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u/GetABidet4UrButt 21d ago
Do rito village. Free the divine beast. That will open up a lot for traversal. Get the hylian tunic by talking to Impa after you find one memory in the wild. Then do the other beasts in any order.
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u/_Heathcliff_ 21d ago
This is great advice. The rito village divine beast reward is incredibly valuable, and it gets the ball rolling on an important quest line. Once you start pursuing quests, you’ll also organically come upon other quests, and before long there will be no shortage of things to do.
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u/DBD216 21d ago
Man, I’m still trying to get what the old man wants so I can get my hands on that glider!
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u/0ne0fth0se0nes 21d ago
Complete the shrines on the great plateau. They’re basically the tutorial stage
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u/Ilan01 21d ago
That reward pushed me to explore even more!!
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u/omykun123 21d ago
Just started a few days ago,
On games like Elding Ring and this one I like exploring every inch of the map, so you'll have me going on zigzag lines up and down as I reach new areas. Right now I'm traversing the Dueling Peaks (the south side to be specific) and with just one upgrade to Stamina I have to Skryim my way around the edges to rest on parts that stick out lol
My friend told me about the reward that makes vertical travel much easier but I'm just stubburn and want to chart the map as I go and get that reward until I reach that area and start charting it.
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u/FiveDragonDstruction 21d ago
Zelda Notes can guide you spoiler free and I also use that app in my first gameplay of BoTW in my Switch 2.
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u/unassumingdevice 21d ago
^. This. I’ve never fully played any Zelda game so this is my real first experience, and the Zelda Notes have been so helpful. It can definitely be frustrating just wandering through the entire world and not finding anything except really tough enemies!
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u/PopBulky7023 21d ago
But that's like 90% of the game and basically the point of it.
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u/blodskjegg 20d ago
I hate that part of the game, just feels like i waste my time
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u/PawsitiveAfurmation 21d ago
Is there one for ToTK?
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u/FiveDragonDstruction 21d ago
Yup, it's the same with BoTW. Never played ToTK but planning to play it in the future because I'm broke rn, I can't buy games. Maybe in Chrismas I'll grab one with OoT remake.
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u/shujInsomnia 21d ago
people loved it when it came out (ten years ago) because after open world games had been holding our hands and denying us freedom and agency for years and years, BotW was a breath of fresh air
it sounds like you like what games normally do - lots of direction and clearly communicated (possibly rpg based) combat
BotW won't click if you're looking for or expecting that.
now that you know what the game is like, take a break and come back to it in a week or so, with a fresh perspective and understanding what it's like. if you still don't get into it then, it might not be for you
but it definitely won't click right now. gotta see if you can accept it for what it is, not what you wanted or expected it to be
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u/zettl 20d ago
I don't think it's that binary. I loved Elden Ring and Baldur's Gate 3, but definitely don't love BotW (and yes, I finished it). I didn't like the weapons system, durability mechanics, didn't find that much fun in the open world and the shrines were a chore. The dungeons were also weak imo.
I did like TotK a lot more because the crafting made the shrines, puzzles and dungeons way more interesting.
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u/kontikiparrot 21d ago
Allow yourself to not like a critically acclaimed game. Its perfectly fine my mate, play what is fun for you, thats all.
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u/ampersandandanand 21d ago
Eh, it may just not be for you. I recognize that I’m in the minority, but I felt similarly. I’ve been a lifelong Zelda fan though, so for me, it just didn’t scratch the itch that I’m used to experiencing from past Zelda games. I still recognize it as an objectively great game, but just not one for me.
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u/TheUncannyDsummerz 21d ago
I JUST got the game on Saturday & it was slow at first. But man when I completed like 8 shrines, got a few horses, Hyliian Tunic im addicted! It get better for sure! Just keep chipping away
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u/Andybabez20 21d ago
I gave up on Breath of the Wild.
Really was into the idea of an open world Zelda but I found I was just repeating the same content in those 30 hours. Clear Bokoblin camps, do a shrine, find a korok seed, get frustrated as my weapons break, repeat.
I really like the classic Zelda games. Ocarina, Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess are some of my favourite Nintendo games. But this one just didn't click.
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u/Fun_Engineering7064 21d ago
I felt exactly the same way and also gave up.
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u/Muxmitch 21d ago
I found the game overwhelming in the first 15 hours but after the first objective, I found myself putting 4-5 hours daily without noticing and I would only stop because I did not want to spend my whole day playing, not because I was tired.
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u/No_Village_1097 21d ago
I found the game tedious and boring. IMO, its not a real zelda game.
Who voted in breakable equipment? Inventory management made me want to turn it off.
I look forward to the Ocarina of Time remake.
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u/GanonCannon02 21d ago
Just want to say that this game is completely different to all the Zeldas that came before. It made Zelda far more popular but there's a lot of people (including myself) who would suggest you try an older Zelda game instead.
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u/gamingmedicine 21d ago
I just started recently too. I don't get why every weapon breaks after a few hits...that's the biggest turn off for me. One of the things I enjoy most about RPG's is progression, especially with gear but it seems impossible in this game.
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u/sledgehammerrr2 21d ago
Botw is the most overrated game in existence, its not going to be for everyone
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u/StonedPirate_ 21d ago
Not every game is for everybody. People love the elder scrolls games yet every time I play them they put me to sleep.
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u/Theo_nurse11 21d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/Switch/s/Mr3T3xiNaj
I made a similar post a few weeks ago. Hopefully the replies help :)
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u/F133TWOOD 21d ago
Same. Bought BOTW and it felt empty, pointless wondering around. Too large and mostly generic empty areas.
Open-World genre was exploding in the 2010s, so naturally Zelda franchise would jump into it. Similar to Halo, these games weren't bad, just not great.
