Daily Debate: Has Tears of the Kingdom Stuck With You As Much as Breath of the Wild?

When it comes to ranking my favorite pieces of media, an important element is its staying power. I reflect on not only how that piece affected me in the moment, but also how persistently it lingered in my mind after the credits rolled. Essentially, how much of a long-term effect did it leave? How has it stuck with me? The fact that I’m writing for Zelda Dungeon, for instance, is proof of the indelible impact that the Zelda series at large has had on me. Similarly, you know Fire Emblem: Three Houses is among my all-time favorite video games when you learn that my cats’ names are Claude and Dimitri.

That said, now that we’re a few months beyond Tears of the Kingdom’s release, I’m curious as to the impression it made on everyone. Specifically, how has the game stuck with you relative to Breath of the Wild? Now, I’m not asking necessarily whether you think it’s a better game than its predecessor – rather, has Tears captured your attention and imagination to the same degree as the 2017 game did, three months out from when you first played that?

Admittedly, this sort of thing is difficult to quantify, but I find the topic interesting based purely on my own answer. For as much as I enjoy Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom ranks significantly higher on my list of favorite Zelda titles. The sequel improves upon virtually every aspect of its predecessor, albeit to varying degrees. And yet, I can’t definitively say whether it’s made quite as strong an impression on me.

Of course, this is likely due to a number of factors; firstly, this is very much an iterative installment — to the point where I half-jokingly refer to Tears as a remake rather than a sequel. For as much as Link’s latest adventure brings to the table, the newness of Breath of the Wild can’t quite be replicated when so much of what’s here is rooted in the familiar. Additionally, 2023 has been a crowded year for games. I hate to admit this, but throughout these past eight months, I’ve found myself hopping from one game to the next, without savoring some of them — even the ones I’ve completed — to the fullest. Without getting too philosophical, that’s something I’m working on — appreciating the present moment rather than constantly anticipating what’s next.

In any case, I’d love to hear from you all. Compared to Breath of the Wild, how deeply has Tears of the Kingdom affected you these past three months? Have you been as enthralled with its world as you were in 2017? Are you still playing it — or at least thinking about it — fairly consistently? Perhaps you’re like me and find that it’s a much better game, yet – for whatever reason — you’re not as obsessed this time around? Share your thoughts in the comments below!