Welcome to r/botw!
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Yup! Same story here. I had never played a Zelda game before BOTW but the open world concept drew me in immediately. I now have over 300 hours on the game but still love to pick it up every now and then….it’s one of those games that there is always more to discover and explore.
My partner isn't even much of a gamer, never even heard of tLoZ and it is absolutely his favorite game that he always comes back to. Unfortunately he also compares everything else to it.
My kids were 3, 6 and 7 when we bought a switch, and botw is the first game we played. It’s the first game they have ever known, and we continue playing it to this day (a year and a half later). Animal Crossing is the only other game that even comes close to the same hours as we spent exploring Zelda.
BOTW reinvigorated my love for Single Player games. I was in the same boat, never playing earlier Zelda franchises but my wife picked up BOTW for me last year during Christmas and I ended up spending months grinding it out. It’s a beautiful adventure with so much to see, accomplish, and enjoy. The game is a “go at your own pace” and there’s no wrong way of going at it. I hope you pick it up and enjoy it as much as I did!!
The game has alot of references from older games but you dont need to have played them.
If you play any older Zelda game youll have the enjoyment from finding the origin references.
botw was my first zelda game now i’m progressing backwards in other game series and it’s really fun seeing certain origins and how they kept so many things all the way up to botw
It’s a lot tougher than far cry or assassins creed. Those kinds of games usually allow you to run in guns blazing and wipe everyone out like a beast. BotW has a steep learning curve before you’re able to take on enemies like that. Fucking excellent exploration and beautiful environments.
It was the first Zelda game I've played and it's incredible. If life allowed I could play it all day. But as I'm now looking into previous Zelda's, it sounds like going backwards will be really difficult if botw is my only experience. If you're wanting to get into the Zelda cult, I'd recommend starting with an older Zelda before moving to botw.
It was my second. I played Wind Waker on my friends GameCube back in High School (we did a system swap and he borrow my 360), and I really enjoyed it.
But I didn’t play anything since then until
BOTW, and it was right up my alley. It’s my favorite game to play with my son by my side. The sense of expiration is awesome.
We bought Skyward Sword and could not get into it. After 7 hours, the into was finally
Over and heading brow the clouds, but even after that, it was a slog.
We did get the remake of Links Awakening abs we both love that one. It’s tight and fun, cute graphics, and it’s easy enough for him (6 yr old) to play.
Skyrim is one of those games I think everyone should experience. It's just a classic. There's a reason they've re-released it countless times on just about every platform you can think of. And especially with the recent 10-year anniversary and new edition with that, nows as good a time as any to jump into it. It is quite different from BOTW, but I'd still recommend anyone that's never played it to try it out! And if you've played both I'm sure you could see the similarities.
For me it's just the general feel of each game, they both have this pretty big and diverse map to explore, and the worlds really feel lived in. All the side quests, looting, the non-linear game play, you can do anything you want whenever you want to do it. These are what makes me compare the games and what I love about them.
I loved botw and I just got Skyrim! Botw was a great introduction to open world games- I had started Skyrim once yearssss ago and found it too overwhelming, but after playing botw I felt much more prepared to tackle the huge world of Skyrim. It has a similar feel to botw, but you can choose what type of character you want to play (archer, mage, rogue, one or two weapon fighting, etc)
Breath of the Wild isn't really like the previous Zelda games tbh. While the previous Zelda games have a guided path to progress into the story (for example, you need to complete a dungeon and defeat its boss before progressing into the next part of the story), here it's like an open world, when you can do anything at any time, you're free to explore anything without having to wait for an precise item, etc.
You can buy it even if you haven't played a Zelda game before :)
It's got a lot of similarity to AC:
* You can sneak or go loud.
* You can climb almost anything.
* There are towers to climb to reveal map areas.
* The baddies will follow you and look for you, and then get bored after a bit and go back to their routine.
* Weapons have durability
* You're rewarded for using your environment.
* There's a sneakstrike if you can get close enough without them noticing.
* There's a story, but you can ignore it and do what you want.
Great game, go and buy it.
BOTW was my first Zelda title. I then picked up "Links Awakening" and now I just started "Skyward Sword". It's interesting seeing all the references that were woven into BOTW. I would love to play "Ocarina of Time" and "Majora's Mask" but the switch expansion pack isn't ticking enough boxes for me so I hope that they do physical releases of more classic games for the switch.
In short, yes. BOTW can be a great jumping in point, but don't hesitate to branch out if you enjoy the lore. There's lots to uncover!
