Daily Debate: Do You Want Shrines to Return in Breath of the Wild 2?

Among Breath of the Wild’s most heartily debated elements has been its inclusion of shrines. Some love the bite-sized nature of these puzzle chambers, while others feel as though they detract from the traditional Zelda dungeon formula. With Breath of the Wild 2 on the hopefully-not-too-distant horizon, I’m curious as to how you all would feel about them returning.

Many of my favorite dungeons from throughout the series are those that boast their fair share of context– those that have a particular sense of place. Arbiter’s Grounds, Snowpeak Ruins, Lanayru Mining Facility– these locales feel as if they serve a purpose within their respective versions of Hyrule. Unlike Breath of the Wild’s shrines, these dungeons do more than throw puzzles at the player. Gameplay is essential, of course, but so are mood and aesthetic.

If the “shrine concept” were to return, then I would want them to feel more tonally distinct. Ditch the generic Sheikah-tech motif and give me some proper, elemental shrines. Perhaps they could even feature their own bit of lore that– upon entering that shrine — could be added to an in-game codex. Additionally, I’d love to see these shrines incorporated into proper, compelling side stories. Although some of these changes sound like fairly minor additions, they’d go a long way toward getting me on board with shrines.

What about you, though? Do you love Breath of the Wild’s shrines, but feel as though they should remain unique to that game? Are you not a fan of the concept in general? Share your thoughts in the comments below!