Is Zelda Bigger Than Skyrim? A Deep Dive into Open World Sizes

Yes, Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s map is significantly larger than Skyrim’s. While Skyrim boasts a respectable 15 square miles, Breath of the Wild sprawls across a much more expansive landscape, offering players a truly immense open-world experience. Let’s delve into the specifics of these iconic games and explore the nuances of their map sizes and open-world designs.

Size Matters: Comparing the Maps

The debate about which open world is “bigger” often comes down to how we define “big.” Are we talking about raw square mileage, the perceived scale within the game world, or the sheer density of content packed into every nook and cranny? In the case of Zelda and Skyrim, the answer leans heavily toward physical size, but that’s not the whole story.

Breath of the Wild clocks in at an estimated 33,268 square miles, which is substantially larger than Skyrim’s 15 square miles. Some sources claim the difference is more like 1.66 times larger, which is a significant amount of additional exploration space for the player. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Breath of the Wild is a “better” open-world game, but it does illustrate the difference in scale that Nintendo aimed for.

The perception of size also plays a vital role. Skyrim’s mountainous terrain and winding paths often make the world feel larger than it actually is. The diverse biomes, from snowy peaks to swampy marshes, create a sense of great distance between locations. The game’s deliberate pacing, driven by encounters and quest markers, encourages players to thoroughly explore each region.

Breath of the Wild, on the other hand, emphasizes freedom of movement. Players can climb almost any surface, glide across vast distances, and teleport to discovered shrines. This allows for quicker traversal of the landscape, which, combined with its larger size, requires thoughtful design to maintain player engagement. The key to Breath of the Wild’s success is it is less about the absolute size and more about the emergent gameplay and opportunities for discovery.

Considerations Beyond Square Mileage

It’s important to remember that size isn’t everything. A large open world can feel empty if it lacks interesting things to do or discover. Both Skyrim and Breath of the Wild excel in this regard, though they approach content density differently.

• Skyrim: Skyrim is densely packed with dungeons, caves, and settlements, each brimming with quests, characters, and lore. The world feels alive, with constant encounters with bandits, wildlife, and other travelers. Random events, such as dragon attacks, keep players on their toes and add to the sense of immersion.

• Breath of the Wild: Breath of the Wild favors a more minimalist approach. While the map is dotted with shrines, towns, and enemy camps, much of the landscape is intentionally sparse. This encourages players to explore at their own pace, stumble upon hidden secrets, and create their own adventures. The game relies heavily on its physics engine and environmental interactions to generate emergent gameplay, making even seemingly empty areas full of potential. The Games Learning Society studies these kinds of game mechanics to understand how to make learning more fun.

The Bottom Line

While Breath of the Wild is undeniably larger in terms of square mileage, both games offer compelling open-world experiences that cater to different tastes. Skyrim provides a densely packed world with a strong focus on narrative and character development, while Breath of the Wild emphasizes freedom, exploration, and emergent gameplay. Ultimately, the “better” open world is a matter of personal preference.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How big is the map of Breath of the Wild in square miles?

The map of Breath of the Wild is estimated to be around 33,268 square miles.

2. How big is the map of Skyrim in square miles?

The map of Skyrim is approximately 15 square miles.

3. Is Breath of the Wild the biggest open-world game ever?

No, there are open-world games that are even larger than Breath of the Wild. Games like No Man’s Sky and Minecraft are procedurally generated and theoretically infinite in size. Games like Death Stranding also boast larger maps.

4. Why does Skyrim feel so big despite its relatively small map size?

Skyrim’s mountainous terrain, winding paths, diverse biomes, and dense content contribute to the perception of a larger world.

5. Why is Breath of the Wild’s file size relatively small compared to its map size?

Breath of the Wild utilizes procedural generation, art style, and asset reuse to create a vast world without requiring a massive file size. Also, the textures may be slightly smaller.

6. Does the size of an open-world game matter?

The size of an open world matters to some extent, as it provides more space for exploration and discovery. However, content density and gameplay mechanics are equally important in creating an engaging experience.

7. Which game has more content, Skyrim or Breath of the Wild?

Skyrim generally has more structured content, such as quests, dungeons, and characters. Breath of the Wild focuses on emergent gameplay and player-driven exploration.

8. What makes Breath of the Wild’s open world so unique?

Breath of the Wild’s open world is unique due to its emphasis on freedom of movement, physics-based interactions, and emergent gameplay.

9. Is there a specific formula for creating a successful open-world game?

There is no single formula for creating a successful open-world game. However, key elements include a compelling world, engaging gameplay mechanics, and a sense of freedom and discovery.

10. What other open-world games are known for their large map sizes?

Other open-world games known for their large map sizes include The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Grand Theft Auto V, Fallout 4, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

11. How long does it take to complete Breath of the Wild?

Completing the main story of Breath of the Wild takes around 50 hours. Achieving 100% completion can take upwards of 190 hours.

12. How long does it take to complete Skyrim?

Completing the main story of Skyrim takes around 30 hours. Achieving 100% completion can take hundreds of hours.

13. Which open-world game is more replayable, Skyrim or Breath of the Wild?

Both games offer high replayability. Skyrim has a wide range of character builds and questlines, while Breath of the Wild’s emergent gameplay allows for unique experiences on each playthrough.

14. Is it possible to mod Breath of the Wild to increase its map size?

While modding Breath of the Wild is possible, it is not easy to fundamentally alter the map size in any meaningful way.

15. How do video game open worlds influence real-world learning and exploration?

Video game open worlds can inspire real-world learning and exploration by fostering curiosity, problem-solving skills, and a sense of adventure. Sites like GamesLearningSociety.org are dedicated to exploring these connections.

The relative size of these games’ maps and the richness of their open-world designs continue to make them popular and relevant to players today.