Tears of the Kingdom: Release Date, Price, Review & BOTW Guide

If you spent hundreds of hours exploring Hyrule in Breath of the Wild, the sequel arrives as a massive expansion of that world — and it immediately raises a familiar question: does the first game still matter? Tears of the Kingdom builds so directly on its predecessor that players debate whether you should replay BOTW first, and whether the $70 price tag justified the wait. This guide cuts through the noise with release dates, pricing details, and the facts that actually matter for your purchase decision.

Release Date: May 12, 2023 ·
Platform: Nintendo Switch ·
Standard Price: $69.99 ·
Review Score: Critical acclaim

The key facts table below consolidates verified data from multiple sources.

Should I play BOTW before Tears of the Kingdom?

The short answer for most players: yes, playing Breath of the Wild first significantly enhances the Tears of the Kingdom experience. TotK directly continues Link’s journey in the same Hyrule, and the sequel pulls heavily from established characters, locations, and lore that BOTW introduced. Returning players recognize locations transformed by new sky islands and underground areas, which creates a satisfying contrast. Newcomers won’t be lost narratively, but they’ll miss dozens of callbacks and emotional payoffs built specifically for veterans.

Story continuity

Tears of the Kingdom assumes you know the aftermath of BOTW. The story picks up after Calamity Ganon’s defeat, with Zelda appearing in a different timeline thread. Longtime fans of the franchise recognize character arcs that span both games, while casual players may miss subtle references that enrich the narrative. The emotional weight of certain moments lands harder when you remember the struggles of the first game.

Gameplay differences

TotK introduces Ultrahand, which lets you build vehicles and fuse materials together in ways BOTW never attempted. These mechanics feel like natural evolutions rather than departures, but players familiar with BOTW’s exploration patterns adapt faster. Combat feels refined with new abilities, and the expanded map adds vertical layers that rewards those who already mastered Hyrule’s geography. Veterans typically adjust within a few hours; newcomers sometimes feel overwhelmed by the scope.

The implication: if you have a Switch and any interest in the franchise, replaying BOTW — even briefly — before TotK pays dividends. The investment of 40-60 hours pays back in a richer, more coherent experience.

Was TotK originally a DLC?

Tears of the Kingdom began as something closer to an ambitious expansion before evolving into a full sequel. Producer Eiji Aonuma stated that the team wanted to “extend out development time a bit” beyond the original 2022 target, suggesting they pushed beyond initial scope. The game shares significant assets with BOTW — the same base map, similar physics engine, and recycled character models — which fueled early speculation that it might release as downloadable content rather than a $70 retail title.

Development history

According to Nintendo’s official timeline, the project was announced via teaser at E3 2019 with the working concept of a direct sequel. By E3 2021, the full reveal showed gameplay that looked substantially larger than a standard expansion. The delay from 2022 to 2023 confirmed the scope had grown beyond DLC territory into a standalone release. Critics later noted the $70 price felt “tough” because of reused BOTW assets, according to Metacritic analysis, but the final product delivered enough new content that most accepted the premium.

What this means: TotK sits in ambiguous territory between DLC and sequel. Nintendo built it on BOTW’s foundation, but the new mechanics, map layers, and story content justify the full-game treatment — even if the visual sameness initially surprised fans expecting cleaner separation.

Will there be a Tears of the Kingdom 2?

As of now, Nintendo has made no official announcement regarding a direct sequel to Tears of the Kingdom. The gaming community regularly speculates about future Zelda entries, with some assuming TotK’s commercial success guarantees another follow-up. Reports from the YouTube channel citing Switch 2 Edition listings mention that both BOTW and TotK have future hardware editions planned, but that’s different from confirming narrative sequels.

Sequel rumors

Industry watchers note that Nintendo typically develops Zelda games in overlapping cycles, meaning planning for the next entry likely began during TotK’s production. However, without official statements, any timeline or direction remains pure speculation. The Switch 2 Edition announcement suggests Nintendo expects the current generation to continue, which implies at least one more major Zelda release before hardware transition completes.

