Zelda: Do you have to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom?-Rebecca Sayce-Entertainment – Metro

The latest installment in the Legend of Zelda franchise is almost here (Picture: Nintendo)

We are just days away from enjoying a new Legend of Zelda game as Tears of the Kingdom is scheduled for release on Friday, May 12.

Although not yet officially confirmed, it is claimed that Tears Of The Kingdom will include vast underground sections both in Hyrule and in the sky islands. 

What we do know is that a host of Zelda characters will return in the new game, and players will be able to enjoy a new character profile feature that outlines Link’s relationships with everyone you meet.

The franchise, which began in 1986, boasts a rich history and lore that has played out across almost 40 years, spanning multiple generations of gamers.

As such, Zelda has a long and convoluted backstory that can leave some players confused if they jump in and out of play – especially since the last game, Breath of the Wild, was released six years ago in 2017.

So, do you need to have played Breath of the Wild before loading up Tears of the Kingdom? Here’s what we know.

Do you have to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom?

Good news for casual Zelda fans hoping to enjoy the new game – you don’t need to have played Breath of the Wild.

According to Nintendo, Tears Of The Kingdom is suitable for everyone – whether you’re a regular frequenter of Hyrule, or picking up your Master Sword for the first time.

The games – of which, there are 45 – have a notoriously complex lore and timeline, which may have left some gamers nervous about cluing themselves in before Tears of the Kingdom is released.

However, none of this is actually important to the individual stories, which are all very simple, and most of the lore is only referenced in passing or in ancillary media.

Via a recent blog post, lead producer Eiji Aonuma confirmed Tears Of The Kingdom will be ‘easy to get into,’ even if you have zero previous Zelda experience. 

No, you don’t have to have played BOTW to understand TOTK (Picture: Nintendo)

Tears Of The Kingdom acts as a sequel to 2017’s Breath of the Wild and is a mainline entry in the series rather than a spin-off.

Nintendo previously revealed Breath Of The Wild takes place several hundred years after all the previous installments.

While much of the game’s plot and features have been kept under wraps, fans of the franchise won’t need to wait much longer to play as the game is set to be released for Nintendo Switch on Friday, May 12.

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