The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been out for long enough that we can safely discuss every single aspect of the game without fear of spoiling its best parts for everyone. As an open-world game, it lives and dies by its map, its locations, and how many interesting things there are in these places. Thankfully, BotW tries to pack every inch of its world with things to do and sights to see.
With the hindsight that comes with having completed the game many times by now, we have created this handy little list of the best areas in Hyrule. This is of course not scientific; the only metric we went by was “how much are we looking forward to being there on our next playthrough”.
Here are some of the coolest areas in BotW, which can arguably fight for the crown of being some of the most iconic open-world areas in video game history.
10 Rito Village
While Rito Village might be at one of the further corners of the map, those who end up going to this region early on will be blessed with a powerful ability in the form of Revali’s game. Of course, it certainly helps that Rito Village also serves as one of the best towns in BotW as well.
The verticality of this village is impressive, with the Rito helping this area feel quite lived-in too. The memorable encounters and moments scattered around this area also make for a nice bonus.
9 Gerudo Town
Speaking of the best towns in BotW, one can’t help but mention a stellar area that takes a fair bit of effort to infiltrate early on — Gerudo Town. Finding the disguise required to pass off as a girl in this town is a memorable sidequest of its own.
The town feels extremely lively, with a bazaar housing essential goods coupled with a secret armor shop that houses some of the more unique items in the game. Its importance in the main story is also something to be commended, making Gerudo Town a veritable hotspot in BotW.
8 Central Hyrule
One of BotW’s interesting places — that’s also surprisingly accessible regardless of how well-equipped players are when it comes to the danger’s within — is Central Hyrule, and obviously so. Featuring numerous threats and one of the most obvious ways to storm the castle, Central Hyrule is a blast to explore once you have the means required to traverse this dangerous area.
It’s easily one of BotW’s best locations, with a host of memories, collectibles, and the like scattered all across the area. Of course, there are a ton of Guardian Stalkers as well, and you need to be well-equipped to deal with their dangers.
7 Dueling Peaks
The Dueling Peaks is easily one of the most memorable locations in Breath of the Wild. From the witty placement of Shrines in this area to the encounters that lie within — there’s a little something for everyone to explore in Dueling Peaks.
The fact that players are still seeking out everything there is to know about the formation of these peaks is indicative of just how iconic this area really is. Apparently, it was Farosh who created one of the coolest places in BotW.
6 Faron Grasslands
From serene vistas to a wealth of challenging encounters, the Faron Grasslands is easily one of the most diverse locations in Breath of the Wild. In fact, one can even call it a showcase of everything the game has to offer in its world.
Riding through the grasslands on horseback can be quite a meditative experience, with players taking in the sights of one of the best places in BotW. Just make sure to keep your guard up, since the area is also littered with many dangerous encounters… including a Lynel as well.
5 Hateno Village
In a game without an official hub, Hateno Village is the closest you’ll get to one. This is where Link can buy a house, but this is also the town with the biggest variety of shops. After all, it is the only place in Hyrule where you can get your gear dyed. It also has its own Ancient Tech Lab, although you’ll need to go to Akkala if you want to buy any equipment.
Finally, Hateno is also close to many other interesting locations, such as Hateno Beach and the Lanayru Mountain Range. It has the convenience of big towns, but it’s still close to the great outdoor.
4 Akkala Citadel Ruins
When it comes to architectural beauty, it’s hard to beat the Akkala Citadel Ruins. Featuring a huge bridge as well as the leftovers of a once majestic castle, it’s also home to many flying Guardians.
Climbing the structure is a challenge in itself, but it’s never frustrating because of the cleverness of its design. The area speaks through this destroyed building, evoking the brutal past of Hyrule that we only hear about and rarely see. It’s one of the places where the game’s story really shines without any character needing to say a word.
3 Eventide Island
Eventide Island is a very challenging area, but it shines because of how original it is and how resourceful it forces you to be. When you land on the island, you are stripped of everything in your inventory including your clothes.
They will only be given back to you once you complete the island’s shrine, and the journey forces you to rediscover the game’s physics and the abilities you have been given. It’s not only one of the best areas in Breath of the Wild, it’s one of the most interesting places in the whole series.
2 Satori Mountain
What a beautiful place this is. Bathed in an eerie blue glow, the mountain is home to many wonders, including the mythical Blupee, as well as the legendary Lord of the Mountain. It’s probably the single most beautiful area in Breath of the Wild, and the fact that it also houses the game’s very own homage to Nintendo’s late president Satoru Iwata is only icing on the cake.
So put on your stealth gear, pack plenty of extra stamina potions, and try to tame the Lord of the Mountain to take it for a ride. You won’t be able to register it, but you’ll experience the single best steed in the whole game.
1 Tarrey Town
What could be better than a place you built yourself? With the help of your friend Hudson, you literally take this patch of rocky terrain and mold it into a thriving town, one quest at a time. Once you have rounded up enough villagers, the town becomes a thriving hub full of shops, people, and beautiful scenery unlike anything else.
That’s because the town is surrounded by water, sitting on top of a peninsula that’s only tied to the shore by a thin land bridge. The side quests associated with it give it an emotional connection, and finally, its music is one of the best tracks in the game.
