>>715545549
>all self-contained

This has never been the case. Zelda 2 is a direct sequel to 1. Both WW and TP are direct sequels to OoT, each one being a continuation of the split timeline, and MM is painfully obviously a sequel to the Hero of Time's story.. Link Between Worlds is a direct sequel to LttP, and so is Link's Awakening. BotW is the continuation of the story set up in SS, and TotK is obviously the sequel to BotW. There are more games that are sequels than are not.