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For open-world exploration on Nintendo Switch, start with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild if you want flexible routes, survival decisions and freedom to explore; choose The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom if you want that foundation expanded with construction, item fusion and more experimental ways to solve problems. “Best” depends on which kind of adventure you want: these recommendations are editorial picks based on world exploration, traversal, problem-solving and survival, not an objective ranking of every Switch game.
How to choose an open-world game on Switch
Consider what you want to do between major story moments. Some players want to roam, notice landmarks and find their own routes; others want a world that invites building, improvisation or survival-minded resource decisions. Narrative emphasis and whether you prefer a first-party Nintendo adventure or a third-party RPG can matter just as much as world size.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - World Edition | $56.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (Nintendo Switch) | $58.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The two recommendations below have detailed support from Nintendo’s own descriptions. This is a focused guide, not a claim that they are the only worthwhile open-world games on Switch or a statistically proven all-time ranking.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — best for free-form exploration
Breath of the Wild is the strongest starting point if you want to explore at your own pace and choose how to approach the world. Nintendo describes Hyrule as vast and dangerous, with routes that can involve climbing, horseback travel, rafting, shield surfing or gliding with the paraglider. That range of movement supports the feeling that getting somewhere can be part of the adventure rather than a simple trip between markers. Nintendo’s Switch product page lists the original game’s release date as March 3, 2017.
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#1 Best Overall
- Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequences
- Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
- Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
- Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
- Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls, objects and enemies in fun ways
What makes its exploration distinctive
The world’s hazards and resources shape how you travel. Nintendo’s description highlights scavenging, hunting, gathering and cooking, as well as clothing that helps protect Link from environmental conditions. Weapons can break, so equipment is something to manage rather than assume will last indefinitely. If you enjoy adapting your plans to what you find, those systems make exploration feel consequential; if you want an uninterrupted power fantasy, weapon durability may be a frustration.
Nintendo also describes the Hero’s Path feature as able to track “About 200 hours of gameplay.” That is the feature’s tracking capacity, not an estimate of how long the game takes to finish.
Who should pick it
- Choose it if discovering routes and destinations for yourself is more appealing than following a tightly directed path.
- Choose it if you like environmental challenges, gathering and making practical decisions about equipment.
- Consider another game if fragile weapons and survival-oriented preparation sound more like chores than enjoyable trade-offs.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — best for creative systems and traversal
Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to Breath of the Wild and is available for Nintendo Switch. It retains exploration of Hyrule while adding floating islands and abilities designed around experimentation. Its central appeal is less about simply finding a route and more about inventing one or using the tools at hand to change a situation. Nintendo’s announcement and developer feature describes four abilities that illustrate this approach.
Rank #2
- See Hyrule 100 years before the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild game and experience the events of the Great Calamity.
- Join the struggle that brought Hyrule to its knees. Learn more about Zelda, the King of Hyrule, the four champions; Urbosa, Revali, Mipha, Daruk and more through dramatic cutscenes as they try to save the kingdom from Calamity. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is the only way to see first-hand what happened 100 years ago.
- Battle hordes of Hyrule’s most formidable foes - From barbaric Bokoblins to towering Lynels, Ganon’s troops have emerged in droves. Revisit iconic locations such as Zoras Domain, Death Mountain and Hyrule Field and use your playable heroes’ distinct abilities to carve through hundreds of enemies to save Hyrule from the impending Calamity.
- Team up and take on Ganon - Pass a Joy-Con to a friend and take on Calamity Ganon as a team in local co-op multiplayer. Fight side-by-side or divide your efforts to cover more ground, complete objectives and defeat the forces of darkness!
How its abilities change problem-solving
- Ultrahand moves, rotates and attaches objects, enabling construction.
- Fuse combines objects with weapons, shields or arrows.
- Ascend lets Link pass through certain solid surfaces above him.
- Recall reverses an object’s movement.
Together, these tools encourage trying different solutions for traversal and obstacles. That makes the sequel a particularly good fit if you like tinkering with systems rather than relying on one intended answer. The trade-off is that players seeking a simpler, more immediately legible adventure may prefer the more direct exploration emphasis of Breath of the Wild.
Who should pick it
- Choose it if building, combining objects and experimenting with movement are major draws.
- Choose it if you want a sequel that extends the exploration premise with new ways to interact with the environment.
- Start with Breath of the Wild if you would rather experience the earlier game before its sequel.
Which Zelda should you play first?
| If you want… | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Open-ended roaming and route-finding | Breath of the Wild | Nintendo highlights varied ways to move through Hyrule, including climbing, riding, rafting and gliding. |
| Survival-minded resource decisions | Breath of the Wild | Its official description emphasizes scavenging, hunting, gathering, cooking and environmental protection. |
| Construction and improvised solutions | Tears of the Kingdom | Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend and Recall provide distinct tools for experimentation. |
| A sequel that expands the setting and traversal possibilities | Tears of the Kingdom | Nintendo describes exploration across Hyrule and floating islands. |
Both are original Nintendo Switch games, but keep editions distinct when buying: Nintendo says Breath of the Wild can also be played in an upgraded Nintendo Switch 2 edition with improved visuals and performance. The Switch 2 edition is not the same product as the original Switch release. Nintendo lists the Switch Pro Controller as compatible with Breath of the Wild; it is optional, not a requirement.
Why this is a focused shortlist, not an objective all-time ranking
The available official detail supports a close comparison of these two Zelda adventures, but does not establish a measured ranking across the entire Switch library. No comparable sales, review, performance or completion figures are established here, so the ordering is based on the kinds of play each game supports rather than invented scores. If you are comparing other open-world games, verify the Switch edition and its specific world and gameplay features before treating it as directly comparable.
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