Dungeons were always something to look forward to in Zelda games. When Breath of the Wild came out, Divine Beasts were charged with that role instead, which was somewhat of a letdown for veteran players. The same essence was still there, but it was not quite the same thing. But what about its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom? Is it bringing the old dungeon system back? We’ll answer if The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has dungeons below.
Are There Dungeons in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, the dungeons are back! The game returned to its humble origins by bringing the big dungeons back into action. They are scattered all around the huge world map and work basically as dungeons from older games, posing as trials for Link to overcome using the skills granted by his new arm.
They are not to be confused with the smaller Shrines. While those are basically just mini-dungeons in essence, they are just too small to be properly named dungeons, and will usually only give you some small rewards which can include new abilities, equipment or resources.
Actual dungeons are bigger challenges that will require much more effort to be completed, combining various elements you’ve previously seen in the shrines. They are also the house of a big boss waiting for you as a final challenge, so they’re a perfect test of brains and brawn. You’ll eventually find them as you progress through the game as they’re all mandatory, so don’t worry about missing any of them.
Related: Is Zelda Playable in Tears of the Kingdom? – Answered
Dungeons are more unique in their design in TotK when compared to the Divine Beasts from BotW. All Beasts shared similar layouts while the dungeons here reflect their locations and their themes. Oh, they also are usually themed around a certain element, which adds even more variety to them. I’m really glad to see those types of exploration challenges back, and they’re just a small part of the huge world of TotK.
