

Like BOTW, TOTK wants players to forge their own epic stories rather than simply follow map markers until the credits roll (that said, the 2023 game has more story-related quests than BOTW ). Link has the ability to combine items together, allowing him to create vehicles, weapons, and mechanisms to complete puzzles. In the sequel, Nintendo focuses heavily on introducing tools designed to encourage and facilitate player creativity.

Even though it is not quite as desolate as its predecessor, TOTK's Hyrule still largely feels like uncharted territory that is simply waiting to be explored. This time around, the map is littered with considerably more small villages and splashes of civilization, translating to a wide range of charming side quests. A proper sequel to Breath of the Wild, TOTK finds Link traversing a familiar Hyrule that is in the process of recovery unfortunately, a new disaster has once again sent the world into chaos.

Overkill as it might seem to double down on Zelda's open-world entries, Tears of the Kingdom is such a fantastic experience that it deserves to be spotlighted all on its own.
