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Nintendo Switch Released 2023 Open-Air Adventure

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Guide Hub

Find Tears of the Kingdom guide coverage in one place, including shrines, sky islands, the Depths, Sage quests, armor upgrades, bosses, builds and full completion routing.

Link reaches toward the sky islands in The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Image: Nintendo

Game Overview

Tears of the Kingdom expands Breath of the Wild's Hyrule into sky islands, caves, the Depths and a much larger toolset built around Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend and Recall.

PlatformNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch 2 compatibility supported through system features
ReleaseMay 12, 2023Released worldwide by Nintendo
GenreOpen-Air Action AdventureExploration, physics puzzles, combat and shrine routing
ModeSingle-playerDesigned as a solo adventure
Average Playtime50-60 hrsMain story with focused exploration
Story + Extras100+ hrsShrines, armor, quests, Depths and side adventures
Completionist200+ hrsAll shrines, Koroks, armor upgrades, caves, wells and map cleanup

Tears of the Kingdom Guide Coverage

This hub is organized around how players actually move through Hyrule: early abilities first, then regional routes, shrine cleanup, Depths mapping, armor progression and late-game bosses.

Recommended Completion Route

A clean Tears of the Kingdom route keeps the early game flexible while still giving you the tools needed for heavy shrine, Depths and armor cleanup later.

  1. Finish the Great Sky Island.Learn Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend and Recall before worrying about full map cleanup.
  2. Unlock towers, stables and basic armor.Open the map, build a travel network and grab reliable cold, heat and combat options.
  3. Clear the four regional questlines.Use Sage abilities to make exploration, boss fights and puzzle cleanup easier.
  4. Map the Depths in sections.Pair Lightroots with surface shrines, gather Zonaite and mark boss arenas before deeper farming.
  5. Clean up shrines, caves, wells and armor upgrades.Return with better stamina, battery power, travel medallions and stronger fused weapons.
  6. Prepare for Ganondorf and endgame targets.Stock gloom recovery, upgraded armor, strong bows, fused weapons and enough meals before the final descent.

Tears of the Kingdom FAQ

Fast answers for players planning a full Hyrule route.

What should I do first in Tears of the Kingdom?

Finish the Great Sky Island, reach Lookout Landing, unlock a few Skyview Towers and get comfortable with Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend and Recall before chasing full completion.

What is the best regional order?

A practical order is usually Rito first for traversal, then Goron, Zora and Gerudo depending on your comfort with combat and environmental hazards.

Should I clear every shrine before the final boss?

You do not need every shrine to finish the story, but shrine cleanup makes the final stretch much easier because extra hearts and stamina give you more room for mistakes.

How do sky islands, the surface and the Depths connect?

The three layers overlap constantly: surface shrines mirror Lightroots in the Depths, sky islands often point to useful launch routes, and chasms give access to underground map sections.

Are Korok Seeds required for completion?

Korok Seeds are not required for the story, but they matter for inventory expansion and full completion. They are best cleaned up late with a map route.

Does Tears of the Kingdom have multiplayer?

No. Tears of the Kingdom is a single-player Zelda adventure built around solo exploration, building, puzzles and combat.

What should I do after finishing the story?

Good post-story goals include finishing shrines, mapping every Lightroot, upgrading key armor sets, clearing caves and wells, hunting strong bosses, and finishing Korok or compendium cleanup.