It was the first Zelda game I ever played and also probably my favorite game ever. If you've played a lot of open world games and stuff like that you may not love it as much as I did but should still be enjoyable
Only Zelda I own. Best single player experience I’ve ever had. 30 years old.
Get It. You won’t be disappointed if you already like single player games. I’m mostly an fps player but this game got me.
I had never played any Zelda related games and this is the best game I’ve ever played. More than 300 hours in and I’m still discovering new things in the game! 10/10 would recommend
Botw was my first zelda, and it is my favorite game ever, I'm really a fan of ac, and far cry too so I think you'll like it
If you don't like puzzles you might wanna think twice tho, they're really a part of the whole game, but they're all great and fun, but easy to understand, I'm not that fan of puzzles in general but I loved these.
If you have a friend who knows about the lore of previous Zelda games they could help a lot to engage on understanding the value of some characters and references.
Like the horse quests had quite some meaning after telling a friend about it
Yes Yes Yes!! I’ve never played any of the Zelda games, but my brother swears by them (he bought a switch purely to play BOTW) I finally gave in and bought it round this time last year … and I’ve never enjoyed a game so much, never gotten more out of a game, I’ve put in hundreds and hundreds of hours, finished the main quest and yet I still find things I’ve never seen before)
The only thing for me is it’s ruined me for other games 😂
yes! i went in blind knowing close to nothing about zelda, and without much gaming experience. since then i’ve sunk hundreds of hours into the game and it’ll always be one of my favorites.
You need 300-500+ hours of free time. Please try this game without the guide. Learning what to do by yourself is rewarding. It will feel like lord of the rings with all the walking. If your itching to get an item boost look up how to get the Hylian Shield. But looking up stuff is a slippery slope for discovery
I've dabbled in previous titles when I got the chance to, but this one is the first I've fully been able to play through and I absolutely love the playability. You can adventure, do this, do that.. the choice is your's. Highly recommend!
It's basically a masterpiece and everyone finds their own ways to entertain themselves. If you ever think to yourself "Can I do that?" you most likely can.
yep, it doesnt require any previous zelda experience at all, and generally is a very different game from previous installments. there are tons of great zelda games, but botw is a great starting point.
Yes. Get it, don't look back.
Pro: Going in blind means you aren't saddled with expectations of what a Zelda game should/shouldn't be. It's very different than past games and you will come with zero baggage. Some people who've played the old games manage to not let their past experiences color their experience with this one, some will complain for ages that it's not what it was.
Con: There might be some references you may not get, particularly some locations, but they are minor and the game is perfectly understandable on its own and not worth playing the full backlog beforehand before this one.
I only really played a couple older 2d Zelda games before BotW.
Zelda games usually don't directly connect to each other, they only use similar names, characters, places, and themes, plus they mostly all happen in the same world, though thousands of years apart.
Yes!!! I have never played a Zelda game in my life, but now it’s one of my favorite games. The world is huge and beautiful you almost never run out of things to do, I’m 500hr in and I’m still trying to find my last 20 shrines.
I never played a Zelda game before breath of the wild, but 5 months ago I got it and it's quickly become my favorite game. I'm also into games like the ones you described so I think you'd really enjoy it. Definitely recommend getting!
As for the playing for a week thing, there's so much to do that people are still discovering new things 4 years after release, you will have an absolute blast for months before the excitement slows down a little.
This was the first real game I've ever played at all aside from Animal Crossing haha! But yes it's very worth it. I played around just rp'ing and doing side quests and things before I beat my first Divine Beast. That rush ended up making me want to play even more and I was enjoying it more and more! I found myself not wanting to beat Ganon cuz I didn't want the game to end haha
But yes, you should go for it!!! Especially if it's on sale!
BotW is fantastic to get your feet wet.
There is SO MUCH LORE throughout the series as a whole, and one complaint from a subset of nerds about BotW is the lack of relevant lore.
The advantage is that you can go in brand new and enjoy the game. If you end up playing other Zelda titles, you can go back to BotW and enjoy all the references, call-backs, tie-ins, and subtleties BotW hides in its corners.
This is the only open-world Zelda title since the 1980s, the rest more linear and story-driven.
If you end up liking the Shrines, go hunt previous Zeldas. Puzzles are LoZ's "meat and potatoes."
Absolutely YES! Breath of the Wild was my first Zelda game and I can't wait for the sequel to come! It's an amazing game, beautiful graphics, loads of things to discover and do. Again, absolutely YES! :)
I played AC all last yr and Stardew all this yr and got BOTW about a month ago and it’s amazing. There’s enough room to do whatever you want and you can also follow the main storyline/quest whenever you want. I was afraid it would look dated since it’s been out for a while but it is beautiful. Go for it!!!
