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Today on One Life Several Stories we have Misty, the mom behind the blog “Life Between the Dishes” who happens to be my internet acquaintance. She has collaborated with us to share her reasons as to why she is happy to sit her 7-year-old in front of the screen to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild video game on Nintendo Switch.

As her tag line states “Simplifying Mom Life” her goal is to help busy mamas find tools, tips and resources to help them maintain their sanity through their daily mom life. Do check out her blog mentioned in the bio at the end of this article.

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Hands down, the best game for players of all ages is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Sure you could read the hundreds of game reviews to learn all about each step of the game, watch videos of all the walkthroughs, and join gamer groups to compare notes. But, I’m going to give you the reasons why I’m happy to sit my 7-year-old in front of the screen to play a video game.

7 Reasons to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Reason #1: Zelda: Breath of the Wild is worth the investment

Let me just start by saying that I don’t understand why Nintendo Switch games are so expensive. But, if you want a game that is totally worth the $60 investment, plus some as listed on the Nintendo Store, then you’ve got to get The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. 

Even though it was released in 2017, it has withstood the test of time. It is still one of the most loved games and tops the charts of best Nintendo Switch games each year.

It is a beautiful game with an intriguing backstory and hours of gameplay. There are plenty of games that we’ve purchased that I wish I wouldn’t have wasted the money on. But not this one. 

Reason #2: Zelda: Breath of the Wild is great for all ages

My 7-year-old and my husband equally love to play this game.  My husband and I grew up in the 80s and were the original Nintendo gamers. Having the first Nintendo gaming systems made a lasting impression on us. Some of our fondest memories involve playing games with friends and family on the Nintendo. We both remember playing Zelda and traveling through those undefined lands defeating little blips on the screen. 

We love our Nintendo Switch and were so happy that our son took to it like a Cheep Cheep in water. When the world shut down, we really took advantage of having such a great gaming system.  Our son was 4 at the time and began with games like Super Mario U and Yoshi’s Crafted World. He learned how to manipulate the controller even with his small hands. 

But now that he is older, he has graduated to more advanced games, like Zelda. So maybe it’s not for “all” ages. But it’s pretty darn close. 

Reason #3: Zelda: Breath of the Wild is full of learning experiences

Learning? From a video game? What? Is there any educational value in Zelda?

You bet!

First of all, there is a lot of reading involved. Now, this is great for kids who can read but can be a bit tedious if you’re the designated reader. Luckily, our son can read enough to get by. He still has trouble with some words, but he can usually use context clues to figure out what it’s saying. 

Many of the quests or missions involve solving difficult puzzles. The deductive reasoning skills that are required to complete these missions develop mind muscles that most games do not. 

The map of Hyrule plays a huge role in getting around the kingdom, remembering where certain things are, and knowing which way to travel. Learning how to read a map, including cardinal directions is an important skill that is practiced thoroughly in this game. 

There is a lot of memorization involved. Sometimes you learn information in one area of the game that will only be useful in another mission or land. 

You get to mix ingredients to create food and elixirs. These recipes are important to remember because some will give you more health and stamina than others. Our son has started his own “Recipe Book” so he can remember the best recipes.  

You have to constantly make choices. You can only hold so many weapons and so much gear in your inventory. So, you have to choose when to exchange one thing for another. This often involves understanding the terrain and challenges in each land. Decision-making skills are so important in the game and in real life.

Reason #4: Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the longest Switch games

With almost limitless exploring, Zelda will have you captivated for so many hours. Some estimate that it takes over 200 hours to complete the game. You could play for hours just hunting for shrines, hunting for food, and hunting for weapons without actually completing a mission or battling a bad guy. 

Let’s face it, Switch games are expensive.  And nothing is more frustrating than spending $60 on a game and being able to complete it in a short period of time. Most games are over once you complete the final challenge with no more play involved. In Zelda, you can keep exploring and finding new locations, side quests, foods, weapons, and people. 

Many consider Zelda Breath of the Wild to be one of the longest switch games. My husband and son have been playing it for over 7 months now.  I asked my husband how much of it he believes he has completed in this time.  His answer? About 15%. So if you are looking for a game that is going to last a long time and keep your family occupied, this is perfect. 

Reason #5: Families can bond over a game like Zelda: Breath of the Wild 

Who doesn’t enjoy a little friendly competition? Our son loves nothing more than completing a quest or mission before his Dad. There is immense satisfaction in his voice when he declares that he found something his Dad hasn’t discovered yet. 

It’s heartwarming to see the unique connection between my son and my husband. They have a bond over this game. They discuss strategy, recipes, and more. And, even though I don’t really play it myself, I watch a lot of the gameplay and have a pretty good idea about what’s going on. 

The best is when someone is about to complete something they’ve been working on for a while and the whole family is called into the living room to watch and celebrate. And people say video games isolate individuals from their families…psh!

Reason #6: Zelda: Breath of the Wild isn’t as violent or scary as some RPGs

Is it too violent?

I specifically asked my son this question. His response? It’s not too violent. You do have to defeat monsters, but that’s not the main point of the game. 

There is definitely some fighting involved. But the graphics aren’t too gory or scary. There are many weapons involved and each has different uses. You do have to “kill” animals for meat to use in the recipes. So, survival skills are also something that is learned in this game. 

Are there scary parts?

There is a certain element that makes Zelda almost like a mythological world. There is something called the “Blood Moon”. When the Blood Moon rises, all of the creatures that were killed are regenerated. It’s a pretty intense scene for the first time, but you get used to it. 

Some of the creatures make some pretty awful noises, but you can always turn the volume off. There are some suspenseful parts, especially during battles. But, in my opinion and the opinion of my 7-year-old, it isn’t too scary. 

Reason #7: Zelda: Breath of the Wild is just a lot of fun

There is a strange juxtaposition of old-world plus new-world technology. You use old-fashioned weapons, cook over fires, and do most things by hand. But yet, there is the Sheika slate which is like a computer system that shows you maps and helps you obtain information. This ancient technology is forgotten after the great war but Link rediscovers it bit by bit. You get to see memories and gather clues. There are flying mechanical bad guys but yet Link uses a hang glider to fly down from high places. It’s just fun to see what will happen in each new location. 

So, what exactly is the point of the game? 

You, Link, are trying to defeat the evil Ganon to save Zelda.

Link has been asleep for 100 years. At the beginning of the game, Link is awakened and summoned to save Zelda who issues a desperate cry for help and for Link to “hurry”. But there is no hurrying in this game.

The kingdom of Hyrule offers an immense open-world game for Link to travel to different lands, experience different people and cultures, defeat various dangers, and try to save Zelda from the evil Ganon. There is always something new to discover or try out.

Reasons I Wouldn’t Recommend The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

These are definitely just my opinion about this game and I had to think really hard to come up with reasons not to buy it. 

1. It is a one-player game (And while it is fun to sit and watch, id rather be playing too).
2. Some of the music gets annoying (That is a big personal preference and you can always turn the volume off).

 And that completes my negative opinions about this game. 

Verdict

Is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild worth it? 

Without hesitation, I can confidently say that you will love this game. The graphics are beautiful. The storyline is intriguing. The side quests are exciting. There is so much to explore. It can last forever (well, almost). It creates valuable learning experiences and unique bonds between players. Go play it and see for yourself!

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