The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is massive.
There is so much to learn about the game that it can be a little daunting to begin with. The easiest way to get to grips with it is just to explore and to experiment. If you need a bit of a helping hand though, we’ve got you covered with these 25 hints to send you well on your way.
Pick up every weapon you see
At the start of the game, your weapons will be weak and will break very easily. Pick up everything you see – brooms, sticks, you name it – and manage your inventory to keep the strongest. Don’t worry about ‘keeping hold of something just in case’ – use everything as you get it. You’ll always find more.
Don’t worry about where to go
Follow your whim, see where that path leads; see what that strange mark on the map is. Breath of the Wild is yours to explore however you want, and there’s nothing pushing you in any particular direction. You may feel like you’re aimlessly wandering to begin with, but you’ll soon find something of interest that you want to follow, or a new side quest you want to complete.
Head to the towers
Climbing to the top of each region’s tower will unlock that map area. It doesn’t put objective markers on for you, but you will be able to spot interesting landmarks drawn into the map.
Make use of your map and use the markers
Your map is invaluable, so make use of it all the time. Unlike other open-world games, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild doesn’t mark everything on the map for you. Shrines and towns you come across will be marked, but anything else it’s up to you to keep tabs on. Using the provided stamps and coming up with your own key is very helpful in staying organised. I used the cooking pot stamp every time I came across a cooking pot, the skull and crossbones to mark big enemies (trolls and lynels, etc.), and shields to mark possible memory locations.
Look out for Pikango
You’ll first see Pikango, the painting traveller, in Kakariko Village. He’s travelled all over Hyrule and likes to paint pictures of the scenery. Since he’s seen a lot of stuff, he’s quite helpful in pointing out your memory locations. Every time you bump into him, Link will automatically show him a new memory picture and he’ll give you a rough idea of where to find it. He’s often at stables dotted across the map, so speak to him every time you see him.
