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. 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
  2. CharrPlayz
    Jul 25, 2017
    9
    Short review: It's good, buy it.

    Long review: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a very good game. Graphics: 9/10, The graphics are very nice, I feel like it gave the game a brighter feel whereas if it was super realistic the story may have felt a little darker. Gameplay: 10/10, The gameplay starts off different than a normal Zelda game. The main difference being different    Short review: It's good, buy it.

    Long review:
    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a very good game.
    Graphics: 9/10, The graphics are very nice, I feel like it gave the game a brighter feel whereas if it was super realistic the story may have felt a little darker.
    Gameplay: 10/10, The gameplay starts off different than a normal Zelda game. The main difference being different classes of weapon, weapon durability and weapons with varying amounts of damage. The durability to some may be a dealbreaker to some however in my experience I had too many weapons and spent time deciding which weapons to toss out.
    Story: 5/10, In the beginning, the ENTIRE story is given to you. The story is very simple but there is definitely some lost potential. The short story does compliment the idea of going wherever you want and doing whatever you want.
    Music: 4/10, There is one reason the score is so low. There is good music when you get to listen to it. The problem is there is no music while exploring the world besides the occasional notes played on a piano.
    Dungeons (and shrines): 6/10 (and 9/10 for shrines), There are 4 dungeons and 120 shrines. The shrines are short and sweet with simple puzzles and a nice break in exploration. Dungeons are longer than shrines but aren't any harder. The more you replay the game the more you start to dislike the dungeons decreasing the replay value.
    Secrets: 10/10, The secrets in the game are both well hidden and not hidden. "Korok seeds" are not too hidden after you figure out a pattern to where they are hidden. Shrines are hidden well sometimes and you feel rewarded when you do find them. Chests are both well hidden and contain good gear.
    Combat: 9/10, The combat is like no other Zelda game. The damage of weapons are different per weapon, weapons break, different classes of weapons and a new form of parrying. The enemy does a significant amount of damage and will kick your butt if you're not careful. You will get a lot of game overs your first time.
    Misc:
    In docked mode on the Switch, there is some frame loss sometimes but this doesn't occur in handheld mode.
    The bosses are fairly easy to understand and have a "rinse and repeat" style making them overall redundant and time-consuming.
    The difficulty in this game is extremely more difficult than past Zelda games. There is little to no "hand holding"
    There is a stamina gauge which appears and can be annoying unless you use a glitch known as whistle sprinting.    … Expand
  3. BluesBrothers
    Jul 24, 2017
    10
    There was a crazy amount of stuff I wanted to put out there and that I just plain love about the game, so If you want something shorter, just skip to the end paragraph.

    Having just completed all main story adventures, a hand-full of side quests, and around 30-40 shrines , I can safely say that the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild completely blew my expectations out of the water. I    There was a crazy amount of stuff I wanted to put out there and that I just plain love about the game, so If you want something shorter, just skip to the end paragraph.

    Having just completed all main story adventures, a hand-full of side quests, and around 30-40 shrines , I can safely say that the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild completely blew my expectations out of the water. I can occasionally over-hype a game to the point of ending up disappointed. However, this game, no matter how much I hyped it up, gave me a sense of adventure, wonder, and excitement every time I booted it up. I always wanted to see what was behind the next corner, or on top of the tallest mountain. There is a stroke of intensity whenever you approach even the smallest of enemies, because you know if you handle it the wrong way, you'll end up with Link on the ground and GAME OVER covering the screen in blood red letters. Right from the start, you find that this game is truly as it says, Open World. After you complete the four shrines on The Great Plateau, You have several different options to choose from in terms of story. I chose the more linear route, and it didn't necessarily make my experience linear, it just made it so the story had more substance. The heart container situation in this game is that there are over one hundred shrines. Complete a shrine, and you receive a spirit orb. Four spirit orbs, and you can choose between a heart container or a stamina vessel. A heart container increases the amount of health link has, and a stamina vessel increases the amount of energy he has (the more energy he has the farther he can sprint/swim/ without stopping. another thing about shrines are the different abilities Link has because of the Sheikah Slate, Link's version of an iPad throughout the course of the adventure. He has powers such as creating ice blocks from water sources, becoming a magnet, taking pictures, etc. and are a lot of fun to goof around and solve puzzles with. This game's controls play very smoothly, a refreshing change of pace from other Zelda entries, and easy to get the hang of. And Despite Link being a loner through this game, there's still a lovable cast of heartwarming and hilarious characters that will make you want to keep playing on. All the side quests are a blast to play through, and are filled with originality. Ranging from touching and personal to hilarious and wacky, I felt more of a desire to play through the side quests. You ,of course , can ride horses in this game and you can either just pick up wild horses and drop them off somewhere or take a wild horse and find a stable to register it under their care. All the classic Zelda locales are back with exciting new twists such as Zora's Domain, Death Mountain, and hey, The Rito are back!