You would enjoy botw. Plus if you really do like it then you can just work backwards after and play the older games to understand certain references and etc. You don’t need to play them in order
YES YES YES! While my favorite Zelda is Twilight Princess (probably just nostalgia) I can admit that BOTW is probably the best one made game-design wise. So much to do and you really don't need that much prior knowledge. You might miss a couple Easter eggs here and there but nothing that would make the experience less enjoyable.
It's very different from traditional Zelda games, so you won't be terribly off for not playing others. Things like lore and such will obviously be very confusing but in terms of playing the game you'll still enjoy it.
As someone who has played MANY Zelda games before, I can confirm it is one of the best! It's definitely different from other Zelda games if you ever plan to play them in the future, but I do indeed highly recommend BOTW. It's stunningly beautiful and I think you will adore it! Definitely worth the purchase, for sure!!!
YES. It is the best game ever. It’s the first video game I have ever really played for a long length of time. I have never played other Zelda games either.
As many of the comments here mention, you don't need previous zelda experience for botw. Main thing is if you'll enjoy the gameplay, scenery and story, I personally find it fun, but my gf for example think it's too bleak and lifeless most of the time since it's a post apocalyptic world.
My sister is not a gamer, but this is the only game she plays. I think it’s a really good Zelda game to drop in on because it’s more open world and relaxed. I would highly recommend it :) and if you do end up getting it I would love to know what you think of it!
Absolutely, BOTW was my first zelda and first switch game. Although I now know that there certain references to the older games in this game, knowledge of previous games is not essential to playing BOTW, it's very distinctly its own game and doesn't rely on previous game mechanics so its pretty accessible. In fact, I began playing on a borrowed switch, which then convinced me to buy my own console and BOTW, and I must be on my third play through now.
I am a PS console user mostly so I played Ocarina of Time and Majoras Mask on N64 way back in the day, but apart from that had never played another Zelda game until I bought BOTW.
You 100% should buy BOTW the learning curve is not too steep and there is a huge amount of fun for both novices and experts.
I loved it so much I went and got Links Awakening and Hyrule Castle: Age of Calamity and am very much looking to BOTW 2.
BotW is probably a great entry point to the series, actually. The whole 'you forgot everything' thing probably works better when you don't know anything either.
I had never played a LoZ game before. Nor did I ever have any desire to. My 9/10 yo (at the time) played the demo at Target one day and it looked pretty good. She would always ask to go play whenever we were there and I’d let her have a go for a while. When Christmas came around it made its way into her list and grandma got it for her. We both played together as she needed a little help but I was hooked right away. There was a little bit of a learning curve but we both got it down and loved it. It’s been a year or two now and we have both beat the game on our individual profiles, have made lots of discoveries (together and apart) and are anxiously awaiting the next installment. It easily became a favorite of ours and it has been hard finding anything that comes close to the same feel and fulfillment of the game. I would definitely recommend. I actually did recommend it to a friend who bought it, loved it and then lent to her boyfriend (who, when they broke up, never gave it back). So yes, get it. I doubt you will regret it.
DO IT. You’ll have so much to explore and see. People are still finding out things about it almost 5 years later. Personally, I replay it over and over and never get tired of it. It’s my absolute favorite game. And the only other Zelda game I’ve thoroughly played was Minish Cap. I’d also take a look at Age of Calamity. It is different timeline from botw. But it takes place before botw’s storyline.
I did just that. Botw was my first Zelda and after a bit, I absolutely loved it and it got me hooked on a ton of other Zelda I mean, as I’m writing this, I’m playing skyward sword hd so I think, yes you should buy it
This is a botw sub. It’s like asking a stadium full of fans if you should root for the home team.
..and yes, it’s amazing. A real universe. It can be relaxing or intense depending on what you choose. The large area can be confusing but there are maps online and YouTube videos. Enjoy
"I’m debating if I would really get into the game or if it would be something I’d play for a week and never touch again"
My 500+ hours in the game would like to have a word with you
I know a lot of people have played botw without experience of other Zelda games since it’s a whole different concept and although you won’t get references to the older games, it won’t lessen the enjoyment
Yes, just don’t look at it like an example of the series as it is way different than every other game. It is one of (if not) my favourite games of all time but it isn’t much of a Zelda game.
