What is the Best Zelda Game After Breath of the Wild?
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For many, Breath of the Wild (BOTW) was a watershed moment in gaming, redefining the open-world genre and setting a new standard for the Legend of Zelda series. But once you’ve explored every nook and cranny of Hyrule, defeated Calamity Ganon, and perhaps even wrangled every last Korok seed, the question arises: what Zelda game should you play next? The answer, while subjective, largely depends on what aspects of BOTW you loved most. However, for a recommendation that balances familiarity with innovation and story, the best Zelda game to play after Breath of the Wild is undoubtedly The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Tears of the Kingdom (TOTK) is the direct sequel to BOTW, picking up the narrative after the fall of Calamity Ganon. While BOTW introduced the sprawling open world, TOTK significantly expands upon this formula, introducing verticality with sky islands, intricate underground systems, and refined gameplay mechanics. If you enjoyed the exploration, puzzle-solving, and freeform approach of BOTW, Tears of the Kingdom offers a similar yet improved experience. The core gameplay loop of traversing the world, collecting resources, and engaging in combat is retained, but with added layers of complexity, creativity, and wonder. The addition of new abilities like Fuse, Ultrahand, and Recall allows for unprecedented possibilities in problem-solving and combat encounters.
While TOTK is the most logical and strongly recommended step after BOTW, let’s explore some other Zelda titles that might appeal based on different player preferences:
Exploring Other Options
For the Nostalgic Open-World Adventurer: Ocarina of Time
If the vastness of BOTW appealed to you, but you’re also curious about the series’ roots, then Ocarina of Time is an essential experience. Widely considered one of the greatest games ever made, Ocarina of Time was groundbreaking for its time, transitioning the series to 3D and presenting a vast overworld for players to explore. While it might not be as open or seamless as BOTW, its design laid the groundwork for many modern open-world games. It offers a captivating story, memorable dungeons, and engaging gameplay that make it a timeless classic.
For the Story Enthusiast: Wind Waker
If the free-form story of BOTW left you yearning for a more substantial narrative, The Wind Waker is an excellent choice. This game features a cel-shaded art style, taking place on a world dominated by the ocean, with players sailing between islands. The story is engaging, the characters are memorable, and the overall tone is whimsical and lighthearted. Its world is still open, with freedom to explore islands and dungeons but offers a more defined narrative compared to BOTW.
For the Challenge Seeker: Majora’s Mask
If you found BOTW’s gameplay a tad too forgiving and yearn for a more demanding experience, Majora’s Mask is a must-play. This is often considered one of the most challenging Zelda games, primarily because of its time-limit mechanic. Players have only three in-game days to prevent the moon from crashing into the world, forcing them to learn the game’s systems intimately and optimize their time management. This game also has a darker tone and atmosphere, exploring themes of mortality and grief. It has complex dungeons, unique mask-based abilities, and a gripping story, though it may not be as open-world focused as BOTW.
For the Hardcore Player Looking for a Real Test: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
If you’re looking for a radical departure and a serious challenge, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link will definitely provide that. This game is a side-scrolling action RPG that plays very differently from the rest of the series. It’s known for its high difficulty, unconventional gameplay, and challenging combat. This isn’t for everyone, but for those who want to test their skills, it’s a unique experience within the Zelda franchise.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Tears of the Kingdom really better than Breath of the Wild?
While it’s subjective, many consider Tears of the Kingdom an improvement over Breath of the Wild. It addresses criticisms of BOTW, such as irritating rain, long load times, and limited travel options. TOTK also offers a more hopeful and adventurous narrative, intricate side quests, and visually stunning graphics. It expands upon the gameplay mechanics, allowing more creativity in problem-solving.
2. What makes Ocarina of Time so highly regarded?
Ocarina of Time is considered a masterpiece because it was the first 3D Zelda game, revolutionizing the series and influencing the action-adventure genre. Its new graphics were well received for its time, and it features a captivating story, memorable characters, and challenging dungeons. Many aspects of modern Zelda games, including BOTW, can be traced back to its innovative design.
3. How does Wind Waker compare to other Zelda games?
Wind Waker stands out with its cel-shaded art style and its focus on exploration by sea. It’s considered one of the best Zelda games due to its engaging story, charming characters, and unique gameplay. While not as open as BOTW, its exploration and narrative are well-balanced.
4. Why is Majora’s Mask considered so difficult?
Majora’s Mask’s main difficulty stems from its time-limit mechanic. Players have only three in-game days to achieve their goals, requiring them to learn the world’s rhythms and optimize their actions. The game is darker and more melancholic than other Zelda titles, and its puzzles and boss fights are also considered more challenging.
5. Which Zelda game has the hardest bosses?
Based on the article, some of the hardest Zelda bosses are: Thunderbird (The Adventure Of Link), Gleeok (The Legend of Zelda), Onox (Oracle Of Seasons), Moldorm (A Link To The Past) and Thunderblight Ganon (Breath Of The Wild).
6. What is the easiest Zelda game to play?
According to the provided text, Twilight Princess is considered the easiest Zelda game due to its simpler gameplay and less challenging puzzles and combat.
7. Which Zelda game has the saddest scenes?
The Legend of Zelda has several very sad scenes, including the ending of Ocarina Of Time, Midna’s near-death experience in Twilight Princess, waking The Wind Fish in Link’s Awakening, Sidon’s Grief in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, The Mask Spirits’ Deaths in Majora’s Mask, and Zelda’s breakdown in Breath of the Wild.
8. Is Breath of the Wild considered one of the greatest games ever made?
Yes, Breath of the Wild is widely considered one of the greatest games ever made due to its freedom of choice, inviting world design, and innovative gameplay mechanics. It received the most #1 votes in a survey cited in the article.
9. How long does it take to beat Tears of the Kingdom?
According to the article, it takes roughly 55 hours to beat Tears of the Kingdom.
10. How long does it take to beat Breath of the Wild?
The article suggests it takes around 50 hours to beat Breath of the Wild.
11. What is the longest Zelda game to beat?
The article identifies Tears of the Kingdom as the longest Zelda game to beat, with an estimated playtime of 55 hours.
12. What is the shortest Zelda game to beat?
The original The Legend of Zelda is the shortest game in the main series, according to the article.
13. Which Zelda game is the most powerful version of Zelda?
Based on the ranking from the article, the most powerful version of Zelda is in Ocarina of Time.
14. What is the darkest Zelda game in the series?
The article states that Majora’s Mask is the darkest Zelda game, followed by Twilight Princess and then Breath of the Wild.
15. Will there be more Zelda games after Tears of the Kingdom?
Despite the “finality” of TOTK’s ending, the article strongly suggests that the Zelda series will continue beyond TOTK due to the success of the franchise and the expectation of future titles on new hardware.
Ultimately, the “best” Zelda game after Breath of the Wild is subjective and depends on individual preferences. However, Tears of the Kingdom is a natural progression from BOTW, offering an expanded and refined gameplay experience, making it the most logical and compelling choice for players looking for more adventures in Hyrule. Other titles, like Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, and Majora’s Mask, each offer unique and memorable experiences that provide valuable insight into the history and breadth of this beloved series.