    Overall, this is a fantastic game with a high-stakes story and a sense of adventure pulled of better than the majority of other games on the market. And the reasons to replay it are more than just nostalgia, because you can play it any way you want to. This is definitely one of if not my favorite game of all time, and I highly recommend picking it up, for Switch or WiiU.    … Expand
  4. Cesarhawk
    Jul 23, 2017
    10
    Por que será que cuando intento valor este juego con un 10 la página de Metacritic da algún fallo o error... Será casualidad?... O será el poder de los piperos que ejerce gran influencia...

    Así como The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time se consideró y aún a día de hoy se considera una obra maestra alabada por todos los profesionales del sector al igual que por toda la comunidad de    Por que será que cuando intento valor este juego con un 10 la página de Metacritic da algún fallo o error... Será casualidad?... O será el poder de los piperos que ejerce gran influencia...

    Así como The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time se consideró y aún a día de hoy se considera una obra maestra alabada por todos los profesionales del sector al igual que por toda la comunidad de jugadores, ya que fue un portento en todos los aspectos tanto técnicos como artísticos, sentando las bases de como se debe hacer un videojuego realmente bueno y apasionante que transmita sentimientos a los usuarios además de hacerles gozar de una experiencia interactiva completa, enriquecedora, única e innovadora, The Legend of Zelda Breath of The Wild vuelve a dar una vuelta de tuerca a está saga legendaria y vuelve a sentar las bases de como hacer un videojuego de 10.
    Al igual que Ocarina of Time creó maneras de jugar de las cuales los juegos de hoy aún siguen imitando, este The Legend of Zelda Breath of The Wild nos enseña como debe ser y como debe hacerse un juego en mundo abierto con el que por supuesto ahora las compañías utilizarán de inspiración y como referente a seguir.

    The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild es una obra maestra única e inolvidable que perdurará en tu corazón para siempre. Un juego que te inundará de sentimientos maravilloso con su belleza, te abrumará con la infinidad de contenido y pequeños detalles hasta tal punto que siempre te parecerá que necesitas más tiempo para seguir jugando. Allí donde vallas encontrarás algo o habrá algo que hacer. Nada es al azar, todo tiene un porqué y tendrás libertad absoluta para ir donde quieras y hacer prácticamente cualquier cosa que se te ocurra.

    Cuidado y mimado hasta el último detalle, con cientos y cientos de horas de juego, The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild con permiso de Ocarina of Time, pasa a ser el mejor juego jamás creado hasta el momento y seguro que seguirá siendo así por muchos años.

