Winner: The Legend of Zelda – Breath of the Wild
Best Third-Person Action-Adventure of 2017
As far as modern open-worlds go, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild isn’t exactly brimming with detail, nor is the game’s narrative articulated by as many of the charming dialogue and character interactions the series has become known for. Yet somehow, without question, Hyrule is easily one of the most captivating worlds of any game in 2017. Breath of the Wild completely redefines the Zelda franchise and sends it in an exciting new direction with the series’ first foray into open-world game design. In typical Nintendo fashion, though, it does far more than just meet the standards of the genre’s most accomplished games, it adds completely new innovation that exceeds them. The game’s go-anywhere-do-anything design, aided by revelatory traversal mechanics and the sum of hundreds of tiny – but incredible – details culminates to produce a truly astonishing game.
By not including a minimap, waypoints, or forcing players into any particular order of play, each discovery in Breath of the Wild feels like a special achievement. It’s a game that constantly surprises and excites through chance encounters. A small glimmer in the distance often leads to something spectacular or unusual, and we’re constantly amazed by the amount of detail that has gone into the physics of its mechanics. The Shrines are also a standout feature, presenting clever bite-sized puzzles that can be ticked off in short play sessions.
Bringing Link’s epic adventure to life is a charming aesthetic that feels part Ocarina of Time, part Wind Waker, and a subtle but melodic score is weaved in between the peaceful silence of its wilderness. Sure, they aren’t as plentiful as in previous games, but the endearing characters you’ll meet along the way are just as well-written and charming as ever.
Breath of the Wild will surely be remembered as a seminal open-world game for years to come, and it’s hard to imagine many action-adventure games measuring up to its greatness in the foreseeable future.
