The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Nintendo Switch / Wii U · 2017

Explore a ruined Hyrule at your own pace, from your first steps on the Great Plateau to the fight against Calamity Ganon. Find Breath of the Wild shrine guides, quests, equipment, and exploration tips.

Explore the guide

Step into a world of unparalleled discovery, freedom, and adventure in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Released in March 2017 for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U, this critically acclaimed title reimagined the Zelda franchise and set a new standard for open-world game design.

You awaken as Link after a 100-year slumber, finding yourself in a vast, ruined Kingdom of Hyrule with no memory of the past. A great evil, Calamity Ganon, was sealed within Hyrule Castle a century ago after devastating the land, but its power is growing once more. Guided by a mysterious voice, you must explore the sprawling landscapes—from lush forests and soaring mountains to scorching deserts and frigid tundras—to regain your lost memories, harness the power of the ancient Divine Beasts, and acquire the strength needed to defeat Ganon before he breaks free and destroys the world.

Breath of the Wild breaks series conventions with its “Open-Air” design, granting players unprecedented freedom to go anywhere and tackle challenges in any order. Climb towering peaks, glide across vast distances with your paraglider, and survive by scavenging weapons, hunting wildlife, gathering resources, and cooking food and elixirs for buffs and healing. The world is governed by a sophisticated physics and chemistry engine, allowing for emergent gameplay and creative problem-solving using the versatile Sheikah Slate abilities—Magnesis, Stasis, Cryonis, and Remote Bombs. Discover over 100 puzzle-filled Shrines of Trials, conquer the four colossal Divine Beast dungeons, and uncover the secrets of Hyrule’s tragic past.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time and earning numerous Game of the Year awards, Breath of the Wild is celebrated for its emphasis on exploration, player agency, environmental interaction, and its breathtaking, stylized world that encourages curiosity and rewards experimentation at every turn. It’s an epic journey of rediscovery and heroism in a world teeming with danger, mystery, and beauty.

Breath of the Wild Walkthrough

I. The Journey Begins: Great Plateau: From starting the adventure, obtaining the Sheikah Slate to gliding down into the wider kingdom of Hyrule.

II. Seeking Guidance & Unlocking Potential: From navigating Hyrule, first encounters, reaching the village, to starting the quest to recover Link’s lost memories.

III. Freeing the Divine Beasts (These sections can largely be tackled in any order)

IV. The Hero’s Blade & Recovered Past

V. Confronting the Calamity

Side Quests & Collectibles

Shrines of Trials: Locating and completing all 120 base game Shrines (plus DLC shrines if applicable) for Spirit Orbs (Heart Containers/Stamina Vessels). Includes Shrine Quests.
Korok Seeds: Finding all 900 Koroks hidden across Hyrule to expand inventory space via Hestu.
Side Quests: Completing all listed Side Quests obtained from NPCs throughout Hyrule, offering various rewards and stories.
Armor Sets & Upgrades: Finding all pieces of armor and fully upgrading them via the Great Fairy Fountains. Requires locating all Great Fairies.
Recovered Memories: Finding all memory locations (linked to Main Quest section).
Hyrule Compendium: Photographing all entries for Weapons, Bows & Arrows, Shields, Materials, Monsters, Treasure, and Fauna for Symin.
Medals of Honor: Defeating all Talus, Hinox/Stalnox, and Molduga variations for Kilton.
Key Location Discovery: Visiting and registering all named locations on the map (contributes to map percentage).