    Obra Maestra Épica.    … Expand
  5. BananaLuiz
    Jul 22, 2017
    10
    What to talk about Zelda? is a masterpiece, good story keeping in the classic molds, fluid and attractive gameplay, phenomenal open world with infinite possibilities and missions, beautiful and pleasant graphics, in short, this game will give you many incredible hours of gameplay, Sure Game Of The Year 2017
  6. Greenbob
    Jul 22, 2017
    6
    I really tried to like this game as a sort of returner to the series #linktothepast. Alas, I found the game to be tedious and boring like many of other open world games these days. BOTW has the same rinse and repeat pitfalls of farming materials endlessly for little to no reward, Vapid fetch quests and an almost empty landscape of a sandbox that gives me no immersion. Due to the weaponsI really tried to like this game as a sort of returner to the series #linktothepast. Alas, I found the game to be tedious and boring like many of other open world games these days. BOTW has the same rinse and repeat pitfalls of farming materials endlessly for little to no reward, Vapid fetch quests and an almost empty landscape of a sandbox that gives me no immersion. Due to the weapons being fragile I found myself skipping any fight I could in a bid to just get the game over with. the game felt like a chore most of the time and I'm just not having fun.… Expand
  7. Laguardia
    Jul 22, 2017
    10
    Sem sombra de dúvidas um dos melhores jogos que já joguei. A Física do jogo, a interação com o ambiente, o clima e os gráficos te colocam na pele do link em uma imersão que nunca vi em outro jogo. Achei a questão dos koroks meio sem razão de ser e deveria ter no mapa uma opção de marcar as áreas já exploradas. Nada que atrapalhe a qualidade dessa obra-prima
  8. Owb101
    Jul 21, 2017
    10
    The greatest game of this generation and possibly of all time. The world is huge. The gameplay is nearly perfect and the story is truly great. It's a must have game for any gamer.
  9. joacoandresen
    Jul 21, 2017
    10
    First I need to say that I haven't played every Zelda game, but this game makes me want to play them ALL. The easiest way to put it is like this: IT'S SKYRIM IN THIRD PERSON WITH FEWER BUGS, and that's not a bad thing. Seriously, this is the best example of a true console seller. AMAZING GAME.
  10. BaconDaaHunter
    Jul 19, 2017
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I loved this game but, it is no perfect I would't say it was a perfect game it does deserve a 10 but, I have one problem the story.
    The story is not the best combat,riding horses, and exploring are cool but, the story needed to be better the boss fight would of been harder if you didn't get all of the beasts. My favorite feature was the cooking of items! I love zelda it is one of my favorite game series. Some people are complaining about the graphics" it looks like it was made it the 2006." What do you expect! It is on a tablet on on a PS4 pro! Again I love this game it looks like dlc might reveal most about the story so i will wait for that pack.    … Expand
  11. AlienKatze
    Jul 19, 2017
    8
    No, Breath of the Wild is certainly not the best game of all time, probably not even the best Zelda game there is. (Besides the obvious Ocarina of time and Majoras Mask, i even like Twilight Princess more) Nevertheless, it still is an amazing game. I have played through the game with all Shrines and quests to do and even collected about 700 Korok seeds. It really doesnt feel like a ZeldaNo, Breath of the Wild is certainly not the best game of all time, probably not even the best Zelda game there is. (Besides the obvious Ocarina of time and Majoras Mask, i even like Twilight Princess more) Nevertheless, it still is an amazing game. I have played through the game with all Shrines and quests to do and even collected about 700 Korok seeds. It really doesnt feel like a Zelda game at all, but that doesnt take away from the fun. The game convinces not through its amazing but admittedly short story, but through its amazingly open world. If you do not like exploration and finding your own fun in games, then this is definitely not for you. There is infinitely much to do and everything can be done in different ways. It does suffer from some problems though. The fact that weapons break, and very easily too, seems to exist just to exist, but for no other particular reason.

    The general controls and combat are a bit hard to pick up at first ( jump on x? ugh.. ), but pretty good later on. There are lots of different ways to approach encounters, so combat gets boring rather slowly.

    As expected of Nintendo the music is amazing and fits perfecty when it has to (Miphas Theme, Guardian Theme)

    I played the game on the Switch and never ever had to deal with any problems like crahses framedrops or other bugs, but i know that they exist. Ive played about equally much in handheld mode and docked with my Pro controller, though i think i actually like the handheld mode more. 720p in handheld mode and 900p on TV with 30fps on both seems pretty bad for 2017 and it might bother a lot of people, but i think the it still looks beatiful and smooth in-game.

    In conclusion, It's an amazing open-world game with some flaws that might vary from big to nonexistant from person to person.

