When Breath of the Wild was released alongside the Nintendo Switch in 2017, it was immediately hailed as one of the best games ever made. Taking inspiration from the first game in the series, the game gave players complete freedom to explore the land of Hyrule as they pleased. Adventure came organically instead of through a million quest markers and linear pathways.
It's almost an understatement to say that the game is filled with small details that aren't noticeable at first glance. Every nook and cranny has some trait that separates it from the rest of the game. New easter eggs are being discovered to this day, and here are 10 of the best secrets within the game.
10 Secret Spin Attack
Since A Link to the Past, the spin attack has been one of Link’s most powerful moves. It requires holding down the attack button for a second, so it can be a risky move to use in the middle of battle. Despite that, there is an easier way to pull it off. Face forward, swirl the joystick around, and press the attack button to activate an instant spin attack. This is a technique that has existed since the first 3D Zelda, Ocarina of Time, but it is especially useful in Breath of the Wild since combat can turn deadly in an instant.
9 Stalhorses, Bears, and Lynels
While Breath of the Wild only allows registering horses at the stables, that doesn't mean they're the only creatures Link can mount in the game. It is tricky, but there are a plethora of animals he can ride around on from deer, bears, and even stalhorses. Stalhorses can be spotted at night around the Herbon Labyrinth. Simply knock their rider off with an arrow and then hop on. The undead horse can be taken to a stable, but the stable master won't be happy to see it.
8 Apples Can be Used as Weights
In many of the shrines dotted across Hyrule, some challenges require Link to put weight on a platform so he can unlock a door or activate some piece of machinery. These puzzles can be hard to figure out, but there is an easy way to cheat the system. Place about ten apples on the weight, and that should be enough to press it down on its own. If players need to stock up on apples there’s an orchard located on the west side of Satori Mountain. On the map, look for the third cluster of trees from the road.
7 Ocarina Of Time Sages
In Ocarina of Time, there were seven sages meant to help Link defeat Ganondorf. The Divine Beast Naboris, Ruta, and Rudania are even named after three of them, but there are also references to an even more obscure sages hidden within the game. The Trials of the Sword DLC had Link take on challenge dungeons to upgrade the power of the Master Sword. At the end of the trials, Link will enter a chamber with seven different Monks surrounding a pedestal. While they share no physical resemblance to them, all are doing unique poses that match the sages from Ocarina of Time.
6 Ties To Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
One of the most recent entries in the series was a remake of the classic Game Boy title Link’s Awakening. That game had Link waking up on an island and trying to find out a way to escape back to Hyrule.
Breath of the Wild has a subtle nod to this title within the Lanaryu Wetlands. A small island shares a name with an area from Link’s Awakening. Look on the map to discover a location called Gopanga Island, which is named after Gopanga Swamp from the Game Boy game.
5 The Shrine Keeper’s Stances
There are Monks keeping watch in every one of the dozens of shrines across Hyrule. It isn’t hard to miss that each is unique, with some having accessories like rings or hats to distinguish them from one another. They also position themselves in different ways that reveal certain easter eggs. The four Monks located on the Great Plateau are each making a triangle with their hands. Each is placed in a different spot and combining them together creates the legendary Triforce. Another is that the Monks on the Dueling Peaks are a mirror image of each other.
4 Champion’s Ballad Sheds Light on Past Champions
With the Champions' Ballad DLC, players can refight the Divine Beast bosses. Each time a boss is defeated, new dialogue options with each of the champions are triggered. Mipha asks Link to tell her baby brother Sidon to believe in himself. The mighty Daruk shamefully reveals the monster he’s most afraid of is dogs. Revali’s confident façade drops as he realizes that there’s no one left in Rito village who would remember him.
Finally, Urbosa remembers how much Zelda suffered when her mother died. The base game only had a few cutscenes with the Champions, so this a welcome form of fleshing them out as characters.
3 Gerudo Dating Classes
When Link is searching for the Vah Naboris Divine Beast, he will come across the Gerudo. They are desert people that are all female, with only a few exceptions. That makes it difficult for them to find a date.
If players go to the training courtyard in Gerudo Town, there is a classroom at the bottom left. Inside is a class where Gerudo women are instructed on how to date men from other species. Entering it will trigger a humorous cutscene where the women don’t seem to understand much about the outside world.
2 How to Hear the Iconic Zelda Theme
Koji Kondo’s Legend of Zelda theme is one of the most iconic pieces of music in all of gaming. Yet, it is mysteriously absent in Breath of the Wild. Most of the music in the game is understated, so, when players are adventuring, all they’ll hear is the relaxing sounds of wildlife.
However, riding on horseback will occasionally trigger a few notes to play from the classic theme. The understated use conveys the somber and contemplative feel Breath of the Wild has in its quieter moments.
1 Secret Recipes
