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
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Bonobo_love
    Mar 5, 2017
    6
    This zelda isn't a bad game. Through it's not 10/10 ideal game of all time like all journalists said.
    Many technicals issues like fps drops, bugs and etc.
    Open world seems empty and dull.
    Weapons breaks too easily.
    No ingame sound.
  2. kuehnau
    Mar 3, 2017
    7
    Well the day is finally here for the Nintendo Switch and Breath of the Wild. After all the fanfare and hype, was it worth the wait?

    I'd like to start off by saying that all of the 0 out of 10 reviews don't seem fair. But I think that's sort of the price you pay for having such a well known brand and franchise, it brings out the worst in people. With that being said, those reviews    Well the day is finally here for the Nintendo Switch and Breath of the Wild. After all the fanfare and hype, was it worth the wait?

    I'd like to start off by saying that all of the 0 out of 10 reviews don't seem fair. But I think that's sort of the price you pay for having such a well known brand and franchise, it brings out the worst in people. With that being said, those reviews aren't wrong, even if the scores appear to be.

    Going into Breath of the Wild, based on just the online reviews and videos alone, I was expecting one of the most epic Legend of Zelda games to date, unfortunately that really isn't the case and previous entries in the game series end up faring better in comparasion.

    I think one of the bigger issues stem from the fact that the developers lost sight of the core game when they started moving it into "open world" territory. The developers became more engrossed in that concept than what really makes a Zelda title a Zelda title to begin with.

    When compared to other games in the franchise, the selection of enemies is shallow compared to what we usually come to expect from the series. Generally these games tend to have a wide selection of enenmies that change based on the dungeon and region of the game. With Breath of the Wild, we are seeing a lot less unique enemies and instead a lot of re-colored or re-skinned enemies as a direct result. This wouldn't be horrible if it was expected, like with titles such as Dragon Quest. But in a Legend of Zelda game, it's a bit of a disappointment.

    The story isn't nearly as grand as it has been in the past. And while I haven't actually beat the game yet, I have found myself not nearly as invested or interested as I would have from previous titles in the series. A lot of times it feels as though the story element of the game was tacked on as an afterthought.

    The game play is also equally shallow when compared to other games in the franchise. Yes, there's a lot of weapons you can collect, but considering their frequency of appearance and the fact many of them will break over time, they are really underwhelming. None of them feel nearly as powerful or epic as you'd expect from a Zelda title. Remember all the neat tools you'd get in other Zelda titles? Nonexistent. Don't expect to find cool tools such as the hook-shot, it doesn't exist. I think this is one of the things that hurts the game the most.

    There are no heart pieces. Rupees are still in the game, but not in the same capacity as other Zelda titles. Instead you'll need to actually work to earn Rupees, you'll need to make and sell things in what appears to be an active economy and for whatever reason, it doesn't feel as if it fits properly with the overall theme of Legend of Zelda.

    There's a severe lack of music in the game. It's still there, but it doesn't feel as grand as it did in previous entries of the game. I see what they were trying to go for with the music, but it doesn't feel the same.

    As far as the technical specs go, the game looks good for what it is, there is no complaint there. But if people recall, there was some complaints about slow downs for the game, which apparently were reported to be fixed. But lo and behold people are still reporting slow downs on Breath of the Wild. This doesn't really surprise me as a release day title, but that doesn't make it any less disappointing. Folks are reporting that the switch can get pretty hot when played for extended peroids, so it makes me wonder if the game is suffering from the system physically slowing down due to the system becoming too warm, like how a tablet game will under perform on a Android tablet.

    So, what's the final verdict? It's a Legend of Zelda title in name only, it doesn't feel like a proper Legend of Zelda game at it's core.    … Expand
  3. IAmPaperworkDan
    Apr 1, 2017
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Let's get the good points out of the way. The game is visually stunning. Throw around "900p" and "cartoony graphics" all you like but artistically styled games always outshine realism, especially in the long run. Next is the open world. It's big... impressively big. So big that whenever I try to describe it I always fail to do it justice. This for me is easily the best thing about the game and should be held as the new standard for open world games in the future. However an open world experience is only as good as the content that brings the world to life, and in the case of Breath of the Wild we find that Hyrule is as good as empty. There's no fun in exploring if there's nothing to discover now is there?

