Fresh Takes: Breath of the Wild, the Game that Keeps on Giving

Posted on February 27 2025 by Julia Wilson

There is a very good reason why Breath of the Wild has never been out of the top three in the Best Zelda Ever rankings: it is an excellent game. The depth and scale of this incarnation of Hyrule are vast, which in turn offers great replay value. Beyond the various ways to approach the game’s story, Breath of the Wild also provides different challenges to keep the game fresh, with completion percentages, the Hyrule Compendium, and the two DLC packs presenting several opportunities to re-experience that world in new and exciting ways.

With that in mind, for my latest playthrough of Breath of the Wild, I wanted to set for myself some specific challenges in order to see how much more I can learn about Breath of the Wild‘s gameplay experience. I wanted to see what new techniques I could uncover and to compare aspects of the game to its sequel Tears of the Kingdom, all while enjoying the atmosphere of Hyrule, of course. My aim for this playthrough was to 100% the game again on Master Mode, take down Maz Koshia, finish all three stages of Trial of the Sword, and complete the Hyrule Compendium without buying any pictures. I also decided not to use Majora’s Mask, as its stealth benefits make it way too easy.

This is my second Master Mode playthrough, and I still love the game as much as I did on my initial run. Having played Tears of the Kingdom since my last Breath of the Wild run-through, my first task (after avoiding the Lynel on the Great Plateau) was to check whether gameplay techniques I learned in the sequel were present here, in case I’d just missed them in earlier runs. Sadly, it turns out you can’t travel around Hyrule on the back of a dragon or glide through a waterfall and activate “Swim Up” while wearing Zora armor, but it was worth checking! However, I was delighted to find that there is a great amount of world continuity between both games. For example, the Gerudo “Cave of Treasures,” which I had discovered in Tears of the Kingdom, was in the same location in Breath of the Wild and actually held some decent items. Also, I surprisingly found that I missed Ascend much more than Ultrahand and the abilities introduced in Tears, as it had made taking out a Talus or leaving a cave so much easier.

Even as I replayed Breath of the Wild again having thought I understood the best ways to take out each enemy, I still found new approaches. For example, I’ve always liked to use the pillars in the “Test of Strength” Shrines to stun the Guardians; so it was a true face-palm moment this playthrough when I realised that most of the Major Test of Strength Shrines had water on the floor and that I could use Cryonis to make ice blocks for the same effect. Likewise, finding that I could easily sneak through the Yiga Clan base by climbing around the walls was another fun discovery. In the earlier stages of the game, I also observed that it was easier to make Rupees by cooking items. The humble Hyrule Herb, Bass, and even meat are all worth more cooked, which is so helpful when your Rupees are low. My use of the Spirit Orbs has evolved too. In my initial playthrough, I chose to max out Hearts over Stamina; now I’m maxing out Stamina, to great effect!

The various challenges I have set for myself this playthrough have also proved rewarding. Starting Breath of the Wild with the goal of completing the Hyrule Compendium without purchasing pictures, for example, has given me the chance to make up for past mistakes. I was so annoyed last time that I had to buy a picture of the Guardian Sentry, as I hadn’t realised that they disappeared following the completion of the Divine Beast Vah Rudania. The Compendium is also tougher in Master Mode, as there is only one of each of the base-level enemies lurking around Hyrule. (I was so happy when I finally came across the Red Bokoblin just south of the Great Plateau!) And for the ultimate challenge, there is Trial of the Sword in Master Mode. I love the challenge and frustrations of Trial of the Sword, especially on the harder difficulty. The first section is definitely the hardest, but Level 23 of the Final Trials proved to be my favorite. It’s such an enjoyable floor to clear, which is followed by the true feeling of accomplishment that comes with getting the Master Sword to 60 strength.

A recent study by Imperial College London and the University of Graz in Austria demonstrated the mental health benefits of open-world games like Breath of the Wild. And, I must say, it does feel quite zen-like at times wandering around Hyrule, looking for Korok Seeds, and trying to complete the Hyrule Compendium — although the mood does get a little lost when a Guardian or a member of the Yiga clan suddenly appears. But that diversity in atmosphere truly emphasises the game’s replay value. Depending on your mood, you can choose to focus on a relaxing aspect of the game — like hunting for collectibles or solving some Shrines — or you can choose to switch it up by taking on a Golden Lynel, one of the Divine Beasts, or even Monk Maz Koshia for some action-packed fun.

I’ve spent a lot of time playing Breath of the Wild, and, thanks to the game’s depth, each run through is a fresh experience. Yes, at times it’s frustrating trying to track down a specific sparrow only to have a Yiga foot soldier appear before you can get your photo. But when you do reach your goals of completing the Compendium, collecting all the Korok Seeds, or getting through Trial of the Sword on Master Mode, the personal reward is very satisfying — even if some of the actual in-game rewards are a bit lacking. Plus, you’ll just continue to find different and new ways to complete tasks, further helping to keep the game fresh with each new playthrough. And, let’s face it, as much as I love Epona, nothing beats zooming around Hyrule on the Master Cycle Zero. No matter how many times I replay Breath of the Wild, that never gets old.

Do you agree that Breath of the Wild offers excellent replay value? If so, how many times have you replayed the game? Let us know in the comments below!