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. CHAIRS
    Jul 7, 2017
    10
    This is truly, one of the best games I have ever played. It was a blast from beginning to end. It would take forever to read this review which is why I am splitting this in to sections. SECTION 1 Story: Breath of the wilds story isn’t the greatest, but the way you encounter it makes it unique. There is an obvious beginningThis is truly, one of the best games I have ever played. It was a blast from beginning to end. It would take forever to read this review which is why I am splitting this in to sections. SECTION 1 Story: Breath of the wilds story isn’t the greatest, but the way you encounter it makes it unique. There is an obvious beginning and end, but everything between that you haft to find. What I mean is LINK has lost his memories so if you want you can go ahead and find them all but this is optional. That is what makes the story so great. The fact that it is OPTIONELL. SECTION 2 dungeons: All though botw dungeons are similar looking they all have some really good puzzles. But they are not as great as others in the franchise but still really good. SECTION 3 BOSSES: this is the one thing I am disappointed about in botw. The bosses all look the same and are WAY too easy. Their AI was good but the bosses would have been much better and memorable if they were more difficult and had different designs’ did like ganons design but then again he was too easy to defeat. SECTION4 Exploration: Exploration in botw is extremely rewarding. There are countless things to collect and so many awesome places to find. Every time I thought "are there any new cool places left in this game „I found another awesome place. OH and there are 120 shrines to find... SECTION 5 Shrines: Shrines are very rewarding to find. They often times have great puzzles. But there are some Filler shrines and those are combat shrines. They are very lazy since there are plenty of enemies to kill in the vast world of hyrule. But for the reason that they are all so rewarding to find I loved all shrines SECTION 6 gameplay: The best gameplay in a videogame. You can literally go anywhere you want. You see that mountain over there? WELL NOT ONLY CAN YOU GO TO IT BUT YOU CAN ALSO CLIMB IT. You can climb on pretty much any surface and it is great. You also can friking surf on a shield. And you have countless attack abilities which brings me to SECTION 7 Combat: Combat in botw is great. You have so so so much variety on how to kill an enemy I FRIKKEN LOVED IT. SECTION 8 Enemies: extremely smart AI and a good amount of difficulty. I thought some of the mini bosses were much better than the bosses. Lynels were 10000 times harder than any of the actual bosses. So overall the enemies were great and I had so so much fun fighting them. SECTION 9 MUSIK: even though botw musk isn’t as memorable as in other Zelda’s a lot of the music is outright amazing. If I could I would give this game a 98 out of a 100.This and super Mario galaxy 1 and 2 are my favorite games of all time. And if you think this Game is overrated and haven’t played it you are missing out on one of if not the greatest Game of all time.… Expand
  2. Lamon
    Jun 7, 2017
    10
    This is an amazing game. Surely it isn't perfect, but you can't give it less than 9/10, especially if you tried the game; only haters do that. It isn't the best looking game ever, but it is still awesome.
  3. hotcheetos
    Jun 7, 2017
    10
    Never in my life have I ever written a review about anything, not even yelp. But, if I could describe this entire game in just one word.

