The Tears of the Kingdom community is what made it such an unforgettable game
One game to rule them all
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I’ve been a fan ofTheLegend of Zeldasince I first owned a copy ofSpirit Trackson Nintendo DS, so it’s no surprise that the launch ofTheLegend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomwas hotly anticipated from the moment it was fathomed, let alone announced properly. I adoredBreath of the Wild, and anything that could build on that experience was incredibly exciting to think about.
Counting down the days until the launch ofThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomgave me the same amount of excitement as ticking the days off until Christmas as a kid. By the time it was ready to play, I felt like I’d been waiting years for the privilege to experience it, and let me tell you - it was well worth the wait.
But my love for the series isn’t the only reason I ended up falling head over heels forTears of the Kingdom. Numerous other factors go into makingTears of the Kingdoma game worth playing regardless of your relationship with the series and its characters. From start to finish, the adventure will stick with you, and there are hundreds of hours worth of Korok (forest spirits that scatter the map and beg for your help) saving, and side-quest solving to keep you entertained long after you’ve completed the main story.
Even thoughTears of the Kingdomprides itself on being an immersive, single-player adventure, the release triggered a sense of community among players both old and new which I haven’t experienced in a decent amount of time. That was the driving force behind how it quickly became one of the most memorable gaming experiences I’ve had this year.
A tale as old as time
Starting with its story,Tears of the Kingdompresents an opportunity to patch up a few holes in theZeldatimeline with new information that links together games across the entire history of the series. Being a longtimeZeldafan, finally understanding certain elements of the series’ lore such as the story of the Light Dragon felt like puzzle pieces perfectly slotting together in my brain. But for new players, it’s also a fantastic opportunity to explore the history of Hyrule with fresh eyes and learn from the beginning.
Helpfully,Tears of the Kingdomdoes a great job of retelling past events, like those ofBreath of the Wildthat came before it (in 2017), as a means to avoid isolating new players from being able to enjoy it to the same degree. The ability to produce a sequel that welcomes players who haven’t experienced its predecessor is pretty magical, and it’s something thatTears of the Kingdomnails through its storytelling.
As you collect memories around the map you have to piece together your own interpretations of what’s happening, and players were quick to spin theories on who the characters within certain cutscenes were and how their stories worked in the extensive timeline of the series. There was no sense of “well no, actually” fact correcting, but instead, there was a jolly buzz of players willing to listen to one another, which is something that tends to get lost in such a lore-heavy experience. Fortunately, this sense of inspiration wasn’t limited to the story alone and carried across into the content of the game as well.
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Let’s get creative
One of the main factors that separatesTears of the KingdomfromBreath of the Wild, despite being a sequel and largely using the same map, is its introduction of building mechanics. Zonai tech, an ancient technology from a past life that Link must utilize to progress through the adventure, is scattered throughout the sky isles found above Hyrule. Devices like wheels, rockets, balloons, and bombs can be glued together to create all sorts of contraptions, which is where the creativity of the community really came in clutch.
I’m not a hugely creative person when it comes to building in video games. All myMinecrafthouses stem from 4x4 mud huts, and my homes inThe Simsare nothing to write home about. I may feel like something I’ve made seems impressive, but once I got a glimpse of the mech suits and functioning Godzilla animatronics some players were building inTears of the Kingdom, I quickly gave up trying to make anything remotely fun. But, my speed in losing interest in my own builds didn’t come from a place of jealousy (for once) but instead just bewilderment at how so many players were using what the game was offering in ways that didn’t even cross my mind.
Similarly to sharing theories about the story, the community really came together when sharing whatever they had created no matter how outlandish it may seem. From day one we saw functional lawnmowers, working cars and trucks, bomber planes, and mech suits, all of which made the most ofTears of the Kingdom’ssandbox despite not being close to what the game expected to progress through its story. Players found ways to make their own fun and wanted to get as many others involved as possible.
The hubs of Hyrule
Places like Twitter and Reddit became hotspots for sharing said creations, with ther/Hyrule Engineering Club subredditbecoming one of the most popular. Anyone was welcome to join, so even shy builders like me had a place to draw inspiration from without having to be actively involved. But even then, the space that the community created felt so safe that you did feel encouraged to join in, and the best part is these pages are still active today, six months after its launch.
This is why I thinkTears of the Kingdomfeels so special and will sit on the list of bestZeldagames for many years to come. From its heart-wrenching story to its beautiful and magical environment, there is so much to appreciate about the entire experience - and the community means you don’t have to do it alone despite the game being single-player. Whether you’re looking for hints as to where to head next in its almost overwhelmingly massive map, or looking for the most efficient vehicle to build to navigate the depths, it feels like there’s always a fellow player willing to help. And I hope more gaming communities inherit this passion in the future.
We’ve got all thebest Nintendo DS gamesif you’re looking to experience more of Nintendo’s history. If you’d like to go even further back, we’ve got all thebest GBA gamestoo.
Kara is an Evergreen writer at TechRadar Gaming. With a degree in Journalism and a passion for the weird and wonderful, she’s spent the last few years as a freelance video game journalist, with bylines at NintendoLife, Attack of the Fanboy, Prima Games, and sister publication, GamesRadar+. Outside of gaming, you’ll find her re-watching Gilmore Girls or trying to cram yet another collectible onto a shelf that desperately needs some organizing.
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