Development status

Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser previously justified the $70 price point by promising an “incredibly full, deeply immersive experience” — language that suggests the studio considers TotK a complete vision rather than an extended chapter. This framing makes a sequel feel inevitable eventually, but the company keeps its cards close on timing and platform decisions.

The pattern: Nintendo rarely confirms future Zelda games until months before announcement. Until an official reveal at events like E3 or a dedicated Nintendo Direct, assume any “TotK 2” talk is community speculation rather than development reality.

What is the Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom release date?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom released on May 12, 2023, exclusively for Nintendo Switch. This date was confirmed across multiple official sources including the Nintendo Store and TechRadar’s reporting. Pre-orders opened in February 2023 following the Nintendo Direct that revealed pricing and editions. The game launched simultaneously worldwide in physical and digital formats.

Platforms

Tears of the Kingdom remains a Nintendo Switch exclusive with no PC, PlayStation, or Xbox versions announced. The Nintendo Switch OLED Tears Edition released April 28, 2023, offering a themed console bundle for collectors. Looking ahead, a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition appears listed at $79.99 with a reported June 5, 2025 release date, according to Deku Deals tracking. This would make TotK one of the first games playable across Nintendo’s current and next-generation hardware.

Purchase options

The standard edition launched at $69.99, marking Nintendo’s first game priced at $70. The Collector’s Edition cost $129.99 and included an artbook, Steelbook case, poster, and pins. Regional pricing varied: European eShop users paid the same 69.99 euros as Breath of the Wild, while Japan charged ¥7,900, Australia $89.95, and Brazil R$357.99 on their respective eShops, according to eShop Prices tracking. Current market prices have dropped significantly — complete copies sell around $44.23, with new sealed copies at approximately $48.71 as tracked by PriceCharting.

The trade-off: Nintendo Switch owners get a polished exclusive, but the lack of PC or Xbox availability means no cross-platform option. If you don’t own a Switch, the game simply isn’t accessible — and the Switch 2 Edition signals Nintendo may further lock future Zelda releases to their ecosystem.

What is the Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review?

Tears of the Kingdom received widespread critical acclaim, with Metacritic aggregating scores from 150 critic reviews alongside 14,414 user ratings. IGN called it an “unfathomable follow-up” that improves on Breath of the Wild in nearly every measurable way. The game earned praise for its expanded world, innovative mechanics, narrative scope, and replayability — though frame rate performance in certain areas drew criticism from reviewers.

Critic scores

The aggregate Metacritic score positions TotK among the highest-rated games of 2023 and one of the best entries in the Zelda franchise. Critics particularly highlighted how the Ultrahand ability transformed exploration, making puzzle-solving feel more creative and personal. The addition of sky islands and the Depths underneath Hyrule effectively tripled the playable area without making the map feel empty or padded.

Player opinions

Community sentiment on Reddit and forums generally aligns with professional reviews — players celebrate the depth and freedom the game offers. However, some users note repetitive elements in certain shrine challenges and occasional frame drops during intense combat sequences. The $70 price generated debate: critics calling it “tough” because of reused assets found themselves in the minority as sales proved the premium acceptable to most buyers.

The catch: TotK delivers exceptional content for the price, but Switch hardware limitations mean occasional technical compromises. If frame rate perfection matters more than creative freedom, you may find yourself frustrated during demanding sequences — though patches have addressed several issues since launch. For a deeper dive into the game’s reception, check out our Dead Island 2 review.

The editions table below compares all available purchasing options.

The specifications table provides technical details about the game.

Tears of the Kingdom succeeded commercially where it mattered most: player adoption and critical reception. The fastest-selling Zelda title ever demonstrates that the $70 price point didn’t deter the core audience, and the reused Breath of the Wild assets became a non-issue for most players once they experienced the expanded content. The question for 2025 and beyond is whether Nintendo continues this trajectory on Switch 2 hardware or resets expectations with the next generation.

Link fans of Breath of the Wild will discover in this exhaustive gameplay guide detailed breakdowns of new mechanics alongside glowing review scores and buying advice.

Frequently asked questions