Even though The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom just came out, fans are already demanding to know what will come next. Series producer Eiji Aonuma has confirmed future Zelda titles will continue with the open-world format.
In addition to classic games in the Zelda franchise, such as A Link to the Past (1991) and Ocarina of Time (1998), both Breath of the Wild (2017) and Tears of the Kingdom (2023) have come to redefine the series.
Aonuma told Game Informer that, despite the technical limitations of the system, the influence of Ocarina of Time carried into other core entries like Wind Waker (2003), Twilight Princess (2006), and Skyward Sword (2011). The same bodes true for Breath of the Wild.
He said, “It’s…fair to say now that we’ve arrived at Breath of the Wild and the new type of more open play and freedom that it affords. Yeah, I think it’s correct to say that it has created a new kind of format for the series to proceed from.”
Tears of the Kingdom is the direct sequel to Breath of the Wild and follows the same open-world format. It also takes place during the same period of time and on the same map of Hyrule, although it has since been expanded to include the skies and the chasms.