The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

 Switch
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20981 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17,830 out of 20981
  2. Mixed: 1,176 out of 20981
  3. Negative: 1,975 out of 20981
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  1. 794
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Absolutely worthy of the praise it's been getting. I wouldn't even call myself a "Zelda fan". I've never played (only watched) any of the other 3D games, and I've only played two of the 2D games (Awakening and Minish Cap). With that being said, I'm rating this on the basis of it being a *video game*, not a "Zelda" game.

    So far, it's incredible. They drop you into this world filled with    Absolutely worthy of the praise it's been getting. I wouldn't even call myself a "Zelda fan". I've never played (only watched) any of the other 3D games, and I've only played two of the 2D games (Awakening and Minish Cap). With that being said, I'm rating this on the basis of it being a *video game*, not a "Zelda" game.

    So far, it's incredible. They drop you into this world filled with life and questions and places to explore. You can tackle and single instance the way you want to. Just from the size and activities to do in the first zone, I can tell this is going to be a very long adventure.

    It looks beautiful, it SOUNDS beautiful (man, all the footstep noises and weapon clinks and detailed sounds are amazing), it feels great to play and it feels open. The only thing to say negative about it is, of course, the frame drops. But that alone is certainly not worth docking a point for. (Especially when the other big brand consoles can't even achieve 1080p@30fps with their current games.)

    Worth your time, regardless of whether you are a "Zelda fan" or not.    … Expand
  2. ryanmahaffe
    May 23, 2017
    10
    One of the best games I have ever played, massive interesting world, difficulty enemies, fun gameplay, a fun yet simple story, and with some different yet fun dungeons. Zelda Breath of the Wild can't help but make your put in hundreds of hours.
  3. theculling
    Mar 9, 2017
    10
    Where to begin, really? I'm 40 hours in, hopelessly addicted to this world and everything it has to offer. Don't take my word for it (anyone else's, for that matter). Just try it for yourself, get lost in the gorgeous playground Nintendo built for us, and you might draw the same conclusion; An instant classic, that virtuously rewarded years of patience, through delays. This game is aWhere to begin, really? I'm 40 hours in, hopelessly addicted to this world and everything it has to offer. Don't take my word for it (anyone else's, for that matter). Just try it for yourself, get lost in the gorgeous playground Nintendo built for us, and you might draw the same conclusion; An instant classic, that virtuously rewarded years of patience, through delays. This game is a culmination of EVERYTHING good in past Zelda games, from NES to Wii- And then some.… Expand
  4. TheVJ
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Nintendo just gave every single other developer out there a master class in how to design a proper open world game that avoids all of the usual pitfalls. If you enjoy video games then you need to experience this. It's not only the best Zelda ever made, beating even the likes of ALttP or OoT, it's also possibly the single best video game ever created.

    Do not miss out on this!
  5. Kennebec
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Probably the best zelda game ever. The best open world game I have ever played, it's nice that you have to explore on your own, and not have a map full of icons (farcry 4) to guide you. It truly is a create your own adventure.
  6. Smoey
    Mar 8, 2017
    10
    The critic reviews speak for themselves. The game is flawless, it's magical and the story line is amazing. Yes the Switch only has a couple of games at the moment but is it worth it for Zelda? Yes, of course. The game brings you back to gaming roots, spending hours upon hours of time crafting and venturing around getting completely lost in the world.
  7. setezerocinco
    Mar 9, 2017
    10
    Playing since day one and I have to say: Breath of the Wild is perfect for the Switch experience. When I am at home I go after the Main Quests and when I am on the go (most of the time to work) I just wander through the world searching for places where I have not been before, and none of times I was disappointed. Without doubt, the best game I have played in decades of gaming life.
  8. hightechboy
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    Anyone who considers himself as a gamer (even a noob one) must play this game. An absolute masterpiece. The story, sound, music, hours and hours of gameplay guaranteed. It makes you cry, laugh, get u mad and get u sad.
  9. ricklongo
    Jun 19, 2017
    10
    It's commonplace nowadays to refer to The Legend of Zelda as formulaic, but the franchise is no stranger to sweeping change. From Ocarina of Time's 3D revolution to the touch-based DS experiments, Nintendo's flagship adventure series has tried quite a few new directions, with varying levels of success. None of those experiments, however, were as comprehensive as Breath of the Wild. AndIt's commonplace nowadays to refer to The Legend of Zelda as formulaic, but the franchise is no stranger to sweeping change. From Ocarina of Time's 3D revolution to the touch-based DS experiments, Nintendo's flagship adventure series has tried quite a few new directions, with varying levels of success. None of those experiments, however, were as comprehensive as Breath of the Wild. And none of them were ultimately as fantastic.