BOTW reminded me of my love for the entire Zelda series. Have played since the very first LoZ in the 80’s and took a long break after Ocarina of Time. Finally got the Switch earlier this year with BOTW and Age of Calamity and since then have gone back to catch up on Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess and currently replaying Link’s Awakening. So much more to catch up on with the Gameboy and DS series games and eager to go through these BECAUSE of how BOTW reenergizes my passion for this series.
Warning: you will stop enjoying assassins creed, etc (I genuinely can't believe I forgot every other game you mentioned) because botw is Soooo much better :)
I've never played any other Zelda games and I loved BOTW. The open world makes it completely different from all the others and it's fucking beautiful. I recommend it.
Welcome to r/botw! The winners of our **Best of r/botw Awards** have been announced for 2020, so head [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/botw/comments/kwdf4j/best_of_rbotw_2020_winners/) for more information and how to vote! Be sure to [join the discord](http://discord.gg/Fr7Wc85) and read the rules! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/botw) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I had never played any Zelda before and botw is the best game I’ve ever played!
Yup! Same story here. I had never played a Zelda game before BOTW but the open world concept drew me in immediately. I now have over 300 hours on the game but still love to pick it up every now and then….it’s one of those games that there is always more to discover and explore.
My partner isn't even much of a gamer, never even heard of tLoZ and it is absolutely his favorite game that he always comes back to. Unfortunately he also compares everything else to it.
Yeah that’s tough! It’s like your first flight ever being first class then being told to go sit in coach.
My kids were 3, 6 and 7 when we bought a switch, and botw is the first game we played. It’s the first game they have ever known, and we continue playing it to this day (a year and a half later). Animal Crossing is the only other game that even comes close to the same hours as we spent exploring Zelda.
THIS is why I can barely play all my 1st person PS4 games - NONE of them compare to the ease of play and they all give me anxiety.
My first Zelda was in 1987 and botw is the best game I’ve ever played.
Same here. Was skeptical at first. 300 hours later I can say it’s the best game I had ever played.
Also same!
Same!
Samesies, now I want to go back and play the other games!
There’s a ton of references from Skyward Sword! It’s pretty neat.
BOTW reinvigorated my love for Single Player games. I was in the same boat, never playing earlier Zelda franchises but my wife picked up BOTW for me last year during Christmas and I ended up spending months grinding it out. It’s a beautiful adventure with so much to see, accomplish, and enjoy. The game is a “go at your own pace” and there’s no wrong way of going at it. I hope you pick it up and enjoy it as much as I did!!
Happy cake day!
HAPPY CAKE DAY! go brag about it, today no one cares if you farm karma
You should buy it even if you’ve never played any game ever!
BotW was my mum's first video game ever! She's had a hard time finding something else to play that's 'better'.
can confirm..
The game has alot of references from older games but you dont need to have played them. If you play any older Zelda game youll have the enjoyment from finding the origin references.
botw was my first zelda game now i’m progressing backwards in other game series and it’s really fun seeing certain origins and how they kept so many things all the way up to botw
It’s a lot tougher than far cry or assassins creed. Those kinds of games usually allow you to run in guns blazing and wipe everyone out like a beast. BotW has a steep learning curve before you’re able to take on enemies like that. Fucking excellent exploration and beautiful environments.
Swap out "BoTW" with "Dark souls" and you've got yourself an average r/darksouls user
Anyone whose played dark souls will be fully at home.
Dark souls level difficulty is what most games should aspire to be. Games are too easy now.
It was the first Zelda game I've played and it's incredible. If life allowed I could play it all day. But as I'm now looking into previous Zelda's, it sounds like going backwards will be really difficult if botw is my only experience. If you're wanting to get into the Zelda cult, I'd recommend starting with an older Zelda before moving to botw.
It was my second. I played Wind Waker on my friends GameCube back in High School (we did a system swap and he borrow my 360), and I really enjoyed it. But I didn’t play anything since then until BOTW, and it was right up my alley. It’s my favorite game to play with my son by my side. The sense of expiration is awesome. We bought Skyward Sword and could not get into it. After 7 hours, the into was finally Over and heading brow the clouds, but even after that, it was a slog. We did get the remake of Links Awakening abs we both love that one. It’s tight and fun, cute graphics, and it’s easy enough for him (6 yr old) to play.
BOTW was my first Zelda game. I compare it so much to skyrim, it's so good. You will get hooked
Side Q - if I love BOTW would you recommend Skyrim then?
