Do you need to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom?

Do you need to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom?
Images via Nintendo

Written by 

Tarran Stockton

Published 

12th May 2023 16:04

You're probably wondering, do you need to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the next entry in one of gaming's most legendary franchises, and with its universal critical acclaim, many gamers will be wanting to jump into it. However, if you haven't played the previous game in the series, Breath of the Wild, you'll likely wonder if it's necessary before starting TotK

So, keep reading to find out whether you'll need to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom.

Do you need to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom?

an image of Link fighting a flying creature in Tears of the Kingdom
Click to enlarge

Even though Tears of the Kingdom is a direct follow-up to Breath of the Wild and picks up shortly after, it's not necessary to play the previous game to enjoy TotK, and you'll still easily understand the narrative.

It is worth noting that there is no recap video in Tears of the Kingdom, however, and it does essentially drop you into the world when you start the game. For many people, this may be their first ever Zelda game, so before you begin Tears of the Kingdom, it may be worth watching a recap of the BotW story.

However, the game does a good job of introducing you to the characters and world, meaning you'll quickly pick up any necessary context. 

That's our answer to the question, do you need to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom? Now you know it's not necessary to understand the new game, but it may enrich the experience if you are familiar with the first. 

You may also wonder, what are Chasms in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom? Check out what these massive crevices across the surface world are, and take a look at our Zelda homepage for the latest news and guides. 

Tarran Stockton
About the author
Tarran Stockton
Tarran is a Senior Guides Writer at GGRecon. He previously wrote reviews for his college newspaper before studying Media and Communication at university. His favourite genres include role-playing games, strategy games, and boomer shooters - along with anything indie. You can also find him in the pit at local hardcore shows.
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