When Breath of the Wild launched back in 2017, it redefined what we thought a Zelda game could be. Now, eight years later, Breath of the Wild returns on the Nintendo Switch 2. Not as a remake. Not as a remaster. But as a polished, upgraded version that respects the original’s legacy and still finds ways to surprise.
Disclaimer: And before you start throwing dirt and everything at me, yes, I do agree that this version is the best version of Breath of the Wild we have gotten, and yes, maybe it should have run like this from the start – but it couldn’t and looked terrific. Now we have an even better, more polished version of a game I am enjoying playing again, so without further ado, hiyaaaah (dive in).
A hero reawakens
For those new to the tale, this is Zelda stripped down to its most essential quest: defeat evil, rediscover the past, and save the princess. Link awakens after a hundred-year slumber to a world in ruins. Calamity Ganon has ravaged the majestic kingdom of Hyrule. Armed with only fragments of his past and the mysterious Sheikah Slate, Link must climb mountains, tame beasts, and remember who he once was.
The story hasn’t changed, and it didn’t need to. Breath of the Wild always trusted players to create their own stories and that’s still its biggest strength. For the full review of the game, you can check this one, since I will be mainly focusing on the key differences between the OG version (Switch, or Wii U, even if you want to be a purist) and the Switch 2.
Built for the future
From the moment you boot up the game on Switch 2, the difference is night and day. Where the original sometimes struggled to keep a steady framerate, here everything flows at a rock-solid 60 frames per second. The draw distance stretches farther, the grass sways more naturally, and sunlight hits the cliffs with a soft shimmer thanks to new lighting enhancements. Hyrule feels more alive, more vibrant and that makes a big difference when you’re just soaking it all in. What truly amazed me, though, was how seamless the world feels now. Load times that once dragged out are now halved. Entering a shrine, fast traveling, or recovering from a tough battle takes seconds, not moments. The pace of exploration is tighter, and that helps keep the sense of wonder uninterrupted.
I once exited a shrine on top of a mountain when the twilight set in, and it looked straight out of a painting on my television. Given that I have a 4K HDR television, it helps to make the game shine. I wanted to frame the picture and let it sit there like a screensaver, but alas, my wife disagreed. I even booted up the old save file on my OG Switch (they transfer), and I didn’t want to go back, to be honest. For review purposes, I booted up both my nearly 100% save file and a new one to check out the flow of gameplay between the two stages of being Link, and I must say, I think that the Nintendo Switch 2 version will drastically cut down completion time compared to the OG version of this game. Why? Well, let’s compare them.
A joy to play
Nintendo’s new Joy-Con 2 controllers make their presence felt. They snap more securely into place and feature new ergonomics that feel tailor-made for extended play sessions. But it’s not just about comfort, improved stick precision makes tricky movements like shield surfing and parrying feel more responsive. It’s a subtle but welcome upgrade. And it helped me tackle some of the more challenging foes in the first game (to which I succumbed more than I want to admit) with greater ease than before. And then there’s the handheld mode. I spent hours curled up with the game on Switch 2’s stunning new 1080p display, and I couldn’t get over how crisp everything looked. From the glint in Link’s eye to the distant glow of a shrine on a mountaintop it’s breathtaking.
Zelda notes: your Hyrule companion
One of the coolest new features? Zelda Notes! This is a companion app that works with the Nintendo Switch Online app. It tracks your map progress, shrine discoveries, and even Korok seed locations using GPS-style functionality. Think about all the times we joked about doing a TomTom voice over on games like these if you wanted to find one; well, now Nintendo gave us Zelda Maps; Google edition, with a voice directed system that helps you discover the shrine you couldn’t see or that one Korok hiding in plain sight. It’s totally optional, purists can ignore it, but for those of us chasing every last secret, it’s a game-changer. It doesn’t ruin the magic of exploration; it just offers a gentle nudge in the right direction when needed.
Comparison
| Feature | Original Switch | Switch 2 Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Frame Rate | ~30–45 fps (varies) | Stable 60 fps |
| Resolution (Docked) | Up to 900p | Native 4K with DLSS |
| Resolution (Handheld) | 720p | 1080p @ 120 Hz |
| Load Times | ~24s for shrine/fast travel | ~16s—half the time |
| Controls | Classic Joy‑Con | Joy‑Con 2 with improved sticks/buttons |
| Companion App | Map + manual pinning only | Zelda Notes with GPS-style navigation |
| Price | Standard game price | €9.99 upgrade / €79.99 standalone + DLC extra* |
*Expansion Pass Not Included: The Switch 2 Edition does not include the original two DLC packs (Master Trials and Champions’ Ballad); these remain a separate €20 purchase. Keep in mind that owning the highest tier of the NSO package will let you upgrade Zelda: Breath of the Wild for free.
Conclusion
Breath of the Wild on Switch 2 isn’t just a re-release, it’s a celebration. The game that once helped define a console now helps launch a new one, and it does so with style, grace, and an eye for improvement. The upgrades are meaningful, the visuals are stunning, and the overall experience is smoother and more enjoyable than ever. If you’ve never played Breath of the Wild, there’s no question, this is the version to get. And if you have? Trust me, Hyrule is worth rediscovering, and I will be doing just that, once I convince my wife to let me install a Zelda screensaver on our television.
