop in Hyrule Castle Town. However, the shop, and therefore the mini-game, cannot be played until Link has obtained the Ocarina of Wind.

The mini-game is hosted by Borlov, and it costs 10 Rupees to play.^[13] There are two Treasure Chests in the back room, Borlov leads Link into after he pays. Link has to pick a Treasure Chest to open: one Treasure Chest contains a green Rupee with a ×2, which will double the number of Link's current bet,^[14] while the other contains a skull, which ends the game and costs Link both his initial bet and any Rupees he has won. Opening the incorrect Treasure Chest will end the game, but if Link opens the correct one, Borlov will give him the opportunity to continue betting with his new amount, doubling it with each success. Link can keep playing the game as long as he keep choosing the correct Treasure Chest. Each time Link completes a round, Borlov will try to convince Link to quit playing.^[15] When Link wins seven rounds, Borlov will give Link the maximum amount of 999 Rupees and forces him to stop playing.^[16]

Level 2 has identical mechanics to Level 1, the only difference being the number of Treasure Chests (increased from two to three) and the factor placed on a winning bet (a success in Level 2 triples the bet, as opposed to a success in Level 1, which doubles the bet). Borlov will give Link 999 Rupees if he reaches a bet of 810 Rupees and wins (a total of five successes in a row).

If Link fuses Fuses Kinstone Pieces with Spekter, Borlov will be inspired to create a separate difficulty of the Mini-Game.^[17] When Link next enters the Chest Mini-Game Shop and speaks to Borlov, he will let Link choose between "Level 1: Easy" and "Level 2: Hard".^[18][19] The second level is harder and involves having to guess from three chests, although the cost of playing is the same. One of the three chests will hold a Red Rupee with ×3 to indicate that it triples Links money. Link can play for a total of five rounds before Borlov ends the game. Again, the maximum number of Rupees that can be earned is 999.

The probability of acquiring 999 Rupees from Level 1 is , or approximately 0.7813%.

The probability of acquiring 999 Rupees from Level 2 is , or approximately 0.4115%.

A Link Between Worlds[]

In A Link Between Worlds, Fortune's Choice is a game that appears in both Kakariko Village and Thieves' Town. In Kakariko Village, Link can open one of three chests, while in Thieves' Town, he can open three of the fifteen chests. The prizes for opening the chests can range from varying amount of Rupees or Treasures. In Thieves' Town's game, it is possible to earn a Piece of Heart.

Tri Force Heroes[]

In Tri Force Heroes, Daily Riches is a shop and a game that appears in the town of Hytopia. Link can open one of four treasure chests for free once per day, of which one of them contains a random, pre-selected piece of Material. A losing chest will always result in a Freebie Material, which is exclusive to the shop. If Link plays for every consecutive day after losing, he will have a greater chance of finding the Material prize, with there being less chests to open.

Breath of the Wild[]

Cloyne operates the All or Nothing game in his house at Lurelin Village in Breath of the Wild. All or Nothing functions similarly to other Treasure Chest Games.

Nomenclature[]

Names in other regions
Language		Name	Meaning
	Japanese	あてもの屋(Atemono-ya)[20] 宝箱屋(Takaranako-ya)[21]	Guessing Shop Treasure Chest Shop
This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery[]

• 

  The Treasure Chest Shop exterior in A Link to the Past & Four Swords

• 

  The Treasure Chest Shop owner in Ocarina of Time

• 

  The Treasure Chest Shop in Majora's Mask

See Also[]

• Gambling
• Money Making Game

References