    This sense of newness is made clear from the beginning, in which the player gets immediately cast as a long-slumbering Link, without any sort of exposition. The character has no memory, and only wakes up from his ressurection chamber following a mysterious voice echoing in his head.

    The first moments of the game are spent exploring the Great Plateau, a location in central Hyrule that serves as an introduction to the game's main mechanics. However, after you're able to exit the Plateau thanks to your paraglider and tablet-like sheikah slate, you can go anywhere you please, including straight to the ruins of Hyrule Castle, where Calamity Ganon, the entitity who brought the world to ruin 100 years ago, waits. For a series that has become heavy on hand-holding, things are off to a great start.

    The astounding level of freedom given to the player is only possible thanks to Link's game-changing ability to climb almost any surface. Previous Zelda titles would separate areas of the game by throwing unpassable mountains between them; here, each mountain is simply a new invitation to explore. The full-fledged physics engine, meanwhile, makes traversing each area even more addictive, as things just click together in a very organic way.

    As someone who loves seamless exploration, I can get frustrated by intrusive story-heavy sections, all-too-common in releases nowadays. Breath of the Wild eschews this approach in a genius way: Link is soon able to recover several pictures in his sheikah slate, apparantly taken by Princess Zelda before the calamity. By finding the spots in those pictures, he can recover his memory piece by piece. This makes the story essentially a collectible, to be experienced according to the player's investigation skills, and one of the many reasons to thoroughly explore the world.

    The game's Hyrule is a character unto itself: a post-apocaliptic world with signs of war and destruction at every corner, but which manages to also be extremely inviting in its pastoral beauty. Scattered over 15 seamlessly-connected, sprawling regions are plenty of ruins, but also towns, stables, landmarks, quirky characters, enemy camps, and (of course) a large number of secrets to uncover. Curiosity is always rewarded, sometimes with weapons or smaller collectibles, sometimes with large boss-like enemies or shrines.

    Oh yeah, the shrines. You see, one of the longest-running Zelda traditions are its dungeons. You'd get to them (usually in linear order), solve their puzzles, collect treasure (including the special items needed to complete them), and beat the boss at the end.

    Breath of the Wild, however, completely reimagines how this works. There are 120 shrines to find, and those are like bite-sized dungeons with puzzles and treasure chests. At the end of each of them, you get a spirit orb, needed to permanently increase energy and stamina. I'm of the mind that some Zelda titles can overdo dungeons, making them interminable sections of puzzle after puzzle in which I'm unable to even save and continue from where I stopped; for that reason, this new approach was a huge breath of fresh air. It also helps that the puzzles here are modular: many of them have several possible solutions, depending on how creative you want to get.

    Of course, dungeons had an imponence that smaller shrines just can't match. This is where the actual stand-in for dungeons come into play. There are four of them, and they are probably the most epic thing I've seen in any Zelda game, ever. They have some key differences from traditional dungeons in how they work: each is one giant puzzle you need to solve progressively, and the ingenuity of their interconnected designs made me feel like an engineer at times for mastering them.

