Six years ago, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild came out and absolutely revolutionized what players expected from a Zelda game. With its sequel Tears of the Kingdom set to come out in 2023, players are eager to see what direction the new game will take.
While players absolutely love a fresh take on a series, there are certain Zelda staples that Tears of the Kingdom should keep around. These special elements give Zelda games their cohesive feel, despite how different the series has become throughout the years.
10 Dungeons That Are Varied and Thematic
Most Zelda games have featured a variety of dungeons that all feel distinct from one another, from the simple color changes of the original Legend of Zelda, to the detailed theming of 3-D Zelda games. Many fans love comparing these different dungeons and debating which are the hardest.
For all its triumphs, Breath of the Wild's dungeons felt a little slap-dash, and it would be nice to see Tears of the Kingdom return to a more intricate style and theming for its dungeons. This would be a welcome change from the franchise's less-than-exciting shrines.
9 The Hookshot Is Perfect For Exploration
Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, and the game's trailer from Nintendo Direct makes it clear the game will keep the open-world exploration from its predecessor. The perfect way to update some of the game's climbing mechanics would be with a long-time Zelda staple, the hookshot.
The inclusion of the hookshot, or Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess' double clawshot, would revolutionize the way players traverse the over world in Tears of the Kingdom. Any Zelda fans who played Breath of the Wild will definitely be happy to have a speedier way to climb.
8 Side Quests Reward Players For Their Patience
Making side quests in video games feel like worthwhile endeavors is difficult. Luckily, the Zelda games do a great job of giving players incredible rewards for investing time in side content. For example, the Biggoron's Sword from Ocarina of Time is a powerful weapon that significantly speeds up combat.
Tears of the Kingdom's open world will feel fuller if it includes side quests that give players reasons to traverse the entire map. It's important that the rewards for these quests are as meaningful as the ones from former Zelda games to make the effort seem worth it.
7 Collectibles Give Players A Reason To Explore The Map
Hidden collectibles are a great way to encourage players to explore an entire open world. Zelda games have included a variety of different collectibles like pieces of heart, golden bugs, or hidden treasure chests.
Collectibles can also offer players a sense of progression. In Zelda games, it's common for players to discover a collectible item earlier than it can actually be reached. When players finally get the right item or find the required path to obtain the item, they'll feel like their effort is paying off.
6 Epona Makes Travel Less Tedious
Starting with the first 3D Zelda game, Ocarina of Time, Link has been given a mount of some sort that helps speed up travel. Often, this is Link's horse Epona, but there has also been Skyward Sword's Loftwing and the King of Red Lions, also known as Wind Waker's talking boat.
Including Epona or other mounts in Tears of the Kingdom will prevent traveling from feeling like a chore. With the success of Elden Ring, players have also learned that having mounted combat as an option can be a useful tool when combatting stronger enemies.
5 Upgrading Link's Sword Is A Must
Even though Link's arsenal typically expands over the course of a Zelda game, the weapon players use most in combat is his sword. Most Zelda games include an upgrade to Link's sword, whether it's finding the Master Sword or just improving the one he starts with.
If Tears of the Kingdom is going to follow in Breath of the Wild's footsteps, upgrading Link's sword is even more important than just a boost to damage. Breath of the Wild featured weapons that broke, so upgrading to the Master Sword gave players an excellent weapon they could rely on. Hopefully, this trend will continue in the sequel, and players won't be stuck with breaking weapons for the entire game.
4 Memorable Characters Make Games Timeless
One of the biggest improvements the Legend of Zelda series has made since the original game is the addition of memorable characters. Hyrule has become more than just a series of random dungeons but a world filled with quirky and unique villagers.
These memorable NPCs make Zelda games feel like they take place in a fully realized world. Passing Beedle's ship on Wind Waker's ocean is like seeing an old friend instead of just a place to buy items, and players will never forget King Zora's scoot from Ocarina of Time. Tears of the Kingdom should continue this tradition if they want players to look back fondly on the game years later.
3 Diverse Biomes Provides A Sense Of Adventure
Recent Zelda games have had some pretty big over world maps. However, before they did, they still managed to make traversing Hyrule feel like an epic journey. This is due, in part, to all the different biomes present within the explorable map.
Zelda games have included everything from lush forests to barren deserts, giving Link's journey a greater sense of scale. Although Tears of the Kingdom will likely have a large map like Breath of the Wild, if it isn't divided into unique regions, it will feel stretched and boring. Including different locations will keep the traveling components interesting.
2 References To Other Games Deepens The Lore
Expanding the series' lore is an exciting aspect of any game. Hardcore Zelda fans love to speculate where a certain game falls on the timeline, and how it is related to games that proceeded it.
Many fans speculate that Tears of the Kingdom takes place at the end of the Zelda timeline. If that's true, the door is open for references to any game that's come before it. Including references to other games would be a great way for fans to learn what became of Links and Zeldas of the past.
1 Unique Mechanics Help Differentiate Zelda Games
The most consistent staple of the Zelda series is innovation. Thus far, each game in the series has tried to differentiate itself with a unique mechanic. The Minish Cap had players shifting their size to solve puzzles, and A Link Between Worlds gave players the ability to traverse walls as a 2-dimensional version of Link.
Even though players can expect an experience similar to Breath of the Wild, a new mechanic would be a great way to ensure Tears of the Kingdom feels fresh. As proven by Majora's Mask, direct Zelda sequels can still become unique standouts within the beloved franchise.