I question including Breath and Tears together, honestly. They're very similar, but in BotW's case the concept was novel for the series. TotK doesn't have that excuse and feels like BotW 1.25 for recycling so much. Though you could probably accuse SS of the same for reusing the same areas as often as it does.
As much as I have issues with the open-world style, I'd still take it over SS. My problem with Breath largely amounts to wasted potential and a lack of soul, while SS is guilty of an extreme level of linear design and tutorialization that becomes overbearing. One has soul, but is suffocating. The other gives the player plenty of freedom, but feels a bit aimless and flat from a narrative perspective. One is a lovely first experience, but has so little replay value. The other is more replayable given the structure and gameplay loop, but has gameplay that is downright exhausting. And so on.
If nothing else, gameplay I like can make up for the lack of a decent story and cast of characters. That's why Breath wins out for me. Bad gameplay can't save SS, even if I like the world and dynamics going on between the characters.
