Daily Debate: Does Tears of the Kingdom’s Hyrule Feel Less Empty Than its Predecessor’s?

Posted on June 03 2023 by Judy Calder

Spoiler Warning: It is possible the comment section of this article could contain spoilers for Tears of the Kingdom in both pictures and words. Please click at your own risk.

For all of its positives, Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule felt rather empty. The map was the biggest we’d ever seen in any Zelda game, meaning there was plenty of exploration to be had. Even still, it felt like exploration simply led the same thing over and over again. The world never felt full and because of this, I was always left wanting something else to do, or something else to see. Then along came Tears of the Kingdom with an answer to my problems!

The Zelda series’ latest installment feels chock-full of things to do. Almost anywhere I’ve ventured, there’s been some new discovery or something so interesting that it distracts me from the task at hand. I feel like Hyrule’s heart is beating again and I can’t get enough of it! Side quests aren’t just the same old fetch quest recycled and reused. NPCs seem to have more purpose, and their dialogue is so much more fascinating. There are new and exciting enemies that add some serious flavor to the mix. Adventure takes place on almost every inch of the map! I feel almost completely satisfied with Hyrule as we have it in Tears of the Kingdom and would definitely say it’s bursting at the seams with things to do.

What about you? Would you say Tears of the Kingdom’s Hyrule is less empty than its predecessor’s? Let us know in the comments below!