    Speaking of story, this is a series-best. The melancholy of a devastated Hyrule can make each memory you recover extremely bittersweet, as you meet the champions that were supposed to fight the calamity, each with their own particular relationship with Link, and delve into the most well-developed Princess Zelda character we've ever been graced with.

    it's weird to admit it, but Breath of the Wild single-handedly makes the entire catalogue of previous 3D Zelda games somewhat obsolete. Going back to the old approach would mean abandoning the extreme sense of freedom that pushes this game so much above everything else that's out right now. Either under the lens of the Zelda series, the open world genre, or gaming as an art form, Breath of the Wild is nothing short of a masterpiece.    … Expand
  10. chiscolo
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Pedazo de juego, muy muy bueno. Gráficamente luce precioso y los controles van muy fluidos.
    Y nada a los Sonyers piperos que le ponen un 0, como se nota la envidia jajajajaja.
    Ale vosotros quedaos con lo vuestro y ya sabeis, sarna con gusto no pica
  11. AhmadAlsumain
    Mar 7, 2017
    10
    It is such a tragic to see this absolute masterpiece game getting bad reviews for no reason other than being a great exclusive Nintendo game. Negative reviews are full of trolls. I don't understand why there are those people who just can't be happy for one another to have great exclusive games. Having said all of that, I thought that I really need to say this out loud because it would hurtIt is such a tragic to see this absolute masterpiece game getting bad reviews for no reason other than being a great exclusive Nintendo game. Negative reviews are full of trolls. I don't understand why there are those people who just can't be happy for one another to have great exclusive games. Having said all of that, I thought that I really need to say this out loud because it would hurt some sales for such a massive game.

    I want to say first *for me at least* this game has no similarities to other great Western RPG games other than it has a massive open world. That's it. Nothing more. This game has a *very* unique identity from great games like Skyrim and The Witcher. I played both games. I kinda liked them, but they are not the type of games that I would consider a masterpiece.

    I think The Witcher full texts and side stories, which made it very popular to other people, but I found the amount of script is just way too much. I am more interested in gameplay and puzzles. I love the sense of freedom that The Witcher gave me, but that was it to me. And I stopped within 20 hours or less.

    Now, this is a review about Zelda, not The Witcher. So let's dive into what makes Zelda such a masterpiece game.

    First, it is a fun wide open world game that brings you back to the true sense of adventurers. It is simply fun to do anything you want in any way you like... Whether you choose to walk, ride the horse, or use the glider as a mean of transportation, every single method is fun in its own way.

    Dungeons are so much fun. I looooove the the temples that are scattered all over Hyrule. They are full of smart puzzles to solve. They are not too difficult and not too easy. Just the right amount of difficult that makes the adventure enjoyable and challenging that won't bore you to death.

    I can talk about the game in much more details, but I don't want to spoil it for you. You have to experience it to yourself. Just know that the game is perfect in every possible way.
    ✔️ Perfect gameplay mechanic.
    ✔️ Perfect Open world.
    ✔️ Perfect soundtrack.

    And much, much more.

    The game will go to be one of the greatest game of all time. Needless to say, I love this game with so much passion. I played all of Zelda games, and this one is now officially my #1    … Expand
  12. jcnba28
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    What can I say, Nintendo has done it again. Now wonder they are still hailed the King of video games 30+ years later. Nintendo has redefined the open world genre with Zelda BOTW. I'm just glad I got to witness this Masterpiece.
  13. DrMartinSweden
    Mar 24, 2017
    10
    This game single handedly brought me back to gaming.

    It's a must play for anyone, but especially for those of the n64 era who may have gotten caught up with "life" and forgotten that magical feeling only the best games can bring.
  14. shenlong
    Apr 4, 2017
    10
    This game is the most beautiful game I've ever had the pleasure of playing. there is so much to do in this huge open world game it is now one of my favorite games to play.
  15. Jonhuggs
    Mar 4, 2017
    10
    not only is this the best game this year so far, this is one of the best games this decade. Game play is fun, nice loot system. Frame rate is rock solid on my switch. Highly recommend it!
  16. steamlord
    Mar 5, 2017
    10
    this game is a perfect 10, dont believe the negative reviews, they are just buthurt salty sony and microsoft fans envy of nintendo and zelda greatness
  17. MistahJuicyBoy
    Jun 18, 2019
    10
    My vote for the best game ever made. However, it's really difficult to explain why it is so good. If you look at Metacritic, reviews are either very negative, or perfect. If exploration and combat are your thing, this is a 10. There aren't linear paths like in previous games, no items locked behind achievements; if this is the type of game you really like, there is none of it here.

