Future Zelda games will have an open-world design, says producer Eiji Aonuma

By Garrett Hulfish April 6, 2017

The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild review

With the release and incredible success of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, many wonder what this means for future titles in the series. The Zelda series is ever-evolving, but key innovations have carried from one title to the next. What will happen to Breath of the Wild‘s reinvented open-world structure? According to Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma, this design will be integral to all future games in the series.

In a recent interview with Famitsu (and translated by IGN), Aonuma spoke up about whether or not the Zelda series would continue using Breath of the Wild‘s “open-air concept.”

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“From now on, this will probably be the standard form,” Aonuma said. “However, eventually that in itself could become seen as ‘Zelda as usual’, and we would start to hear opinions this way and that way. This has always been the case, and the result of what we have made is ‘Zelda’.”

At one point in time, dungeon progression was fresh and new, but that became an expected part of the Zelda series. With Ocarina of Time, the series set the standard for 3D action-adventure games. By changing up dungeon progression and the way a 3D environment reacts to the player, Breath of the Wild felt completely new.

However, the core idea behind the latest Zelda entry is not new. In order to create something that feels so fresh, Nintendo looked back at the original game in the series. This was a world where players could freely explore at their own pace. It’s this idea that is pushed even further in Breath of the Wild.

We gave The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 4.5/5 stars saying it is “unlike any Legend of Zelda game you’ve played before.” Where can the series evolve from here?

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Grab these Nintendo 3DS games before the eShop closes

wii u 3ds exclusive nintendo games eshop closure ever oasis

While the Nintendo 3DS had a rocky launch, the handheld system recovered gracefully and ended up having one of the best game lineups of any Nintendo system. Many of these 3DS games, like Super Mario 3D Land and Fire Emblem Awakening, were very popular and well-known. Still, the 3DS had a lot of fantastic games that not as many people know about and threaten to be lost to time when the eShop closes down.
The 3DS eShop will shut down soon, preventing people from purchasing new games. As such, we've been reflecting on the system's vast library and all of the fantastic games that 3DS owners will no longer be able to buy digitally. From games that we think will skyrocket even further in price after the store shuts down to some enjoyable hidden gems that didn't get the attention they deserve, you might want to snag these 3DS games before you can't anymore after March 27.
Ever Oasis

Grezzo is one of Nintendo's most underrated developers. It's delivered top-notch The Legend of Zelda remakes like Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Link's Awakening. So what if I told you that it used that experience to make an original IP for 3DS that's one of the best-looking and expansive games on the system? Ever Oasis, a 2017 3DS game, follows a young kid as they help a water spirit named Esna build an oasis and try to save their brother from Chaos.
The result is a mix of 3D The Legend of Zelda and city management games. Players can venture out into surprisingly large open worlds and dungeons to restock and grow the number of "bloom booths." This mix of open-world exploration, dungeon crawling, and oasis-building will keep players engaged for dozens of hours, and it also stands as one of the deepest and best-looking action-adventure games on the platform.
Ever Oasis didn't get much attention when it launched because the Nintendo Switch had been released a couple of months earlier. Still, it stands as one of the 3DS' best games, so it's a shame that more people don't know about it. It risks being forgotten forever now the 3DS eShop is closing down, so check it out before the closure; it will surpass your expectations.
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The best upcoming Nintendo Switch games: 2023 and beyond

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The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles Nintendo has ever produced, with a wide variety of games to choose from and plenty of unique features. We’ve already gotten to play new entries across the Zelda, Super Mario, and Pokémon series on Nintendo Switch, but there are still plenty of great games on the way for the hybrid console. These include exclusive games developed internally by Nintendo, as well as third-party titles and ports also available on other platforms.

There are lots of games to look forward to on the platform. These are the best upcoming Nintendo Switch games for 2023 and beyond.

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The best video games of February 2023: Metroid Prime, Wild Hearts, and more

Samus stares up at Meta Ridley in Metroid Prime Remastered.

After a shockingly strong January for video game releases, February 2023 was relatively quieter, held up by just a couple of big releases, remasters, and the launch of a new VR headset. There are still plenty of games worth playing, but you probably got the most out of February if you're a Nintendo Switch owner.
We've combed through this month's big releases to share our favorites, but let's address the elephant in the room: Hogwarts Legacy was the most notable release of February, despite being mired in controversy. While Harry Potter fans are enjoying the title, Digital Trends was a bit less enamored with it in our two-and-a-half star review. Writer Giovanni Colantonio criticized the open-world game's uninspired use of magic and generic design, noting that nostalgia for the IP does a lot of the heavy lifting.
As such, we've left it off this month's list for a simple reason: There were just better games released in February. Our goal with this series of lists is always to compile the very best gaming has to offer every month, not necessarily the most talked-about games. From excellent remasters to a surprisingly robust rhythm RPG, these were no shortage of titles that deserved a shout-out. These were our six favorite games released in February (plus one great piece of hardware).
Metroid Prime Remastered

GameCube classic Metroid Prime is already considered one of the best games of all time by many people. As such, it’s no surprise that a Nintendo Switch remaster that adds dual analog supports and makes the game look even better is one of the best releases of the month. Metroid Prime Remastered even got a surprise launch during a Nintendo Direct, adding even more excitement to its release ahead of a physical release on February 22.
“While it might have been tempting to give the original a Dead Space-type remake treatment, the GameCube title didn’t need modifying,” Colantonio wrote about the game. “Instead, the remaster does some quiet technical work to remind players why Samus’ first 3D outing is still an unparalleled adventure two decades later.”
This refurbished version of a GameCube game has no glaring technical shortcomings. If you enjoy beautifully crafted sci-fi worlds and excellent game soundtracks, and want to experience one of the best-looking Switch games, we recommend picking this remaster up. Metroid Prime Remastered is available now exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
Wild Hearts