My Toxic Relationship with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Promotional art for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In front of a sprawling landscape, the protagonist climbs a cliff face on the right side of the screen. Stylistic gold text shows the game's name in the middle of the image.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Review

I wasn’t really a Nintendo kid growing up. I had a Gameboy Advance that was mostly a Pokémon machine (though I dabbled in a few other titles inherited from my brothers like The Simpsons: Escape From Camp Deadly, Super Hunchback, Super Mario Land, and The Fidgetts), but my knowledge of some of Nintendo’s biggest IPs was pretty lacking. For instance, I didn’t actually sit down to play a game from the storied Zelda series until this year, when I looked at my shiny new Nintendo Switch 2 and was hit by a sudden urge to try The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. As it turns out, I suck at it. I suck at it a lot, and I had a feeling I would, given my first interaction with it was Kali Wallace’s brilliant article about how sucking at Breath of the Wild is kind of the point. However, as a perfectionist Virgo basket case, this didn’t make the inevitability of my defeats any easier to swallow. I live with three people who also suck at Breath of the Wild. I had no reason to believe I was going to be The One Gamer to Rule Them All, especially since the majority of my gaming experience is turn based. And yet.

This is all to say that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild brought out and shone a light on the wild, often unfair expectations I place upon myself daily, and much like Tomb Raider, Kemono Teatime, and Stardew Valley, has demonstrated to me some important ways in which I can grow as a person.

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Promotional art for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. To the left, the protagonist is superimposed over a swirling patterned black and grey background. He nocks a shining blue high-tech arrow in his bow. To his right, stylistic text spells out the game's name.

Is BotW the Greatest Game of All Time?

Breath of the Wild’s Impact on Society and Gaming

When Breath of the Wild first came out in 2017, it took the world by storm, stunning reviewers, delighting fans, and serving as a support for gamers trapped inside during Covid. I don’t feel it’s an understatement to say this is a game that’s had tangible societal impact; it’s been shouted out alongside Studio Ghibli in a study by the National Library of Medicine for helping to spark feelings of exploration, calm, and purpose in participants. What’s more, we’re still seeing its influence on open world games as recently as 2024’s Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth (though I’m sure there are even more recent examples than this!).

Truthfully, it’s little wonder; BotW boasts an unforgettably sweeping score and eye-meltingly gorgeous vistas that you’ve got the freedom to experience, no holds barred. You want to scale that waterfall? No problem! Climbing an active volcano? Sure, why not? Bring the right clothes and/or food, and you can do just about anything, which I think is exactly what I’ve personally struggled with so much.

A screenshot from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The protagonist uses a glider to traverse a broad river surrounded by rocky verges.

Open World, Anxiety, and Doing Things “Right”

As I mentioned, I’m a perfectionist. It goes beyond ‘liking things just so’; I’m kind of a control freak to the point my husband is forever prodding me to delegate things to him so I don’t burn myself out, and my fear of failure is such that not achieving something I set out to do (whether that’s writing enough at work or beating that video game boss) can send me into a spiral where nothing seems right and I question my own self worth. Very, ‘Well, I guess I just suck.’ Not cute, but that’s anxiety for you. I manage it as best as I can, and an important part of this is pushing my boundaries and examining the things I internalize and why.

As you can imagine, this mindset isn’t always wholly compatible with a game where there’s no ‘right’ way or rules, and where exploration, trial, and error are at the forefront, especially in the early game when you’ve only got three hearts, a stick, and the clothes on your back. It’s very easy to be wandering along some relaxing, rolling green plain and get caught out by a bokoblin who’s doing better than you in life (and wants you to know it) because they’ve got a fuck-you club and a horse; basically the fictional equivalent of some jerk in a Mercedes splashing you in gutter water as he drives by your bus stop. My first instinct was to say, ‘Oh. I probably shouldn’t be here yet. Don’t mind me,’ and be on my way, but the thing you’ll soon learn is, some trouble or another is going to find you wherever you go exploring. Unlike the games I’m more familiar with, there’s no concrete order really to navigating the world. If it’s not the jerk in the Mercedes, then maybe someone in a store will yell at you because they feel like it (Octoroks), or approach you on the street and decide they’ll be taking your wallet please and thanks (Moblin). It’s just a matter of luck. However, you’ve still got to go about your day regardless of those risks, and Link still has a calamity to avert and a princess to save. While my instinct is to avoid conflict and take the less troublesome path, sometimes (just like in life) there isn’t one; sometimes you just have to play the hand you’re dealt, and find a way to make the best of it.