    Stumbling across and getting into scuffles with new enemies is fun for a while but ends abruptly when you realise the handful of early game encounters are copy and pasted throughout the entire world (albeit with a few recolourings to establish a power increase). Then there's the shrines. Gone are the staple Zelda dungeons and in exchange we are given 120 shrines, each containing a single puzzle. None of them take any longer than 5 minutes and using the word puzzle is giving them far too much credit. In fact, several don't even contain any puzzle because climbing the small hill to the entrance was "challenge enough." The most difficult shrine I encountered involved using motion controls along with an awful camera angle to solve a ball and maze puzzle, and even this could be cheesed by flipping your controller upside to get rid of the maze aspect. The challenge comes clunky controls rather than good game design. If it weren't for the eventual reward of either an extra Heart Container or Stamina Vessel then I wouldn't have even bothered to complete them. There are quite a few side quests to pick up along your journey but they are never anything more than errand boy tasks, most of which go completely unrewarded, so collecting 55 of a certain kind of mushroom or dispatching a group of enemies was nothing but a waste of time. It would've been nice to have some story arcs delivered across multiple side quests but with the exception of one quest in which you help a man to build a town, all side quests are completely independent of each other. Another tiny complaint would be with the performance issues. The game tries to run at 30fps but right from the get go sees regular dips to as low as 15fps. This starts out as very annoying but as the game goes on I found myself noticing it less frequently. Maybe the starting area is just a little more demanding or maybe I just got used to it as time went on.

    I've not got a lot to say about the main quests. There are only 15 of them and most of them are dished out in your first few hours. Essentially your objective is simply to defeat Ganon. There are the four Divine Beasts that can be reclaimed along the way but there's nothing too exciting about any of them. They're not even a requirement and if anything make your inevitable final fight too easy. In order to gain access to them you need to complete your usual errand boy tasks for the local residents and participate in what is best described as a mini game. Once inside, each Divine Beast houses it's own gimmick to help you access a number of terminals allowing you to regain control and is then finished up with a very easy boss battle. It's certainly a way to kill time and gives a little insight into Link's past with the associated cut-scenes but they're nothing to get excited by.

    What disappoints me most with Breath of the Wild is the wasted potential. I can't help but feel this amazing world could be put to much better use. The game doesn't feel like a Zelda game anymore. Why couldn't Nintendo have just given us a brand new IP? An open world of this standard would be far better suited to an RPG. It just feels like the Zelda name has been slapped on to secure some extra sales, severely limiting the games boundaries as a result.    … Expand
  4. fallingtitan
    Mar 5, 2017
    5
    The games story fails to draw you in and it starts off very slow. The fighting mechanic is amazingly simple yet can become deep. A+

    however, the swords break after 1 or 2 enemies and is very annoying. The game struggles to give you a smooth experience. Game lags a bit on most fights with the wii U version. Most the game is spent climbing and traveling the huge amazing world. It is    The games story fails to draw you in and it starts off very slow. The fighting mechanic is amazingly simple yet can become deep. A+

    however, the swords break after 1 or 2 enemies and is very annoying. The game struggles to give you a smooth experience. Game lags a bit on most fights with the wii U version. Most the game is spent climbing and traveling the huge amazing world. It is kinda boring. But the huge open world is truly a masterpiece.

    But unlike the witcher 3, zelda does not make the huge world a joy to explore. It has a pointlessness to it that i've never seen before. The urgency is gone in this version of zelda due to the weak story.

