The gameplay of Breath of the Wild is a strong departure from recent games in The Legend of Zelda series, as the game takes place in an open world environment, approximately twelve times the size of the overworld featured in Twilight Princess.

• Similar to the original The Legend of Zelda, the player is placed into the game's overworld with little to no instruction and is allowed to explore freely at their own pace.
• Players control Link, who now has the ability to jump and climb up almost any surface.
• By exploring the environment, Link can find various weapons, including melee weapons, shields, and bows, as well as equippable clothing and food items that can be eaten or cooked to restore health.
• Weapons break after excessive use, but many weapons have multiple uses; for example, tree branches can be used to light fires, and shields can be used as makeshift snowboards.