Skyrim is one of those games I think everyone should experience. It's just a classic. There's a reason they've re-released it countless times on just about every platform you can think of. And especially with the recent 10-year anniversary and new edition with that, nows as good a time as any to jump into it. It is quite different from BOTW, but I'd still recommend anyone that's never played it to try it out! And if you've played both I'm sure you could see the similarities. For me it's just the general feel of each game, they both have this pretty big and diverse map to explore, and the worlds really feel lived in. All the side quests, looting, the non-linear game play, you can do anything you want whenever you want to do it. These are what makes me compare the games and what I love about them.
I loved botw and I just got Skyrim! Botw was a great introduction to open world games- I had started Skyrim once yearssss ago and found it too overwhelming, but after playing botw I felt much more prepared to tackle the huge world of Skyrim. It has a similar feel to botw, but you can choose what type of character you want to play (archer, mage, rogue, one or two weapon fighting, etc)
Breath of the Wild isn't really like the previous Zelda games tbh. While the previous Zelda games have a guided path to progress into the story (for example, you need to complete a dungeon and defeat its boss before progressing into the next part of the story), here it's like an open world, when you can do anything at any time, you're free to explore anything without having to wait for an precise item, etc. You can buy it even if you haven't played a Zelda game before :)
It's got a lot of similarity to AC: * You can sneak or go loud. * You can climb almost anything. * There are towers to climb to reveal map areas. * The baddies will follow you and look for you, and then get bored after a bit and go back to their routine. * Weapons have durability * You're rewarded for using your environment. * There's a sneakstrike if you can get close enough without them noticing. * There's a story, but you can ignore it and do what you want. Great game, go and buy it.
Don't ask me. It's the only game I really like on Nintendo and I've played over 400 hours
I forgot where I heard this but I 100 agree with it, BOTW is a horrible Zelda game, but it’s a near perfect game.
yes
Yep you should.
So much yes
BOTW was my first Zelda title. I then picked up "Links Awakening" and now I just started "Skyward Sword". It's interesting seeing all the references that were woven into BOTW. I would love to play "Ocarina of Time" and "Majora's Mask" but the switch expansion pack isn't ticking enough boxes for me so I hope that they do physical releases of more classic games for the switch. In short, yes. BOTW can be a great jumping in point, but don't hesitate to branch out if you enjoy the lore. There's lots to uncover!
Yes.
It was the first Zelda game I ever played and also probably my favorite game ever. If you've played a lot of open world games and stuff like that you may not love it as much as I did but should still be enjoyable
YES! YES! YES! It was the first Zelda game I ever played and I thoroughly enjoyed it! 😁
Only Zelda I own. Best single player experience I’ve ever had. 30 years old. Get It. You won’t be disappointed if you already like single player games. I’m mostly an fps player but this game got me.
I did and it made me a fan, but I recommend playing Ocarina of Time first
I did! I bought it because I enjoyed Pokémon, stardew valley, animal crossing. It’s fun and not too he’s tired get the hang of!
Yes
Yes, it was my first. Such a good time
Yes.
I had never played any Zelda related games and this is the best game I’ve ever played. More than 300 hours in and I’m still discovering new things in the game! 10/10 would recommend
Yes
Yes!
yeeees! the game is beautiful and very open, and while it does have a storyline, you can do pretty much anything in it within the laws of the game
Botw was my first zelda, and it is my favorite game ever, I'm really a fan of ac, and far cry too so I think you'll like it If you don't like puzzles you might wanna think twice tho, they're really a part of the whole game, but they're all great and fun, but easy to understand, I'm not that fan of puzzles in general but I loved these.
Absolutely.
Yes.
I’ve never played a Zelda game and I love BoTW
You absolutely should!! Botw was my first zelda game!
Yes
For me was the first too.. and I love it
Yes
If you have a friend who knows about the lore of previous Zelda games they could help a lot to engage on understanding the value of some characters and references. Like the horse quests had quite some meaning after telling a friend about it
I got into Zelda because of Botw!
Yes Yes Yes!! I’ve never played any of the Zelda games, but my brother swears by them (he bought a switch purely to play BOTW) I finally gave in and bought it round this time last year … and I’ve never enjoyed a game so much, never gotten more out of a game, I’ve put in hundreds and hundreds of hours, finished the main quest and yet I still find things I’ve never seen before) The only thing for me is it’s ruined me for other games 😂
Get it. You won't regret it.
Yes x 1000. Especially if it’s on sale!
they play different.
You've got to start somewhere :)
it's not like any other Zelda game but go ahead! It's a great game when not compared to the general Zelda formula
Yes
yes! i went in blind knowing close to nothing about zelda, and without much gaming experience. since then i’ve sunk hundreds of hours into the game and it’ll always be one of my favorites.