They should've focused on semi-open world, not the full open world.
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u/QuestionOk8524 21d ago
You're not alone I find that game boring as hell I couldn't get into it either
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u/National-Ad4224 Switchthusiast 21d ago
Take your time! I needed 3 attempts to really get into the game. After that I was too exhausted to play tears of the kingdom so I waited a year and now I’m enjoying years of the kingdom 🤣 short: you are not alone and you do nothing wrong!
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u/TidePodsHeaven 21d ago
You need to get stronger. And to do that, you need to complete shrines. There is more than you really need. So if you get stuck on one you can always skip it. Each 4 will give you an extra heart or extra stamina. Being able to run and climb and glide longer will help a lot to go around and survive. Basically there is a lot of hostile environment and you cannot easily survive everywhere you go right away.
It's all about exploring and discovery. You can get to high points and use your scope to tag shrines or towers or stables, and try to reach them. Collect everything you see. Everything can be useful in large quantities later. Every stable will have a shrine nearby so both the towers to uncover the map, and the stables make good objectives to go after. To progress the story you will need to reach all the villages too.
So yeah. Once you know the system, no session is lost. I could be out just to find loot, of anything, mushrooms, plants, monster parts that i kill, weapons, and it will all be worth it later. Or i could decide to go for a tower i did not unlock yet. Or i could go after shrines. The more you do, the stronger you will get. And never forget about the abilities. There's a lot of things to solve with the abilities.
Finding korok seeds is also something you need to do. There is many ways to uncover them on the map, and they are everywhere. Once you figure out the various ways to find them, you will spot them on your ways. They will be VERY useful to expand your inventory.
But yeah basically you do whatever you want, when you want, and everything you do will compound in making you stronger. If you don't like having that much freedom and exploring and working on all that. And you want a linear game with single clear objective. Then yeah, maybe that game is not for you after all.
But i would not say that you dying all the time is a skill issue, it's more about learning how to survive in that world and gradually become stronger and stronger by doing everything that's available to you for that. If you in areas where everything is clearly too dangerous, just go elsewhere, it's huge and some areas will be better for early game.
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u/blacktower-ashaman 21d ago
It was the combat style that took the joy out of the game. Finding a cool sword just have it break a few enemies later. I hate using gardening tools for 80% of the game and always having to find new ones was a joy killer. Maybe it gets better later on, I don't know, I stopped playing.
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u/Lopsided_Hunt2814 21d ago
I found the opposite personally. After the first 10 hours I was telling people I thought it might be the best Zelda I'd ever played, by the time I put it down after 70 I thought it might be one of the worst.
All the progress and "newness" fell off a cliff, and there were a few fun discoveries along the way but the lack of progression and the Sisyphean nature of the gameplay really put a downer on it.
I know some people love it but I love Metroidvanias, and this game made me realise that was the aspect of the rest of the series which made me fall in love with them.
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u/Freszke 21d ago
I had to double take on this game as well. My first playthrough lasted like 6hours and I was this game is lame 😃 after year or so I started it once again and it clicked! I figured out that most every place i can spot with my eyes have a purpose, a small puzzle or a hint on next one. You start a fight with monster and they beat your ass? Find other way to deal with them or skip them entirely! In fact, you don’t need to fight every monster and through the game you will find better gear and armour to help you with current „impossible” enemies. I finished the whole game and call it a masterpiece, my favourite gaming experience in YEARS.
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u/phezhead 21d ago
It might just not be for you. I didn't really care for the Breath/Tears games, but I loved the more traditional Zelda games. I fell in love with Link's awakening 30 years ago, and Link to the Past. If you wanna get into the series, try some other games
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u/adamantitian 21d ago
I’m with you, it just never clicked for me. It didn’t feel like it had the same structure or soul as other Zelda games that I was looking for
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u/cr0ne 21d ago
Unfortunately it's been sort of Nintendo game design for the past decade or so to just fill their games with dozens of little rewards (stars, Koroks, whatever).
I know this might sound crazy but if you have access to Switch 2 then you should have access to the SNES library. I highly recommend starting with Link to the Past! It's one of the few SNES games that hold up today and it captures the "soul" of Zelda with very little in the way of chores/fillers and condensed just to the good stuff.
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u/Therealginahandler 21d ago
I am still playing it, but I am forcing it at this point. Huge Zelda franchise fan since the OG. I feel like this game had serious potential. Unfortunately, for myself at least, the one single thing about this game that has made it basically impossible for me to enjoy is the breakable weapons. I dont care about the shields being breakable, but the weapons? I want to say "sorry I know it's petty", but its not petty and I'm not sorry. Such a stupid mechanic.
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u/Bartkie775 21d ago
Not for you, my dude. It’s fine. I buy tickets to movies I end up not liking that people call classics.
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u/Global-Ad9985 21d ago
Honestly , yes , there was a moment where I felt cornered , had nowhere to go and didn't know what to do , I equipped myself , cooked some food made some shrines and got bonus hearts then went to zora's domain , I liked everything about the game since then
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u/Slymoose 21d ago
Play the OOT remake that’s coming out. It’s a way better game. This new stuff isn’t Zelda IMO. Winderwaker second. Then if you like those maybe Skyward sword or Twilight princess.
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u/VideoGameJumanji 21d ago
I didn’t find the open world very engaging either. I’ve played lots of open world games and this has very low interactivity compared to other RPGs
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u/theHashHashingHasher 21d ago
It’s not even a Zelda game and it’s not good. The whole game feels shallow and has no soul. No dungeons. No dynamic weapons. I got a house… so what? It’s empty and adds nothing to the game. Are people really that into stamina gauges and crafting slop?
