The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a 2017 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo for the Wii U and Nintendo Switch. It is the nineteenth main installment in The Legend of Zelda series.
Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Nintendo EPD (with assistance from Monolith Soft) |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Director | Hidemaro Fujibayashi |
| Producer | Eiji Aonuma |
| Release Date | March 3, 2017 (Wii U & Nintendo Switch) |
| Platforms | Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Genre | Action-adventure, open world |
| Mode | Single-player |
Gameplay
Breath of the Wild features a vast open world set in the kingdom of Hyrule. The game emphasizes nonlinear exploration and player experimentation. Key gameplay mechanics include:
- Open World Exploration: Players can traverse Hyrule by walking, climbing, paragliding, and horseback riding. Nearly any surface can be climbed, limited only by a stamina gauge.
- Physics & Chemistry Engines: Objects interact through a consistent physics engine. For example, metal objects attract lightning during thunderstorms, grass can be set ablaze, and wind can spread fire.
- Weapon Durability: Most weapons, bows, and shields degrade with use and eventually break, forcing players to adapt their equipment.
- Cooking: Players can combine ingredients to create meals and elixirs that restore health or grant temporary status effects.
- Sheikah Slate Runes: Four key abilities—Magnesis (magnetic manipulation), Stasis (time-freezing), Cryonis (ice block creation), and Remote Bombs—are used to solve puzzles and interact with the environment.
- Shrines & Divine Beasts: Over 100 Ancient Shrines serve as mini-dungeons offering puzzles and combat challenges. Four larger dungeons called Divine Beasts act as extended puzzles with unique bosses.
Plot
The story takes place at the end of the Zelda timeline. Link awakens from a 100-year slumber in the Shrine of Resurrection with no memory of his past. He learns from the spirit of King Rhoam that the kingdom of Hyrule was devastated by Calamity Ganon, who now festers within Hyrule Castle. Link must reclaim his memories, free the four Divine Beasts from Ganon's control, and ultimately defeat Calamity Ganon to rescue Princess Zelda.
Development
Development began immediately after The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011) and lasted approximately five years. The team, led by director Hidemaro Fujibayashi and producer Eiji Aonuma, sought to "rethink the conventions of Zelda." They drew inspiration from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Shadow of the Colossus. Monolith Soft assisted with topographical level design. The art style was inspired by gouache and en plein air painting, while ancient Sheikah technology was influenced by Japan's Jōmon period.
Release & Sales
The game launched simultaneously worldwide on March 3, 2017, as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch and the final Nintendo-published game for the Wii U. As of March 2025, it had sold 34.51 million copies (including 33.64 million on Switch and 1.70 million on Wii U), making it the best-selling Zelda game of all time.
An enhanced version, Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, was released on June 5, 2025, featuring improved resolution, higher framerate, HDR support, and integration with the Nintendo Switch Online App.
Reception
Breath of the Wild received universal acclaim, holding a Metacritic score of 97 out of 100. Critics praised its open-world design, physics-based sandbox, emergent gameplay, and attention to detail. It won numerous Game of the Year awards, including at The Game Awards 2017, the D.I.C.E. Awards, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. It is widely considered one of the greatest video games of all time and a landmark in open-world design.
Legacy
The game has been cited as a major inspiration by numerous developers, including those behind Genshin Impact, Elden Ring, Ghost of Tsushima, and Halo Infinite. A direct sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, was released on May 12, 2023. A spin-off, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, was released in 2020.