    Would reccomend anyone with a switch or a Wii U to go pick it up, but dont buy the console just for the game if you dont have them. You could just save your money or buy a pizza instead.    … Expand
  12. Jtplaz3
    Jul 18, 2017
    9
    Beautiful game! Truly amazing and very exploration based! The Legend Of Zelda Breath of the Wild offers a very astounding play style. You start off in a weird somewhat scary enclosure, and then awaken to a bright fantastic world filled with amazing trees, animals, waterfalls, and tons upon tons of more beautiful scenes. The game has a very good story mode which pulled me in and got meBeautiful game! Truly amazing and very exploration based! The Legend Of Zelda Breath of the Wild offers a very astounding play style. You start off in a weird somewhat scary enclosure, and then awaken to a bright fantastic world filled with amazing trees, animals, waterfalls, and tons upon tons of more beautiful scenes. The game has a very good story mode which pulled me in and got me hooked emotionally on the characters within the game. The exploration in the game is off the charts, creating hot, cold, and stable environments that are not only huge, but have effects on you whenever you cross into them! You can die of drought, freeze to death in a cold area, or even fall off a mountain or drown in water! The game takes Zelda and reality and mashes them together to create not only one of the best exploration games, but breathtaking adventures as well. However I do feel as replay-ability is going to be difficult to achieve when you complete the game story mode wise and DLC wise, but other than that it is a splendid single player game to play if you want to spend weeks playing a game!… Expand
  13. Miitteo
    Jul 18, 2017
    10
    Simply amazing. A new evolution of the series and of the open world genre. I've spent 180 hours on this game, completing everything 100% and i never felt bored. I'm truly in love with this game
  14. Bbuhuh
    Jul 18, 2017
    10
    This is an amazing game you can explore you can do loads of stuff. This game is worth buying (if you have the Nintendo Switch or wii u) it is my favourite game by miles. There are many complaints about the pixels but seriously, ocarina of time is the most popular game on this website and look at those pixels. The storyline isn't very good even on the poor side but I don't really careThis is an amazing game you can explore you can do loads of stuff. This game is worth buying (if you have the Nintendo Switch or wii u) it is my favourite game by miles. There are many complaints about the pixels but seriously, ocarina of time is the most popular game on this website and look at those pixels. The storyline isn't very good even on the poor side but I don't really care because I don't really do that much story I prefer to kick monster's butt's. so overall I give this a full 100% rating… Expand
  15. CanadianYeti
    Jul 17, 2017
    9
    Breath of the Wild is a beautiful and incredible reimagining of the Zelda series, being one of the most unique open world experiences on the market right now, while at the same time keeping the delightful charm of past installments intact.
  16. Ubermonkey88
    Jul 17, 2017
    7
    I must admit I've never been a massive Zelda fan over the years - I've enjoyed some of the games but it's not a series I've been mad for. However, with the hype surrounding this latest installment, I thought it's time to dust out the Wii and have a go! After playing through it, here's my thoughts from a neutral standpoint!

    The Good Given the Wii U or Switch can't compete with PC or    I must admit I've never been a massive Zelda fan over the years - I've enjoyed some of the games but it's not a series I've been mad for. However, with the hype surrounding this latest installment, I thought it's time to dust out the Wii and have a go! After playing through it, here's my thoughts from a neutral standpoint!

    The Good

    Given the Wii U or Switch can't compete with PC or other consoles from a hardware point of view, Nintendo have done very well to create a distinctive style for this game, and I think it works very well. Sunrises and sunsets are pretty, character models are well designed and the landscape is nice and varied. It's a cartoony style that I think works very well.

    Combat, although basic, is grand. There's a variety of melee, ranged and magical weapons available and encounters with groups of enemies or strongholds include a degree of strategy or planning required. There are some annoyances though, which I'll mention later.

    The inclusion of shrines was a sore point for many but I enjoyed looking for them and completing them, especially as each shrine gave you a token to use toward increasing your heart containers or stamina. Some are very short and simplistic but the majority of them are well thought out.