    Overall this game is a solid 5/10 for me as a huge zelda fan. Favorites include OOT, Link2past, LBW, SS, WW.    … Expand
  5. NeonPurple
    May 15, 2018
    0
    Jesus Christ, where to start. So I’m not a big fan of this game, which you probably can tell by my review. Zelda breath of the wild has some of the worst story I’ve ever seen. I did quite enjoy the old ones, but for some reason, it’s not the case with this one. And why is it always the same story over and over again Nintendo? Where’s the innovation. This game has a lot of issues, and IJesus Christ, where to start. So I’m not a big fan of this game, which you probably can tell by my review. Zelda breath of the wild has some of the worst story I’ve ever seen. I did quite enjoy the old ones, but for some reason, it’s not the case with this one. And why is it always the same story over and over again Nintendo? Where’s the innovation. This game has a lot of issues, and I truly hope the next Zelda will surprise me in a better way. What I like about Nintendo is that they take their time with their exclusive. But they really took some poorly choices, how to make this game… Expand
  6. Youb
    Mar 10, 2017
    5
    Let us get the most pressing matter out of the way first. Zelda: Breath of the Wild is not a good game. There are several perfect scores in the critic page, and even more in the user submitted page, but those of us who are NOT paid to promote the game have a vastly different opinion of it.

    Namely, that this game is incredibly underwhelming, in pretty much every way imaginable. Combat is    Let us get the most pressing matter out of the way first. Zelda: Breath of the Wild is not a good game. There are several perfect scores in the critic page, and even more in the user submitted page, but those of us who are NOT paid to promote the game have a vastly different opinion of it.

