If you thought The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a big game, you haven't seen anything yet. Its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, has introduced a near-overwhelming amount of new content while also keeping much of the structure from the first game.
The never-ending list of objectives to complete can feel intimidating at first, but all you have to do is take the first steps -- then just go where the wind takes you! The real key is to forget about all there is left to do and simply do what feels fun. That's what games are all about, right?
10 Get Some High Ground
As jam-packed as the world of Tears of the Kingdom is, it can still sometimes feel like there’s nothing around no matter how hard you look — like when Shrine-hunting, for example. A good option is to find some high ground — this allows you to get a better vantage point in order to get eyes on a landmark and plan out where you want to go next.
You can also use the Skyview Towers to get a ton of height quickly and keep in mind that landmarks like Shrines or Geoglyphs will shine at night, making them even easier to spot.
9 Use Stamps And Pins
On the other end of the spectrum, running around Hyrule can sometimes feel overwhelming because of how many objectives you stumble upon, from Shrines to Bokoblin camps to Korok puzzles.
In these cases, it can be best to stick to the objective you initially set out to accomplish, then use the stamps on the map to remind yourself of activities you want to go back and finish up later. Also remember to use the colorful pins that you place by zooming in with your scope — these show up on your minimap and help you find a landmark from great distances.
8 Follow The Roads
It’s true what they say — all roads lead to Kakariko Village. Jokes aside, don’t be afraid to stick to the roads. You’ll find interesting places and activities to do along the way, and they do usually end up leading to towns or other major landmarks.
If you’re riding a horse along the road as well, you don’t have to worry about steering because they’ll follow the path themselves; when you get too focused on checking objectives off the list, it can sometimes be helpful to simply sit back and enjoy the scenery!
7 Be On The Lookout For Smoke
Smoke is a universal sign in Tears of the Kingdom for something interesting that’s worth checking out, so keep an eye on the horizon for any potential plumes. Different types of smoke mean different things, as well — white smoke marks a side quest or side adventure, repeated little puffs of white smoke signify a stable, green smoke leads back to one of the mini Korok missions, and so on.
If you're a completionist, smoke can be a great tool to lead you to some of the more unassuming threads you'll want to pick up.
6 Searching For Caves
Caves are one of many new locations to explore in Tears of the Kingdom. While many are well-hidden, there are multiple mechanics to help you find these concealed caverns. If you drop fruit into the stone dish under one of the many Cherry Blossom trees around the map, all of the cave entrances in the area will start glowing with blue pillars of light that reach up into the sky.
You can also keep an eye out for the Blupees — the blue glowing rabbit-like animals — because when they run off, they’ll lead you right to the mouth of a cave.
5 Focus On The Details
While the breadth-first search works well in Tears of the Kingdom (for example, some players enjoy unlocking all of the Skyview Towers before doing anything else to get a lay of the land), depth-first is also an effective strategy.
There’s stuff hidden everywhere — if you’re invested in making sure you get everything, search every nook and cranny before moving on. You’d be surprised at how much stuff you can find to do in a really small section of the map if you look hard enough.
4 Look For “Holes In The Map”
Don’t forget — the map is a powerful tool at your disposal when exploring Hyrule. One helpful strategy for finding more of any given landmark is to look for “holes in the map,” so to speak. This means that as you start to fill out the map when you discover different locations, you’ll start to get a sense of how spaced-out the landmarks usually are.
Then, all you have to do is identify sections of the map that look barer than they should be based on the spacing, and once you’re there, it’s likely you’ll find all kinds of new stuff.
3 Pick Up Some Side Quests And Adventures
Sure, taking on side quests and the newly-added side adventures are a given when exploring in Tears of a Kingdom, but another added benefit of these activities is that they’ll often send you to other parts of the map that you may not have thought to check out yet.
As you’re going about your quest, you can either veer away to go do anything else that might interest you or if you’d prefer, take note of anything cool to go back and look more into after you’re finished with your current adventure.
2 Don’t Be Afraid To Switch It Up
It can easy to drive yourself into the ground sometimes, especially when it comes to beating a tough boss or Shrine. If you start feeling like you’re repeatedly banging your head into a wall, don’t be afraid to take a break and go do something else for a while.
There’s also the added benefit of coming back after you’ve had the opportunity to gain more hearts and stamina and acquire more powerful gear, which can easily turn the tide in your favor where you may have previously been stuck.
1 Be Prepared
From the cold of the Hebra region to the darkness of The Depths, there are a ton of environmental factors that can pose risks to you as you explore Hyrule. Make sure that you’re prepared before heading into a precarious situation, but thankfully you’ll have plenty of tools at your disposal.
Cook some meals targeting the effect you’ll need help with, like a heat-resistance meal before heading into the desert, for example. You’ll acquire armor and outfits along the way that will offer protection in various situations, as well — just remember to put it on!