The Nintendo Switch is hitting its eighth anniversary, which naturally brings The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild along for the ride. These two are as inseparable as a pair of best friends. When it comes to their adaptability, whether you’re a gaming novice or an aficionado, and whether you’re on a commute or lounging at home, both the console and the game have uniquely catered to diverse playing styles across millions of players. Yet, while the Switch might be showing a bit of age, Breath of the Wild seems to hide its years gracefully.
One of the game’s timeless charms is its near-limitless freedom. Right from the get-go, you can essentially march straight to the final boss if you’re feeling gutsy. It’s an emergent experience that blends family-friendly exploration with elements of a sophisticated immersive sim. You have the reins over its myriad mechanics and physics, making every encounter an opportunity for a unique adventure. The music dances alongside your gameplay, shifting from serene to intense to match the mood. Nintendo managed to pack an astonishing amount into this game without overwhelming players, perfectly balancing complexity and simplicity.
Now, while its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, may boast more cutting-edge features and expanded traversal methods, let’s be honest about what true enthusiasts know: Breath of the Wild still holds the crown. Tears of the Kingdom feels like an elaborate experiment stretching Breath of the Wild’s foundational elements by introducing innovative features, like weapon fusion and vertical exploration. And for that, I’m genuinely thrilled—it’s amazing to witness what the aging Switch can still deliver. But let’s not pit these siblings against each other; each has its own charm.
Speaking of siblings—or whatever you might want to call them—this marks the Nintendo Switch’s final birthday before the anticipated release of its successor, the Switch 2, expected to grace our shelves in 2025. While specifics about the Switch 2 remain partly under wraps, it promises to be a game-changer, much like Tears of the Kingdom has been. It will innovate upon the foundation the original Switch laid, largely credited to the impact of Breath of the Wild over the past eight years.
