The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) redefined open-world gaming with its vast, interactive landscape of Hyrule. Players explore freely as Link, solving physics-based puzzles, battling enemies, and uncovering secrets in a beautifully rendered world governed by realistic systems like weather and fire spread. Its nonlinear progression, dynamic environments, and emphasis on player creativity set new standards for adventure games. Praised for rewarding curiosity and offering countless approaches to challenges, this Nintendo Switch/Wii U masterpiece revitalized the Zelda franchise while influencing game design across the industry.