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Start with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild if you have not played either of Nintendo’s two open-world Switch adventures. It introduces the modern exploration-and-survival format, while Tears of the Kingdom is the direct sequel built for players who already know that version of Hyrule and want construction and additional abilities.
If those are not your priorities, choose by premise: Echoes of Wisdom lets Zelda lead and turns copied objects and creatures into puzzle tools; Link’s Awakening is a reimagined island adventure organized around dungeons; and Skyward Sword HD is the best fit for structured dungeon puzzles and motion or button-only swordplay.
The fastest way to choose
| If you want… | Play next | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Open exploration with a survival-oriented premise | Breath of the Wild | Link explores a dangerous land, recovers memories and finds resources to survive. |
| The direct continuation of that open-world adventure, with building | Tears of the Kingdom | It is an explicit sequel and adds Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend and Recall. |
| To play as Zelda and solve problems by creating copies of things | Echoes of Wisdom | Zelda uses the Tri Rod to create echoes of objects and creatures for puzzles and combat. |
| An island setting, traditional dungeons and a reimagined classic | Link’s Awakening | Koholint Island, dungeons and player-arranged Chamber Dungeons define its structure. |
| Dungeons, puzzles and deliberate swordplay | Skyward Sword HD | You can swing with Joy-Con motion controls or use button-only controls in portable mode or with a Pro Controller. |
These games differ most in exploration style, protagonist, dungeon emphasis, central mechanic and control method. There is no official statistic showing that one is universally easiest, most popular or best, so the most reliable recommendation is the one matching the experience you want.
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Choose Breath of the Wild when you want to decide where to go rather than follow a tightly prescribed route. Nintendo’s premise has Link waking after a 100-year slumber in a world he no longer remembers. You explore a vast, dangerous land, recover pieces of his past and gather resources needed to survive. Nintendo’s official Switch product page lists the game’s release date as March 3, 2017.
#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
The game is the safest first recommendation for someone choosing between the two open-world titles because it establishes the setting, vocabulary and style that Tears of the Kingdom continues. That is a practical order, not a rule: a player who cares more about building systems than about seeing the first version of this Hyrule may prefer the sequel, but the sequel assumes that the earlier game is the starting point for its world and premise.
Pick it when these priorities sound right
- You want exploration to be the main activity.
- You like finding your own route through a dangerous landscape.
- You are interested in Link’s lost memories and a resource-focused adventure.
- You have not played either open-world Switch Zelda game.
When Tears of the Kingdom is the better next game
Tears of the Kingdom is not a replacement label for Breath of the Wild; Nintendo explicitly describes it as that game’s sequel. Its official description sends you across Hyrule and islands floating in the skies above it, then centers the experience on four abilities: Ultrahand lets you construct with objects, Fuse combines weapons or materials, Ascend provides a way through overhead surfaces, and Recall reverses an object’s movement.
That makes it the natural continuation for anyone who has finished or substantially played Breath of the Wild and wants another open exploration framework with more mechanical experimentation. The appeal is not simply “more of the same”: construction and object manipulation change how you approach traversal, combat and problems. If you have not played the first game, you can still choose the sequel for its building-focused premise, but you will be entering a direct continuation rather than a clean standalone introduction.
Pick it when these priorities sound right
- You have already played Breath of the Wild and want to continue in its world.
- Building contraptions and combining materials sounds more appealing than a first introduction to the setting.
- You want to move between Hyrule’s surface and floating sky islands.
- You enjoy abilities that let you alter objects, movement and routes.
Choose Echoes of Wisdom to play as Zelda
Echoes of Wisdom changes the central viewpoint: Princess Zelda takes the lead after Link disappears into a rift. Her main tool is the Tri Rod, which creates “echoes,” or imitations of objects and creatures found in the world. Those echoes can help solve puzzles and fight, so progress depends on recognizing what can be copied and how a copied thing can be used in a new situation.
This is the clearest choice if the words “play as Zelda” matter more to you than open-world scale. It is also a strong fit for players who enjoy tool-based problem solving: instead of relying on one fixed solution, you experiment with the objects and creatures available in each area. Nintendo documents compatible Zelda-themed amiibo rewards for the game, but an amiibo is optional and is not required to use the echo system or finish the core adventure.
Rank #2
- Enhanced resolution, framerates, and load times optimized for Nintendo Switch 2.
- Explore a massive open-air version of Hyrule with complete freedom.
- Solve physics-based puzzles, survive dynamic weather, and uncover hidden secrets.
- Customize your adventure with weapons, gear, and food you craft yourself.
- Use the ZELDA NOTES app for bonuses, item sharing, and social features.
Pick it when these priorities sound right
- You specifically want Zelda, rather than Link, as the protagonist.
- You like creating and reusing tools to solve puzzles.