    Namely, that this game is incredibly underwhelming, in pretty much every way imaginable. Combat is uninspired, the crafting mechanics feel tacked on, the AI is easily exploited especially when objects are in the way, and the story is.... well... laughably bad. The game features repetitive puzzles and embarrassing use of reskinned enemies. The framerate issues and objects in the distance popping in and out is horrible to experience. This game is simply not worth your time in any sense of the word. It is, in essence, an Assassin's Creed type game. It is promoting itself on this promise of delivering a game with a really cool idea, but the reality of the experience is more than simply lackluster. It is downright pathetic.    … Expand
  7. DaRasinBran
    Jan 2, 2018
    1
    Awful Story, lack of difficulty, no satisfaction when totally annihilating all the bosses, at some moments frame rates drop, and along with too easy shrines. Also for the shrines and bosses, WTF is this????
  8. EmiliaClarke202
    May 18, 2018
    0
    So i recently bought a switch, and I am a Zelda fan. And after I've seen the critic reviews, I thought, it must be good then. I'm sure some zelda fans probably loves this reboot, but to me it just isn't that good. To me, they changed it for the worse. I mean, at least they try to innovate, but i guess they can't please everybody. I don't know if most of the red scores are trolls, or peopleSo i recently bought a switch, and I am a Zelda fan. And after I've seen the critic reviews, I thought, it must be good then. I'm sure some zelda fans probably loves this reboot, but to me it just isn't that good. To me, they changed it for the worse. I mean, at least they try to innovate, but i guess they can't please everybody. I don't know if most of the red scores are trolls, or people who feel the same way as me. I really hoped I would love this new Zelda, but it is what it is. at least, I'm looking quite forward to Mario Tennis… Expand
  9. Hydrocat
    Mar 8, 2017
    6
    It's a good game. It's an awesome launch title, but it isn't groundbreaking by any means. Is it the best Zelda game of all time? Maybe, but the previous 4 Zelda games have set that bar pretty low. The story is the same story you've played a thousand times. When it comes to sandbox games, there are dozens of others I would reach for before I'd reach for this. It's frankly dissapointing toIt's a good game. It's an awesome launch title, but it isn't groundbreaking by any means. Is it the best Zelda game of all time? Maybe, but the previous 4 Zelda games have set that bar pretty low. The story is the same story you've played a thousand times. When it comes to sandbox games, there are dozens of others I would reach for before I'd reach for this. It's frankly dissapointing to play after you see how much hype this got.… Expand
  10. MORJ
    Mar 29, 2017
    10
    Best open world game ever made. Such excellent word design, that makes you want to explore every inch and corner of hyrule. Gone is the handholding and the difficulty has received a notch up. Best zelda game ever made, infact this is open wolrd perfection. Do not believe the silly 0 scores from people, its soooooo obvious where those are comming from, and man you have to be a real sadBest open world game ever made. Such excellent word design, that makes you want to explore every inch and corner of hyrule. Gone is the handholding and the difficulty has received a notch up. Best zelda game ever made, infact this is open wolrd perfection. Do not believe the silly 0 scores from people, its soooooo obvious where those are comming from, and man you have to be a real sad person irl to even submit such a score for this game. Just look at alll the reviewers giving this game top scores. Its completly justified, this game is the best game ever made period.… Expand
  11. Karema
    Apr 16, 2020
    0
    The game is boring, the soundtrack is boring not a typical Zelda music just a slow anime sounds, there is to much little side quest and the main quest its just defeat ganon. And just shrines not a single dungeon. Link has not even his Green tunic. I buy this game and i dont want to finish it. nintendo want promote there games with bigger and a lot mini sidequest. Skyrim has a better mainquest.
  12. Amstel
    Dec 23, 2020
    0
    The game lacks deepness. The main character is poorly customizable. Action poorly evolved since Ocarina of Time.
  13. deaddog123
    Jun 14, 2022
    1
    i hate this game it sucks it not fun and hard to learn and most of the time you dont know where you are
  14. Skyblue93
    Nov 16, 2018
    10
    One of the greatest games of all time. Flawless in design, beautiful in nature and perfectly tight controls. Best of the best.
  15. HSuke
    Jul 16, 2018
    6
    This is barely a Zelda game. It's way too long and has more in common with Oblivion/Skyrim than with the Metroidvania exploration and backtracking that's been crucial in previous Zelda games. The puzzles are much shorter and more bland. It's a really dumbed-down, open-world adventure game that decided to cripple its puzzle aspect.
  16. Kurola
    Mar 8, 2017
    10