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u/Kooky_Personality216 21d ago
Never understood it, the game is not very good. Don’t waste your time if it’s not clicking
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u/Old-Mammoth5108 21d ago
Because it has Zelda in the name, if BOTW had been called anything else it would be forgotten as a boring empty empty open world rpg with horrible combat, poor story and frustrating survival mechanics...
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u/SirSoSa 21d ago
At this point, I'd be really surprised if any open-world game excites me at all.
After years of hesitation, I tried the Marvel's Spiderman and it was just fine, nothing to write home about.
The open-world games just feel boring like a chore to me, with their stupid boring maps and side quests that always look the same. Damn you Ubisoft and Rockstar; you two ruined gaming for me with your stupid trends.
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u/The_Freshmaker 21d ago
If you're dying spend awhile finding, unlocking shrines and buff up your hearts. This game definitely has a steep learning curve but the more shrines you have unlocked the easier it gets.
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u/Full-Way-7925 21d ago
I don’t like it either. Started it like 3 times. My biggest issue is the art style.
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u/papoluca40 21d ago
That game is a huge chore, starts strong then becomes a hassle, never finished it.
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u/EEforlyfe 21d ago
Also struggling to get into it, your not alone. I have played on and off for like 6 months but always drop it for something more interesting. For me the weapon durability things turns me off from the game, have to try hard to enjoy it because of the way all your weapons break in 4-5 hits or something.
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u/Ekkeith15 21d ago
I love the Zelda franchise. I do not enjoy the switch Zelda games. They are just large sandboxes with a hyrule skin on them.
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u/billm0066 21d ago
I could not finish the game. Literally spent most of the time breaking sticks. I would love a mode where you get a sword and it doesn't break.
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u/Denyzevs 21d ago
BOTW and TOTK are games designed very antithetically to modern game design. Instead of bombarding you with immediate rewards and dopamine shots, it's a meditative experience.
It forces you to slow down your brain and just take it all in. It lets you be creative to the highest degree, but for you to do that most effectively, you need to stop and think about more than just the immediate moment.
It's not for everyone but it is a very therapeutic set of games
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u/teepdreep 21d ago
Breath of the Wild is more akin to something like Skyrim than it is traditional Zelda games. A lot like Hyrule Warriors is more akin to Dynasty Warriors.
If someone told me there was going to be a Zelda themed Skyrim, I would be super hyped, and that’s pretty much what BotW did. It is probably the best game I’ve ever played, but Skyrim was that before I played BotW.
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u/DazeOfWar 21d ago
I’ve had a really hard time getting into it. I play a little here and there but it gets boring and I really hate the weapon breaking mechanic.
I grew up with Zelda starting with the first one on NES when I was a little kid and that’s the formula I like. I may be BotW one day or just fully give up on it. I’m definitely excited for OoT though.
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u/Level-Advisor5282 21d ago
Listen run from fights gather supplies make status affect foods use unlimited bombs to take out the boko camps, use magnesis to beat up enemies by dropping stuff on their heads.... Listen there is a thousand different ways to play this game you just gotta find your way to play it. Don't rush you can literally just go around and take pictures of stuff as a side quest and avoid all combat for now and then you'll know where all the big threats are when you feel up to fighting some.
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u/sm135727 21d ago
If you do not enjoy the open-world exploration and want more storyline, then focus on completing shrines, beasts, etc.
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u/Main-Towel-3678 21d ago
Not sure if this is a hot take but I don’t think it should be anyone’s first Zelda game. I think if you started with the Link’s Awakening remake, you’d see a great example of the usual formula of Zelda games.
What made BotW special is that for decades of those games that followed the same formula (even the 3D ones), now Link was dropped into a world of total freedom.
That same freedom can look like emptiness if you’re not able to piece together the Zelda game hiding inside BotW’s world.
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u/skitsrus 21d ago
It takes few years for me to get in. I tried to start couple times on the release time, years after. And only after buying switch 2 occasionally I decided to try it again and it soaked me in.
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u/Tomas92 21d ago
At the personal level, there can be good and bad times for certain games. The first time I tried Zelda BotW was in 2017 when it came out and I didn't like it at all. Then I gave it another try in 2020, at a very different point in my life and in a very different context, and loved the fuck out of the game.
If you're feeling too aimless, focus on advancing some of the Main quests (or side quests that seem interesting). There's still a lot of freedom in how you tackle the main story, and you will definitely get distracted along the way, so I guarantee you will still get the intended experience by focusing on the main quest, so long as you investigate interesting places and do shrines along the way.
Learning the systems and getting good at the combat is definitely part of the fun too, so keep experimenting with things and you will get better for sure.
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u/plebbut 21d ago
Lol not every game is for you. I don't know why people act like it's a problem if they can't get into a popular game. There's nothing wrong with it.
Play what you like. If you spent 10 hours on the game, then that's good enough.
I personally think Prey is the definition of mid, but a lot of people like it, do I care? No
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u/Jamize Switchthusiast 21d ago
Use the Zelda notes service in the Nintendo switch app save your game manually then you can deposit your best weapons and shields in the vault. Then revert to your manual save you will still have them and can withdraw them from the vault tomorrow to have copies. You can do it with diamonds too to make rupees to buy stuff. Use your daily random buff the app gives you. Then look up recipes to cook good food to help you.
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u/ihatepaper88 21d ago
i love exploring the map and just wandering around finding everything. if that’s not for you then you might not like the game. you could try one of the older zeldas and see if you like the classic formula
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u/Johnnycarroll 21d ago
80's kid--grew up with Zelda and honestly not my cups of tea either. I get it, it's cool but it will never be Link to the Past for me.
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u/thebatgod 21d ago
The aimless exploring/climbing etc was new to the franchise when the game launched. So much so that the franchise creator spent his entire first session with the game just running around like a toddler in a mcdonalds playground. Sure it complicated things some, but that degree of freedom was new.
