Do You Need to Play Breath of the Wild for Tears of the Kingdom?

With The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom now firmly in players’ hands, a common question is whether you need to play the original Breath of the Wild first to fully understand the sequel. The answer is straightforward: the game is built so you can jump in without having lived through the earlier story—though starting with Breath of the Wild can make the experience richer.

Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, and the two adventures are connected in terms of setting and characters. However, Nintendo designed the sequel to work for both newcomers and returning players. As you progress, Tears of the Kingdom walks you through the key events you need to know, introduces the main cast, and centers on a completely new conflict. That means the plot is readable and enjoyable even if you skip the first game.

That said, if you’re deciding based on whether you’ll get more out of the world and its characters, playing Breath of the Wild first is strongly recommended. You’ll understand the relationships between Link, Zelda, and other figures more clearly, and you’ll be able to appreciate how Hyrule has changed between the two titles. There are also locations that you’ll recognize because they’ve been transformed, along with references to missions and characters from the past. For players who begin directly with the sequel, some of those dialogues and nods may be easier to miss—so the earlier game helps you catch more of the intent behind the moments you see.

So do you need Breath of the Wild to understand Tears of the Kingdom?

You do not need to play Breath of the Wild to follow Tears of the Kingdom’s story. Still, if your goal is maximum context—recognizing references, understanding the characters’ history more deeply, and appreciating the evolution of the world—starting with Breath of the Wild is very much worth it, even if it means putting in a significant time investment before you reach the sequel.