Blogalot

The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s most iconic gaming franchises. Its tenure on the Switch took it to an entirely new direction from its previous titles, giving it a massive open world that focused on exploration and discovery just as much as story. This made the two mainline Switch Zelda games massively successful and allowed them to contend with modern RPG titles on other console platforms.

Despite owning the Switch and later the Switch 2, I only bought Breath of the Wild when its successor’s (Tears of the Kingdom) release was just around the corner, and I bought Tears of the Kingdom yesterday. Being busy with school, blogs, and my other projects, I have not progressed much in either game, but I find that neither game requires you to play it all in one sitting. I can pick up where I left off a month later and still have the time of my life.

Being the freshest in my mind and also, in my opinion, the most impactful part of the game, I will compare the opening/tutorial of both games. The aim of the tutorials in both games is to introduce the story and the sheer scale of the open world, which both accomplish splendidly. Breath of the Wild begins in a shrine inside a cave, where Link awakens with little memory of who he is or how he got there. With only a mysterious voice guiding him, the game slowly eases the player into its world. As you step outside and see Hyrule spread out before you for the first time, it feels less like a “tutorial” and more like an invitation. The Great Plateau becomes your playground, teaching you survival, combat, and exploration at your own pace in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

What makes this opening so special is its calmness. There is no rush, no overwhelming set of instructions. You learn by actually doing. By climbing a cliff, cooking your first meal, or accidentally freezing in the snow. Every mistake feels like part of the experience. The game trusts the player to figure things out, and that trust makes every small achievement feel rewarding.

In contrast, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom takes a more dramatic approach. Instead of beginning alone in nature, the game opens with a strong story focus, exploring the depths below Hyrule Castle, followed with the terrifying introduction of Ganondorf and the separation from Zelda. It then places Link in the Sky Islands—floating lands high above Hyrule. From the very start, the scale feels larger and more ambitious. The environment is brighter, more complex, and filled with possibilities.

Here, the tutorial focuses heavily on creativity. New abilities encourage players to build, combine, and experiment with objects. Rather than just learning how to survive, you are learning how to create solutions. While Breath of the Wild teaches patience and observation, Tears of the Kingdom teaches innovation and imagination. At times, this can feel overwhelming, especially for players who return after a long break—but it is also incredibly exciting.

For someone like me, who often plays in short sessions because of school and other projects, both approaches have their strengths. Breath of the Wild feels easier to return to, as its systems are simple and intuitive. Tears of the Kingdom, meanwhile, feels more demanding but also more rewarding when everything clicks into place. And perhaps that is why both games continue to feel fresh, even months after putting the console down.