Because the most recent installment of the Legend of Zelda series, Breath of The Wild, was released over six years ago, fans of the game have been creatively finding new ways to challenge themselves on repeat playthroughs. Some speed run the game, others try to obtain 100% completion. One Reddit user, u/LusciousRonaldo, recently showed off this creative way of challenging himself—finishing the game without unlocking any part of the map.
Zelda fan beats Breath of the Wild without unlocking any part of the map
Even those only vaguely familiar with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, would know how expansive its open world is. Completing the game without making use of its map would be no easy feat. If you choose to beat the game as intended, visiting all four Divine Beasts, you'll normally need to explore a substantial percent of the map.
Related: Will there be a demo of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom?
Reddit users asked the OP how difficult this was. u/LusciousRonaldo responded saying that it was actually not that hard. He wrote, "The main thing is to enter a new area by road and just let your horse lead. Hop out at stables and such. With this done, heroes path provides a decent map." He also created a second Reddit post, showing his Hero's Path.
On the original post, another Reddit user asked him (via a Ryan Reynolds meme) why he decided to do this. He replied, "It forced me to explore a bit more. I wanted to recapture some of that feeling of being lost, like my my first playthrough."
Luckily, players will not be waiting too much longer for the experience of a first playthrough. Breath of the Wild's sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is due to arrive on Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023.
Looking for more of our coverage on The Legend of Zelda series? Check out All new weapons in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom or Zelda Graphic Comparison – Zelda Tears of the Kingdom vs. Zelda Breath of the Wild here at Pro Game Guides.
Michaela Schulte is a Mom, gamer, and Contributing writer for Pro Game Guides. She was hooked on fantasy lands in childhood, during her first trip through Hyrule. She's also been to Pallet Town, Whiterun, and Novigrad. Currently traveling through Sumeru. Her travel partners include her husband, two boys, and their dog, Ellie.