The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Start with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild if you have not played either open-world game. It is the clearest entry point for free exploration and survival-focused discovery. If you have already finished it, Tears of the Kingdom is the direct sequel and the natural next step, adding construction and new traversal abilities. The other Switch Zelda games are better first choices when you specifically want to play as Zelda, solve compact dungeon puzzles, revisit a reimagined classic, or use motion-based swordplay.
The fastest way to choose
There is no universally correct ranking. Nintendo’s official descriptions support different matches between each game’s structure and a player’s preferred way to play. Use the table below to identify the experience you actually want, rather than choosing by release order or an unsupported claim about which game is easiest.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - World Edition | $56.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xVZUUZ1hL._SL160_.jpg)
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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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| If you want… | Choose | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Open exploration with a survival-oriented premise | Breath of the Wild | Link explores a dangerous land, recovers his memories and finds resources while deciding where to go. |
| A direct continuation with building and experimental abilities | Tears of the Kingdom | It continues Breath of the Wild and adds Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend and Recall across Hyrule and its skies. |
| To play as Zelda and solve problems by copying objects and creatures | Echoes of Wisdom | Zelda leads the adventure and uses the Tri Rod to create “echoes” for puzzles and combat. |
| An island adventure built around dungeons and a reimagined classic | Link’s Awakening | Link explores Koholint Island, tackles dungeons and assembles optional Chamber Dungeons. |
| Dungeons, puzzles and deliberate swordplay | Skyward Sword HD | It supports Joy-Con motion swings as well as button-only controls for handheld or Pro Controller play. |
Start here if you are new to the open-world games: Breath of the Wild
What the game is built around
In Breath of the Wild, Link wakes after a 100-year slumber in a world he no longer remembers. Nintendo frames the premise around a dangerous land, open exploration, recovering memories and finding resources to survive. The game’s structure therefore works well for someone who wants to set their own route, investigate distant landmarks and learn systems through experimentation instead of following a tightly prescribed sequence.
The Nintendo Switch edition was released on March 3, 2017. That date matters mainly because it establishes the game as the beginning of the Switch’s open-world Zelda direction; it does not mean every player must experience it before any other Zelda title.
#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
Who should pick it
- Players who want to wander before committing to a goal.
- Anyone interested in environmental problem-solving and resource management.
- Someone choosing a first game before moving to the sequel.
Who may prefer another game
If your priority is playing as Zelda, assembling copied creatures and objects, or moving through a sequence of traditional dungeons, the games below target those preferences more directly. Likewise, choosing Tears of the Kingdom first is possible, but its sequel status means the earlier game provides the cleaner introduction to this version of Hyrule.
Choose the sequel when you want more systems: Tears of the Kingdom
What changes
Nintendo explicitly describes Tears of the Kingdom as a sequel to Breath of the Wild. You explore Hyrule and islands floating in the skies above it, but the defining difference is how much the game asks you to construct and manipulate. Ultrahand lets you build with objects; Fuse combines weapons or materials; Ascend provides a way through overhead surfaces; and Recall reverses an object’s movement.
Those abilities turn ordinary scenery into potential equipment, transport or a puzzle component. The appeal is not simply a larger map. It is the freedom to test combinations, alter how you cross spaces and solve an obstacle in a way you designed yourself.
Who should play it next
- Players who have completed or substantially explored Breath of the Wild and want another journey in its setting.
- Builders who enjoy turning available materials into a solution.
- Explorers who want both ground-level Hyrule and the sky islands described by Nintendo.
When to begin elsewhere
If you have never played the first open-world game and want the story and mechanics introduced in their original sequence, begin with Breath of the Wild. If construction does not interest you and your ideal Zelda game is a compact dungeon adventure, one of the remaining choices is a closer match.
Play as Zelda and improvise with Echoes of Wisdom
The central idea
Echoes of Wisdom puts Princess Zelda in the lead after Link disappears into a rift. Her main tool is the Tri Rod, which can create echoes—imitations of objects or creatures encountered in the world. Those echoes can help solve environmental puzzles and support fights.
This makes the game’s decision-making feel like selecting the right tool from a growing catalogue. Instead of relying only on a familiar sword-and-shield routine, you look at a problem, identify something nearby that might be useful and create a copy at the right time or position.
Best match for
- Players who specifically want Zelda as the protagonist.
- People who enjoy creative, tool-based solutions more than a single dominant combat pattern.
- Anyone looking for a Zelda game whose signature mechanic is copying useful things from the environment.
