The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch, released in May 2023. Serving as the direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom expands the beloved kingdom of Hyrule both vertically and underground, introducing vast Sky Islands above the clouds and dark Depths beneath the surface. Players once again control Link as he unravels a mysterious catastrophe threatening Hyrule while searching for the missing Princess Zelda. The game introduces groundbreaking new abilities including Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend, and Recall, allowing players to craft vehicles, combine weapons, and manipulate time in creative ways. With hundreds of shrines, caves, wells, and side quests to discover, Tears of the Kingdom offers an enormous amount of content for explorers and completionists alike. Whether you enjoy crafting elaborate flying machines or diving into its emotional storyline, this masterpiece delivers one of the most expansive and innovative gaming experiences available on Nintendo Switch.

Beginner Tips

  1. Prioritize upgrading your Energy Wells early by collecting Zonaite in the Depths and Sky Islands, as more energy allows you to power vehicles and devices for longer periods.
  2. Always fuse materials to your weapons before combat since unfused weapons break quickly and fused weapons deal significantly more damage while lasting longer in battle.
  3. Complete the four Regional Phenomena main quests before attempting Hyrule Castle, as each one rewards you with powerful sage abilities that make the final confrontation much more manageable.
  4. Explore every cave and well you discover on the surface map, as they frequently contain Bubbulfrogs, Poes, rare materials, and Lights of Blessing that help you upgrade health and stamina.

Strategy

Success in Tears of the Kingdom revolves around mastering the four core abilities and combining them creatively rather than relying on brute force combat. Ultrahand is your most versatile tool, enabling you to build bridges, rafts, gliders, and combat machines using Zonai devices found throughout the world. Stock up on Zonai Charges and Construct Horns to keep your contraptions powered during exploration. In combat, use Fuse to attach elemental gems like Sapphires and Rubies to arrows for powerful ranged attacks against specific enemy weaknesses. Lizalfos are weak to their opposite element, and Gloom-afflicted enemies in the Depths require Light Roots or Sundelions to counter their health-draining effects. Use Ascend to gain high ground advantages in nearly every dungeon and combat encounter. When farming resources, the Depths mirror the surface map, meaning underground mining locations correspond directly to surface landmarks. Prioritize upgrading your armor sets at Great Fairies using monster parts, as maxed armor dramatically reduces incoming damage in late-game encounters against Lynels and Gloom Hands.