Switch – Sick Gaming

Posted on September 27, 2023 by — Leave a comment

The best city builder games 2023

Who doesn’t want to play the best city builder games on Switch and mobile, right? There’s something so inherently satisfying about building a city. Like some sort of mega-Tetris, the idea of slotting together buildings and maintaining the day-to-day challenges of a city is both fascinating and fun. Honestly, I could have been an architect I reckon, if it wasn’t for all the studying, and being smart, and the cost. So instead let’s dive into some games you can afford, and play today, no degree required.

Just before we don our hard hats and start assembling the rest of our article, be sure to check out the suburbs of Pocket Tactics for some real hidden gems. Much like an out-of-town restaurant, we’ve had fantastic Yelp reviews for our guides covering the best Switch racing games, the best horror games on Switch and mobile, the best Switch RPGs, the best Switch tactics games, and, if just like our mate Bob you love a bit of building, have a look at our guide on the best games like Minecraft for Switch and mobile.

It’s time to get on with our guide to the best city builder games on Switch and mobile.

Cities: Skyline – Switch

Well, this one is a bit on the nose, isn’t it? Cities: Skyline is a deep and incredibly addictive city builder where you can make the marvelous metropolis of your dreams. This granular simulation game gives you so much control, allowing you to optimize and manipulate the education systems, healthcare, and many other elements to better balance your city’s economy.

The Switch port sacrifices a bit of visual clarity, but being able to play this incredibly rich sim on the go is well worth it. Developer Colossal Order has optimized the UI incredibly well for Switch, and there’s even Pro Controller support so you can feel the rumble of machinery as you erect your latest skyscrapers. Cities: Skyline on Switch also includes both the After Dark and Snowfall DLC packs. so that’s plenty of building bang for your buck.

Steamworld Build – Switch

Alright, this is a slightly pre-emptive pick, but we have actually played and absolutely loved this entry in our Steamworld Build preview. Plus, the Steamworld Build release date isn’t far away at all, so you’d better get saving. Developer Thunderful (previously Image & Form) is well recognized for taking concepts and adding a layer of quirky personality to them, and then delivering a stellar game along the way. Steamworld Dig 1&2, Steamworld Heist, Steamworld Quest… all bangers. Well, they are if you ask us.

Steamworld Build brings across all of the depth, charm, and smart optimization that the Steamworld franchise is famous for. You balance your city-building abilities above ground with a surprisingly deep (sorry) mining side of the game, as you send units to explore the depths and earn the very elements you need to continue building above ground. It looks great, feels very addictive, and we can’t wait to relax over the holidays with another charming Steamworld entry.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 – Switch

Don’t judge a book by its cover, and don’t look at Dragon Quest Builders 2 and assume it’s Minecraft with silly JRPG outfits. I mean, it is that, but it’s also so much more. DQB2 takes the mining formula and adds so many smart quality-of-life upgrades that it makes going back to Minecraft feel like a chore. Plus, a lovely storyline propels the narrative and slowly introduces more tasks, building tools, and areas for you to explore.

On top of just being able to build your basic blocky barrack, as you explore the narrative and visit multiple islands, you befriend the people you meet along the way and bring them back to your home, building a cute community as you progress. You get farm animals, plenty of different building types, some really funny Dragon Quest-themed furniture, and the wholesome feeling of providing refuge for some waifs and strays. There’s a lengthy demo for Dragon Quest Builders 2, so give it a tickle and see if it’s for you. Forgive the sluggish intro, we promise it opens up fairly quickly!

Civilisation VI – Switch and mobile

The king, the legend, the G.O.A.T. of city-building sim games. As the French band Justice once sang… “Civilization.” That’s right Justice, what else is there to say? Well, Civ 6 is the latest iteration of the long-running franchise, and it brings along years of smart upgrades, challenges, and attention to detail that many other sim games can never hope to match.

Build your own personal empire and try to fend off the forces of encroaching countries. Develop tools and resources quickly, and soon you can overpower your foes with the smartest weapons this side of Tyrion using green flames on some pirate boats. What’s more, the extensive Switch port includes scenario packs based on Vikings, Poland (dobry, dobry!), Australia, and Persia. If you’re planning on conquering soon, be sure to check out our Civ 6 tier list first.

Townscaper – Switch and mobile

Let’s bring things down a notch, with a minimalist city-builder that’s more about vibes than vigorous architectural action. In Townscaper there are no goals, no tasks, no time limit, and definitely no enemies. Your job is just to build. Either use a controller or tap the screen to plop some buildings into an empty water-based void, and before long you’re making the adorable city of your dreams.

