Can You Play After the Ending of Tears of the Kingdom?
The short and sweet answer is: yes, you absolutely can keep playing after you defeat Ganondorf in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (TotK). However, it’s not a traditional post-game experience with new quests or a changed world. Instead, the game cleverly resets you to just before the final boss encounter, allowing you to continue exploring and completing any unfinished business with the knowledge that you’ve saved Hyrule. Let’s dive into the specifics of how this works and what you can expect after the credits roll.
The “Post-Game” Experience in Tears of the Kingdom
Unlike some games that unlock new areas or storylines after the main quest is complete, Tears of the Kingdom places you back at the gates of Hyrule Castle immediately after the final cutscene. The castle is, once again, in its pre-final boss state, meaning you’re ready to challenge Ganondorf again if you choose to. This might seem anticlimactic, but this design choice is deliberate and aligns with the core philosophy of both TotK and its predecessor, Breath of the Wild (BotW).
The Intention Behind the Design
The “reset” approach allows players to continue experiencing the vast world of Hyrule and tackle all of the game’s side content without disrupting the game’s primary objective. As with BotW, the focus isn’t solely on reaching the ending, but on the journey and exploration itself. It’s a way of saying that even though you’ve saved Hyrule, there’s still so much more to discover and accomplish. There isn’t a narrative purpose to explore Hyrule post-Ganon, the focus is on the exploration and gameplay itself rather than a continuation of the main story.
What Happens When You Beat Ganondorf
Upon defeating Ganondorf, the game saves automatically. A small star icon will appear on your save file, signifying that you have completed the main story. This is the only tangible change you will see to reflect the completion of the main storyline. As soon as the credits roll, you are then placed back at the entrance of Hyrule Castle, ready to go. This design is a mirror of BotW, and again, is intended to allow the player to experience the entire world at their leisure.
What You Can Do After the “Ending”
Despite not having a traditional post-game, you can still do a wealth of things in TotK. Here are some ideas:
- Complete Remaining Shrines: With a total of 152 shrines scattered across Hyrule’s surface and sky islands, chances are you might have a few left to conquer. Completing all of them will reward you with the Ancient Hero’s Aspect armor.
- Explore the Depths: The vast and mysterious Depths offer a unique challenge and abundant resources. Delving into this area can uncover hidden secrets and rewards.
- Discover More Korok Seeds: With hundreds of Korok seeds hidden throughout the world, your journey to 100% completion can keep you busy for quite some time.
- Find All Side Quests: Numerous side quests enrich the world and tell compelling stories about Hyrule’s citizens. Completing them all will offer further insights into the game’s lore.
- Upgrade Armor and Weapons: Enhance your gear to be better prepared for any challenge, including rematches with various bosses.
- Experiment With Building: Use your creative skills with the Ultrahand ability to build unique contraptions and explore the world in new ways.
- Complete your Compendium: Filling your compendium with photographs of every creature, weapon, location, and resource can be a challenge all its own.
- Re-challenge Ganon: If you want another go at the final boss, you are more than welcome to go straight back to the final battle!
- Enjoy the World: With no main story to follow, there is much freedom to explore Hyrule and enjoy the environments at your leisure.
The True Ending
While the game doesn’t change after defeating Ganondorf, there is a slight variation to the ending. To unlock the “True” ending, you must complete all of Link’s memories. The difference is minimal, adding a short, additional cutscene after the credits. While this doesn’t impact gameplay, it offers a small reward for those who seek to uncover every piece of the narrative.
No DLC, But Endless Exploration
Despite the community’s hopes for a downloadable content (DLC) expansion, Nintendo has confirmed that there will be no DLC for Tears of the Kingdom. According to Eiji Aonuma, they were able to implement all the ideas they wanted to explore, which seems to have closed the door for additional content. However, the current game offers hundreds of hours of playtime, so there’s plenty to keep you engaged long after the final battle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Hyrule Castle change after defeating Ganon?
No, Hyrule Castle resets to its pre-battle state after you beat Ganon. This allows you to re-fight the boss or explore the area in its pre-final fight form.
2. What is the reward for completing all 152 shrines?
Completing all 152 shrines in Tears of the Kingdom unlocks the Ancient Hero’s Aspect, a unique armor set.
3. How do you get the true ending in Tears of the Kingdom?
To get the true ending, you must collect all of the Link’s memories in the game. After the credits, you’ll be treated to an additional cutscene.
4. Is there a post-game story in Tears of the Kingdom?
No, there isn’t a traditional post-game story. The game resets to before the final boss fight, encouraging you to continue exploring and completing side content.
5. Can I fight Ganon again after beating him?
Yes, you can fight Ganon again. The game resets to the point just before the final battle.
6. How many hours does it take to 100% Tears of the Kingdom?
It can take well over 100 hours to 100% the game. One streamer, SmallAnt, reported completing it after 139 hours.
7. How many shrines are in Tears of the Kingdom?
There are a total of 152 shrines in Tears of the Kingdom, 120 on the surface of Hyrule and 32 in the sky islands.
8. What happens after Zelda becomes a dragon?
After Zelda becomes the Light Dragon, she helps Link to defeat Ganondorf. After the final battle, she is able to return to her human form and retake her place on the throne.
9. Does Link and Zelda have a romantic relationship?
While not confirmed in canon, it’s implied that Link and Zelda share a deep, caring and loving relationship.
10. Why does Ganon turn into a dragon?
Ganon uses his Secret Stone to transform into a dragon during the final boss fight, showcasing his full power.
11. Will there be another Zelda game after Tears of the Kingdom?
Nintendo has confirmed that the next game will be a “completely new game,” though they may revisit the Breath of the Wild style again.
12. Is Majora’s Mask in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, Majora’s Mask is in the game. It’s located in the Floating Coliseum within The Depths.
13. Can you obtain Twilight armor in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, the Twilight Armor is available in Tears of the Kingdom as a throwback to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
14. Is there a secret village in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, Lurelin Village, modeled after Outset Island from Wind Waker, is a secret village in the game.
15. How old is Link in Tears of the Kingdom?
Link is approximately 122-125 years old in Tears of the Kingdom.
In conclusion, while Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t offer a traditional post-game, it provides an environment for continuous exploration and discovery. The reset mechanic allows players to freely pursue side quests, puzzles, and world exploration, making the end of the main storyline just another step in your journey through Hyrule.