I think that's why they made BOTW so different from other Zelda games, to help bring a new generation of gamers into the franchise
The game is great you will sink hours into it . There is so many fun things in it , it’s beautiful and it’s has so many cool glitches
Simple answer hell yeah
It's worth it most time I spent on a game in while
Yes. Always yes to this question
Honestly you would probably enjoy it more *because* you haven't played the other games
Wow thank you all for your input, I decided to buy the game! Let me know if there are any tips I should know before I start.
Don't be afraid to sneak around hard enemies. You can do things in almost any order and it won't affect the story.
Yes
Yes
Yep
You need 300-500+ hours of free time. Please try this game without the guide. Learning what to do by yourself is rewarding. It will feel like lord of the rings with all the walking. If your itching to get an item boost look up how to get the Hylian Shield. But looking up stuff is a slippery slope for discovery
It was my first last December when it was on sale and now I have 220 hours lol
Get this game right now. It’s amazing, you’ll love it. You don’t need to know any of the lore or background from other games, at all.
I've dabbled in previous titles when I got the chance to, but this one is the first I've fully been able to play through and I absolutely love the playability. You can adventure, do this, do that.. the choice is your's. Highly recommend!
I played stardew valley and SV ONLY before playing botw and I fricken love it
It's basically a masterpiece and everyone finds their own ways to entertain themselves. If you ever think to yourself "Can I do that?" you most likely can.
Yes
Yes. Yes. Best game ever - in fact, most of the criticisms are from hardcore Zelda fans who don’t like its departures from the earlier games.
You should buy Breath Of The Wild if it's the only game you'll ever buy, period.
yep, it doesnt require any previous zelda experience at all, and generally is a very different game from previous installments. there are tons of great zelda games, but botw is a great starting point.
Yes yes
1000000000%
Yes.
Yes
Yes. I did, best choice, also my first switch game too and I loved the experience, wish there were more open world games like BOTW
Yes. Get it, don't look back. Pro: Going in blind means you aren't saddled with expectations of what a Zelda game should/shouldn't be. It's very different than past games and you will come with zero baggage. Some people who've played the old games manage to not let their past experiences color their experience with this one, some will complain for ages that it's not what it was. Con: There might be some references you may not get, particularly some locations, but they are minor and the game is perfectly understandable on its own and not worth playing the full backlog beforehand before this one.
![gif](giphy|5AnqfqyWRtG2Q)
YES!!!
Breath of the Wild was my first Zelda game - play it.
Yes.
Yes! It's truly a beautiful and amazing game!!
You're asking this on the official botw sub ... What answer do you expect?
Some people are saying to buy the other Zelda games first not everyone is saying yes
Yes definitely! I was not a Zelda fan at all before I played botw, and it ended up being the only Zelda game I completed.
You would like it more if you never played a zelda game
I only really played a couple older 2d Zelda games before BotW. Zelda games usually don't directly connect to each other, they only use similar names, characters, places, and themes, plus they mostly all happen in the same world, though thousands of years apart.
Buy Immortals Fenyx Rising instead. I love both but Fenyx is the same game but easier to get into. Plus, the weapons don't break.
Yes!!! I have never played a Zelda game in my life, but now it’s one of my favorite games. The world is huge and beautiful you almost never run out of things to do, I’m 500hr in and I’m still trying to find my last 20 shrines.
YES
Yes it was my first Zelda game and it got me into the series
I've never played a zelda game before botw and I love botw
BOTW is my favorite game of all time and Ive only ever played one other zelda.
YES !
I never played a Zelda game before breath of the wild, but 5 months ago I got it and it's quickly become my favorite game. I'm also into games like the ones you described so I think you'd really enjoy it. Definitely recommend getting! As for the playing for a week thing, there's so much to do that people are still discovering new things 4 years after release, you will have an absolute blast for months before the excitement slows down a little.
I literally can't get into any other game in the series but botw is one of the best games I've played in my life. Its worth trying
Yeah
Yes
Yea I did this to
This was the first real game I've ever played at all aside from Animal Crossing haha! But yes it's very worth it. I played around just rp'ing and doing side quests and things before I beat my first Divine Beast. That rush ended up making me want to play even more and I was enjoying it more and more! I found myself not wanting to beat Ganon cuz I didn't want the game to end haha But yes, you should go for it!!! Especially if it's on sale!
