Is There an End Game in Tears of the Kingdom?
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The short answer is no, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (TOTK) does not have a traditional “end game” in the sense of a distinct phase of gameplay that unlocks after completing the main story. Once you defeat Ganondorf and watch the ending cutscenes, the game reverts to your last save before the final boss battle. This means you can reload your save and continue exploring Hyrule, tackling unfinished side quests, completing shrines, and generally wreaking havoc with your Fuse abilities. While there’s no official post-story content, the game provides a satisfying sense of completion and encourages continued exploration.
What Happens After Beating Tears of the Kingdom?
Instead of a dedicated post-game phase, beating Tears of the Kingdom grants you a few key benefits:
- Completion Percentage: Your map now displays a completion percentage. This tracks all the locations you’ve visited, the number of Korok seeds you’ve collected (all 900!), the shrines you’ve conquered, and more. It’s a massive checklist for completionists.
- Starred Save File: Your save file will be marked with a star, signifying that you’ve defeated Ganondorf. This is mostly a symbolic gesture, as it doesn’t unlock any new gameplay features.
- Access to Pre-Final Boss World: You’re placed back in the world before the final boss fight, allowing you to continue exploring and completing tasks with all your upgraded abilities and equipment. The state of Hyrule is pre-calamity resolution.
- World Experience: Even though the game resets, you do get rewarded for beating Ganondorf by gaining world experience, contributing to the hidden enemy scaling system (more on that below).
The absence of a true end game might disappoint some, but it’s consistent with the design philosophy of both Tears of the Kingdom and its predecessor, Breath of the Wild. The focus is on the journey and the freedom to explore rather than a structured post-story experience.
The “End Game” is What You Make It
While there’s no designated end game content, you can create your own. Here are some popular post-completion activities:
- 100% Completion Run: This is the ultimate challenge. Track down every shrine, collect every piece of armor, upgrade it all to the maximum level, find every Korok seed, discover all the locations, and complete every side quest. Good luck!
- Experimental Builds: Now that you’ve got the best gear and have mastered the Fuse ability, experiment with crazy weapon and vehicle combinations. See what you can create and how much chaos you can cause.
- Challenge Runs: Impose your own limitations on the game. Try a low-level run, a no-fast-travel run, or a run where you only use specific types of weapons.
- Become a Hyrulean Tourist: Simply explore the world at your own pace, enjoying the scenery and the freedom that the game offers.
Why No DLC?
Nintendo has confirmed that there will be no DLC for Tears of the Kingdom. Aonuma stated that they were able to implement all of the elements they wanted to achieve in this world and this story within the base game. This is great for consumers because everything is in one package, but might feel limiting for people who wanted more structured content. This doesn’t stop them from making a new Zelda game on a new engine that builds on the system for Tears of the Kingdom.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the completion percentage in TOTK?
The completion percentage tracks your overall progress in the game. It factors in discovered locations, completed shrines, collected Korok seeds, and more. It is a great way to gauge how much of Hyrule you’ve explored.
Is there a Master Mode in Tears of the Kingdom?
Currently, there is no Master Mode in Tears of the Kingdom. Master Mode was a feature of Breath of the Wild that increased the difficulty of enemies. While its absence is disappointing for some, it’s possible it could be added in a future update, though it is unlikely given Nintendo’s stance on DLC.
Does Tears of the Kingdom scale with level?
Yes, Tears of the Kingdom features a secret enemy scaling system. As you progress through the game and defeat stronger enemies, the difficulty of the enemies you encounter will gradually increase. This ensures that the game remains challenging even after you’ve acquired powerful weapons and armor.
Can you still play TOTK after beating Ganondorf?
Yes, you can continue playing Tears of the Kingdom after defeating Ganondorf. The game will revert to your last save before the final boss fight, allowing you to explore the world and complete any unfinished tasks.
Will there be DLC for Tears of the Kingdom?
Nintendo has confirmed that there will be no DLC for Tears of the Kingdom. They believe that the base game contains everything they wanted to achieve with this world and story.
Where is Majora’s Mask in TOTK?
Majora’s Mask is found in the Floating Coliseum in the Depths. It is located at coordinates -1551, -1263, -0499, northeast of the Mu-ustust Lightroot. You’ll need to defeat a series of challenging enemies to claim it.
Will Tears of the Kingdom be the last Zelda game?
No, it is highly unlikely that Tears of the Kingdom will be the last Zelda game. The Zelda series is one of Nintendo’s most successful franchises, and there are likely to be more installments in the future.
Where are the Divine Beasts in TOTK?
The Divine Beasts from Breath of the Wild are not present in Tears of the Kingdom. They seem to have faded into legend, with the focus shifting to the Zonai and their technology.
Will the Triforce be in Tears of the Kingdom?
The Triforce is not explicitly shown in Tears of the Kingdom. However, the Triforce does not appear when Zelda uses magic in Tears of the Kingdom. However, this does not mean that the artifact is not still within her.
What is the strongest armor in TOTK?
The best defensive armor piece is the Champion’s Leathers. The best defensive armor sets are tied between the Soldier Set, the Zonai Set, and the Wild Set. It really depends on your preference and play style.
What is the final boss in Tears of the Kingdom?
The final boss in Tears of the Kingdom is, unsurprisingly, Ganondorf. You’ll face him in a multi-stage battle that tests all of your skills and abilities.
How many shrines are in TOTK?
There are a total of 152 Shrines in Tears of the Kingdom. 120 are located on the surface of Hyrule, and 32 are found in the Sky Islands.
Will Tears of the Kingdom have Twilight?
While Tears of the Kingdom is not directly set in the Twilight Princess timeline, it does include a throwback to that game in the form of the Twilight Armor. This armor set allows Link to resemble his wolf form from Twilight Princess.
Where is Epona in Tears of the Kingdom?
If you have a save file for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the same Switch console, Epona will automatically appear at your first Stable. She will already be registered to you.
Do weapons still break in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, weapons still break in Tears of the Kingdom. However, the introduction of the Fuse ability makes weapon breaking more enjoyable. Instead of being a frustration, it becomes an opportunity to create new and interesting weapon combinations. Consider how this core gameplay mechanic could be implemented in education. Games like TOTK present interesting opportunities for learning new problem-solving techniques that can be applied across academic and real-world settings. The Games Learning Society explores just that. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.