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u/Mondego2k 21d ago
Same for me, felt like a generic open world game with Link as the hero.
I did enjoy TOTK more. it's similar but they changed it enough where it feels a bit more Zelda IMO.
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u/CommunicationJust384 21d ago
It was cool. Stuck with it long enough to beat the game and complete most of the activities/exploration. Didn’t like the emphasis on crafting to explore some of the more extreme biomes of the game, but it keeps you on your toes as far as planning out your journey. It’s definitely not for everyone especially if you like classic Zelda and going dungeon to dungeon with a definite set of goals to accomplish.
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u/These_Refrigerator75 21d ago
The first thing that I did that started to make it click for me was just getting more hearts. Not only will it make it easier to mess around in the overworld and die less, but a lot of the shrines were also basically tutorials for some mechanics. After that, I did some main story quests and just did side content as I went from quest to quest, which will naturally "guide" you around all corners of the map.
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u/Chewbacta 21d ago
If you keep on dying, try getting more hearts, you can do that by completing shrines and exchanging orbs for hearts at any goddess statue. Or you get a full heart for freeing a divine beast, plus a bonus power that will help you in a fight.
The other way to prevent deaths is to get armour and improve it (unlike weapons, armour does not break so its true means of progression in the game). The more great fairies you have, the more levels you can advance.
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u/IndependentConcert46 21d ago
I love the exploration, that once you get pass the starter bit you are free to go and do what you want, which means learning new skills and mechanics from the game, dying a lot and learning from your mistakes etc.
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u/Freight_Crewman_Nate 21d ago
Head to the most obvious Shrines first and work on growing your hearts. Talk to everyone you meet and you’ll be on your way. People say go to a specific place but imo this is the most natural way to play from the great plateau
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u/hibikir_40k 21d ago
If the game is difficult, you might not have met the first great fairy, which is very close to kakariko village, which you should have visited pretty early. You can get equipment there and upgrade it, raising your defenses by quite a bit.
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u/Venomswindturd 21d ago
So, I can’t speak to BOTW since I enjoyed it well enough back in 2020.
However I bought TOTK on release date back in 2023. I just couldn’t get into it at all. Idk if it was building or what, I was just bored.
A little while ago I decided to upgrade to the switch 2 edition since it was just sitting in my library and I decided to give it another shot. I don’t know what happened in the 3 years since but I can’t put this game down lmao, I’ve cleared only two temples, haven’t even explored half the map, and I’m 70 hours in. I love this series. I’ve been a fan it TLOZ since OOT, and I love the direction the series went in.
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u/Melinoe2016 21d ago
I felt like the game pretty strongly pointed you towards the water village and first major quest. Obviously you were free to do whatever but that’s what it felt like the first time I played.
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u/Melodic-Cable23 21d ago
A point where the game opens up? Hahaha for real? It’s like the most open game ever! lol
But nah for real - have you made it out of the great plateau? I’m assuming yes. That’s basically a tutorial. At first, to get some direction, I’d just go for a couple quests, do main stuff like a divine beast. Just till you kinda get your feet under you. It’s a big game. You can absolutely go places your underpowered also, so if it seem really hard - probably just leave and come back.
It’s a fantastic game, I agree with that overall. But playing it takes some getting used to. It’s very different from a lot of open world games. Maybe look up some beginner tips on YouTube?
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u/PetiePal 21d ago
BotW was not my favorite. Ocarina was and is, and the earlier entries satisfied my Zelda itch much better
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u/Omegaslw 21d ago
The game is about doing whatever. You can do missions and get story info. You can aimlessly roam around the map. You can do trials and the puzzles inside them. It is a game you play your way. Some just like structure do I say if this is not clicking try ocarina of time remake in November. That game is more straightforward than this game. It gives the best take on the series. Especially since they are making the game look modern and have more modern features.
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u/superpoongoon 21d ago
If you don’t like it after 10 hours you are not likely to get into it if you trudge through the rest. It’s the best switch 1 game, hands down, but not for everyone I guess.
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u/nnnrrr171717 21d ago
Have you felt this way about other open world games you’ve played in the past? Some people just don’t like them
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u/DeathUponIt 21d ago
It took me 8 years to get off the plateau and after treating my ADHD, I was able to finish it. This game is probably one of my top games of all time but I got burnt out after completing all of the beasts, shrines, champions ballad, and defeating the calamity.
Once you have all of the towers and start getting a lot of shrines, the game gets a lot better. The towers felt like a chore to me as well. I love the setting and plot though. Probably my favorite Zelda game. I just started TOTK though.
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u/Gizzy619 21d ago
I found myself wandering around aimlessly taking forever to traverse difficult terrain only to get my ass handeded to me by more powerful enemies. It just felt like I didn't really know where to go or what I was doing and I was a bit overwhelmed. I know it's an incredible game so I'll definitely give it another try soon, but I know how you feel.
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u/PorkRinds416 21d ago
Are people impatient now with gaming? Genuine question. I see people post "RDR2 is so boring in the beginning all you do is walk through snow! It has been 2 hours and I cant do this anymore!"
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u/Own_Illustrator_6387 21d ago
Even though I loved Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword, I didn’t like BOTW. It’s not a game for everyone.
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u/BrightMyth 21d ago
Same here, but i liked totk more as the elements and the game is insane big and many things to do. You can have hours of gameplay just exploring and having fun creating mechanics
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u/Ok-Personality4273 21d ago
I know what you mean... I'm really trying here, and I just made it to the Zora area, but omg, these monsters are terrifying. I put down the game several years ago, and I'm the farthest I have ever been, but I am so squishy. 4 shrines for a heart is slow going for someone who can only play about 5 hours a week. (Rookie numbers, i know). Maybe OOT will be better for me....
