Stepping deeper into 2025, prospects are looking good for Legend of Zelda fans. Although the Nintendo Switch is passing its torch to the Switch 2, it has had a great streak of Zelda titles, including the industry-shaking The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild near launch, Tears of the Kingdom several years later, and Echoes of Wisdom in what may be its last full year. Even if the Zelda hits stopped at Breath of the Wild, that would be reason enough for celebration, but it went on to include several Nintendo Switch Online ports and other titles like the Link’s Awakening remake.
Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally en route, it’s not a bad idea to reflect on the titles that earned the original Switch the rare honor of a numbered Nintendo sequel system. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was one of the first, and still one of the biggest, games pushing the Switch forward, with it, too, receiving the similar honor of a direct Zelda sequel. Chances are good that many Switch owners still have their BotW copy lying around, so 2025 should be the perfect time to start a new adventure in this modern classic.
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Zelda: 10 Underrated Breath Of The Wild Features
Breath of the Wild is one of the most beloved games in recent years, and that’s all thanks to it’s amazing loved and also underrated features.
It’s Been A While Since Many Players Last Touched Breath of the Wild
Starting over a game as large as Breath of the Wild sounds daunting, but its size is actually to its benefit. Anyone that played BotW back when it was new likely hasn’t retained most of their experiences, just a few highlights and low points. Jumping back into Breath of the Wild now, even with knowledge of its story, mechanics, and secrets, could feel like playing it again for the first time, just a little smoother. BotW is turning 8 this year, so the process of replacing forgotten memories with new ones should come easily.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Could Improve Breath of the Wild
One potential advantage of starting a fresh Breath of the Wild save file in 2025 will include the Switch 2 itself. According to Nintendo’s early advertising, the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backward compatible with most Nintendo Switch games. It’s a given that Breath of the Wild will work, but the question on fans’ minds is whether compatible games will benefit from the newer system’s improved hardware. Even Nintendo’s first-party exclusives, Breath of the Wild among them, suffered from performance issues and low resolution, so experiencing BotW again without those problems would justify another playthrough.
Tears of the Kingdom Is A Good Comparison To Breath of the Wild
Ironically, BotW’s sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, being released just a couple of years ago could make Breath feel fresh again. BotW and TotK do share their Hyrule overworld, but there are a lot of small changes that make the experience feel different. That’s even before comparing the radically different Zonai arm mechanics to the Sheikah Runes in Breath, or accounting for TotK’s caves, sky islands and Depths accompanying its usual gameplay. Each title has its merits, but Breath of the Wild earned a sequel for a reason, and returning to it now should help clarify why it used to be one of a kind.
Breath of the Wild Still Has Its Own Strengths
Even with Tears of the Kingdom around, Breath of the Wild has unique points that make it fun. Sheikah Runes remain some of the most versatile tools in the Zelda franchise, all without outshining other mechanics, such as climbing, like TotK’s game-changing Ultrahand did. Divine Beasts make for a distinct set of dungeons as well, and BotW has more of an endgame than TotK thanks to its DLC. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s fans no doubt have plenty more examples of what made their time with the game so special, and replaying it this year should bring all of those, and more, to light.
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