    Sensational.
  4. KhuntyMcGee
    Jun 11, 2017
    10
    I've been a Zelda fan since I was 5 years old, I am now 24. There has not been a single game since I played Ocarina of Time (i played it a ridiculous amount) that has brought me the same sense of enjoyment as this. Final Fantasy 7 and Skyrim came close. This is the first Zelda game, or any game in fact that I may say possibly surpasses Ocarina of Time. It is unbelievably good and you haveI've been a Zelda fan since I was 5 years old, I am now 24. There has not been a single game since I played Ocarina of Time (i played it a ridiculous amount) that has brought me the same sense of enjoyment as this. Final Fantasy 7 and Skyrim came close. This is the first Zelda game, or any game in fact that I may say possibly surpasses Ocarina of Time. It is unbelievably good and you have to play it.… Expand
  5. Maktop
    Jun 13, 2017
    10
    This game is BREATHTAKING! I was recently playing Majoras mask before this and when I started out I was expecting it to be like any other Zelda game, boy was I wrong. You start out in the Great Plateau and right when you walk out of the starting area you look off of the peak and you see the ENTIRE WORLD! It was so huge! The bosses in this game to get very repetitive though because they areThis game is BREATHTAKING! I was recently playing Majoras mask before this and when I started out I was expecting it to be like any other Zelda game, boy was I wrong. You start out in the Great Plateau and right when you walk out of the starting area you look off of the peak and you see the ENTIRE WORLD! It was so huge! The bosses in this game to get very repetitive though because they are just different variations of Ganon, but the game is still amazing and I highly recommend it, but the weapon breaking can be a bit bad, but it all makes up for it with the amazing gameplay and game design. 9.5 out of 10.… Expand
  6. Aldeberuhn
    Jun 18, 2017
    10
    This game is absolutely breathtaking in its visual design, and the ability to explore the world of Hyrule at your own pace and in your own manner is a wonderful addition to the Zelda franchise. Being able to experiment with different ways to approach the same obstacle is another great feature of this game. If I had to name one thing that disappointed me about this game, it would probablyThis game is absolutely breathtaking in its visual design, and the ability to explore the world of Hyrule at your own pace and in your own manner is a wonderful addition to the Zelda franchise. Being able to experiment with different ways to approach the same obstacle is another great feature of this game. If I had to name one thing that disappointed me about this game, it would probably be the lack of a fully fleshed out storyline, but the game makes up for it with the bits and pieces they do provide. The story itself is the most compelling of any story the Zelda series has told before, so that just makes me want more of it. Nintendo has already announced DLC that will expand on the game's story, however, so I can't really complain. I recommend this game for just about everyone, whether you've been interested in Zelda games in the past or not. It is definitely a game that will stick with you over time.… Expand
  7. 1doughboy221
    Jul 25, 2017
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. NOTE: If you don't feel like reading this long review, skip to the end for a summary.

    As a someone who has beaten almost every game in the series, I can say with certainty that while The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the most unconventional game in the Zelda series, Nintendo still managed to succeed in making one of the best Zelda games to date; however, that's not to say that this game is not lacking of shortcomings that hold it back.

    This game is absolutely amazing; it's perhaps the first open world game that I've played that doesn't hold your hand or clutter your map with waypoints and icons when you unlock the obligatory tower for certain areas of the map. Nintendo did well in creating a game that allows the player to truly explore at the player's own volition. Furthermore, the open world is not only expansive, but the basic physics of the game make sense and are not isolated, but rather the mechanics work together in ways that will continue to surprise the player. With a plethora of things at your disposal, this game makes good use of the map (for the most part).

    The only real grievance that I have with this open world is the space in between points of interest. many people complain about how the world seems "too barren" or "empty," but I think that the negative space there is good and keeps the map from being cluttered. The thing that I have a problem with, however, is the repetitive filler that is spread throughout areas that are obviously not as busy as others. It doesn't take long to realize that the same minibosses such as hinoxes or lynels, or the exact same skull shaped bokoblin encampments are litttered all over the map. What's perhaps even worse are the same, monotonous korok puzzles that are scattered across Hyrule. Furthermore, it doesn't take long for the player to realize that the various sidequests are relatively similar, and the reward for such sidequests is either a punitive amount of money, or a weapon that's most likely just as strong as the ones in your current inventory.

    As far as the score, Nintendo doesn't fail to amaze the player in beautiful soundtrack. However, Nintendo falls a bit flat on implementing this wonderful music. Much like the map, the music is great in areas that are obvious points of interest, such as towns and shrines, but in areas where there is a lull, the music is a bit lacking. I know that Nintendo stated that they were going for a very melancholy journey that is accompanied with ambient noises rather than a real score, but for a company that is well known for their dynamic music and adaptive soundtracks, it's a bit disappointing to see that Nintendo didn't take this route for a title as large as Breath of the Wild.