    The Bad

    The open world, although well designed and very pretty, can be a bit barren at times. There are very few major settlements throughout the map, aside from a handful of villages and stables to rest. I found myself spending too much time running across landscapes looking for something of interest, only to find very little.

    Combat, although quite good, does have it's issues. Firstly, the lack of variety in enemies means it can get repetitive very quickly. Secondly weapon degradation is an issue. Many have pointed out this to be a minor annoyance, however I disagree. There's nothing worse than finding a great weapon only not to use because you don't want it to be destroyed after 3 hits. It takes away from the enjoyment of finding weapons. Also, during battles it's incredibly frustrating to have a weapon break and have to pause the game mid-battle to change it. It certainly helps break the immersion of the game.

    Story is something that is an issue for many open world games (The Witcher 3 and Red Dead Redemption being exceptions), and BOTW is no exception. There's a story in there somewhere, but it's very bare bones, and the open world format takes away any urgency of the main quest - "Please Link, you must get to Castle Hyrule as soon as you can and help Princess Zelda!" "Sure, but after I find 300 Korok seeds and all 120 shrines, then we'll think about it".

    Overall, BOTW is a very good game, and is worth playing if you have a Wii U or Switch (well if you have a Switch, you've already bought it!). However, it's not the best open world game out there, and i fear that the very high scores are a lot to do with the fact that it has "The Legend of Zelda" tacked on to it. There are definitely much better open world games out there (Witcher 3, Skyrim, Horizon ZD, Red Dead Redemption, GTA V) but again, it's faults aside, it is worth playing and is an enjoyable game.    … Expand
  17. ianjoseph1986
    Jul 16, 2017
    10
    Ive played around 60 hours in and im barely scratching the surface of a massive iceberg that is this game. Probably the most beautiful, fun, unique and exciting game i have ever played in my 25 years of gaming. The game is a masterpiece, and the genius behind all the physics and mechanics is mind blowing, The game has no limits and its the first time in a play through of any game that iIve played around 60 hours in and im barely scratching the surface of a massive iceberg that is this game. Probably the most beautiful, fun, unique and exciting game i have ever played in my 25 years of gaming. The game is a masterpiece, and the genius behind all the physics and mechanics is mind blowing, The game has no limits and its the first time in a play through of any game that i feel like i'm the one in control of my own experience. I believe Nintendo has probably made the best open world game ever created so far.… Expand
  18. HaplessMagician
    Jul 16, 2017
    10
    The game is awesome. One of the largest negatives from a lot of people is that the weapons break. I feel like it is missed that it is a positive. It allows you to go anywhere and get stronger weapons, but not be OP for the rest of the game. It isn't the typical Zelda game, but it is a fantastic game.
  19. badgerryan19
    Jul 16, 2017
    10
    This is an amazing game. There is so much to do it's almost overwhelming at points. This is my first Zelda game. Yes get the gasps out now, but I see why this game series is one of the most beloved game series of all time. The story is so awesome and Link is such a badass. The side stories are all rich with story and a blast to do. There is not one dull moment in this game and there isThis is an amazing game. There is so much to do it's almost overwhelming at points. This is my first Zelda game. Yes get the gasps out now, but I see why this game series is one of the most beloved game series of all time. The story is so awesome and Link is such a badass. The side stories are all rich with story and a blast to do. There is not one dull moment in this game and there is always something to do. I literally bought the Nintendo Switch to play this game. Had to pay a little extra plus the game. So roughly $450 for Zelda. And oh man was it worth it. This is one of the most memorable games I have played in a while. Wow! there is already so many great GOTY contenders and this becomes one of them on that list. As long as Nintendo keeps making games like this they will always stay relevant.… Expand
  20. holyguy
    Jul 15, 2017
    10
    After a few hours of playing this game, I came across a flying Klan member dancing around what looked kinda like a burnt house. When I tried getting close to him he began to teleport around me and throw fireballs.

