Can You Keep Playing Tears of the Kingdom After Beating Ganon? The Truth Revealed!
In a word: no, not in the way you might expect. After you defeat Ganondorf in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the game doesn’t allow you to continue playing in a post-Ganon world. Instead, once the credits roll, you’re transported back to the main menu. Loading your save file will place you right before the final boss battle at Hyrule Castle, giving you the opportunity to re-challenge Ganondorf whenever you want. While the narrative doesn’t progress, you can continue to explore Hyrule, complete side quests, and uncover hidden secrets.
Why No Post-Game? The Zelda Tradition
This approach might seem odd to some players, especially those familiar with open-world games that offer extensive post-game content. However, it’s a long-standing tradition in the Zelda series. The Zelda games focus on the journey, the exploration, and the ultimate triumph over evil. A post-game world where Ganondorf is defeated fundamentally alters the core gameplay loop and narrative tension that drives the experience.
Imagine Hyrule completely free of monsters, with all the NPC dialogues adjusted to reflect Ganondorf’s defeat. It would be a drastically different experience, potentially undermining the sense of urgency and purpose that permeates the main game.
What You Can Do After Beating Ganondorf
While you can’t play in a post-Ganondorf Hyrule, there’s still plenty to do after watching the credits:
- Re-challenge Ganondorf: The game places you right before the final boss, allowing you to fight Ganondorf again whenever you want. This is great for experimenting with different strategies or simply enjoying the epic battle.
- Complete Side Quests and Shrines: If you haven’t already, now’s the perfect time to finish any remaining side quests and tackle those last few shrines. There are hundreds of hours of content to explore beyond the main storyline.
- Collect Korok Seeds: For the completionists out there, collecting all 900 Korok Seeds is a monumental task that can keep you busy for a long, long time.
- Upgrade Armor: Maxing out all your armor sets is another great way to extend your playtime and prepare for any future challenges.
- Experiment with Builds: Tears of the Kingdom offers incredible freedom in terms of weapon and vehicle construction. Now is the time to let your creativity shine and experiment with unique and powerful builds.
- Explore Uncharted Areas: Even after completing the main story, there are likely still corners of Hyrule you haven’t fully explored. Take to the skies, delve into the depths, and see what secrets you can uncover.
- Obtain Medals of Honor: Speak with Kilton and accept the challenge of defeating all the various types of monsters in the game, 40 Taluses, 40 Hinoxes and Stalnoxes, and 4 Moldugas.
A Star on Your Save File
Upon defeating Ganondorf, your save file will be marked with a star icon. This is a visual indicator that you’ve completed the main story, a badge of honor for your accomplishment. It doesn’t unlock any new content, but it’s a nice way to show off your progress.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding playing after beating Ganondorf in Tears of the Kingdom:
1. Does anything change in the game world after defeating Ganondorf?
No, the game world remains the same. Blood Moons still occur, monsters still roam Hyrule, and the overall state of the world is unchanged.
2. Can I get 100% completion after beating Ganondorf?
Yes, you can still achieve 100% completion. The game allows you to continue exploring, completing side quests, and collecting items even after defeating Ganondorf. However, keep in mind that there is no in-game tracker for 100% completion.
3. What rewards do I get for beating Ganondorf?
Besides the satisfaction of completing the game, you receive a star icon on your save file and the ability to purchase photos for your compendium. Kilton also gives you monster hunting quests.
4. Can I re-fight other bosses after beating Ganondorf?
Yes, you can re-fight any boss in the game by returning to their respective locations or accessing them through the depths.
5. Does defeating Ganondorf affect the Blood Moon cycle?
No, the Blood Moon cycle remains unaffected by defeating Ganondorf. They will continue to occur as normal.
6. Will there be DLC that adds a true post-game to Tears of the Kingdom?
As of now, Nintendo has stated that there are no plans for DLC that will add content to Tears of the Kingdom.
7. Is it worth continuing to play after beating Ganondorf?
Absolutely! There’s still plenty to do and discover in Hyrule. Completing side quests, exploring uncharted areas, and experimenting with different builds can provide hours of additional enjoyment.
8. Can I play as Zelda after beating Ganondorf?
No, you cannot play as Zelda in Tears of the Kingdom. You are still bound to Link.
9. Does beating Ganondorf unlock any new abilities or items?
No, defeating Ganondorf doesn’t unlock any new abilities or items. However, completing all the shrines does unlock the Ancient Hero’s Aspect armor.
10. Can I skip the final boss fight in subsequent playthroughs?
No, you cannot skip the final boss fight. It is a mandatory part of the main storyline.
11. Can I still collect all the memories after beating Ganondorf?
Yes, you can still collect all the memories even after defeating Ganondorf. They remain accessible throughout the game.
12. Does defeating Ganondorf affect the difficulty of the game?
No, defeating Ganondorf doesn’t change the difficulty of the game. It remains the same as before the final boss fight.
13. Can I use Amiibo after beating Ganondorf?
Yes, you can continue to use Amiibo after defeating Ganondorf to unlock various in-game items and bonuses.
14. What’s the point of the star icon on my save file?
The star icon is simply a visual indicator that you’ve completed the main story. It doesn’t unlock any new content or features.
15. Where Can I Learn More About the educational impact of gaming?
To learn more about the intersection of games and education, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. The society fosters research and innovation in the field of game-based learning.