The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom guide - Everything you need for your latest trip to Hyrule

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
(Image credit: Nintendo)

Our Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom guide is your one-stop shop for all your Hyrule adventures. It's going to be one of the biggest games of the year, and for good reason. Nintendo is returning to the sprawling sandbox version of Hyrule we first enjoyed in Zelda: Breath of the Wild, expanding it to include a kingdom above the clouds. 

As the sequel to one of the best Switch games, Tears of the Kingdom expands on what came before by taking us to the skies above Hyrule, as well as offering up new items to play around with. Read on below as we take you through everything you need to know when playing Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.  

Release date, platforms, and more info

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom review

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom release date
The Tears of the Kingdom release date was May 12, 2023. The original RRP was $69.99 / £59.99 for the standard edition, but the Collector's Edition was $129.99 / £109.99.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom release date
The Tears of the Kingdom release date was May 12, 2023. The original RRP was $69.99 / £59.99 for the standard edition, but the Collector's Edition was $129.99 / £109.99.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom platforms
The latest Zelda adventure is a Nintendo Switch exclusive. Whereas Zelda: Breath of the Wild was released across the Wii U and Switch, Tears of the Kingdom is only available on Switch.

How long is Zelda Tears of the Kingdom?
That question is essentially as easy to answer as 'how long is a piece of string?' Tears of the Kingdom is a massive game if you want it to be, whereas the current speedrun time is only 92 minutes.

Review

You can now read our full The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review or watch the video chat above. We've given the game 4.5 stars out of 5, and call the sequel "a rich, robust experience that builds on what came before" with Nintendo proving that it is indeed possible to expand one of the biggest and most popular games available on the Switch. With its fantastic new abilities, stunning overworld, and fantastic approach to exploration and boss design, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a truly unmissable experience. 

Story

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Zelda

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo resisted revealing the name of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for fear of the subtitle spoiling too much of the story. Naturally, this has gotten the gears in our brains turning. From everything we've seen of this Breath of the Wild sequel so far, it would appear that the desiccated corpse of Ganon has arisen from beneath Hyrule Castle, and the tendrils of Malice as starting to spread once again. Naturally, the new trailer opened with mysterious Hylian writings and drawings, so that has sent the Internet into detective mode, while the prominence of "tears" in the subtitle has us wondering whether echoes of Zelda: Twilight Princess will play a role here – given the prominence of 'Tears' throughout the game GameCube adventure. 


RELATED: Ganon vs Ganondorf explained – who's who ahead of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom


Map

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom setting and map

Breath of the Wild 2

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom setting is building on the world we first explored in Breath of the Wild. We once again venture across the vast lands of Hyrule, although you now have a more vertical play space to contend with. The skies have opened up, with Link able to move between floating islands and dungeons. The Zelda Tears of the Kingdom map is much bigger because of that.

General Tips

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom new Switch screenshots

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Before we even get more than a few steps into Hyrule, you'll want to check out our Zelda Tears of the Kingdom tips, which offer up excellent beginners guidelines for things to do and look out for as you explore. 

We also have plenty more guidance for those annoying early stages, like where to find clothes, reunite with your horse, and more below.

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How to get Zelda Tears of the Kingdom clothes
Having Link running around in his underpants (again) isn't the greatest look or particularly safe for taking on the big bad, so get yourself some kit.

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How to deal with cold in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Adorn yourself with the knowledge of how to stay warm in Hyrule's colder climes. 

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How to cross beams in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
I know you really want to skateboard across them, but you're going to need an ability to cross these grindrails - Ultrahand. 

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How to respec Hearts and Stamina in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Where to find the Cursed Statue that lets you reallocate essence in Tears of the Kingdom and respec your Link.

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How to upgrade armor in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
It's time to pay a visit to the Great Fairies once again, as these flower-dwelling creatures are the key to powering up your outfits.

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How to get Rupees in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Regardless of whether you need more arrows or want a fresh set of armor, you're going to need a good supply of the shiny stuff - aka money / rupees.

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How to get more battery in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Everyone is building and creating in Tears of the Kingdom, and for that you will definitely need some more batteries. Here's how to get them. 

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Where to get Hylian rice in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
You can make filling meals using Hylian rice, but also tick off the Gourmets Gone Missing side quest at the same time. 

Travel

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Purah pad

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hyrule is huge and bigger than the Breath of the Wild iteration, which means finding out how to travel across it with ease is going to be more important than ever. So, firstly, here's how to unlock Zelda Tears of the Kingdom fast travel, and then below you can find other travel options that you can take advantage of.

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Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Sky Island shrines guide
How to find the Skyview Towers and thus reveal the whole map in Tears of the Kingdom.

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How to get your Zelda Tears of the Kingdom horse
Without immediate access to Epona, you'll quickly be looking for your faithful steed. Doing everything on foot is very slow, right? 