    I have to say this is the best game i have played in a while
  21. paulthehanna
    Jul 14, 2017
    7
    I don't understand all the 10/10 reviews. I finished this game today. It was disappointing from the start. I've played and enjoyed Ocarina of Time, Link to the past, Majora's mask, and many other legend of Zelda games, so I have some experience of the series.
    The music is dull, the graphics are nice but ultimately do not make up for the sparse storytelling, the uninspired game-play and    I don't understand all the 10/10 reviews. I finished this game today. It was disappointing from the start. I've played and enjoyed Ocarina of Time, Link to the past, Majora's mask, and many other legend of Zelda games, so I have some experience of the series.
    The music is dull, the graphics are nice but ultimately do not make up for the sparse storytelling, the uninspired game-play and the scaling of difficulty. Worst of all, this game does not live up to the previous series in terms of solving the dungeon puzzles. I didn't enjoy unlocking shrines.
    The first few hours are excruciating. It can take up to 10 hours for the game to pick-up and then the reward is minimal. After climbing this starting requirement, the game is actually too easy and the final boss was pitiful.
    Everyone praises the huge open world but most of is empty. They have taken an ordinary Zelda game and stretched it out. In fact, this is an apt metaphor for this game. The game may be longer, bigger and so forth - but this isn't matched with story elements, interesting characters, or enjoyable game-play - this game lacks depth. Every Zelda game but this one has hooked me from the start by making me care about the characters, having strong story elements, and rewarding puzzles (i.e. getting a cool new item as you complete a dungeon). Finally, the game lacks many of the enjoyable quirks that characterise the Zelda series.
    I look forward to these things being rectified in Breath of the Wild 2.    … Expand
  22. Michael_Stars_5
    Jul 14, 2017
    10
    In the first second of Breath Of The Wild, I felt excitement, just the idea of experiencing what I had been waiting for almost 3 years, and by the end, I just wanted more. Breath Of The Wild is hands down one of the greatest achievements in video game history. Every goddamn pixel in this game shows beauty and style, every character expresses emotions that you could only feel in the realIn the first second of Breath Of The Wild, I felt excitement, just the idea of experiencing what I had been waiting for almost 3 years, and by the end, I just wanted more. Breath Of The Wild is hands down one of the greatest achievements in video game history. Every goddamn pixel in this game shows beauty and style, every character expresses emotions that you could only feel in the real world, the entire map of Hyrule is gigantic, huge, beautiful. You could get lost in the first minute of playing freely in the fields, riding horses, or even cooking! This is a game for everyone, a game so perfectly designed, acted, and presented that leaves you in awe, wanting even more, which you can get thanks to a huge number of side quests, puzzles and activities you can engage in. I cannot express with human words what I've witnessed during my play sessions of Breath Of The Wild, the three words that can define this absolute masterpiece are beauty, freedom, and revolutionary. The problem is, I think those words aren't enough to show how amazingly Nintendo has knocked the ball out of the park, just play it, and come thank me later.… Expand
  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. fluffydragon
    Jul 13, 2017
    10
    I never really was into Zelda per say, I did like Windwaker, but that was it. I think it is safe to assume that due to my 200+ hour journey with this game That I loved it. I loved the feeling I got when I just was walking around and just step into a story mission. I hear a lot of people say this is like HZD, and I played that game and these two are nothing alike. HZD is a pretty game,I never really was into Zelda per say, I did like Windwaker, but that was it. I think it is safe to assume that due to my 200+ hour journey with this game That I loved it. I loved the feeling I got when I just was walking around and just step into a story mission. I hear a lot of people say this is like HZD, and I played that game and these two are nothing alike. HZD is a pretty game, sure, but Zelda is a beautiful game with vast land and rich environments. People complain that it is too empty and I don't think those people actually played the game because there are towns and villages everywhere. The only thing that really bugs me, but I also love, is the weapon destruction system. I love how it forces you to try out different weapons that you would never try before, but it is rather inconvenient when it happens. I hate people comparing this to HZD, or any open-world game released in the last 7 years, this is not just any open world game, there is no hand holding, the game does have hints to how to do certain things like parrying, but you have to find those or just teach yourself how to. This is definitely going to be one of, if not, the best game released this year.… Expand
  25. TheBroNinja
    Jul 12, 2017
    10
    This game is amazing. I got it for my birthday and I was psyched to play it. When I got around to it, it was amazing.
    The only problem with this game is that the game is a little cheap at times. Spoiler alert ->
    For example, at the end of the divine beast Rutah, what you have to face is just annoying and it gets repetitive, and if you get hit you're basically automatically dead, even    This game is amazing. I got it for my birthday and I was psyched to play it. When I got around to it, it was amazing.
    The only problem with this game is that the game is a little cheap at times. Spoiler alert ->
    For example, at the end of the divine beast Rutah, what you have to face is just annoying and it gets repetitive, and if you get hit you're basically automatically dead, even with good armor. And you can't even start from halfway through or anything if you die at the last stretch.
    Pros:
    Ragdoll physics (I love them)
    Combat
    Variety
    Story
    Cons:
    Can be cheap at times
    All in all, the game's not perfect, but the lots of pros overweigh the cons. So, I give it a ten.    … Expand
  26. ooo77
    Jul 10, 2017
    5
    This game is overrated beyond belief, them changing the Zelda formula was a bad move and I hope when the next one comes they go back to it. The divine beast are not a good replacement for dungeons and there being **** by hiding the fully powered master sword behind DLC
  27. muk2
    Jul 10, 2017
    10
    For me this marks one of the beste Zelda games till date. Feels as big a step as Ocarina was back in the day. Would have loved a bit more complex dungeons but with the amount of content present here it is hard to even call that a complaint!
  28. Mixtime
    Jul 10, 2017
    10
    Awesome... In my opinion The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild it's better than The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and it's the best videogame of the history.
  29. Dangem91
    Jul 10, 2017
    7
    The game is very good, but not the masterpiece everybody is overrating.