A screenshot from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The protagonist rides a brown horse past the camera while a creature approaches on horseback, brandishing a sword

How Breath of the Wild Encourages Ingenuity

One day, I had enough of getting chased and I wondered: what happens if I throw a bomb right into that mounted bokoblin’s smug little face? After all, I’d dropped plenty from cliffs overlooking their campfires, so I knew the bombs worked on enemies.

The answer was sheer delight.

One moment the bokoblin is living his best life, charging full tilt towards me with my murder on his mind, and the next he’s cartwheeling into the air, leaving his stolen horse to run free. My pettiness was satisfied. I felt accomplished, and actually quite proud of myself for thinking of the idea in a high-pressure situation. What’s more, I claimed the horse for my own, put flowers in its hair, and now we travel the world together. Life looks pretty good for the most part, but usually when I take a breath and try something new.

This, as far as I can tell, is what Breath of the Wild is all about: adapting your way of thinking ‘just to see if it’ll work’, and never marrying yourself to one sole way of playing. Versatility is baked right into the combat system too, as even story-significant weapons like Mipha’s Lightscale Trident and the Master Sword will break if you use them too many times. I haven’t discovered a way to repair durability damage either, so players need to get real comfortable with impermanence real fast. This is another aspect that goes against my everyday mindset, as my instinct is to hoard my best things and never use them ‘in case I need them later’.

I think therein lies my discomfort with Breath of the Wild: it forces me to think differently and challenge my old habits, and I’m not always in the mood for that. Sometimes it can feel quite liberating, while other times it’s one of the most discouraging gaming experiences I’ve ever known. What I’ve realised even in writing this blog is that it’s important to look back at your progress as a whole. I’ve now got 10 hearts and multiple suits of upgraded armour. I’ve got my horse, I’ve activated most of the towers, and have overcome plenty of trials. Now admittedly, much of this was accomplished with my husband’s help, but sometimes life’s like that too: just because we can carry our burdens alone, doesn’t mean we should force ourselves to. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the time he and I have spent exploring the map together, and realise that maybe these vast open world experiences are more enjoyable for me when I’ve got some company along for the ride.

Promotional art for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The protagonist stands on a grassy verge high above sprawling green and mountains. He looks back over one shoulder as he rests on hand on his sword.

Should You Play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?

Despite my struggles and frustrations, I still wholeheartedly recommend trying The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and will eventually be picking it back up myself once I’ve got a bit more free time. It’s been an overall worthwhile experience with an unforgettable world, charming characters, a heartbreakingly beautiful score, and an engaging if sparsely distributed story. I hate the combat, especially because NPCs the world over keep pointedly implying how good at it I should be. I’m the champion after all, but instead I traipse around the world feeling like Napoleon Dynamite’s has-been Uncle Rico. I like solving puzzles, though. I like calming the Divine Beasts and discovering new places. Breath of the Wild has certainly helped me learn better gaming habits like using my resources and taking the time to think, even if some of these lessons did chafe at the time. Just come to it with a couple of things in mind: it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and you’re probably going to be really bad at it for at least a little while. But join the club: we’ve got tea and cake.

I’d love to hear about your favourite places, moments, victories, and failures from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild! Leave a comment below and we can commiserate and congratulate. Otherwise, thank you, as always, for joining me by the Foxfire. See you again next time for more stories of all sorts!

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