    My    My vote for the best game ever made. However, it's really difficult to explain why it is so good. If you look at Metacritic, reviews are either very negative, or perfect. If exploration and combat are your thing, this is a 10. There aren't linear paths like in previous games, no items locked behind achievements; if this is the type of game you really like, there is none of it here.

    My advice for its enjoyment is that you should go in with no expectations and let the game wow you. If you go in expecting to be impressed beyond your wildest dreams, the game will feel... too calm. It's best enjoyed while relaxed.    … Expand
  18. KO-san
    Mar 4, 2017
    10
    You can tell who hasn't played this when they repeat stuff like "no voice acting" and "empty world". Even people saying it runs at "20fps or lower throughout". While docked it certainly does dip every now and again, but it isn't nearly as bad, mostly hitting the 30fps mark and never dipping below 20fps. Calling it slow to load is also objectively wrong, considering it takes a fraction ofYou can tell who hasn't played this when they repeat stuff like "no voice acting" and "empty world". Even people saying it runs at "20fps or lower throughout". While docked it certainly does dip every now and again, but it isn't nearly as bad, mostly hitting the 30fps mark and never dipping below 20fps. Calling it slow to load is also objectively wrong, considering it takes a fraction of the time discs take to load and without mandatory installs.

    This said, in lieu of the hundreds of false reviews from less than trustworthy users, the game is astonishing. The aesthetic (because it is an artistic direction, not graphics) is beautiful, and with the true to life ambience and fluid animations, it is something that draws you in and keeps you there. It is easy to pick it up for a quick session only to find that hours have passed. There's lots to do in between the 120 shrines and 900 hidden Korok puzzles, including cataloguing items in the world and experimenting with different recipes or just exploring the freedom of the physics engine created, something not common in such large games. NPCs are colorful themselves, flush with personality and providing optional quests for the player should they seek them out. The musical score, while much more hushed and stoic in comparison to the previous entries' adventurous beat, is a welcome change of pace especially for such a large world. The voice acting, a first for the series, is great as well and not something I thought would have been handled as well as it did.

    All in all, I stand by the critics. The game is fun, engaging, and a welcome entry for anyone interested in the genre and willing to give it the time of day.    … Expand
  19. Twin2712
    Mar 9, 2017
    10
    Amazing, I'm never bored paying it, and I've barely even scratched the main story!
    So much to do, so many secrets to uncover, its a shame i don't enough time to do it all
  20. Cloud81
    Jun 20, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Greatest game of all. Fvivuuyucucucuvuviviviviv8g8viv ogig8g8g8c8g8viv8g I vivi… Expand
  21. Zidane_Mina
    Mar 6, 2017
    10
    I've been playing games for the last 24 years (Since i was 4), and this is the game i have always dreamed of.

    The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild is the first true open world game in the series, and it sets a benchmark not only for upcoming Zelda games, but all open world games in general. The amount of wonder this version of Hyrule (the name of the land) brings is otustanding.    I've been playing games for the last 24 years (Since i was 4), and this is the game i have always dreamed of.

    The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild is the first true open world game in the series, and it sets a benchmark not only for upcoming Zelda games, but all open world games in general. The amount of wonder this version of Hyrule (the name of the land) brings is otustanding. There's never a dull moment while traversing the landscape, and the amount of sigths is incredible huge: from pretty vallleys filled with flowers and greens, to hellish volcanoes, perilous deserts and freezing mountains: it's all there, and everything blends perfectly.

    Gameplay wise, if you're a veteran 3D Zelda player, you'll have to unlearn everything you've learned over the last 2 decades, this entry mixes up things a little: no longer does Link auto-jump gaps, there's a dedicated button for that. Your weapons break, you have to change them at the middle of the battle or procuring new ones either in the battlefield, looting them from enemies or finding them on the wild. Is sorta like a mixture of Dark Souls and every other eastern action RPG.

    Storywise, Zelda has never been this epic in scale and dramatic yet heroic on execution, and the game last however long you want it to last: the story has good pacing, interesting characters and a very (very) satisfying ending.

    Graphics are incredible, though with some little problems here and there (bad anti-liasing and some frame rate drops, but nothing too serious, (no really, they happen veyr rarely), but the artistic style is pure bliss: the amount of color and life put into this open world is outstanding, and it makes every other open world out there (except maybe, Dragon Age Inquisition) look dull and boring in comparison.

    There's not a single thing i can complain about on this game that hinders the overall quality and awesomeness Nintendo has brought to this franchise. Nintendo has looked over every other open world game out there and surely thought for itself "i can do the same, but better". Experienced players will surely identify things that other games did before this (Assassin's Creed, The Witcher 3, The Elder Scrolls, Dark Souls), but Breath of the Wilde took those elements and made something special out of it: like a recipe for perfection). At the end of the day, BoTW may not be the biggest open world out there, neither the most dense with side activities: but it is, beyond any doubt, the most fun open world game i've ever played.

    Breath of the Wild has become the best game i have ever played, and in a world where i also played the everlasting awesome games like Bioshock, Red Dead Redemption, Dark Souls, God of War III, Bloodborne and The Elder Scrolls, that's one hell of an accomplishment.    … Expand
  22. JustAndy
    Jun 11, 2021
    10
    One of the best videogames I've ever played. Brought me back when I was a child and could enjoy a game that much. A true gem
  23. LuccaSSC
    Jul 13, 2017
    10
    We're just past half of 2017, but I already know this is the game of the year. I've never really liked the Zelda franchise, but Breath of the Wild makes me want to play every single entry.
  24. CurlyJefferson
    Apr 21, 2017
    10
    Breath of the Wild is far and away one of the best games I have ever played. The enormous world packed with hidden secrets and coves, the interlocking systems that play off each other in interesting ways in and out of combat, and the the astoundingly high level of polish makes BoTW an instant classic, a titan of a game that all future open-world games will be measured up to.
  25. Footballpires
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    If you don't like framerate drops, play the Plateau on handheld mode, because the drops are constant and considerable. Other than that, this game is wonderful. The controls, the mechanics, the HUGE world there is to roam around in. There is so much to do, so many different enemies, tools, shields, weapons, dungeons, characters, the wildlife is unmached from any other game. I haven'tIf you don't like framerate drops, play the Plateau on handheld mode, because the drops are constant and considerable. Other than that, this game is wonderful. The controls, the mechanics, the HUGE world there is to roam around in. There is so much to do, so many different enemies, tools, shields, weapons, dungeons, characters, the wildlife is unmached from any other game. I haven't finished the game but I have not put it down for long since I got it.… Expand
  26. Eradicate
    Apr 1, 2017
    10
    I hate trolls! Yes, you know all the bad reviews are from either Microsoft or Sony fan boys, that just want to hate on Nintendo because they want to make love to their consoles. Amazing game and well worth a 10 rating. Best game I have played in years. Will be going though this game again and again to find all the extra stuff. Gameplay=10, Graphics=10, Controls=10, Sound-Music=10. BestI hate trolls! Yes, you know all the bad reviews are from either Microsoft or Sony fan boys, that just want to hate on Nintendo because they want to make love to their consoles. Amazing game and well worth a 10 rating. Best game I have played in years. Will be going though this game again and again to find all the extra stuff. Gameplay=10, Graphics=10, Controls=10, Sound-Music=10. Best game in years, hands down.… Expand
  27. Astorgh
    Mar 8, 2017
    10
    I will be the first to admit that Aonuma and his team were pretty lost in the direction of where the Zelda series should go. Wind Waker was the first game where they 100% did what they wanted to do, buy due to back lash on the art style they decided to take a more serious graphical style with Twilight Princess, this being a game only made because of the criticisms that Wind Waker received.I will be the first to admit that Aonuma and his team were pretty lost in the direction of where the Zelda series should go. Wind Waker was the first game where they 100% did what they wanted to do, buy due to back lash on the art style they decided to take a more serious graphical style with Twilight Princess, this being a game only made because of the criticisms that Wind Waker received.
    Skyward Sword was another attempt at doing something entirely of their own, but they ended up doing the most linear and gameplay frustrating game of the series.
    All of those missteps lead up to this gem of a game. Breath of the Wild is finally taking serious notes and learning from other games, including western games like The Witcher and Shadow of Mordor.
    This game treats you like every game should treat the player, like a person capable of doing things of their own.
    Taking all the Zelda elements aside, this is really open world perfection. Any enemy can represent a threat at any point of the game. Anything that happens, whether is a success of a failure, you have no one else to blame but yourself. All the enemies, all the scenarios are designed to overtake them in many ways. By 25 minutes into the game, you may have already 10 different ways of killing a Moblin. When you fight a boss, there's so many combinations of fighting it and not just one weakness.
    The story elements may be a little overused, but it is done in the best way possible. All the characters react different to different situations. There's lots of side quests to do. It's just a grand enjoyable time.
    The music in this game is just... I don't think there's words to describe it. The transition that music takes from one place to another just fits so well. The audio design is incredible. Just amazing. You can hear the Moblins that are close to you, as you approach a Fox and hear it walking through the grass, while hearing the wind blowing, etc. I could go on and on.
    This is just a masterpiece of a game. Best Zelda ever. Probably best game of the decade.    … Expand
  28. vrildox
    Mar 6, 2017
    10
    Game of the Year 2017!!! I don't get how this game could receive anything less than a 10 from critics. The users that are giving it less than an 8 don't deserve to be on the internet. I own both the Wii U and the Switch versions and they're both amazing so don't be afraid to buy either one. Also, the Switch is an amazing console. So Zelda Breath of the Wild for Switch is basically my newGame of the Year 2017!!! I don't get how this game could receive anything less than a 10 from critics. The users that are giving it less than an 8 don't deserve to be on the internet. I own both the Wii U and the Switch versions and they're both amazing so don't be afraid to buy either one. Also, the Switch is an amazing console. So Zelda Breath of the Wild for Switch is basically my new favorite game and I've been gaming for almost 30 years.… Expand
  29. b0xx3r
    Mar 10, 2017
    10
    Many reviews have already said it, just here to submit my rating without copying the same thing but need to type something for the character limit....
  30. ShannonEric
    Mar 8, 2017
    10
    I've been playing video games for as long as I can remember. My favorites have always been open world experiences. This game captures the wonder and awe that I first experienced playing huge games like World of Warcraft, but in a mobile format! The world is vast and engaging, but not overwhelming. There are corners of the world that can feel secluded. Literally everything you can see withI've been playing video games for as long as I can remember. My favorites have always been open world experiences. This game captures the wonder and awe that I first experienced playing huge games like World of Warcraft, but in a mobile format! The world is vast and engaging, but not overwhelming. There are corners of the world that can feel secluded. Literally everything you can see with your eyes, you can travel to. I can spend hours just walking around aimlessly, not moving towards any specific goal, but just experiencing the world and fully enjoying myself. If you have not tried this game, please do so. You are missing out on something truly special.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Switch Game of 2017
1
#1 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2017
1
#1 Most Shared Switch Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
97

Universal acclaim - based on 109 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 106 out of 109
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 109
  3. Negative: 0 out of 109
  1. GameGrin
    Dec 12, 2017
    100
    Where it takes mechanics from others in the industry, it improves upon them; where it introduces new ones, you slap your forehead in amazement that it hasn’t been done before. Breath of the Wild is development done right, and damn near the best game you’ll play all year.
    Read full review
  2. Wired UK
    Aug 30, 2017
    100
    Breath of the Wild is a masterpiece.
    Read full review
  3. Games Master UK
    May 19, 2017
    96
    Up there with the finest Zelda games, Breath of the Wild is bold, liberating, and utterly astonishing. [Apr 2017, p.60]
See all critic reviews »