    The game is amazing when it comes to the sense of adventure. Exploration element is good. It is very immersive as you feel like you have to take notice of everything around you, cook food, take shelter, hunt, change armor depending on area. The art style really suits it. Main quest is good. Shrine puzzles are    The game is very good, but not the masterpiece everybody is overrating.

    The game is amazing when it comes to the sense of adventure.
    Exploration element is good.
    It is very immersive as you feel like you have to take notice of everything around you, cook food, take shelter, hunt, change armor depending on area.
    The art style really suits it.
    Main quest is good.
    Shrine puzzles are awesome.
    Sound and music are good.
    Game word is diverse in terms of areas but not in terms of enemy diversity.
    After the boasting that Nintendo did about how Zelda is 1.5 times bigger than skyrim map, there are only 8 types of enemies with some enemies having different forms ice, fire, red, blue, etc.

    Cons/needs improvement:
    The game falls short when it comes to actual progression of your character; By this i mean your character will not be any different than your friend who's also playing the game.
    This is a weak area in BotW when compared to the likes of Elder scrolls or Witcher where you have to upgrade skills and stats.

    In Zelda the only choice you get to make when it comes to character progression/customization is whether you want to upgrade your health or stamina.
    Even when it comes to armors, most of the time you will be using a specific armor set not because its strong or looks cool but because you have to (in volcano area you need to equip the flamebreaker armor set for fire resistance, In desert area you need to equip the Gerudo armor for heat resistance, same for when it's raining you need shockproof armor or when its color you need cold resistance).

    Weapons break after 30 seconds of using them means the game is basically treating an the weapon system as scraps/tools to use and throw away after a few slashes, instead of encouraging exploration to get a weapon that you want and grow attached to it.

    Fighting monsters in the wild is pretty useless since you don't gain anything and lose more weapons.

    Side quests are also a bit boring and bland. While some might argue it is a good thing that the game does not tell you where on the map you must go to complete a side quest to encourage exploration and immersion, and i agree to the extent that the side quest is interesting.
    In Zelda's case most side quests are so basic (go fetch "add here") that doing them does not feel worth the time since you rarely get anything noteworthy as a reward.    … Expand
  30. MonkiReviews
    Jul 9, 2017
    10
    The biggest and best Zelda of all time, a true 10/10 game. The landscape is full of life wherever you go with animals and enemies. The game truly rises to the occasion for the Switch.
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 »