11. Hyrule Castle (Breath of the Wild)
Okay, so technically this isn’t a traditional Zelda dungeon in the true sense of the concept. But it still makes this list because it has many of the elements that make a Zelda dungeon great, and we believe Nintendo can build upon this in Breath of the Wild’s sequel.
The Divine Beasts in Breath of the Wild are fine, but they feel somewhat identical to each other and don’t hold up as well as dungeons in previous Zelda games. Hyrule Castle, on the other hand, is the place to explore.
From the moment Link steps foot within Hyrule Castle’s boundaries, the entire tone of the game shifts. The music changes dramatically, and you can immediately feel a sense of danger and evil.
And it is dangerous and evil—the enemies here don’t hold back, and there’s not a corner without a Guardian, Lynel, or Lizalfos ready to attack. There’s rarely a break from the fighting within the castle walls, and the hardest battles feel truly like the mini-bosses in a typical dungeon.
Every room in the castle, while derelict and in ruins, tells the story of what life was like before Calamity Ganon took over. From a library, a dining hall, and Zelda’s bedroom to gatehouses, shrines, and a sanctum, it’s a huge area to get lost in.
So, while this version of Hyrule Castle isn’t a dungeon in the traditional sense, it has the exact atmosphere and challenge that any good Zelda dungeon would have.
It is with the highest hopes that Breath of the Wild’s sequel will treat us with plenty of dungeons that give us the same feeling we experienced while exploring Hyrule Castle.
