Can You See Completion Percentage in Tears of the Kingdom? A Deep Dive into Hyrule’s Completion Metrics
Yes, you can see your completion percentage in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, but it’s not readily apparent from the start. Unlike some games that display a percentage tracker from the beginning, Tears of the Kingdom hides this information until certain conditions are met. This article will explore how the percentage tracker is unlocked, what counts towards 100% completion, and other pertinent details about the game’s post-game content and rewards.
How to Unlock the Completion Percentage Tracker
Initially, there is no indication of your completion progress within the game. The percentage counter is revealed only after defeating the final boss and viewing the credits. This is similar to how completion percentage was handled in Breath of the Wild.
Upon defeating the final boss and experiencing the ending cinematic, the game allows you to load the most recent auto-save, which would be just before the final encounter. This loaded save file will now display a star symbol next to it. This star signifies that you have defeated the main questline. More importantly, with this save loaded, a percentage counter appears in the bottom left corner of the map, allowing you to track how much of the game you’ve completed.
It’s worth noting that this system means you cannot monitor your completion percentage before finishing the primary story. You’ll need to dedicate time to exploring and completing side content without knowing how close you are to the final 100% mark. This encourages a more immersive experience focused on discovery rather than relentless completionism.
What Counts Towards 100% Completion in Tears of the Kingdom?
While the exact details of what counts towards 100% completion aren’t officially disclosed by Nintendo, players have thoroughly explored the game and determined that a few key aspects contribute to this percentage:
Shrines and Main Quests
- Shrines: Completing all 152 shrines is a major part of the completion percentage. There are 120 shrines located on the surface of Hyrule and 32 scattered throughout the Sky Islands. Solving these challenging puzzles contributes significantly to your overall progress.
- Main Quests: Completing the main story questline is a fundamental step in the 100% process. Defeating the final boss is a prerequisite for even seeing the completion percentage counter in the first place.
Side Quests and Map Exploration
- Side Quests: The game includes numerous side quests and adventures that are crucial to completing the game fully. While the exact number of side quests is not explicitly tied to the percentage, doing a large number of them greatly increases completion percentage.
- Map Exploration: Exploring the vast overworld, including the Sky Islands and the Depths, contributes to the overall completion score. This encompasses uncovering locations, activating towers and revealing previously dark areas of the map.
Key Collectibles
- Korok Seeds: Collecting Korok seeds also makes a significant impact. There are 1000 Korok seeds to find throughout the map, which are rewarded from 800 Korok Seed puzzle locations (2 Korok seeds per successful puzzle).
Completing all these different tasks will raise the percentage on the corner of the map and move you towards the desired 100% completion. However, even after completing all the main and side quests and all 152 shrines, most players report the final number will be below 100%. This means Korok seeds and map exploration are very important to consider to obtain the 100%.
Post-Game Content and Rewards
After completing the main storyline, players are free to roam Hyrule and finish anything they missed. It does not unlock anything new, but it provides a way to continue to explore and collect items if the player is interested in doing so. The post-game primarily consists of:
Clearing Side Content
- Side Quests & Shrines: Post-game, you can focus on finishing any remaining side quests and shrines. This is the perfect time to complete all the content you have not experienced in your first play-through.
The Ancient Hero’s Aspect
- Shrine Completion Reward: Completing all 152 shrines earns you a special armor piece known as the Ancient Hero’s Aspect. This full armor set is a unique reward that embodies the spirit of a past Hyrule hero. You’ll receive a message upon completing the final shrine instructing you to visit the Temple of Time to collect your prize.
No DLC
Notably, Nintendo has confirmed that there will be no DLC for Tears of the Kingdom. They stated that all elements they wanted to achieve were implemented in the base game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 common questions players have about completion in Tears of the Kingdom:
1. How many hours does it take to 100% Tears of the Kingdom?
Typically, 100% completion of Tears of the Kingdom takes around 236 hours, although this number varies based on the player’s pace and efficiency. If you are just playing the main quests the playtime would be closer to 59 hours.
2. What is the reward for completing all the shrines?
The reward for completing all 152 shrines is the Ancient Hero’s Aspect, a special armor item that represents a past hero of Hyrule.
3. Is there any post-game content beyond side quests?
No, Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t have a traditional post-game. The game reverts to a save before the final battle with a star on the save file which means you can continue to explore, complete side quests, and collect missed items.
4. Does the map size differ between Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, the map in Tears of the Kingdom is significantly larger. It includes the original surface of Hyrule, as well as the Sky Islands and the Depths, which is said to be the same size as the surface map.
5. How many Korok Seeds are in Tears of the Kingdom?
There are a total of 1000 Korok Seeds in the game. These are gathered by finding the 800 Korok Seed puzzles throughout the map, awarding two seeds per successful completion of the puzzle.
6. Can you still play after beating the final boss?
Yes, after defeating the final boss, you load a save file from before the final encounter. This save file will have a star next to it and the completion percentage is unlocked.
7. How many shrines are on the surface of Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom?
There are 120 shrines on the surface of Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom.
8. How many shrines are in the Sky Islands?
There are 32 shrines in the Sky Islands, making the total amount of shrines 152.
9. Is Tears of the Kingdom harder than Breath of the Wild?
Many players report that Tears of the Kingdom is more challenging than its predecessor. The game introduces tougher enemies and complex puzzles, requiring more strategic thinking during gameplay.
10. Will there be DLC for Tears of the Kingdom?
Nintendo has officially confirmed that there will not be any DLC for Tears of the Kingdom. All intended content was implemented in the base game.
11. What is the benefit of maxing out your hearts or stamina?
By completing all 120 surface shrines and 4 Divine Beasts in Breath of the Wild, you would be 3 upgrades short of fully maxing out your heart or stamina. In Tears of the Kingdom, the shrines are very important but do not provide permanent upgrades to your health and stamina stats. Instead, you can obtain Light of Blessing from the shrines that can be traded at temples for permanent upgrades.
12. Is the story of Tears of the Kingdom connected to Breath of the Wild?
Yes, the story of Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild. It builds upon the same characters and world, but it introduces new plot elements and mechanics.
13. Where is Kass in Tears of the Kingdom?
Kass, a significant side character from Breath of the Wild, does not appear in Tears of the Kingdom. There is only one known reference to Kass in the base game.
14. How old is Link in Tears of the Kingdom?
Link is approximately 122-125 years old in Tears of the Kingdom. This is due to the time that has passed since the events of Breath of the Wild where Link is stated to be around 117 years old.
15. Is it necessary to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom?
While not necessary, playing Breath of the Wild is recommended to fully appreciate Tears of the Kingdom. Knowing the world, characters, and controls will provide a more enriched experience in the sequel.
Conclusion
The journey to 100% in Tears of the Kingdom is a long and rewarding experience that is achieved after finishing the main storyline and unlocking the completion tracker. While it takes a dedicated player to obtain 100%, the many side quests, shrines and Korok seeds will keep players entertained for hours on end. This system encourages a deeper engagement with the world of Hyrule and all it has to offer, solidifying Tears of the Kingdom as a game worth exploring from corner to corner.