    Beautiful game. I'm roughly 5 hours in and this game is incredibly fun to play. The exploration is wonderful. The world is massive and filled with secrets and surprises. The controls are great, and the combat system is amazing. The game has a perfect difficulty curve that makes the player have to be aware and thoughtful about combat. This is easily one of the most outstanding games I haveBeautiful game. I'm roughly 5 hours in and this game is incredibly fun to play. The exploration is wonderful. The world is massive and filled with secrets and surprises. The controls are great, and the combat system is amazing. The game has a perfect difficulty curve that makes the player have to be aware and thoughtful about combat. This is easily one of the most outstanding games I have played in years. I had almost forgotten how fun it is to just enjoy playing a great video game. This game reminds me of why I am a gamer.… Expand
  17. jasonxoc
    Mar 11, 2017
    10
    My fiance doesn't like games where you have to fight. She's absolutely addicted to breath of the wild. I absolutely love it. I've got about 50 hours into its ridiculously great.
  18. Kristof_Kadaver
    Jul 17, 2020
    1
    Отвратительная игра. Оценки журнализтов это тщательное вылизывание большой Н. Не смог играть долбше 2-х часов. Просто вымораживает.
  19. mario999
    Apr 11, 2023
    0
    Don't get how people play switch, friend of mine gave me for some days a switch because I wanted to test out this game, I was so giant fan of Nintendo until Wii which was the end of Nintendo for me, don't understand how people can look at so bad screen and giant pixels in 2022or even now 2023, my phone haves like triple the pixels, just can't look at this screen, this game looks so badDon't get how people play switch, friend of mine gave me for some days a switch because I wanted to test out this game, I was so giant fan of Nintendo until Wii which was the end of Nintendo for me, don't understand how people can look at so bad screen and giant pixels in 2022or even now 2023, my phone haves like triple the pixels, just can't look at this screen, this game looks so bad felt like it looks worst Zelda ocarina of time, which was a masterpiece back in the day, crazy how Nintendo can get so much sales in 2023 with this hardware and games.… Expand
  20. Yourowner
    Aug 10, 2018
    5
    Okay so Tuff to score this low the game was beautiful and Artistic and Rung true and Great to my soul im a 90s kid and had a Friend show me Zelda and have loved all till now this Zelda does 2 things that bug me and that is the Glass Weapons and the over run Map Glass weapons??? Horrible idea unless you have the time to recollect all weapons after or before battles or just run around withOkay so Tuff to score this low the game was beautiful and Artistic and Rung true and Great to my soul im a 90s kid and had a Friend show me Zelda and have loved all till now this Zelda does 2 things that bug me and that is the Glass Weapons and the over run Map Glass weapons??? Horrible idea unless you have the time to recollect all weapons after or before battles or just run around with common weapons but it just adds to the mindless things in the game that will drag you down quick if your trying to complete the game 100% or if your trying to just play a bit before work... again i wanted to love this game but they Just Barley missed it.… Expand
  21. agent13
    Apr 12, 2018
    5
    I have never been a fan of zelda games or jrpg games
    i Just finished the main game to see why people like this game so much i even got a switch for this game.
    It has a beautiful and vast world, great artistic graphics and a lovable and nostalgic antagonist, link but the combat system is so annoying. destructible weapons was a very bad idea for this game Progressing in this game is so    I have never been a fan of zelda games or jrpg games
    i Just finished the main game to see why people like this game so much i even got a switch for this game.
    It has a beautiful and vast world, great artistic graphics and a lovable and nostalgic antagonist, link
    but the combat system is so annoying. destructible weapons was a very bad idea for this game
    Progressing in this game is so boring and hard you need to be so patient.
    bosses, shrines and quests are sometimes repetitive and the game gets boring sometimes.
    I'm a big fan of cinematic and narrative focused games. Botw is noting like that. The ending is simple and the story is not satisfying
    Botw is a mediocre game overall and doesn't deserve to be GOTY    … Expand
  22. THEPAGE
    Mar 7, 2017
    9
    This game is amazing. The game is occasionally marred with the performed issues, however, putting those aside, the game is essentially flawless. Though the inventory screen can be cumbersome it does little to weigh down this experience. Honestly I find it hilarious that they're so many review here from people saying that the review are paid, and that the game sucks. Especially when theyThis game is amazing. The game is occasionally marred with the performed issues, however, putting those aside, the game is essentially flawless. Though the inventory screen can be cumbersome it does little to weigh down this experience. Honestly I find it hilarious that they're so many review here from people saying that the review are paid, and that the game sucks. Especially when they haven't played it.