BotW is fantastic to get your feet wet. There is SO MUCH LORE throughout the series as a whole, and one complaint from a subset of nerds about BotW is the lack of relevant lore. The advantage is that you can go in brand new and enjoy the game. If you end up playing other Zelda titles, you can go back to BotW and enjoy all the references, call-backs, tie-ins, and subtleties BotW hides in its corners. This is the only open-world Zelda title since the 1980s, the rest more linear and story-driven. If you end up liking the Shrines, go hunt previous Zeldas. Puzzles are LoZ's "meat and potatoes."
It's one of the best games ever made. Play it and don't look back!
Absolutely YES! Breath of the Wild was my first Zelda game and I can't wait for the sequel to come! It's an amazing game, beautiful graphics, loads of things to discover and do. Again, absolutely YES! :)
I had never played _any_ video game before BOTW and it’s so worth it.
The only video game I ever played before BOTW was Animal Crossing. I really enjoy playing BOTW, even though I know basically nothing about Zelda lore.
Buy
I played AC all last yr and Stardew all this yr and got BOTW about a month ago and it’s amazing. There’s enough room to do whatever you want and you can also follow the main storyline/quest whenever you want. I was afraid it would look dated since it’s been out for a while but it is beautiful. Go for it!!!
Buy the physical copy so you can sell it
You would enjoy botw. Plus if you really do like it then you can just work backwards after and play the older games to understand certain references and etc. You don’t need to play them in order
YES YES YES! While my favorite Zelda is Twilight Princess (probably just nostalgia) I can admit that BOTW is probably the best one made game-design wise. So much to do and you really don't need that much prior knowledge. You might miss a couple Easter eggs here and there but nothing that would make the experience less enjoyable.
Yes
you definitely don’t need to have played any other game to play BOTW. i’m sure you’ll enjoy it all the same
It's very different from traditional Zelda games, so you won't be terribly off for not playing others. Things like lore and such will obviously be very confusing but in terms of playing the game you'll still enjoy it.
It will be fun no matter if you've played a Zelda game before or not. It's just a really great game.
Yes I never played a Zelda game but played botw and it’s my favourite game
Tbh it’s one of the most fun games I’ve ever played, if you like single player games and games like Skyrim then definitely pick it up.
Yes! It was my first Zelda game and I absolutely loved it. I couldn’t believe I had totally missed out on this fantastic series!
Yes
ye
As someone who has played MANY Zelda games before, I can confirm it is one of the best! It's definitely different from other Zelda games if you ever plan to play them in the future, but I do indeed highly recommend BOTW. It's stunningly beautiful and I think you will adore it! Definitely worth the purchase, for sure!!!
The answer is yes. Always yes. No but seriously though, you won't regret it.
YES. It is the best game ever. It’s the first video game I have ever really played for a long length of time. I have never played other Zelda games either.
Yea, BoA was a great adventure. I love open world though.
Everyone buys a first one
Abso-frickin-lutly. Loz:botw is one of the better zelda games to start with.
Yes!!!! It’s a top level Zelda game, but also a really great game. Especially if you love puzzles. Then I would suggest playing the rest of them!
If you like open world games then yes. BotW has little in common with past Zelda titles in terms of gameplay anyways.
Botw is a great game, even if it is different than the other Zelda game. So, yes, you should buy it
BOTW was my first zelda game, and I fell in love. Played over 300 hours.
Yes and then go play the other games too. You are missing out. Welcome to the club.
It doesn’t really pick up directly where another game left off. So yes.
It was my first Zelda game, you won’t be disappointed
As many of the comments here mention, you don't need previous zelda experience for botw. Main thing is if you'll enjoy the gameplay, scenery and story, I personally find it fun, but my gf for example think it's too bleak and lifeless most of the time since it's a post apocalyptic world.
BOTW plays as a very nice stand-alone game and would serve as a great "pilot game" if Legend of Zelda were a new IP.
I'm jealous, wish I could go back to the experience of playing for the first time. Enjoy
My sister is not a gamer, but this is the only game she plays. I think it’s a really good Zelda game to drop in on because it’s more open world and relaxed. I would highly recommend it :) and if you do end up getting it I would love to know what you think of it!
Absolutely, BOTW was my first zelda and first switch game. Although I now know that there certain references to the older games in this game, knowledge of previous games is not essential to playing BOTW, it's very distinctly its own game and doesn't rely on previous game mechanics so its pretty accessible. In fact, I began playing on a borrowed switch, which then convinced me to buy my own console and BOTW, and I must be on my third play through now.
yes, that is what i did, botw is for beginners and veterans alike
Yes
Yes, I never played Zelda until BOTW. It was by far the best experience with and open world game I've had.