Optional amiibo content
Nintendo says compatible Zelda-themed amiibo can unlock certain rewards. An amiibo is optional: the game’s echo system is the core experience, and Nintendo does not describe a figure as a requirement to finish it. Compatibility and the particular reward depend on the supported game and figure, so check the current official compatibility information before buying one.
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What makes it distinct
Link’s Awakening sends Link to Koholint Island in a reimagined version of the adventure. Nintendo highlights dungeons, a renewed soundtrack, updated item and map features, and mini-games. The game also includes Chamber Dungeons: rooms can be arranged into player-created dungeon layouts.
That combination gives you a recognizable Zelda loop—exploration, dungeon entrances, puzzles and new items—while adding a contained setting and a construction-like activity focused on arranging chambers rather than building vehicles or machines.
Rank #2
- 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
Choose it when you want
- A clearly bounded island setting instead of a sprawling open world.
- Dungeons and puzzle rooms as the main source of progression.
- A modern presentation of a classic adventure.
- An optional system for assembling your own Chamber Dungeon layouts.
Amiibo details
Nintendo documents compatible Zelda-character amiibo that can unlock certain exclusive chambers. Those chambers are an extra feature, not a prerequisite for the island adventure or its regular dungeons. The available figures and rewards should be confirmed against Nintendo’s current compatibility information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose Skyward Sword HD for dungeons and sword controls
Control options
Skyward Sword HD emphasizes dungeons, puzzles and swordplay. With Joy-Con controllers, sword swings can use motion controls. Nintendo also expressly supports button-only controls, which suit handheld play or a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
That flexibility is important when deciding whether the game fits your setup. Motion control is an option, not a mandatory condition. You can choose the input method that works with your hardware, play position and tolerance for physical gestures.
Best match for
- Players who want dungeon progression and puzzle solving to be the main attraction.
- Anyone interested in directional sword swings rather than a purely conventional button attack.
- Handheld players who need a button-only control scheme.
A decision path for an undecided player
- Have you played Breath of the Wild? If not, choose it when you want open exploration and a survival-oriented premise. If yes, continue.
- Do you want another open-world journey with construction? Choose Tears of the Kingdom for Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend and Recall.
- Is playing as Zelda the deciding factor? Choose Echoes of Wisdom, whose story puts Zelda in the lead and whose echoes drive puzzles and combat.
- Do you prefer a traditional island adventure with dungeons? Choose Link’s Awakening for Koholint Island and Chamber Dungeons.
- Are sword input and dungeon structure more important than open exploration? Choose Skyward Sword HD, selecting motion or button-only controls according to your setup.
How the games relate to one another
Open-world continuity
Tears of the Kingdom is the only title in this group that Nintendo explicitly identifies as a sequel to another game in the group. Treat Breath of the Wild followed by Tears of the Kingdom as the straightforward sequence if you want the open-world setting introduced before its continuation.
Separate styles, not a required ladder
The descriptions for Echoes of Wisdom, Link’s Awakening and Skyward Sword HD support choosing among them by mechanic and structure. Nothing in the official product descriptions establishes a mandatory order connecting all five games, nor does it establish a universal difficulty ranking or a comparative completion time.
Buying and accessory checks before you start
Verify the edition and availability
For a physical copy, confirm that the listing is specifically the Nintendo Switch edition and check the current price and stock at the retailer you plan to use. Availability and pricing can change, so a historical launch price or an old listing should not be treated as current.
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Treat amiibo as extras
Nintendo’s amiibo information applies benefits only to compatible games and figures. For this group, Nintendo documents optional rewards or chambers for Echoes of Wisdom and Link’s Awakening. Do not assume that every Zelda amiibo works in both games or that an amiibo unlocks identical content across titles.
Common mismatches to avoid
- Choosing the sequel as if it were an unrelated entry: Tears of the Kingdom is explicitly a sequel, so start with Breath of the Wild if you want the open-world premise in sequence.
- Expecting every game to be open world: Link’s Awakening and Skyward Sword HD are presented around island exploration or dungeon-focused progression instead.
- Assuming Zelda is playable in every title: Echoes of Wisdom is the game here specifically described with Zelda as the protagonist.
- Buying hardware for motion controls without checking alternatives: Skyward Sword HD also supports button-only play.
- Purchasing amiibo before checking compatibility: the documented rewards are game- and figure-specific, and the figures are optional.
Bottom line
Choose Breath of the Wild for the best-supported starting point among the two open-world games. Move to Tears of the Kingdom when you want that foundation extended with construction and new manipulation abilities. Choose Echoes of Wisdom to play as Zelda and solve problems with echoes, Link’s Awakening for Koholint Island and dungeon-centered classic design, or Skyward Sword HD for dungeons and configurable sword controls.
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.
