Nintendo made the officialExplorer’s GuideforThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildfree for everyone. This unexpected freebie arrives shortly after the acclaimed game’s sixth anniversary and mere weeks ahead of the highly anticipated release ofTears of the Kingdomthat Nintendo insists will be worth its higher price tag.
TheBreath of the WildExplorer’s Edition launched alongside the vanilla version of the renowned action adventure in March 2017. This limited-edition release included anExplorer’s Guidebooklet, as well as a physical map of Hyrule. It retailed at $60, same as the included base game, effectively offering the map and guide book free of charge. A review of the product’s Amazon listing history revealsThe Legend of Zelda:Breath of the WildExplorer’s Edition went out of stock almost immediately, returning only for a brief period in 2019.
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Nevertheless, the official guide book for the game isn’t in danger of being lost to history, with Nintendo just publishing theBreath of the Wild Explorer’s Guideon zelda.com. The digital version of the 44-page booklet is available as a PDF file, which—combined with the high-resolution nature of its contents—makes it perfectly suited to printing for anyone who still prefers their guides in a physical format. For clarity, theExplorer’s Guideis an abridged, newbie-friendly version of the game’sComplete Official Guide, which is still available as a hardcover from select retailers at around $30, depending on the seller. The expanded edition ofthat guide contains detailedBreath of the Wildprogression statsand many other interesting tidbits about the game.
TheExplorer’s Guidestill offers plenty of information, including advice onhow to kill Guardians inBreath of the Wild, tips and tricks for hunting and foraging, and an in-depth explanation of “cool moves” such as backflips, among other things. It also contains a helpful and accessible introduction toThe Legend of Zeldafranchise, including an overview of its main actors and a concise explanation of how the series' overarching narrative has evolved over the years.
While it’s plausible thatTears of the Kingdomwill have an official guide book as well, Nintendo has yet to reveal anything of the sort. The recently announcedTears of the KingdomCollector’s Editiondoes come with a physical book, but one dedicated to artwork instead of in-game secrets and strategic advice.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildis available now on Switch and Wii U.
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