The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been surrounded by secrecy due to Nintendo not wanting to spoil any surprises that lie in wait for fans of the 35+ year franchise. And since there are so many things up in the air, even days before launch, fans have a lot of burning questions that need answers. Are there dungeons in Tears of the Kingdom? Are shrines coming back? Can you beat the final boss from the start? This post will try and answer as many of these lingering questions.
Before we get into it, it's worth noting that some of these answers will rely on information from dataminers and people who have already gotten their hands on Tears of the Kingdom, whether through emulation or broken street dates from retailers. With that being said, there will be tons of spoilers in this post, so fans should proceed with caution if they want to go into the open-world adventure blind as a Keese. Let's get into it.
Is Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Multiplayer?
From what we've seen so far, there appears to be no multiplayer mode in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. However, there will be moments when NPCs accompany players to help with puzzles and fights.
Can I Play Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Early?
The only legal way to play Tears of the Kingdom early is to create a Switch eShop account based in a different country like New Zealand or Australia. Fans will have to get eShop gift cards from that specific region, but if done correctly, folks might be able to hop in early to check out Link's new adventure. Other than that, some fans have leaned towards emulation.
Is Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom a Sequel?
Yes, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel to 2017's Breath of the Wild. Nintendo has not officially come out and said how long it's been since the events of the first game, but we're led to believe that it takes place after BotW.
What's the Download Size for Tears of the Kingdom?
The eShop file size for Tears of the Kingdom is around 16 GB, about two gigabytes larger than its predecessor.
Is Tears of the Kingdom the Same Map?
Players will be brought back to the Hyrule they know and love from the original Breath of the Wild, but Tears of the Kingdom's map has been altered. There are a bunch of islands in the sky for Link to explore, and there are also underground areas that are completely brand-new. Of course, there will be some familiar locations from BotW, but fans can look forward to a sort of remixed version of Hyrule.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Release Time
The expected release time for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is 9 PM PT the night before launch, May 11.
How Much Will Tears of the Kingdom Cost?
Tears of the Kingdom is the first first-party title from Nintendo to cost $69.99, a $10 hike from most other games from the developer/publisher.
Are There Dungeons in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?
With Breath of the Wild opting for Shrines and Divine Beasts, fans have been patiently waiting to find out if traditional Zelda dungeons make a return in Tears of the Kingdom. Thanks to a roundup post from Ethan Gach at Kotaku that goes over datamined info, it turns out that Tears of the Kingdom has about five temples and then a sixth dungeon that's basically just Ganon's castle. Kotaku points out that each temple has an area before entering that has some mini puzzles. And while these temples might not be as complex or intricate as traditional Zelda dungeons, they still seem more interesting than the somewhat lacking presentation of the Divine Beast "dungeons."
Are There Shrines in Tears of the Kingdom?
According to the leaks, it does appear that there are shrines in Tears of the Kingdom, with Kotaku reporting that there are over 100 to find and complete.
Is Tears of the Kingdom the Last Zelda Game?
Tears of the Kingdom might mark the end of this Breath of the Wild duology(?) But it definitely is not the last Zelda game that's coming from Nintendo.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launches for the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023.