Long-Awaited Sequel to 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' Receives Nearly Universal Acclaim

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launched today for the Nintendo Switch.
The open-world action-adventure game allows players to traverse sky islands and underground depths with new abilities like Ultrahand and Fuse.
Critics praise the game for building on its predecessor by introducing quality-of-life improvements, creative new mechanics, and an expansive map with traditional dungeons and side quests.
The game currently holds a 97 rating on Metacritic, making it a strong contender for game of the year and the highest-rated game of 2023 so far.
Some critics argue the game does not do enough to differentiate itself from Breath of the Wild, but most consider Tears of the Kingdom an evolution that provides familiarity and surprise.