    Many people herald the combat as "the best in the Zelda series to date," and I would have to agree. But on the same note, it's sad to see that for a series as old as Zelda, the combat has only evolved to this state. Sure, the combat is unique for a while, but again, its charm wears off and the player soon realizes that there isn't really any difference in the weapons throughout the game other than the way they look and the damage they deal. Even the special weapons still manage to be not interesting; for instance, the elemental weapons or the guardian weapons are certainly interesting, but there's a spear, an axe, and a short sword for both of these weapon types, so they become less unique and less rare than you'd initially expect. Sure, there are some unique weapons such as the windcleaver, the boomerangs, or the magic rods, but they all seem to suffer from some mechanic where they have a fixed damage. So, while interesting to use, their fixed, weak damage output eventually makes them ineffective and obsolete once the player has progressed far enough into the game. Even worse, the combat in this game is plagued by the rudimentary "sit and wait for the oppoent to show his weakspot" based combat that is commonplace in all of the 3D Zeldas, and gimmicky mechanics like the perfect dodge don't help.

    Dungeon design, however, is the best it's been in the 3D Zelda series. The main dungeons, while suffering a lack of any sort of unique theme, including the bosses (a problem that hasn't been seen since A Link to the Past), follow a more systemic and exploration basis for puzzles that will please those who favor a Link to the Past or the Oracle games, while the 120 shrines have the smaller, bite-size gimmick-based puzzles that fans of Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess will enjoy.

    Summary:
    + Great open world that doesn't clutter your map or hold your hand
    + Interesting and fun physics that allow the player to interact with the large world
    + Best dungeon design in 3D Zelda to date
    + Amazing soundtrack and music
    - The filler in the open world is repetitive
    - Combat, while the best in the series, is still rudimentary and gimmicky
    - Weapons are "cookie-cutter" and flawed
    - Soundtrack is lacking where needed    … Expand
  8. mikelim2000
    Sep 26, 2017
    7
    Game is good for the most part but there are lots of issues that made the game, at least for me not that great. I'm sure many of you already know some of the main complaints but I'll list mines here.
    1. Weapons break too easily
    2. If weapons in your inventory is all good quality you will not want to fight any monsters because you don't want to damage them. This makes you as a player less    Game is good for the most part but there are lots of issues that made the game, at least for me not that great. I'm sure many of you already know some of the main complaints but I'll list mines here.
    1. Weapons break too easily
    2. If weapons in your inventory is all good quality you will not want to fight any monsters because you don't want to damage them. This makes you as a player less engaged in fights, more than likely you will run past mobs of monsters instead of fighting and wasting all that gear being damaged.
    3. Lots of monsters are actually a waste of time if you fight them, the reward is sub par, you actually lose more fighting monsters than gain.
    4. Lack of music. Music is what make Zelda games memorable. After I beat this game (130 hours?) I did not have that attached feeling or that type of feeling like wow this was awesome. Lots of games have music so good where after 6+ years that you have beaten it, you will get this nostalgia feeling when you hear that music again. Zelda BOTW has NONE! Kinda sad really.
    5. This game to me was not hard enough, especially at the last climb to Hyrule castle. I beat the whole castle and Gannon using only one heal potion.
    6. Master Sword is not a master sword after all because if DOES break even when fighting Calamity Gannon minions, sure it lasts longer but it should not break at all.
    7. Zelda is the most annoying character in the game, she treats link like trash even when hes trying to help her. I don't know why he is even protecting her.
    8. Nearly all side quests have little to no reward. After you finish each side quest you will be questioning yourself like "I spent 4 hours on this side quest and I got 100 rupees are you kidding me?"

