The Great Plateau isn’t just the first area of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — it’s a masterclass in open-world design that reshaped an iconic franchise. From its stark beauty to how it teaches players everything they need to know… without holding their hand, this humble starting zone is one of gaming’s greatest hooks. Dive into why Nintendo’s bold gamble on emergent exploration starts here — and why Breath of the Wild still feels fresh years later.

At first glance, the Great Plateau looks like a simple tutorial zone. But it quickly becomes clear it’s much more than that — it’s a distilled version of everything the game will ask of you. There are no pop-up tutorials or arrows pointing the way: you are shown how to explore, fight, cook, climb, glide, and survive through experience, not through forced instructions.

Within its ruins, players find essential runes, hidden shrines, dangerous bokoblins, and relics of a once-proud kingdom. Every discovery — from uncovering the paragliding tool that finally lets you leave the Plateau, to piecing together the landscape by climbing its cliffs — feels earned and exciting.

Polygon’s own praise highlights how the Great Plateau captures the pure essence of Breath of the Wild’s core — danger, discovery, and freedom. It’s not just a beginning; it’s a microcosm of the whole game.

Even years after launch, the design of this opening area continues to draw admiration. Its balance of challenge, mystery, and beauty exemplifies why Breath of the Wild is still considered one of the most influential open-world games of all time.