TotK vs BotW: Which to Play First in 2026
Tears of the Kingdom vs Breath of the Wild, point by point: what they share, where they differ, which one fits you, which to play first and what to buy.
“Which one first?” is the single most-asked Zelda question in English, Chinese and Japanese, and the first page of Google answers it with forum threads. Here is the comparison as it stands in 2026, with both games on Switch 2 and both patched to version 1.4.x. If you do not know the two games yet, start with the Breath of the Wild overview and the Tears of the Kingdom overview.
What do the two games have in common?
The same Hyrule. Tears of the Kingdom is set on Breath of the Wild’s surface map, altered by the Upheaval, with the same Link, Zelda and regional peoples. Stables, towns and landmarks are where you remember them. This is the reason the order matters: the sequel’s best moments are recognizing what changed.
The skeleton of the game is the same too, so if you have played one you can play the other straight away:
- Movement. Climbing and gliding, with stamina deciding how far you get.
- Growth. Clear shrines for Heart Containers or Stamina Vessels, and climb towers to reveal the map.
- Gear. Weapons, bows and shields all break; armor is upgraded by the Great Fairies.
- Cooking. Gather ingredients and cook them, and use meals and armor against cold and heat.
- Collecting. Find Korok seeds for more inventory slots and register horses at stables.
Both games have Switch 2 Editions, released together on June 5, 2025, each with a $9.99 upgrade pack (free with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack), HDR, better performance, a second save slot and Zelda Notes. The details are in Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition: every difference.
Where do the two games differ?
| Breath of the Wild | Tears of the Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Map layers | Surface | Surface + Sky Islands + the Depths |
| Shrines | 120 | 152 (120 surface, 32 sky) |
| Korok seeds | 900 | 1,000 in 900 locations |
| Core abilities | Magnesis, Remote Bombs, Stasis, Cryonis | Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend, Recall (+ Autobuild) |
| Dungeons | 4 Divine Beasts | 4 regional temples + more |
| Weapon system | Durability | Durability + Fuse (attach any material) |
| Companions | None | Sage avatars |
| Building | None | Cars, boats and flying machines built with Ultrahand |
| How the story is told | Recovering memories of 100 years ago | Main quests in four regions, plus the Dragon’s Tears scattered around Hyrule |
| Extra content | Expansion Pass (sold separately) | None |
| Main story length | About 50 hours | About 60 hours |
| Released | March 3, 2017 | May 12, 2023 |
| Sales (June 30, 2026) | 34.06 million | 22.71 million |
Ultrahand and Fuse are the difference in kind: Tears of the Kingdom is a building game as much as an exploration game. If that sounds like busywork to you, Breath of the Wild’s purity is the better fit; if it sounds like the point, start with the sequel.
Which is better for a first-time Zelda player?
Breath of the Wild. It teaches the open-world grammar — climbing, gliding, cooking, shrines — with fewer systems layered on top, and its Switch 2 Edition is the best-looking version of a game built around vistas. Tears of the Kingdom then reads as a reward. Our full decision guide by situation is which Zelda to play first.
Which is better if I can only play one?
Tears of the Kingdom. It contains more of everything and its systems reward long play. You lose the emotional setup of the opening and some character context, but the game recaps enough to follow. Plan on the shrine list and the armor upgrade table once you are past the Great Sky Island.
Can I play Tears of the Kingdom first and go back to Breath of the Wild?
Yes, and people do. The cost is that Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule will feel emptier and its abilities more limited after Ultrahand and Fuse. The gain is that Breath of the Wild’s story is the prequel. If you have already started Tears of the Kingdom, finish it; play Breath of the Wild later as a “how it began” run.
Which one fits your situation?
| Your situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First Zelda, and you plan to play both | Breath of the Wild first | Fewer systems and easier to learn; the sequel then shows you a world you recognize |
| Time for only one | Tears of the Kingdom | It has the most in it |
| You like building and contraptions | Tears of the Kingdom | Ultrahand and Fuse are its core |
| You only want to explore quietly and take in the view | Breath of the Wild | No building, a simpler rhythm |
| You care about the story | Breath of the Wild first | The sequel’s people and places all come from it |
| You dislike darkness and pressure | Breath of the Wild | It has no Depths |
Is Tears of the Kingdom harder?
Early on, yes: enemy variety is higher and the Depths are dark and dangerous before you have light sources. Later, no: Fuse makes weapons strong, Autobuild trivializes travel, and the Sage abilities cover mistakes. Players generally report the two games feel similar in overall difficulty once the tools click.
Which should I buy on Switch 2?
New, the Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition costs $69.99 and the Tears of the Kingdom one $79.99; both upgrade packs cost $9.99 if you own the originals. If you have Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, both packs are included. There is no reason to buy one Switch 2 Edition and skip the other’s upgrade if you own both cartridges.
The one thing neither game has is DLC in 2026 — Tears of the Kingdom has none in development, and the “September DLC” headlines refer to the Mineru’s Construct amiibo.
よくある質問
Is Tears of the Kingdom a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild?
Does Tears of the Kingdom have the same map as Breath of the Wild?
Is Tears of the Kingdom harder than Breath of the Wild?
If I have Tears of the Kingdom, do I still need Breath of the Wild?
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