Can You Still Play Tears of the Kingdom After Beating the Game? Absolutely!
Yes, you absolutely can still play The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom after defeating Ganondorf and watching the credits roll. But don’t expect a dramatically altered world or a direct continuation of the main story. Instead, the game cleverly reverts to a state before the final boss battle, allowing you to continue exploring Hyrule, completing side quests, finding collectibles, and generally engaging in all the activities that make the game so compelling. Think of it as a “save state” that loads you back in right before the ultimate confrontation, but now with the satisfaction of knowing you’ve saved the princess (at least once!).
What Happens After the Credits Roll?
So, you’ve triumphed over evil, seen the emotional cutscenes, and perhaps even shed a tear or two. What’s next? Once the credits finish, the game will reload your last save file. You’ll find yourself back in Hyrule, standing right before the entrance to the final boss arena. The world won’t be drastically different; the monsters are still there, the quests are still available, and the inhabitants of Hyrule still need your help.
The key takeaway is that Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t offer a traditional post-game scenario with new story content. However, the “post-game” focuses on completing the countless activities you might have missed during your initial playthrough and allows you to experience the game in a more relaxed and comprehensive way. This design choice encourages players to truly explore every nook and cranny of Hyrule without the pressure of the impending final battle.
The Joy of Completionism: The Real Post-Game
The real joy of playing after beating Tears of the Kingdom lies in the freedom to focus on completionism. This includes:
- Completing all Side Quests and Shrine Quests: With the main quest resolved, you can dedicate your time to helping the people of Hyrule and solving the puzzles presented in the game’s many shrines.
- Finding all Korok Seeds: Good luck! There are 900 of these little guys hidden throughout the world. Completing this task is a true test of dedication.
- Upgrading all Armor: Maxing out your armor sets is a fantastic goal for the post-game. It requires finding specific materials and visiting the Great Fairies.
- Filling the Hyrule Compendium: Taking pictures of every creature, monster, weapon, and item is a challenging but rewarding endeavor.
- Exploring every location: There’s always something new to discover in Hyrule, even after spending hundreds of hours in the game.
- Experimenting with Ultrahand and Fuse: The possibilities are endless! Create wacky vehicles, powerful weapons, and elaborate structures just for the fun of it.
New Features After Beating the Game
While the world itself doesn’t drastically change, defeating Ganondorf does unlock a few subtle but significant features:
- Star on Your Save File: A small star appears on your save file, indicating that you have completed the main story. This is purely cosmetic but serves as a badge of honor.
- Enemy Scaling: Some players report that enemy difficulty may subtly increase after defeating Ganondorf, although this hasn’t been definitively confirmed by Nintendo.
- Percentage Completion Tracking: The map now displays your overall completion percentage. This is a huge motivator for completionists and helps track your progress.
- Kilton Medals for defeating overworld bosses: After you beat the final boss, if you haven’t already done so, you will gain the ability to trade monster parts for new items with Kilton.
- Picture of the Champions: You can return to Lookout Landing after beating the game and speak with the News Crew to get a picture for Link’s house.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Tears of the Kingdom Post-Game
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify what you can expect after beating Tears of the Kingdom:
1. Does the Story Continue After Beating Ganondorf?
No, there is no new story content after defeating Ganondorf. The game resets to before the final boss battle.
2. Can I Fight Ganondorf Again?
Yes, you can fight Ganondorf as many times as you like. Simply return to the final boss arena.
3. Do I Keep My Inventory After Beating the Game?
Yes, you keep all your inventory, armor, weapons, and abilities.
4. Does the World Change After Beating the Game?
No, the world remains largely the same. There are no significant changes to the environment or NPC behavior.
5. Are There New Enemies After Beating the Game?
While some players report increased enemy difficulty, there are no entirely new enemy types introduced after defeating Ganondorf.
6. Can I Start a New Game Plus?
No, Tears of the Kingdom does not have a traditional New Game Plus mode where you can restart the story with your existing gear.
7. What is the Completion Percentage on the Map?
The completion percentage tracks how much of the game you have completed. This includes discovering locations, completing quests, and finding collectibles.
8. How Do I Increase My Completion Percentage?
You can increase your completion percentage by exploring the map, completing shrines and side quests, finding Korok Seeds, and filling the Hyrule Compendium.
9. What are the Benefits of Completing the Game 100%?
There are no specific in-game rewards for achieving 100% completion. The reward is the satisfaction of fully experiencing everything the game has to offer.
10. Can I Still Complete Shrine Quests After Beating Ganondorf?
Yes, you can complete any unfinished Shrine Quests after defeating Ganondorf.
11. Can I Still Upgrade My Armor After Beating Ganondorf?
Yes, you can continue to upgrade your armor by visiting the Great Fairies.
12. What Happens If I Haven’t Found All the Memories?
You can still find and view all the memories after defeating Ganondorf. Completing this side quest provides valuable backstory and context to the main story.
13. Is There a Post-Game Challenge?
The “challenge” of the post-game is largely self-imposed. It involves setting your own goals, such as completing the Hyrule Compendium or finding all the Korok Seeds.
14. Can I Explore the Depths After Beating Ganondorf?
Yes, the Depths are fully accessible after defeating Ganondorf. This vast underground world offers a unique and challenging exploration experience.
15. Does Beating the Game Affect the Difficulty of the DLC?
The game does not currently have DLC. This answer cannot be determined.
The Enduring Appeal of Tears of the Kingdom
Even without a traditional post-game story, Tears of the Kingdom provides countless hours of enjoyment after defeating Ganondorf. The freedom to explore, experiment, and complete all the side content ensures that players can continue to find new and exciting things to do long after the credits have rolled. The game’s focus on player agency and open-world exploration is what makes it so compelling, and that appeal extends far beyond the main storyline. GamesLearningSociety.org explores these types of engaging learning environments.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is more than just a game; it’s an experience. It’s a world that invites you to lose yourself in its vast landscapes, complex systems, and engaging characters. And even after you’ve saved Hyrule, the adventure continues. So go forth, explore, and discover everything that Tears of the Kingdom has to offer. You might be surprised at what you find.