The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild guide
Also known as: Breath of the Wild, BotW, Zelda BotW
Our guide to Zelda: Breath of the Wild: how the open world works, shrines, cooking, combat tips and why it is one of the best adventure games ever made.
- Type
- Video game
- Players
- 1
- Age
- Ages 12+
- First released
- 2017
- Developer
- Nintendo
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch, Wii U
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an open-world action adventure released by Nintendo in 2017 for Nintendo Switch and Wii U. You play as Link, who wakes from a long sleep in a ruined kingdom called Hyrule. A dark force named Calamity Ganon has taken over the central castle, and Princess Zelda has held it back for a hundred years. After a short opening area, the game lets you go almost anywhere you can see: you can climb mountains, glide from towers and walk straight to the final battle if you dare. The world is full of small puzzles, secrets and systems that react to each other, such as fire, wind, rain and electricity. Many players and critics name it among the best games ever made.
Our verdict
Few games trust the player as much as this one. Instead of telling you what to do, it gives you tools and a world that follows clear rules, then lets you solve problems your own way. A guarded camp can be attacked with arrows, set on fire, hit with a rolling boulder or simply avoided. Exploring is rewarding because there is almost always something interesting on the next hill. It is also calm and beautiful, with quiet music and long views, which makes it enjoyable for players who do not usually like hard action games.
What works
- A huge open world that rewards curiosity at almost every step.
- Physics and chemistry systems allow many creative solutions.
- Beautiful art style that still looks good years after release.
What does not
- Weapons break quickly, which some players find frustrating.
- The main story is light and spread thin across the world.
How to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
You control Link from a third-person view. A stamina wheel limits how long you can run, climb and swim, so you plan routes up cliffs and across water. A paraglider lets you float down from high places. The Sheikah Slate, a tablet you carry, gives you abilities called runes: you can make remote bombs, lift metal objects with a magnet, freeze objects in time, and create ice pillars on water. Weapons break after use, so you pick up swords, bows and clubs from enemies and switch often. Cooking meals over a fire restores hearts and can give bonuses such as resistance to cold. There are 120 shrines across the map; each one holds a short puzzle or combat trial, and finishing four of them earns more hearts or stamina. Four giant machines called Divine Beasts act as larger dungeons. You can tackle almost everything in any order before facing Ganon.
Tips for new players
- Unlock towers early: each one fills in part of the map and gives you a high place to glide from.
- Do not save your best weapons forever; they are meant to break, and new ones appear all the time.
- Cook food in groups of the same ingredient, and add special items to get effects such as speed or warmth.
- Spend early shrine rewards on stamina if you love climbing, or on hearts if you struggle in combat.
Good for
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: common questions
Do I need to play older Zelda games before Breath of the Wild?
No. The story stands on its own, and the game explains everything you need. Knowing older games only adds small extra details.
How many shrines are in Breath of the Wild?
The base game has 120 shrines. The paid expansion pass adds more challenges, but the main 120 are enough to finish the adventure.
Is Breath of the Wild suitable for children?
It has fantasy combat without blood, and it is rated for older children and teens. Younger players may need help with the harder fights and puzzles.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild belongs to its owners. Playdonya is not connected to them and does not sell this game; the cover is our own illustration.