    Other than those complaints this game is pretty good and very addicting. Is it better than Ocarina of Time? No. Is it worth the $60 for the cartridge? Definitely. I don't think anyone should skip this game, it is a must play.    … Expand
  9. RoadToChaos
    Oct 4, 2017
    7
    Zelda: Breath of Wild is a fun game, even at the worst time it still had me on the edge of my seat. While the entire story is told in flashbacks, that and the side missions are boring, while not the best Zelda game, it is a great game that looks like it really did take years, Nintendo did a mediocre job at some things but they really did it this time.
  10. Ocarina_Crews
    Feb 2, 2018
    10
    A masterpiece, open-world done right and playing it is just a fun thing to do. BoTW treats the series in a very different way, yet it has high enough quality it can be argued to be the best Zelda ever made. It sure is a true contender for it.
  11. Kacek1996
    Jan 2, 2020
    10
    This game is a pure gem in the decade. Gorgeous, open world that sometimes feel empty. Great climbing mechanics, awesome diversity in equipment with the possibility to match whatever equipment you want. I do appreciate the weather cycle and the aspect of enemy respawning with red moon. The controls are really smooth and the game has good animations. I was shocked that weather can damage meThis game is a pure gem in the decade. Gorgeous, open world that sometimes feel empty. Great climbing mechanics, awesome diversity in equipment with the possibility to match whatever equipment you want. I do appreciate the weather cycle and the aspect of enemy respawning with red moon. The controls are really smooth and the game has good animations. I was shocked that weather can damage me through the equipment I wore. Quite a good pool of the enemies to fight (lizards were my favourite ones). I enjoyed the plot development, the idea of not making it an important thing. The plot is just a thing for the people who wants to enjoy it. Also, I adored the amount of collectibles things like shrines and koroks (I've got all the shrines, but I've got only 200 koroks). Cities with different races were a nice touch (I do not remember names of the races, but bird people have the best designs out of those 4 races in my opinion). Bosses and puzzle elements were fun and sometimes somehow challenging. Overall, breathtaking game that I think I will play more after some time (I've played it for around 99h). I do truly recommend it, I even think it's worth the full price! (It was my very first Zelda game) [I posted my review in september 2019, but I had to update it, and that's why there is such a date]… Expand
  12. mattzideaz
    Jan 1, 2020
    9
    Breath of the wild is a great zelda addition. The cooking mechanic of the game is good, and the enemies vary nicely in difficulty. Always room for improvement, but amazing in most ways. Where do the unlimited blue bombs come from?
  13. n4g1b4t0r3000
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    Игра в которой относятся к игрокам не как у даунам с iq14. Давно я не играл в такую офигенную игру.
    Плюсы в данной игре можно перечислять очень долго. Но я лично нашел для себя один минус. Это то что линк всегда молчит. Слегка корява некоторые диалоги выглядят и кат сцены тоже    Игра в которой относятся к игрокам не как у даунам с iq14. Давно я не играл в такую офигенную игру.
    Плюсы в данной игре можно перечислять очень долго. Но я лично нашел для себя один минус. Это то что линк всегда молчит. Слегка корява некоторые диалоги выглядят и кат сцены тоже
  14. Morrigan99
    Jun 17, 2020
    6
    I tried to like this game but I cannot. I like the inital exploring and walking around but after a while it gets really boring, really fast. (I'm 50 hours in) There is no sense of progression. You can do shrine quests (to get more hearts or stamina) but that gets very old after a while and there is no other way to improve those stats. If you find you don't like those shrines (like me) youI tried to like this game but I cannot. I like the inital exploring and walking around but after a while it gets really boring, really fast. (I'm 50 hours in) There is no sense of progression. You can do shrine quests (to get more hearts or stamina) but that gets very old after a while and there is no other way to improve those stats. If you find you don't like those shrines (like me) you are in for a bad time. You can also search for korok seeds to expand the inventory (which is also not very fun) or do some of the sidequest. (which are often fetch quests) The story is lackluster and you don't really get to care for the characters. The weapon system is the worst I've seen in a while - "burning" through weapons is not fun and rewarding in any way for me - you can get used to it but you'll end up not using certain cool weapons in fear they might break. This is not fun. I liked the paragliding and climbing in the game, as well some of the physics mechanics. The cooking and dyeing was cool but I missed more crafting mechanics like that, as well more armor and enemy variety. For someone who never played an open world game I could recommend it, for anybody else: be wary. Borrow it from a friend or something to see if you like it.… Expand
