The launch of the Nintendo Swap 2 has precipitated a little bit of a disturbance within the rankings of video games launched this 12 months, so far as the general crucial rating is worried. The reason being pretty commonplace, and it has to do with older video games being re-released for the brand new console.
On this case, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a sport initially launched in 2017 – over eight years in the past – is now thought-about one in every of 2025’s highest-rated video games.
Breath of the Wild, after all, isn’t only a Swap sport that’s playable on the console’s successor, the Swap 2; it’s additionally amongst choose few video games Nintendo elected to improve to make the most of the facility of the brand new console.
These upgrades apply to Breath of the Wild, in addition to its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom – each of that are paid. These are so referred to as Swap 2 Editions (or Improve Pack in case you already personal it) – which, in Breath of the Wild’s case, doesn’t even embody all of the DLC! In fact, releasing a brand new version means you get one other shot at charting among the many 12 months’s highest critically-acclaimed video games, which is precisely what simply occurred.
The massive MetaCritic checklist of 2025’s highest-rated video games has “new” entrants. Breath of the Wild now sits at primary, tied with the wonderful Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – a brand new sport that was really launched in 2025. Breath of the Wild’s transfer additionally places it forward of Blue Prince, one other critically-acclaimed 2025 launch.
Because it stands, Expedition 33 stays on the high with a mixed 93MC rating, now tied with Breath of the Wild with 93, Blue Prince with 92, Cut up Fiction with 91, and Despelote rounding out the highest 5 with an 89MC rating.
Clearly, new arrivals additionally inevitably knock present video games out of their respective slots. Breath of the Wild has knocked The Hundred Line: Final Protection Academy out of the highest 20, for instance.
Contemplating that growth, we’re very prone to see the identical checklist get up to date once more quickly with the arrival of the Swap 2 Version of Tears of the Kingdom, which presently sits at an excellent higher 94MC. Because of this, quickly, the 2023 sport can be… 2025’s highest-rated launch on MetaCritic.
If you happen to picked a Swap 2 and located your self shopping for these Zelda upgrades, you could need to bookmark our Breath of the Wilds information, in addition to Tears of the Kingdom information. We’re guessing you’ve most likely forgot a lot – or, even higher, you could be taking part in them for the primary time. Both manner, our guides are a terrific useful resource.