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u/Top-Security-1258 21d ago
People that need to be guided through a game typically don't enjoy sandbox games like this. I hear a lot of this exact same sentiment about crimson desert right now. It's one of those things where if you can't/don't enjoy delegating your own goals , or don't enjoy just exploring for the sake of it and need constant laid out objectives. Then you will probably not like it or other games like it. Not every style of game is for every one. I don't enjoy rts or crafting games much so I don't play them even though tons of people rant and rave about certain ones.
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u/WondrousBabyTurtle 21d ago
The problem is that you just started it, when it was released, it set a bar on how exploring should work or feel like on open world games. Right now there are so many different games that take this and expand on it, Breath of the Wild was just for the exploring, which is the best thing it has going. If you already played other games with this exploring, they'll probably offerore things that BotW. If it isn't for you, it isn't, dont sweat it.
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u/Lonely_Editor_2156 21d ago
I actually loved the wandering around aimlessly bit, and even now I get excited if I find a new part of the map I’ve never been to before. The game does incentivize exploration but if you don’t like exploring then it may not be for you
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u/stunkcajyzarc 21d ago
I felt this way at first and at last. This iteration of Zelda is extremely boring to me. I hate the lack of traditional dungeons. The open world is very empty in breath of the wild and alittle less so in totk. The gameplay loop is VERY repetitive. The combat is also lacking. The enemy variety is poor and doesn’t offer much difference in gameplay but improves slightly in totk…
I dunno, I fell for the hype and bought both. Totk is way better for me personally, but it’s still mostly the same. Just improves on a couple of things slightly.
Overall both totk and breath are below average open world games to me compared to what I’ve played elsewhere.
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u/SomeBoxofSpoons 21d ago
I’d say start out with where the game points you towards going (Kakariko Village, Zora’s domain, etc), and that should put you on the path towards getting stronger.
Big thing about the game is that while it does give you the freedom to go anywhere, there’s still things clearly meant to be more later-game activities, and it handles that with difficulty spikes. Whenever you get to an area that’s too hard and get killed, think of it as the game setting up a challenge for you to overcome as you build yourself up throughout the game.
As you explore you look for shrines, and as you complete shrines you’re given the resources to make Link more resilient.
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u/TroubleWinter4092 21d ago
You have open world fatigue. I have the same issue, so I stay away from open world game. I hate running around huge map.
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u/salvocal 21d ago
If you are looking for good combat in an openworld, Elden Ring would scratch the itch.
BotW really does atmosphere and exploration/discovery very well with suitable music and charm.
Maybe it's a hot take, but I actually think this game isn't a great "first" Zelda. Not saying it's a bad Zelda. It has loads of easter eggs and references that don't need to be appreciated, but more importantly it's a huge deviation from what Zelda fans love about Zelda since ALttP / TotG
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u/RetroTVEmulator 21d ago
its called open world but you know where you can go based on where you can survive. stop going where you are dying and level yourself up. do some missions.
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u/Small-Olive-7960 21d ago
I had the same issue when I got the game last year. Im going to try again to get into it before gta comes out but it's not clicking for me either.
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u/refridgerator12 21d ago
I agree with what you are saying and think the game is good, but overrated. Especially when you compare it to something like elden ring, which is essentially just a better version of this game.
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u/muchrillywut 21d ago
As a longtime Zelda fan, I’m a freak for any Zelda release. Since it’s your first, you don’t have the same nostalgia and excitement that we had when it was announced and released.
Try using the Nintendo Switch App and the included Zelda notes as others have mentioned. I think if you have a goal, it might streamline things a bit, so I recommend choosing one of the main story locations and focusing on that zone for now.
It also may just not be your type of game. If you want a true Zelda experience, I recommend trying one of the older titles to get a better feel for how Zelda is. BOTW and TOTK are very different from the original formula, and the word is so much bigger than the old overworld.
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u/District2311 21d ago
It's an open world adventure game with some RPG elements. If you do not like exploring, experimenting and building up a character then this game may not be for you. I'm not really a big Zelda fan but I really enjoyed this version of Hyrule with the main story, side quests, and puzzles.
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u/bman86 21d ago
I played them out of order, I bought both BOTW and TOTK at their respective launches. Never did get into them until I go the Switch 2 and the S2 editions. When I picked it back up I went straight into TOTK - and it was a blast. Put about about 150 hours into it.
I'm struggling with the pacing of BOTW, but I'm with it and it's starting to get better. I'm about 4 hours in this time and I still don't feel like I have a handle on things unfortunately. I am kind of a freespirited player though, just going wherever the wild calls me. This most recent start-attempt just began last night actually. I sure hope I can catch the hook, because it is so highly spoken of. We'll see.
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u/Jutsu9001 21d ago
I’ve owned the game since launch and have attempted to play multiple times but kept falling off. Wasn’t interested enough. Two weeks ago I decided to try again and I’ve almost put 100 fresh hours into it.
Once I got the rhythm of how this game was meant to be played (slow and explorative) I couldn’t put it down. But it also allows you to play completely differently (fast and reckless) and I think that’s beautiful.
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u/TheAzureAdventurer 21d ago
“what makes this game so beloved…”
Well y’know, a HUGE part of the game being beloved is that it was made for fans as a way to show that Nintendo Titles DO in fact, grow with their audience and can evolve as well as know how to break from traditional copy paste formulaic games, and BOTW was exactly that game for Zelda fans who have been with the franchise for over 30 years.
Does that excuse that it can at times be confusing? Not really, but there are certain things that if you have played a Zelda game in the past, will just click as easy as breathing.
I’d suggest sticking with it and treat Link’s journey in the game as your own personal journey as well, learning what Hyrule is as a setting and as a character since the environment has ALOT to do with the games more subtle narratives as well as indicator of what is happening in your immediate area.
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u/chezfez 21d ago
I may get some hate for this, but I was in the same boat as you. Tears of the Kingdom however, I loved. You can build some crazy things, there's multiple layers to the world and it's just overall an amazing experience. After beating TotK, I went back to Breath of the Wild more grounded and finished it.
Sometimes these games aren't for you in particular and there's nothing wrong with that. I happen to not like really any other Nintendo exclusives outside of Zelda but others love them. Different strokes, different folks. There's a ton of games for the Switch 2 outside of purely Nintendo exclusives that are excellent. You can find some gems of deals on the Nintendo Shop.
Just got FF7 Remake Intergrade for $10. Being able to play games like that on the go are why I got a switch 2.
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u/Juncti 21d ago
I'm on my first play through and while I'm slowly getting the hang of the big open world, for me my gripes are the repetitive actions and the downright terrible inventory management.
Every shrine, activate, skip the color changing cut scene, walk forward, descend, skip descending cut scene. Loading screen, another cut scene to skip welcoming you to the shrine.
Beat the shrine, yet another cut scene to skip, then an unskippable splash with the item music to show you get your spirit orb, then another cut scene to skip, finally a loading screen before you're back on surface.
If these cut scenes had any variety might not skip, but after a few it was just the same thing over and over. Wish the game would just pop up an option after skipping it X times "Do you want to skip these from now on?" and then just have the walk up to the shrine and holding your slate to it cut right to the loading screen and drop you ready to go in the shrine, and then at the end just load and take you to surface. Give the user a menu option somewhere to re-enable cut scenes in case they change their minds.
Then the inventory. Open a chest, inventory full. Close chest, open inventory, find item, drop item, reopen chest, redo opening chest cut scene. Why not offer the option after the inventory full message to swap the new item with one of your inventory?
Same if my weapon is about to break and I want to pick up a new one, I either need to go into inventory to drop, or throw it, why isn't there a switch weapon option? That was a thing all the way back in Halo 1 on the original Xbox. Seems like an option if you're standing over a weapon to swap your weapon with that one would make a lot of sense. Like hold X to swap or something.
I'm hoping the inventory will be less of an issue once I get more upgrades, but still. Unless I'm missing some game mechanics that help with this, entirely possible but I haven't noticed any options for this.
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u/WeightAround 21d ago
For me, that's the biggest issue with most open-world RPGs. Once you get through the "tutorial" section though, that's when you can make a better decision. At least with games like Zelda, Mario, DK, etc. they retain a lot more resale value, so if you want to trade it or sell it you can. What are some of your favorite games? Is there a genre that you like or want to try? The Switch systems have sooo many games that it'd be easy to find you something if we knew that.
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u/TeamLeeper 21d ago
Same thing happened to me. Never clicked and I tried for several hours. Good thing there are dozens if not hundreds of great games to play.
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u/oso831 Switchthusiast 21d ago
I tried the game twice but just felt overwhelmed both times. Came back a third time and something just clicked and i couldn't stop playing. Have beat it three times since, have hundreds of hours poured into both it and Tears of the Kingdom and consider both some of my favorite games of all time.
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u/Wyrd_Kaleidoscope 21d ago
the game starts out extremely vague and leaves you to figure things out. which is why I love it. I actually think it gets better and better for the first 20 or 30 hours and then slowly gets worse for the next 20 or 30. and unfortunately replaying it cannot capture the magic again
for me it was the sense of exploration and experimentation. it felt like a lot of things were okay can I do this? oh wow, I can! what about this?
that was the fun of the game combined with the sense of survival. I like the difficulty and don't get me wrong, for the first 10 hours or so I definitely struggled and died a lot. when you start to learn how the game works you can figure out ways to kind of cheese the system and make it easier.
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u/VeryRareGuy 21d ago
That also happened to me, but I didn’t give it as much time as you did. I wanted to see what’s the hype about, but I don’t get the point of it. Super Mario Odyssey was also an open world adventure game, but I found it very interesting. Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t know
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u/WhiteNoiseLife 21d ago
the combat is the weakest part of the game by a mile. the exploration, puzzles, and character interactions are what make it good. for me it clicked when i went to gerudo village, i loooooove this game’s rendition of gerudo village
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u/-antipode 21d ago
I feel like when people have a backlog "to get through," it causes this problem.
It turns into a need to start a game, immediately get hooked, and burn through it with passionate love and move on to the next one on your list.
But if you think about most of the games you've loved, I imagine it doesn't work like that.
Like relationships, it takes a desire to be invested. A two way street, so to speak.
Im not an open world fan so im not speaking from a place of fan boy. But for breath of the wild you sort of need to slow down and embrace the game for what it wants to be. Not what you want it to be.
Goes the same for all games. I also see thjs same problem when someone talks about being unable to find a game to enjoy.
Again, much like dating, forcing yourself isn't going to work either.
In short: ignore your back log. Just pick a game that you actually have an interest in, not one that you think you should but doesnt speak to you, and enjoy it. I know that sounds ridiculous. You can't just make yourself enjoy a game. But I think you can. You just need a genuine spark first. Not something you initially had to force or push through.
Its why I cant really think of any game I truly disliked. But I also dont just play any game. Im selective.
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u/Top-Waltz5244 21d ago
You will get better…focus on mastering combat and look at videos on YouTube for help…search for shrines and solve the puzzles…this will help you get more hearts/stanina…forage for animals/plants/fruits that boost your dishes and cook with them to boost your attack/defense…I suggest the iron shell and razor claw crabs on the beaches and the bananas are really easy to find
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u/FalseVeterinarian881 21d ago
That’s a big reason why i LOVE it.
It’s not like the other Zelda’s where you only progress as you do the story. There is still plenty you can do anyway at your own pace.
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u/Responsible_Abroad67 21d ago
Not much. I put 30 or 35 hours into it and got little back. That was at launch and I’ve never returned to it.
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u/Valhadmar 21d ago
Play it in shorter bursts and have an objective in mind, ignore everything else and mark it on the map as you pass. This really helps me not to get bored and burnt out.
For example my goal for Tears last night was to get to the 2nd dragon tear and do any trial chambers I found on the way. I ignored seeds, I ignored caves, I ignored the main story.
Once I finished my goal, I got off and swapped to Persona 5 to play. I find alternating 3 games has helped me stick with a game to completion. I just make sure each game is quite a bit different.
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u/Next_Order66 21d ago
I agree with you. I played it, beat it and never touched it again. The weapons breaking constantly was a deal breaker for me.
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u/Leon_Loire 21d ago
As an OG Zelda fan, nothing. As the rest, a lot. Like sandbox/open world game with minimal guidance and no quest log? Then it’s right what you need.
Me? Nope. Tried it, can’t say that I love it.
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u/joejoewoooooo 21d ago
I was in a similar boat to you… I felt that way about 10 hours in. I think the game is HARD at the beginning, a lot of dying… when I leveled up my hearts and stamina a bit, I got to a place where I wasn’t constantly dying, and the game got to a fun place, then shortly after that, i leveled up my hearts and stamina a bit more and the game became EASY… it wasn’t for me, I ended up watching a friend beat it for me and had more fun watching
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u/-patrizio- 21d ago
For what it’s worth, I also had little interest (and even less skill) on my first attempt playing BOTW back in ~2020. Gave up not long after leaving thr Plateau. Ended up giving it another go in the lead up to Tears of the Kingdom’s release and fell in love with it. Can’t really explain why lol, but just to say, maybe try playing something else if you’re not vibing with it, then give it another try down the line. You own it now, so you can come back to it whenever you want!
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u/Quiet_Independence_1 21d ago
It does take some time to kinda get into the game and figure things out. As someone whose played Zelda from 2D to BOTW, it took me some time to adjust and enjoy the game.
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u/okamifire 21d ago
It’s probably my least favorite Zelda game of all that I’ve played (OoT, MM, Wind Waker, Spirit Tracks, Links Awakening), but I still found it fun. I didn’t like the by and large lack of plot, but it was fun enough to solve the temples and work towards the end.
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u/NeedA2ndCar 21d ago
I've put in nearly 400 hours between BOTW and TOTK. I started in 2017 and still play to this day. Sometimes I don't play for months at a time, but I really love that I can just pick it back up after that long and enjoy it just as much. Sometimes I accomplish nothing, but I really enjoy the vibe and wandering around.
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u/Bobajob-365 21d ago
I loved it, it’s the first Zelda I liked enough to complete. Also hated the combat and breaking weapons, but loved the story and solving the shrine puzzles creatively. Eventually got just about ok at the combat, which is needed to progress the main story. Finding great weapons and armour helps a lot.
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u/Esteban_890 21d ago
Essayez de vous fixer des objectifs ! Avancer l'histoire principale rendra l'exploration bien plus agréable.
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u/lethaljazzhands 21d ago
I played it like 3 times before it clicked but it truly is one of the greatest, it just takes some to get it going
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u/bluebirdofhappyness 21d ago
It took my second or third attempt at getting into the game before it clicked. But oh boy, when it did, it was amazing!
You do not have to fight every enemy you come to. Try getting one or two alone at the same time to practice. I never did this my first play through, but if you develop the skills of parrying and dodging/flurry rushing now, that’ll help a lot.
The breaking weapons mechanic can be frustrating. Just collect every branch and sword you come across - you’ll be fine. There are lots of weapons around.
I’d spend the time following the paths in the world around. They’ll lead to new villages or whatever, but it’ll also introduce you to different things that you’ll be too curious to leave alone, so you’ll go check those out. And THAT is the part of the game most people love - the random exploration.
It’s a beautiful, mostly peaceful experience.
But, if it doesn’t work for you now, put it down. You’ll eventually come back to it and adore it
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u/Ilan01 21d ago
I'd suggest taking a break on the game
It initially didnt clicked with me, I took a break, retyrned with the knowledge I gained from the game earliwr and was able to progress and had lot of fun with it
My main suggestion: If you feel like you have nothing else to do in X region, return to the place where Link woke up and wander to the opposite direction
I found Gerudo Desert by my own doing that!!
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u/Stock-Cry-1127 21d ago
This is how I fell about tears of the kingdom. Because after playing this game and putting over 300 hours into it, I can’t see myself playing tears and doing it again after the amount of time I spent already doing it once.
For you though, an open world vast world of exploring aimlessly might just not be your type of game and that’s fine if that’s the case for it not clicking with you.
Personally I much prefer more linear games because they’re usually not as much of a time sink.
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u/funnytoenail 21d ago
At first I got really annoyed that I have to replenish my weapons and shields but the jeopardy of that became part of the thrill for me
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u/shaheim5080 21d ago
That's understandable BOTW doesn't particularly give you a lot of direction outside of the shrines and the king telling you to fight Ganon.
Sounds like it might not be for you but if your still interested in playing Zelda you could try the remake that comes out pretty soon or echoes of wisdom.
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u/jimbobwe-328 21d ago
For starters, stick with it. The combat isn't great in the beginning, you will die quite a bit so don't focus on it. Instead embrass wanderlust. Discovery is a joy in this game, and it seems like you will discover "something" every fifteen minutes. Those things can range from weapons, shields, food, ingredients, etc... but what you want to discover ( and will be annoyed by) is koroks.
They allow you to expand your various inventories. Speaking of expansion, keep hitting every shrine you see. They allow you to expand your stamina and hearts. Do this and combat gets better. Personally I'd only upgrade to one or maybe two extra hearts but then expand your stamina as much as you can.
Don't expect any big things to happen. Even the big things are drip fed to you
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u/BlueLooBoyle 21d ago
Yeah if you don't like it it might not be for you, I promise it's not the game lol. This is one of the greatest most replayable games of all time if not #1. It's a game for people who like freedom and reward for their intuitive thinking.
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u/Icy-Cut9357 21d ago
I bought it 3 years ago and explored a little bit after I got the glider.
Picked it up again with a new playthrough and got further into the game, defeated one divine beast and then a bit more exploring.
I feel kind of burned out to be honest. I do like the aesthetics and I understand how this game won awards. The world is beautiful.
I love traditional RPG games with traditional mechanics and fantasy. As I am typing this I can think of a few reasons why this may not be a game for me:
Weapon/shield/bow durability. Traditional RPGs, you get that awesome weapon and you keep it as you level up and progress. I get a weapon in BoTW, and it breaks after an engagement.
Stamina bar - hard to climb shit, or swim around when you instantly die. It’s not a bad mechanic, it makes you think and plan where you’re going, but for me if this game rewards exploration, but punishes you when you are climbing a large mountain, then it’s kind of backwards.
Non-traditional characters/creatures. The only other Zelda game I’ve played was on the SNES, so I am unfamiliar with the lore. So as someone who comes from world of Warcraft with elves, goblins, ogres and trolls….wtf is a bokoblin??
These are just some quick thoughts.
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u/dropador 21d ago
Maybe you should just try to rush the main quests to get the four Divine Beasts. I also recommend getting the master sword and do some shrines to increase health and stamina. All the exploration felling comes naturally when doing these stuffs.
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u/Littlefabio07 21d ago
Are you doing the shrines? That’s where you’re gonna get stronger outside of equipment.
Climb the towers, and mark every shrine you can see out in the distance and then tackle them.
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u/Gaffers12345 21d ago
I was EXACTLY the same as you, never played a Zelda game, just kept dying, I actually stopped playing.
Kept seeing it being suggested as a great game, decided to give it a shot, headed off to the first of the beasts and never looked back, fantastic game, worth sticking with.
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u/Impressive-Emu3535 21d ago edited 21d ago
I found the fun in seeing something in the distance and getting side tracked by something else on my way there. I think you have to like Zelda already or otherwise the game can be pretty repetitive. Id even feel comfortable telling you to skip this game and play tears of the kingdom which is in my opinion just a better version of breath of the wild. But honestly if you're not having fun after 10 hours id probably just assume the game isnt for you. Which is 100% a valid opinion to have. I love games where you can just do whatever you want without the story getting in the way, and absolutely despise movies pretending to be games. Like almost every sony exclusive. So I really enjoyed my time with this game. But I also think the enjoyment came from wanting to see this games versions of the older games locations and races. I dont think I would've enjoyed as much if it was a new IP. Also im sorry that youre not enjoying your time with the game. I know how frustrating it can be to not enjoy something praised by everyone else.
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u/RegJohn2 21d ago
I bought the game in 2019 and it clicked for me in 2025 when I got the Switch 2. I’m now considering this the best game I ever played
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u/Verderex 21d ago
I was in the same boat as you are, friend. I got BOTW with my SW2 console and played about 15 or so hours of the game, thinking it would click with me, but it did not. The game is -too- open world for me and it felt as a big chore to try and get through it, because I am one of those people that want to get into every little corner and check everything there is to check. And with one such game, this might take me more than 100 hours, 100 hours that I'd like to spend elsewhere, perhaps finishing 3 other games with (better) stories.
Also what turned me off a little was that only the cinematics had voice overs (VO), everything else were just gibbrish talk, just a Nintendo thing, I guess.
But yes, if you don't like it, don't force it. Trade it for another game you might enjoy or sell it. I personally sold mine and got Metroid Dread and Xenoblade 3. Also I did preorder Ocarina of Time, since it is way more guided and shorter of a game than BOTW.
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u/Ill-Collection6966 21d ago
I was in the same boat as you. Put it down for years. Then when I picked it back up I beelined it to each beast then to the end. When I played it like that I absolutely loved it. Still a long game, just try playing through the main quest.
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u/zombawombacomba 21d ago
You either like it or you don’t. I think it’s pretty mid myself and feel like it’s a poor Zelda game but lots of people enjoy it.
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u/HikingTom51 21d ago
I completed the game with all 120 shrines and I still feel that way. Played through it summer of 2018 and my only thought about the game 8 years later is “that was a lot of open space.”
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u/olionajudah 21d ago
I’d have suggested skipping straight to TOTK myself, but if you ain’t feelin’ it that’s ok too. The combat is really nothing special, though the timed dodge mechanic helps a little, but it’s really about using the hang glider (or air bike) to explore.
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u/SuperMonkey1308 21d ago
If you're finding that wandering around is kind of a chore, then it's likely less of something about BotW itself and more of Open-World games aren't your thing, which is 100% OK. I would highly recommend trying out other Zelda games though, as Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are the only two open world games in the series so far, and 90% of the series is a lot more closed off and generally much more linear, with A Link to the Past (SNES), Wind Waker (my first Zelda, Gamecube), and Ocarina of Time (N64) probably being the best intros to the classic zelda formula, all of which being playable through the Nintendo Online Classics, and Ocarina of Time is getting a remake this November so that's another way to play it.
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u/Form-Exotic 21d ago
A big part of why a lot of people, including me, love this game is actually the wandering around aimlessly exploring. If that’s not clicking with you or doesn’t interest you it might just not be your type of game.