  15. LordVacant
    May 18, 2023
    0
    The most disruptive installment of the saga and the one that breaks the most conventions, that's why I don't like it at all, since it replaces a functional formula that everyone loved with an empty shell, very similar to other repetitive open worlds in the AAA industry
    In this Zelda, Ganon is the most pitiful final boss that has ever been seen in a video game.
  16. Rockinsquat
    Mar 4, 2017
    10
    Jeu vraiment énorme , mais la perfection n'existe pas , dommage car ici seul le Framrate fait défaut sur certains endroit , sinon on aurait pu toucher les étoiles ! Je mais quand même 10 pour la vague de 0/10 débile ... sinon j'aurais mis un 9.5/10
  17. tacoman3725
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    so many salty poor people giving a game they will never play a zero because they are jealous they already bought ps4 or xbox and are too poor to afford to play the best game of all time. buy a pc and get a switch you srubs....
  18. mixedupman2000
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Worth the wait! Easily one of the best open world games, and the best Zelda game in the franchise to date! Looks beautiful and plays great on Both Wii U & Switch Systems.
  19. lobbynotlob
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    So I waited in line for an hour, drove all the way back to my house in the middle of nowhere, spent another hour updating with my weak internet, and all I got was a fantastic Zelda game. Better than any other 3D Zelda, but not as good as the Oracle games because those are untouchable.
  20. Happyislands
    Mar 4, 2017
    10
    Absolutely, positively the greatest game ever made. In 20 years time kids will talk about this game with the same affection people in their 20s, 30s and 40s talk about Ocarina of Time. Pure gaming nirvana.
  21. metalmamemon
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    LOL at troll reviews. This game is awesome. It's incredible how nintendo made the perfect open world game on their first try. Also the graphics are beautiful.
  22. WhiteWolf81
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Who zero votes it is only a poor man pathetic frustrated idiot. You change hobby and you grow that it is now. but are you even ashamed to be so useless not? be disgusting!
  23. Wolley74
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Been playing this since midnight, I hate to say it but this is almost a OoT killer for best Zelda game ever. It's also drop dead gorgeous, it's like playing a painting.
  24. super_flatman
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Tengo que darle la nota que se merece despues de leer los comentarios de haters que opinan sin siquiera mirar un video, solo para criticar por pura envidia.
    El tipo de gente que hace que esta industria y cualquier otra, sea una basura.
  25. davileopardo
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    perfeito em jogabilidade, trilha sonora, arte, personagens carismáticos, mundo gigante e solido sem áreas de vazio estremo como em outros jogos similares, historia imersiva
    parece poesia
  26. revolized
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Absolute stunning game! Music, combat, and game play is enjoyable and fun. Puzzles are were Zelda always gets right, makes you think and very rewarding. Great game worthy of anyone's time.
  27. Jfa12
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Breath of the wild is a master piece of a game. This review section really needs to be cleaned up with clear fanboys just rating the game 0. Disgusting and pathetic. Same to those doing it to horizon zero dawn.
  28. Tmasw
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Truly incredible and awe inspiring. I am enthralled by the open world and overwhelmed, in a good way. There are so many different things to do that it will be impossible to ever get bored. I am so happy that Nintendo really hit a home run with this game.
  29. Chibialoha
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    This game blew me away in a way none have in a long time. I can honestly say that every expectation I had was fulfilled, and it is a truly beautiful experience.
  30. justsandii
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    This is hands down the best game I have ever played, sad to see that there are so many salty trolls in here trying to take the score down, the wait was worth it. Nintendo delivers once again.
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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

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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 »