It’s not quite as granular as you might expect, but you can still create towns with a varying degree of tiers, you can swap colors, and even make cute little awnings and balconies. Whether you play on Switch or mobile, this is a cheap and cheerful way to spend a few hours, and it’s especially a lovely and very peaceful way to gain some calm and exert some control when the world feels a little bit too much. Check out our Townscaper review for more information.

Minecraft – Switch and mobile

Yeah, I know, this isn’t quite a city-builder, but technically you can build a city if you want to – as long as you have a month to spare. In Minecraft, your ability is only as big as your ambition, and you can create cities, countries, or even the entire world of Westeros (second Game of Thrones mention klaxon). You can choose survival if you want to brave the elements and tackle those dreaded creepers, and there’s something so thrilling about cobbling together your very first tiny little home.

However, if you just want to build me up, buttercup, then slap that bad boy onto creative and start building like God that one week. Enjoy unlimited resources, the insane depth of Redstone and other interactive elements, and plenty of real estate. Plus, you can watch the mountain of Minecraft YouTube videos to get some tips and even set up a server to share a game world with your pals. Yes, it’s a meme at this point, but there’s a reason Minecraft became the biggest game in the world. If this weary 34-year-old man can still unwind with a pickaxe, then you can give it a go as well.

The Simpsons: Tapped Out – mobile

I refuse to even entertain the idea that there’s anything in the world that isn’t improved by adding The Simpsons. My childhood skateboard? It had Bart on it, and it ruled. My t-shirt? You’d better believe it, The Simpsons are there making me look rad. GTA? Nah, The Simpsons Hit & Run shows Homer and the crew can make everything better. My parents divorce? Cheers Homer, we got through it together.

Anyway, uuhhh, The Simpsons: Tapped Out is a free-to-start city-builder, where you create your own approximation of Springfield. Use currency known as donuts to build Moe’s Tavern, Springfield School, the famous tyre fire, and much more. We will say, be careful, as while it’s addictive and very fun, The Simpsons: Tapped Out often feels designed to frustrate you into spending money, and purchase options go as high as the hundreds in an obvious attempt to harpoon those elusive mobile gaming whales. Still, if you can resist the urge, there’s so much to love here.

There you go, folks! That’s all we have for our guide to the best city builder games on Switch and mobile. If you just can’t get enough of that wonderful Duff (or video games), you can also read our argument for The Simpsons: Hit and Run remake now.

Posted on September 25, 2023 by — Leave a comment

Mineko’s Night Market review – you can’t resist the toebeans

Mineko’s Night Market has been on my radar for a long time – over two years, in fact. Back when I first started working on Pocket Tactics, I remember falling in love with my first glimpses of the game and telling my team that I would love to review it when the release date came around. So it feels pretty satisfying to sit here after so much time has passed, finally able to dive into a Mineko’s Night Market review.

But, with a long wait comes a build-up of anticipation and expectations – so does the game live up to the hype? Well, I may be a tad biased due to Mineko’s Night Market checking most of my boxes, but I genuinely love this game. It’s simple and charming, with a fun sense of humor, a touching narrative, and a relaxing yet engaging gameplay loop, all making for a very enjoyable little title with heaps of personality.

Mineko’s Night Market describes itself as a narrative-driven, social simulation adventure that celebrates Japanese culture, and it certainly delivers on that front. The story follows a young girl called Mineko, who moves to a small island with her dad. However, there are strange goings on happening on this island – and she soon finds herself in the middle of it all.

The island was once populated by many cats, as well as the Sun Cat, Nikko – a giant cat who lived atop Mt. Fugu and watched over the people below. However, with Nikko seemingly gone, the island is now a shell of its former self, and many of its inhabitants don’t even believe he exists – that is, except for Bobo, who immediately befriends Mineko and invites her to help prove Nikko’s existence.

Finding evidence of Nikko and returning the island to its former glory isn’t an easy task, as there are heaps of mysterious agents poking around – and they’ve even captured all the cats in cages. But one night, Nikko visits Mineko, and she embarks on a mission to not only free all the captured cats and help build the island back up, but to also help Nikko return to his home on top of Mt Fugu.

The narrative is utterly adorable, and I absolutely love the references to Japanese mythology throughout. The characters are also wonderful, from adults like Mineko’s dad and Hank the Hunk to the other kids like the initially antagonistic Miyako and boyband-obsessed Hana. The dialogue you share with them is charming and even insightful at times, with playful quips and jokes, sweet little anecdotes, and endearing backstories. There are also some truly moving moments throughout, exploring themes of friendship and belonging in a really touching way.

The main gameplay revolves around a weekly calendar. Throughout the weekdays, you can explore different areas, collect resources, craft items, and complete quests. On Saturday evenings, it’s time for the titular Night Market, where you sell your wares and take part in events to increase the market’s level and, ultimately, help it flourish into the iconic attraction it used to be.

