Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Breath of the Wild is the better choice if exploration means choosing your own routes, roaming freely, and improvising how to cross the landscape. Ocarina of Time is a better fit if you prefer discovery shaped by a more guided adventure, dungeons, and item-based progression. The difference is a matter of what kind of exploration you enjoy, not an objective measure of which game has more or better content.
How the games make exploration feel different
Breath of the Wild puts route choice at the center of exploration: you can look across the landscape, pick a distant point of interest, and work out how to reach it. Nintendo describes a world designed for discovery, with towers for surveying the landscape and several ways to travel. Nintendo’s feature overview also lists climbing, horseback riding, rafting, shield surfing, and gliding with the paraglider.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - World Edition | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
In Ocarina of Time, exploration is more closely connected to an overworld adventure, dungeons, and items that support progression. Its discovery has a clearer progression structure than Breath of the Wild’s self-directed routes. This broad comparison is supported by a general overview of Ocarina of Time and by producer Eiji Aonuma’s comments about the newer game’s design; it does not depend on a claim about exact dungeon counts or regions.
Route freedom and traversal
Breath of the Wild: choose a destination, then find a way
The combination of landscape views and multiple traversal options encourages players to choose their own destination and route. Climbing and gliding can make terrain part of the route-planning, while horses, rafts, and shield surfing offer other ways to move through the world. These listed features support a style of exploration built around looking ahead and deciding how to approach what you see; they do not establish a comparison of total world size.
#1 Best Overall
- Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequences
- Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
- Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
- Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
- Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls, objects and enemies in fun ways
In a TIME interview published June 15, 2016, producer Eiji Aonuma agreed with the interviewer’s description of self-guided exploration: “That’s it exactly. Exactly what you said.” He also explained the appeal of player-controlled climbing: “We really wanted for Link to climb up things, but it wasn’t fun to create an auto-climb function. By contrast, it was really fun to have Link actually grab on things, and then being able to control that climbing motion.” That emphasis on controlling movement helps explain why traversal can feel like part of discovery rather than simply a way to get between set destinations.
Ocarina of Time: discovery within a guided adventure
Ocarina of Time offers exploration through an overworld and dungeons, with items tied to progression. That structure gives the adventure a more directed rhythm: discovery is connected to where the journey leads and what progression makes possible. If you enjoy a sense of forward direction alongside exploration, that can be an advantage rather than a limitation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which game should you choose?
| What you want from exploration | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom to pick routes and improvise across terrain | Breath of the Wild | Its traversal options and landscape-focused design support self-directed travel. |
| A more guided adventure with dungeons and item-based progression | Ocarina of Time | Exploration is more closely tied to the overworld, dungeons, and progression. |
| Many scattered places to investigate | Breath of the Wild | Nintendo lists more than 100 Shrines of Trials, which include puzzles and in-game rewards. |
Nintendo’s product page lists Breath of the Wild’s release date as March 3, 2017; the shrine figure is Nintendo’s description of the game, not a measure of comparative exploration quality. Nintendo’s official store page identifies the physical Nintendo Switch edition. Check the current listing and confirm that the edition suits your platform before buying.
What the comparison can—and cannot—settle
The available evidence supports a comparison of design emphasis, not a winner by objective score. It does not establish which game has a larger world, takes longer to explore, or is preferred by more players. The shrine count is specific to Breath of the Wild; it is not a like-for-like measure against Ocarina of Time. Current Ocarina of Time platforms and purchase formats also vary by region and are not established here, so check local availability.
For supplementary reading, Nintendo’s Breath of the Wild Explorer’s Guide is described by Nintendo as a free download. It is a guide to locations, lore, and characters, rather than a substitute for choosing which game’s exploration style suits you.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