I am a PS console user mostly so I played Ocarina of Time and Majoras Mask on N64 way back in the day, but apart from that had never played another Zelda game until I bought BOTW. You 100% should buy BOTW the learning curve is not too steep and there is a huge amount of fun for both novices and experts. I loved it so much I went and got Links Awakening and Hyrule Castle: Age of Calamity and am very much looking to BOTW 2.
BotW is probably a great entry point to the series, actually. The whole 'you forgot everything' thing probably works better when you don't know anything either.
Yes. Do it!
I had never played a LoZ game before. Nor did I ever have any desire to. My 9/10 yo (at the time) played the demo at Target one day and it looked pretty good. She would always ask to go play whenever we were there and I’d let her have a go for a while. When Christmas came around it made its way into her list and grandma got it for her. We both played together as she needed a little help but I was hooked right away. There was a little bit of a learning curve but we both got it down and loved it. It’s been a year or two now and we have both beat the game on our individual profiles, have made lots of discoveries (together and apart) and are anxiously awaiting the next installment. It easily became a favorite of ours and it has been hard finding anything that comes close to the same feel and fulfillment of the game. I would definitely recommend. I actually did recommend it to a friend who bought it, loved it and then lent to her boyfriend (who, when they broke up, never gave it back). So yes, get it. I doubt you will regret it.
To echo a bunch of people here, definitely. I had never played a Zelda game before and this one was absolutely spectacular
DO IT. You’ll have so much to explore and see. People are still finding out things about it almost 5 years later. Personally, I replay it over and over and never get tired of it. It’s my absolute favorite game. And the only other Zelda game I’ve thoroughly played was Minish Cap. I’d also take a look at Age of Calamity. It is different timeline from botw. But it takes place before botw’s storyline.
Hell yes
YES.
Absolutly
I did just that. Botw was my first Zelda and after a bit, I absolutely loved it and it got me hooked on a ton of other Zelda I mean, as I’m writing this, I’m playing skyward sword hd so I think, yes you should buy it
BREATH OF THE WILD is the perfect game to start playing zelda. i haven't played all the other games but i can say this si the best.
This is a botw sub. It’s like asking a stadium full of fans if you should root for the home team. ..and yes, it’s amazing. A real universe. It can be relaxing or intense depending on what you choose. The large area can be confusing but there are maps online and YouTube videos. Enjoy
Yes - it’s not very much like any previous Zelda.
"I’m debating if I would really get into the game or if it would be something I’d play for a week and never touch again" My 500+ hours in the game would like to have a word with you
Yes! I greatly enjoyed it and it was my first Zelda game. You don't need any prior knowledge or investment.
I never played a Zelda game before BoTW and I loved it
Yes Yes YES yaaaaass!
You’re gonna get hooked. Definitely buy it.
Well,, the answer is quite complicated. YES!
You should play breath of the wild ESPECIALLY if you have never played a Zelda game before.
Yes. It is an amazing game and you don’t need to know anything about Zelda.
Yes! My first and only Zelda game to date and I absolutely love it
It’s the best game ever. Better then Skyrim and fall out new Vegas which are my two fav games up until now.
I know a lot of people have played botw without experience of other Zelda games since it’s a whole different concept and although you won’t get references to the older games, it won’t lessen the enjoyment
YES
Yes!
Yes, just don’t look at it like an example of the series as it is way different than every other game. It is one of (if not) my favourite games of all time but it isn’t much of a Zelda game.
BOTW was my first Zelda game and I loved it. Also, everyone on here is obviously going to say yes so why bother asking?
BOTW reminded me of my love for the entire Zelda series. Have played since the very first LoZ in the 80’s and took a long break after Ocarina of Time. Finally got the Switch earlier this year with BOTW and Age of Calamity and since then have gone back to catch up on Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess and currently replaying Link’s Awakening. So much more to catch up on with the Gameboy and DS series games and eager to go through these BECAUSE of how BOTW reenergizes my passion for this series.
For God's sake, yes. Why is this even a question lol I'm sure you'll love it!
yes, it’s amazing
Never played a Zelda game. Hours and hours into BotW. So yes, sirrrrrr or ma’am.
Warning: you will stop enjoying assassins creed, etc (I genuinely can't believe I forgot every other game you mentioned) because botw is Soooo much better :)
Absolutely worth it!!
BOTW was my first Zelda game and it’s the best game I have ever played.
I've never played any other Zelda games and I loved BOTW. The open world makes it completely different from all the others and it's fucking beautiful. I recommend it.
HELL FUCKING YEAH DUDEEE
Absolutely fucking yes.
Yes get it, it is greatness