Zelda: Breath of the Wild Tops MetaCritic in 2025 – Weird, Right

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has claimed the spot as MetaCritic’s highest-rated game released in 2025, despite its original launch in 2017. This sudden rise in rankings is largely due to its re-release for the Nintendo Switch 2, featuring upgraded graphics and performance enhancements. The game now ranks second on the MetaCritic list, just behind the newly launched Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, both scoring 93. This bump in ranking is a result of the ongoing trend where classic titles receive new editions to capitalize on new hardware capabilities. As players embrace the updated version, there's anticipation for the Switch 2 Edition of its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, which is predicted to further shake up the rankings.

Breath of the Wild has climbed to the top of the rankings in 2025 thanks to its re-release with enhancements for the Nintendo Switch 2, allowing it to benefit from modern features while attracting both new and returning players.

Released back in 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a groundbreaking open-world action-adventure game that redefined many gaming standards. Set in the expansive kingdom of Hyrule, players take on the role of Link as he awakens from a long slumber to battle Calamity Ganon and rescue Princess Zelda. Its innovative gameplay mechanics like physics-based puzzles, a vast open world, and intricate crafting systems have made it a landmark title in gaming history, influencing many games that followed.