Since its release, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has remained the greatest-selling Zelda game ever. People are still finding fun ways to play around in the game; whether you want to hop in and beat up bad guys or just wander around Hyrule and chill for a while, this game is for you.
Breath of the Wild definitely encourages exploring its vast world. From being visually appealing to having rewards for exploring, it's very easy to get lost for hours in the verdant and varied kingdom of Hyrule. There's plenty to stumble across, from shrines that improve your health and stamina to better weapons for fighting to ingredients for potions and meals that boost various stats. But one interesting scavenger hunt in the game involves strange little creatures known as Koroks.
According to Zelda lore, Koroks are little humanoid plant sprites related to Kokiri. The other races do not often see them, and they're fond of playing pranks, as when they steal Hestu the Korok's maracas. When Link first stumbles upon one in Breath of the Wild, the Korok explains that it and its fellows are hiding all around Hyrule and gives him a Korok seed for finding it. Later, when Link retrieves the maracas, Hestu informs him that for every seed Link gives him, he will expand Link's weapon, shield or bow inventory.
Naturally, this is yet more added impetus to explore Hyrule since inventory space for weapons is at a premium. But at the same time, there's more Koroks to find than there are available inventory expansions--900 total. It's a number completionists will enjoy, even though the prize for finding them all is questionable. It's still fun to hunt these little guys down, though, and players quickly learn to keep their eyes out for anything unusual. For those just starting the hunt--or even those in the middle--here are a few things to keep an eye out for.
Three in a Row
One of the easiest Korok puzzles to spot from afar is the ones involving trees--most times, it's apple trees, but sometimes it can be other fruits. These trees will be planted in a row, and the puzzle will involve either getting the number of fruits to match on each tree or to have the fruits be in ascending order. Climbing the trees work, but the easiest way to do this is to shoot down the excess fruit with arrows.
Rock and Roll
Another Korok puzzle that's easy to spot from a distance--mostly when gliding--is a circle of rocks with one rock missing. Usually, the missing rock is close by, although some require more work to get them in the right place. Some rocks are hidden under bushes and require cutting the bush away first, while some are on a different level and require some finagling to get them there.
Another rock-related puzzle has rocks up on a hill or ledge with a small divot downhill from them. Roll the rock into the hole to get the Korok to appear. Some snowy mountain regions such as the Hebra Mountains will have snowballs in the place of rocks. These can be rolled but can also be picked up and put into the hole to cut down on frustration.
Leave No Stone Unturned
Koroks will hide anywhere and everywhere--from Death Mountain to the Tabantha Tundra to the Gerudo Desert. One place they love to hide in any of these places is under a rock, which could be anywhere. Up at the top of the tallest peak, buried beneath other rocks or slabs that require the use of the Sheikah Slate's runes to access. Even if you don't find a Korok under there, rocks also hide critters, gems, or Rupees too--never go without checking under a rock.
Don't Miss the Little Shrines
These little shrines bear a passing similarity to the ones that can be found in towns and villages, that you can exchange spirit orbs at. However, these smaller shrines are dotted all over Hyrule and come in groups, often with fruit in some of the bowls in front of the shrine. This is yet another Korok puzzle--add the right fruit to the bowl to solve the puzzle. Just go to your inventory, press X to hold the fruit, aim the circle and arrow at the bowl, and press A to drop. Don’t worry if you don't have the right fruit on hand--usually, these shrines will have the right fruit trees growing nearby.
Stack 'Ems
This is another puzzle that's easy to spot from a distance but is just as often squirreled away at an odd angle or deep in a canyon. These are stacks of blocks, most often in pairs, that have another block nearby that needs to be put in the right position. Usually, this is a mirror-image of the other stack. These other blocks can be stone and therefore nearby and easy to pick up, but mostly they're metal, making them easy to pick up with Magnesis. Can't find a block? Don't worry--activate Magnesis and start looking around. The block will show up against the environment, even if it's hidden underwater.
Follow the Light
Every once in a while, specifically in grassy areas or areas with shallow water, there will be a small ball of light zipping around. This is a Korok that you need to run down and hit A to catch. Fortunately, these will also move on a set pattern, so if you don't feel like running, you can watch for a bit and then park yourself on its little track in order to intercept it.
Circles in the Water
If you look in the water under bridges or ledges, be them small ponds or great rivers, you might find small circles of water plants or rocks down there. Again, these are Korok puzzles--for the rocks, you have to toss a rock in the circle. For the plants, you dive in yourself. One is easier to pull off than the other.
Check Under Everything
It's important to check under arches, branches, bridges--even the torii leading to Kakariko Village. There will often be a sort of little acorn-thing hanging from a rope, or a balloon kept aloft by a little propeller. These too are Korok puzzles--to solve them, all you must do is shoot it with an arrow. The real challenge here is ensuring you have arrows on you all the time and then finding them as well--these are much better hidden than the average Korok puzzle and requires a sharp eye to find.
This isn't even a comprehensive list--there are many more types of Korok puzzles than this. From ones requiring Magnesis or Stasis to solve to what amounts to speed courses starting on stumps to chasing after flowers or shooting moving balloons, finding new Koroks managed to always be a pleasant experience whenever you stumble upon one.