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How to get a Zelda Tears of the Kingdom glider
Like the horses, getting a glider is also semi-story gated, but don't fear, it won't be long until you're swooping across Hyrule through the sky. 

Abilities

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom new Switch screenshots

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom introduces a new suite of powers, all of which are designed to give Link new and inventive ways to combat the forces of darkness which are spreading across Hyrule. Like Breath of the Wild before it, there's a big emphasis on experimentation within the sandbox, and the four new powers will give you plenty of scope to play. 

There are five new Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom abilities in total, with Camera returning from Breath of the Wild too. The new ones are as follows:

  • Recall – Rewind time and the path of physical objects
  • Fuse – Create instant combinations of different weapons and items
  • Ultrahand – Combine objects and items to create unique structures
  • Ascend – Lets Link teleport vertically to new platforms and locations
  • Autobuild - Takes schematics for vehicles and constructions and automatically assembles them
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All Zelda Tears of the Kingdom fusions and fuse combinations
Fusing is huge in Tears of the Kingdom, so here are all the things you can make into one mega awesome thing.

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How to get the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom camera
Turns out your Purah Pad has a camera function, but you won't be able to use it until you reach a specific mission

Weapons

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom review

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Given that this sequel is introducing a suite of new abilities that let you create your own tools, it should come as no surprise that there's a whole load of new Zelda Tears of the Kingdom weapons that you'll be able to find, create, and wield throughout the adventure. This is key, because one of the most divisive elements of the original game is returning – yes, you'll once again need to be wary of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom weapon durability. Thanks to the Fuse and Ultrahand abilities giving you the freedom to play with the sandbox, weapons breaking should only further our desire to build even wilder combinations. 

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How to repair the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Master Sword
Our old pal is broken, but don't fret, there's a way to fix it. Obviously, spoilers lie this way, so prepare yourself for that before you click through.

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How to get a Zelda Tears of the Kingdom bow
Deal with enemies from afar, and fuse even more cool things by nabbing yourself a bow in Tears of the Kingdom.


RELATED: Breath of the Wild's worst feature returns in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, but the workaround is ace


Vehicles

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The Ultrahand ability allows you to create a variety of unique Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom vehicles – essentially, cobbled-together structures that will allow Link the opportunity to explore Hyrule at speed and traverse the expansive sky kingdom above the clouds. It's one of the most inventive parts of the new game, and clearly a response to the creativity of the Breath of the Wild community.

Geoglyph Memories

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Geoglyphs memories dragon tear

(Image credit: Nintendo)

If you want the full story, you're going to want to find all the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Geoglyph Memory locations. Just like the Captured Memories in Breath of the Wild, these hidden nuggets provide huge story moments that will hamper your experience of the game if you don't find them. There are 11 to find, so use our map for guidance.

Exploration and Missions

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Zelda with dog

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Ho boy, Tears of the Kingdom is huge and filled with awesome things to discover, create, and otherwise figure out. Below you'll find guides to various collectibles, puzzles, NPCs, and more, which should help make your adventuring a little easier. 

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All Zelda Tears of the Kingdom natural phenomena missions
The Natural Phenomena serve as the four main mission areas in the game, which can be tackled in any order. They're a mix of bosses and dungeons, and there's definitely a best order to do them in if you want to have an easy time.

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Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Sky Island shrines
Use our handy guide for tracking down all of the Sky Island shrines, which are thankfully accessible in a much more linear way than the last game.

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How to help support Zelda Tears of the Kingdom signs
It's fiddly, but you're going to want to help the struggling construction worker hold up various signs around Hyrule.

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Where to find Hestu in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Trade your Korok Seeds for stash space with the wise old giant that is Hestu. Here's how to find him in this new Hyrule adventure.

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Where to find the Fifth Sage in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Track down this mysterious figure as you search for "ruins from the age of legends". She's not easy to find, but is definitely a help in the fight against Ganon.

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What are Bubbul Gems in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom?
One of the strange new collectible for Tears of the Kingdom are Bubbul Gems, which you'll need to give to a guy called Koltin. Here's everything you need to know.

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Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Out of the Inn mission
If you're wondering how to find and wake the innkeeper in Tears of the Kingdom then we've got all you need to know right here.

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How to cure Gloom Borne Illness in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
You're going to need some Sundelions stat if you want to cure the Gloom Borne illness. Here's what to do.

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How to beat the Frost Gleeok in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
The Frost Gleeok in the TOTK South Tabantha Snowfield is an absolute beast, but not when you know what its weaknesses are.

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How to solve the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Orochium Shrine
It might sound unintuitive, but don't be afraid to fall here, and make good use of Ascend and Ultrahand.

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How to get through the Lost Woods in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Be lost no more with our guide on how to traverse the woods.

Sam Loveridge
Global Editor-in-Chief, GamesRadar+

Sam Loveridge is the Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar, and joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.

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