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, Guides, and Resources
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)
- Zora’s Domain – Divine Beast Vah Ruta: Reaching Zora’s Domain to claiming Mipha’s Grace.
- Goron City – Divine Beast Vah Rudania: Reaching Goron City to claiming Daruk’s Protection.
- Rito Village – Divine Beast Vah Medoh: Reaching Rito Village to claiming Revali’s Gale.
- Gerudo Town – Divine Beast Vah Naboris: Reaching Gerudo Town to claiming Urbosa’s Fury.
IV. The Hero’s Blade & Recovered Past
- The Master Sword: Journeying to Korok Forest, navigating the Lost Woods, passing the Korok Trials (optional but recommended), claiming the legendary sword (requires 13+ heart containers).
- Recovering Lost Memories: Finding all memory locations triggered by the “Locked Mementos” photos, uncovering Link’s past with Zelda and the Champions.
- Infiltrating Hyrule Castle: Breaching the castle grounds, navigating the corrupted interior, facing powerful enemies.
- Defeating Calamity Ganon: The final battle sequence, utilizing the Divine Beasts’ power (if freed).
- Destroying Dark Beast Ganon: The ultimate confrontation in Hyrule Field.
VI. 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).
VII. Essential Resources & Guides
- Characters: Meet the key figures of this era of Hyrule.
- Enemies & Monsters: A bestiary detailing the creatures, Guardians, Blight Ganons, and Calamity Ganon, including combat strategies.
- Mini-Games & Secrets: Shield Surfing, Snow Bowling, Foot Races, Horseback Archery, Gambling, and other hidden activities.
- Sheikah Slate Runes Guide: Detailed uses for Magnesis, Remote Bombs, Stasis, Cryonis, Camera, and Amiibo runes.
- Weapons, Bows, & Shields Guide: Information on weapon types, durability, special effects, and locations.
- Cooking & Elixirs Guide: Recipes, ingredient effects, and tips for creating powerful meals and potions.
- Map & Regions Guide: Overview of Hyrule’s provinces, climates, key landmarks, and Tower locations.
- 100% Completion Checklist: A detailed checklist covering all requirements for achieving 100% map completion and beyond.
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