The Legend of Zelda franchise consistently hides Easter eggs, secret locations, and callbacks to previous titles within its games. Breath of the Wild is no exception, with its open world hiding fascinating secrets that offer hours of extra gameplay outside of the primary quests. Many of these hidden locations, enemies, and details can be passed unnoticed, but contribute to the game's overall replayability.
Breath of the Wild is a title that rewards players for getting off track. Rushing into the jungle for treasure can reward Link, or lead him into an ambush. The spawn rates for wandering NPCs, the RNG of the weather, and the in-game clock are all factors that contribute to how players experience the open world and its secrets. While none of Breath of the Wild's secrets helps complete the primary storyline, each offers a new experience in the game's vibrant world.
Nintendo has filled Breath of the Wild with secrets for players to discover. Some hide in plain sight, and others require hours of dedicated gameplay before they reveal themselves. Outside knowledge of developers or external translating tools may be required for players to discover some of these in-game secrets. Occasionally, these discoveries will reward players with permanent (or temporary) upgrades, but this should not be expected out of all BOTW's hidden treasures.
Breath Of The Wild's Hylian Runes Can Be Translated
Hylian Runes are engraved on Breath of the Wild's Shrines, Sheikah Towers, and Sheikah Slate. They can also be found on various pieces of architecture throughout the game's open world. However, many players may not know that Hylian Runes have direct translations. Sheikah Slate pins translate into the popular Zelda line, "It's dangerous to go alone." One of BOTW's Shrines also features Hylian runes that reference Mega Drive: Zero Wing, and reads, "all your base are." This line of dialogue has been highly memed in the Mega Drive community, and it's reassuring to see its legacy continue.
Breath of the Wild's Hylian Runes also appear in books, outside shops and inns, and in ruins. Some objects and buildings can be interacted with, and are automatically translated on the Nintendo Switch. Other runes will not be translated, leading players to decrypt the meanings for themselves. Similar to establishments in real life, phrases like "locally sourced" are printed on banners around food merchants. Blacksmiths and other weapon vendors will sometimes have "protect yourself" or "get defensive" around their weapon and armor stands.
Late Nintendo President Satoru Iwata Appears On BOTW's Satori Mountain
During the development of Breath of the Wild, Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata passed away. Though he was never able to see the stunning results of the game, Iwata was given a permanent place within Breath of the Wild's world. A roaming NPC called Botrick bears a striking resemblance to Iwata and will inform players of a spirit that lurks on Satori Mountain. Botrick has the same haircut and glasses as Iwata, and the name of the mountain is a verb for 'enlightenment' and derives from the name Satoru.
When Link arrives on Satori Mountain, the Lord of the Mountain will appear in a flash of green light at the tallest peak. Taking a picture of this creature with the Sheikah Slate will display the following text:
“This noble creature watches over all animals that make their homes in the forest. Legends say this holy creature is a reincarnation of a sage that died on the lands it now protects. It has an acute awareness of its surroundings, so it seldom appears before people. It’s sometimes known by its other name, Satori.”
An interview from the New Yorker revealed how deeply the Breath of the Wild team was affected by Iwata's passing. He frequently acted as a dedicated guardian over the company's creative teams, and the Lord of the Mountain is likely meant to reflect that legacy. This tribute to the late game developer is a touching, heartbreaking farewell to one of the industry's most respected contributors.
Breath of the Wild's Link Can Tame Ganondorf's Horse
Given his form, it can be easy to forget that Ganon was once a person too. Like many warriors in Hyrule, Ganondorf would make use of a horse to travel across long distances. Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess featured Ganondorf's primary steed, a black horse with a ginger mane. Veterans of The Legend of Zelda series will recognize this same horse wandering in the Taobab Grasslands. The horse does not have a name and will appear as "Giant Horse" in-game. Its towering size suggests that this steed references Ganondorf's, which similarly towered over Link and Zelda in previous titles.
The Giant Horse's entry in Breath of the Wild for the Hyrule Compendium furthers this connection:
"This giant horse is the last of its kind. Its physical capabilities completely overshadow those of regular horses, but its temperament is extremely wild. Only a truly skilled rider can train, or even catch, this beast of a mount."
Similar to previous iterations of Ganon's character, the Giant Horse appears to share an explosive temper and astounding levels of strength. Horses often take after the traits of their riders, and the Giant Horse looks and acts similar to Ganondorf. The (supposed) offspring of Ganondorf's horse carrying Link to defeat his nemesis is an ironic fate, and quite humorous given their size difference.
Breath Of The Wild's Eventide Island Is A Hidden Challenge
Breath of the Wild's expansive open-world has earned considerable praise, but some locations may remain undiscovered by many players. Eventide Island is one such place. Players will need to have upgraded their stamina a minimum of four times to reach Eventide Island. The only way to access it is by gliding off a cliff and reaching the shoreline. Getting to the island is only half the challenge, as players will not have access to any of their equipment and be restricted to supplies and weapons scavenged from Eventide.
To claim Eventide Island's rewards, players will need to obtain three orbs hidden across the isle and place them on their corresponding pedestals. One orb is latched around a Hinox's neck and is the most difficult to retrieve. Crabs and fish scavenged from the beachfront and surrounding ocean can help regenerate hearts if the Hinox wakes up. The Sheikah Slate's magnet ability can retrieve a chest with a hidden sledgehammer inside. Players can use this weapon to fight against the Hinox and other threats stowed away on Eventide Island. Once players return all the orbs, Link will be able to access the BOTW Shrine. Inside will be a shadow orb and a gold rupee (totaling 300 in value).
Breath of the Wild's Elusive Hylian Shield
Breath of the Wild's biggest threat is Calamity Ganon, who has enveloped Hyrule Castle in a mass of purple and black energy. Most players will be concerned with Ganon and set their sights on saving the princess. However, more patient warriors will be able to find their way into the Castle's Prison Basement. Accessing this location will require dodging many Guardians and other irritating enemies, but will reward players with the greatest shield in the game.
After venturing into the Hyrule Castle's Basement, players will need to slay a boss named Stalnox. Firing arrows at its eye and dealing damage while Stalnox is stunned is the easiest way to defeat it. Stasis can freeze Stalnox temporarily so Link can line up shots more accurately. Once Stalnox has been defeated, the camera will automatically zoom in on a chest. Accessing this chest will grant Link the Hylian Shield, which is extremely durable and can even deflect Guardian blasts.
None of these secrets are required to finish Breath of the Wild, but each one contributes to filling the world with meaningful activities, characters, and references. Defeating Ganon and saving Princess Zelda is only a fraction of the adventure players can experience across Hyrule. While leaving these secrets undiscovered doesn't affect the game's ending, it seems a waste to leave any aspect of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild unfinished.