It’s official—The Legend of Zelda is once again dominating the conversation, and this time it’s thanks to the new Nintendo Switch 2 upgrades for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Both titles have surged to the top of Metacritic’s best-rated games of 2025, dethroning indie darling Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which had been holding the top spot for much of the year.
As of now, Tears of the Kingdom leads the pack with an impressive Metacritic score of 95, while Breath of the Wild isn’t far behind at 93—matching Expedition 33‘s score but edging it out due to recent attention and fewer review discrepancies. The kicker? These are re-releases enhanced by Switch 2’s performance boost.
The upgrade packs for both Zelda titles offer a premium experience: sharper visuals with higher resolution, a stable frame rate, HDR support, and new quality-of-life additions. One of the biggest enhancements comes via the Nintendo Switch App, which now includes a “Zelda Notes” feature—letting players track Shrine and Korok Seed locations, and even share item data between games.
While Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been a critical hit—garnering over 80 reviews and significant praise for its unique narrative and stylish combat—it’s hard to compete with the legacy and polish of Zelda. That said, it’s worth noting that BOTW and TOTK’s Switch 2 releases have each pulled in fewer than 15 reviews so far, meaning the rankings could shift again as the year progresses.
Still, from a fan’s perspective, this feels like a well-deserved return to form. It’s a reminder of just how timeless The Legend of Zelda really is—and how much more room these beloved titles still have to evolve with upgraded hardware. Whether you’re revisiting Hyrule or discovering it for the first time on Switch 2, there’s never been a better time to dive in.
And who knows what else 2025 has in store? But for now, Zelda reigns supreme once again.
