Nintendo’s historic masterpiece revolutionized the open-world genre through systemic chemistry engines, non-linear freedom, and pure emergent adventure across the untamed wilderness of Hyrule.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild reshaped the video game medium by tearing down the established conventions of open-world games. It replaced scripted waypoints with an open canvas of curiosity and physical laws.
Nintendo built a world ruled by interconnected systemic laws: wind spreads fire across grasslands, lightning is attracted to metallic armor and swords, cold water freezes into ice pillars, and objects obey momentum and friction. Players could interact with the world through logic rather than predetermined script triggers.
Any cliff face, ancient tree, mountain peak, or colossal ruin can be climbed, and the Paraglider allows players to soar seamlessly across vistas. From the moment Link steps out of the Shrine of Resurrection, the player can choose to go anywhere—even directly to Calamity Ganon.
Launching alongside the hybrid Nintendo Switch console, BOTW proved that console-quality AAA open-world epics could be experienced both on a massive 4K TV and seamlessly carried on the go without compromise.
A watershed year featuring the birth of the Battle Royale genre, persona JRPG style, and dual Nintendo titans.
The paradigm-shifting open-air adventure celebrating boundless player curiosity and physical chemistry.
A post-post-apocalyptic marvel introducing Aloy, tactical robotic dinosaur component targeting, and Decima engine power.
The stylish JRPG tour de force combining Tokyo high school life with the Phantom Thieves' acid jazz Palace heists.
The cultural juggernaut that birthed the modern 100-player Battle Royale phenomenon and redefined multiplayer gaming.
A joyous globe-trotting sandbox platformer featuring Cappy captures, New Donk City, and boundless Power Moon puzzles.
Breath of the Wild earned 3 major awards at the ceremony: