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A new Nintendo Switch exclusive, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, has become the highest-rated game of 2023 according to review and journalism rating aggregator Metacritic.
The game scored 95 out of 100, which is the highest score of any 2023 release. In second place with a score of 94 points out of 100 is another exclusive for Nintendo Switch - Metroid Prime remaster. The same result reached The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. Thus the top 3 closes Tetris Effect: Connected and the remake of Resident Evil 4 with a score of 93 points out of 100.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel to the 2017 game The Legend of Zelda: Breathe of the Wild. The sequel recounts the new tragedy of the fictional kingdom of Hyrule and the exploits of the valiant knight Link and Princess Zelda. The game was released on May 12, 2023, and is officially only available on Nintendo Switch consoles.
After Breath of the Wild, Link and Zelda venture into a hidden passage below Hyrule Castle, connected to a mysterious phenomenon known as "The Gloom." They discover ancient Zonai ruins and murals depicting a war against the "Demon King." In the depths, they encounter a dark mummy held by a mystical hand. When Zelda picks up a gemstone dropped by the hand, the mummy attacks, leaving Link weakened and his arm lifeless. Hyrule Castle rises into the sky, and Zelda disappears while Link is saved by the hand, which replaces his missing arm.
Awakening with no equipment, Link learns that Zelda saved him by placing the hand on him. A voice informs him about Zelda's message and the need to restore the hand's power. After retrieving his sword's remains, he explores floating islands and meets the Construct Steward, who gives him a Puranchette. Guided by a ghost named Raura, Link visits shrines, collects sacred light, and receives Zelda's power of Return. To open sealed doors, he must regain vitality by offering a gem to the Goddess Statue. Rauru urges Link to continue restoring his powers and assist Zelda.
At the Temple's peak, Link places the High Sword in a radiant light, which Zelda retrieves elsewhere. He sees a dragon unveiling Hyrule below and receives a telepathic message from Zelda, initiating his mission to save Hyrule once more.
The press is praising the new mechanics, expanded open-world features, and side quests. Criticism is mainly technical problems: the management of some mechanics and a rare drop in frame rate. It can be explained by the weak hardware of the Nintendo Switch. The game was the highest-rated game of all time according to review aggregator OpenСritic.