The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

What is it?

Tears of the Kingdom continues Hyrule's story six years later. The kingdom appears ravaged; floating sky islands exist above and cavernous depths below. The headline feature—Ultrahand power—lets Link conjure objects and fuse them together. Stack wheels, attach motors, and construct vehicles from scratch. These player-created contraptions solve puzzles through physics simulation. Authorities never restricted vehicle building; creative players construct flying machines, tanks, and elaborate contraptions inspiring community sharing.

Tears of the Kingdom doesn't discard Breath's formula; it extends it. The kingdom remains open, quests optional, freedom preserved. Enemy levels increase, raising difficulty overall. New Depths layer adds underground exploration, tripling traversable space.

How it plays

Ultrahand's primary application: solving environmental puzzles and accessing previously inaccessible areas. Limited resources encourage experimentation—improvise solutions from scattered objects. Battling enemies becomes learning opportunities: defeat a fire-wielder and absorb their flames, applying them to your weapons and contraptions.

Sky islands introduce environmental puzzles distinct from overworld challenges. Caves descend beneath Hyrule, revealing unique environments and resources. Vertical exploration—moving up, down, and laterally across three layers—significantly expands navigable space compared to its predecessor.

Why it sold

Six years separated Breath from Tears, building enormous anticipation. May 2023 launch capitalized on franchise loyalty and Breath's enduring popularity. Ultrahand mechanic—enabling player creativity and contraption construction—generated viral social media content. Users shared elaborate vehicle designs and puzzle solutions, driving organic marketing.

With 22.71 million units sold, Tears became 2023's best seller globally. The game sustained this remarkable Switch lifecycle into its eighth year, proving the hardware's continued relevance and player engagement depth.