- You want combat and exploration shaped by copied objects and creatures.
- You prefer a focused ability-driven premise to a survival-oriented open world.
Choose Link’s Awakening for an island-and-dungeon adventure
Link’s Awakening is a reimagined version of the classic adventure set on Koholint Island. Nintendo highlights its dungeons, renewed soundtrack, updated item and map features and mini-games. Its distinctive modern addition is Chamber Dungeons: you assemble dungeons from individual chambers, creating layouts from the pieces you have collected.
This structure suits a player who wants recognizable dungeon progression and a contained setting rather than the broad, self-directed traversal of the open-world games. The available information establishes the island, dungeon and Chamber Dungeon features, but does not establish a comparative completion time; do not choose it on the assumption that it is necessarily shorter. Compatible Zelda-character amiibo can unlock certain exclusive chambers, yet those extras are optional.
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Pick it when these priorities sound right
- You want dungeons to be the backbone of the adventure.
- A reimagined classic with an island setting appeals to you.
- You enjoy arranging and replaying custom dungeon chambers.
- You prefer a defined setting and traditional puzzle rhythm to open-ended survival systems.
Choose Skyward Sword HD for dungeons and swordplay
Skyward Sword HD emphasizes dungeons, puzzles and swordplay. Its control choice is unusually important: sword swings can follow Joy-Con motion, while button-only controls are available for portable play or when using a Pro Controller. Motion controls are therefore an option, not a requirement.
Select it when the physical feel and direction of sword attacks are part of what you want from Zelda, or when a dungeon-led adventure sounds better than a large landscape built around free exploration. Select button-only controls if you are playing handheld, using a Pro Controller or simply prefer traditional inputs. The same game supports both approaches, so control preference does not require buying a different edition.
Pick it when these priorities sound right
- You want a strong emphasis on dungeons and puzzle rooms.
- You are interested in deliberate swordplay.
- You want to choose between Joy-Con motion and button-only controls.
- You prefer a more guided adventure structure than the open-world games provide.
Recommended play orders
You are new to Zelda on Switch
- Start with Breath of the Wild if open exploration sounds appealing.
- Continue with Tears of the Kingdom when you want the direct sequel and its construction abilities.
- Choose Echoes of Wisdom, Link’s Awakening or Skyward Sword HD afterward according to whether you want Zelda as protagonist, island dungeons or sword-focused dungeon play.
This is a recommendation for learning the open-world format in sequence, not a mandatory story order for every Switch Zelda game.
Rank #3
![The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xVZUUZ1hL._SL160_.jpg)
- 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
You have already played Breath of the Wild
Go directly to Tears of the Kingdom if you want another journey through the same broad setting with new abilities and construction. If you would rather change the style completely, choose Echoes of Wisdom for echo-based problem solving, Link’s Awakening for a reimagined island-and-dungeon format or Skyward Sword HD for swordplay and structured puzzles.
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You want to avoid open-world games
Skip the two large exploration-focused entries for now. Link’s Awakening offers the clearest island-and-dungeon alternative, Skyward Sword HD emphasizes dungeons and swordplay, and Echoes of Wisdom makes its copied-object system the reason to experiment rather than simply roam.
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Controls
Only Skyward Sword HD in this group has a documented choice specifically between motion-based sword swings and button-only swordplay. Joy-Con motion is available for players who want gesture-based attacks; button-only controls support handheld play and Pro Controller use. Do not treat motion control as a prerequisite.
Amiibo
Nintendo documents optional amiibo rewards for compatible games. In Echoes of Wisdom, compatible Zelda-themed amiibo can unlock certain rewards. In Link’s Awakening, compatible Zelda-character amiibo can unlock certain exclusive chambers. Nintendo’s amiibo information describes extras for compatible games, not a universal benefit shared identically by every figure. You can choose and play these games without buying an amiibo.
Edition and availability checks
When buying a physical copy, verify the exact Nintendo Switch edition, current stock and price with the retailer at the time of purchase. Availability and pricing can change, and the official product descriptions do not establish a current third-party price or a guaranteed supply. The same check applies if you are looking for a particular bundle or an amiibo-related extra.
A decision you can make in one minute
- Ask whether you want open exploration. If yes, choose Breath of the Wild unless you have already played it.
- If you have played it, decide whether building and new traversal abilities appeal to you. If yes, choose Tears of the Kingdom.
- If open exploration is not your priority, ask whether playing as Zelda is the deciding feature. If yes, choose Echoes of Wisdom.
- If you want an island setting and arrangeable dungeons, choose Link’s Awakening.
- If dungeons, puzzles and sword controls are the priority, choose Skyward Sword HD.
That sequence keeps the recommendation tied to a concrete feature instead of an unsupported universal ranking.
Quick Recap
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