The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review

Tears of the Kingdom ranks first because no other game on the system gives you as much freedom. Nintendo's store page describes it as a sequel to Breath of the Wild in which you decide your own path across Hyrule and the islands floating in the skies above it. The new abilities are what set it apart: Ultrahand lets Link pick up, rotate and attach objects to make bridges and vehicles, Fuse combines objects with weapons, shields and arrows, Ascend lets him rise through ceilings and hillsides, and Recall reverses an object's movement. That means puzzles and fights rarely have a single answer. The store lists TV, tabletop and handheld play, a Nintendo Switch 2 version, and a file size of 16.5 GB on Switch. The trade-offs are that it is single player only and, at $69.99, costs $10 more than most Switch 1 games here. If you only buy one game for a Switch or Switch 2, this is the one to choose.

Who it is for

Solo players who want the biggest, most open adventure on Switch and are happy to spend dozens of hours exploring.

Price

$69.99 one-time digital purchase on the US Nintendo eShop.

The Legend of Zelda™: Tears of the Kingdom Regular Price: $69.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Explore the land of Hyrule and the islands floating in the sky above it
• Ultrahand picks up, rotates and joins objects into bridges and vehicles
• Fuse attaches objects to weapons, shields and arrows for new effects
• Ascend passes upward through ceilings and hillsides; Recall reverses an object's movement
• Plays in TV, tabletop and handheld modes, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version listed in the store

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The building abilities let you solve most problems in your own way
• Strength: A very large world that covers land and sky
• Strength: Runs on both Switch and Switch 2
• Weakness: Single player only
• Weakness: The most expensive Switch 1 game on this list at $69.99
• Weakness: Builds on Breath of the Wild, so some areas will feel familiar to its players

Key facts

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Released: May 12, 2023
• Players: 1
• File size: 16.5 GB on Switch
• eShop price: $69.99

Where it ranks

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is No. 1 in our Best Nintendo Switch Games verdict.