    Only real complaint is that the cartridge tastes bad.    … Expand
  23. td311828
    Mar 9, 2017
    10
    I didn't grow up with Zelda. This was only my second Zelda game. My first was A Link Between Worlds. If this game is any indicator of how good the series is, then wow I really need to play the older titles. I've played a great variety of RPGs. Loved the Witcher 3, Skyrim. Just played Horizon and loved that as well. And now Zelda. Can I just say how happy I am that at the level of qualityI didn't grow up with Zelda. This was only my second Zelda game. My first was A Link Between Worlds. If this game is any indicator of how good the series is, then wow I really need to play the older titles. I've played a great variety of RPGs. Loved the Witcher 3, Skyrim. Just played Horizon and loved that as well. And now Zelda. Can I just say how happy I am that at the level of quality we'e seeing from modern titles? This Zelda game is amazing in how you can explore and traverse the land. You're not restricted to roads. You can literally climb over mountains. Any place you can see on the map is accessible and that still blows my mind. Cooking provides a great way to prepare for the cold environments or hot environments. It's also the only way to regain hearts. In A Link Between Worlds, you actually picked up small Hearts. I'm assuming thats how past Zelda games were as well. I just discovered shield surfing and while it destroyed a a shield I was saving, it was well worth it. A fantastic game. 10/10… Expand
  24. jakopalacky
    Mar 9, 2017
    10
    Got the game at launch and just beat it today. Wow, I'm speechless. This game at its core reminded me why I love gaming. From the opening scene when you run onto the cliff and survey the landscape. To meeting all the various groups throughout Hyrule. My fear going in was that this game was going to have an empty world. Boy was I wrong. I had no idea how expansive the map really is. It wasGot the game at launch and just beat it today. Wow, I'm speechless. This game at its core reminded me why I love gaming. From the opening scene when you run onto the cliff and survey the landscape. To meeting all the various groups throughout Hyrule. My fear going in was that this game was going to have an empty world. Boy was I wrong. I had no idea how expansive the map really is. It was a bit overwhelming at first but once you get used to the basic idea of discovering new Towers and Shrines, it becomes easier. Though those damn Guardians made it so difficult. My complaint about the game is the Yoga clan. I can't go into it more without revealing spoilers but they are annoying. Also the frame drops that occur on the Plateau and Forest regions can be pretty annoying in docked mode. Absolutely no drops in Handheld mode, which is what I primarily used. I'm sad that this game will set the bar too high for Nintendo. I doubt they can put out another title on the Switch that can be this amazing. But I'm looking forward to the new games down the road and reconnecting with more franchises that I have't played in years.… Expand
  25. O2H
    May 11, 2017
    10
    A very good game, this The legend of Zelda is for me the best, I find the gameplay very well thought out, I love the fact that weapons have durability) I can not wait for the DLC to arrive!
  26. CrazyKyuremZ
    May 12, 2017
    10
    The tutorial area Great Plateau is gigantic for an tutorial. Most of the shrines have pretty good challanges and the enemys arent to weak. The usage of Amiibo is implemented good
  27. witchercreed
    Jul 30, 2018
    5
    Прикол в том что игра классная но ее слишком переоценили.Сюжет слишком прост и зауряден,а диалоги неинтересны от мазки типа: эта классика не оправдывает ее с такими оценками она должна быть как минимум на уровне the last of us не меньше.Может боевая система здесь классная,нет она простая ничем не выделяющейся.Не понимаю почему но а гамме они здесь точно не думали как и в Assasin's creedПрикол в том что игра классная но ее слишком переоценили.Сюжет слишком прост и зауряден,а диалоги неинтересны от мазки типа: эта классика не оправдывает ее с такими оценками она должна быть как минимум на уровне the last of us не меньше.Может боевая система здесь классная,нет она простая ничем не выделяющейся.Не понимаю почему но а гамме они здесь точно не думали как и в Assasin's creed Origins,все слишком кислотное. Единственное что меня заинтересовала это взаимодействие с миром,поджигание стрел,рубля деревьев,сильный ветер.Игра просто дает тебе мир и говорит делай что хочешь что-та типа fallout 4.Покупать ли Nintendo switch ради нее,да покупайте но не видитесь на оценки… Expand
  28. mixaal
    Oct 16, 2018
    10
    The best Zelda I've ever played. I had this game on Wii U, I bought it on Switch as well. I finished this game not once, not twice but 10 times. And always the gameplay differs from the previous one. I've never seen so many options to complete puzzles before. The BOTW open world is amazing with so many hidden places and puzzles to solve and fights to win that I didn't find it boring yet.
  29. leguizamo182
    Oct 25, 2018
    6
    It's a good game, but not amazing, very ugly and repetitive for this generation of consoles, i don't like the characters narrative, is very large world but is empty, the repetition of enemies, trees, zones and charactes doest help.
  30. dantah
    Nov 5, 2018
    10
    EDGE's top 100 games of all time ranks BoTW at #1. I think the same as EDGE.

    I did not feel bored at all for over 100 hours.
Page:

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 »