You travel to different locations by going to the bus stop outside of your house. There isn’t a usual clock, so you can spend as much time in each area as you like, but time passes when you return from a location. Buses only run during the day and evenings, so you can visit a maximum of two locations a day, but you can explore them and gather items to your heart’s content, as long as you have the stamina for it.

Speaking of stamina and hearts, you only have one heart’s worth when you start the game. Harvesting or collecting items takes a set amount of stamina, from picking up a hairball or a flower, to chopping wood or mining rocks. You can eat or drink in order to restore stamina, with drinks and small snacks generally giving you half a heart and larger meals like yakisoba or sushi to-go giving you a full heart, but you can only eat or drink three items a day – so generally it’s best to splash out and buy the to-go meals rather than the cheaper ramune.

This feels a little restrictive at first, but as you progress through the story, you gain additional hearts so you can complete more tasks in a day. Also, each consumable gives you a cute little message when you use it, which is a nice added detail.

Usually, on your first visit to a new location, it’s infested with agents – and a few of the locations require you to have bought a tool from Hank’s Tool Shop before you can go there at all. Once you arrive, in order to unlock the location fully and progress further, you need to get past the agents, free a set amount of captured cats, and then complete a final task such as locating a Nikko artifact, disconnecting a comms tower, or destroying a supply crate.

In these sections, you have three ‘lives’ (noted by little Mineko head icons at the top of the screen). If you step in front of an agent’s flashlight, you lose a ‘life’. If you lose all three ‘lives’, you have to start the sequence again. Getting past most of the agents is generally a case of timing – wait until they move out of the way, then sprint through to get to the caged cat. However, there’s some variation that requires a bit of puzzle-solving or even bribery.

While these sections are all the same at their core, they still offer enough variety that you sometimes need to stop and think, and I find them very enjoyable. You also get a very satisfying moment when you manage to free all the cats and push the agents out of the area, allowing you to see it with all its flowers, resource points, and kitties out in the wild again. Oh, and how could I forget? Each location generally has a bunch of cats sitting around. And, yes, you can pet them – it doesn’t even cost any stamina to do so.

Some kitties just change position when you pet them, while others follow you around in a cute little kitten conga line until you leave the area and go home. The follower kitties sometimes get in the way, especially if you’re collecting items off the floor, meaning you may end up petting a cat rather than collecting an item – but honestly, as a cat mom, that’s pretty much my real life anyway, and due to the lack of stamina required to pet cats and there being no time limit in each location, there’s really no harm done.

Outside of picking items up on the floor, such as flowers or hairballs, the resources you collect each have their own sort of minigame. For example, mining rocks and chopping trees requires you to hit a button at the right moment, hold it, and release it when the marker is in the right place.

Fishing is another simple, quick-time-esque gathering game, where you need to wait until the fish pulls the lure down, then hit the button to real. Pretty much every resource you gather is useful for crafting, but you can also submit certain items to museums. Once you submit enough items, the museums get a makeover and open to the public, once again helping the island to expand and earning you some nice items.

Similarly, different crafting benches have their own minigames, too. These range from simple – such as hitting a button when the marker is hovering over the right section to cut a stem on the flower craftbench – to a bit more complex – such as guiding a paint brush around a map on the art craftbench or following a pattern with a sewing machine on the sewing craftbench. If you pull it off perfectly, you get a perfect item, which is worth more money. If you do well but don’t get it exactly right, you get a normal item. And, if you completely mess up, you get a garbage item that isn’t worthy of selling at all.

As mentioned earlier, the main purpose of crafting is to have stock to sell at the Night Market on Saturdays. However, you can also sell items at shops throughout the week if you need a bit of extra cash to buy some food, or a new tool or craftbench. You also get villager requests, where different characters ask for specific items – initially, these are usually food items, though later, they start asking for specific crafted items.

Completing village requests increases your relationship with the characters and is a great way to unlock new recipes or receive items. Though you can also unlock recipes through bottles that you catch while fishing, this is a nice incentive for you to cultivate friendships with the different characters around town, contributing to a nice level of world-building that feels very wholesome. It’s also very satisfying when you get the chance to give the villagers items that they then use to kit out their house, sprucing the island up even further.

When you get used to these different elements, it’s easy to fall into a comfortable rhythm, visiting certain locations throughout the week to top up your resources, crafting the items that sell the best, and then turning up to the market to make a big profit. But, with frequent new locations and story developments, this gameplay loop doesn’t get stale too quickly, and there’s always something new to do. However, if you prefer to take things slow, there’s no real time limit, either. So you can spend as many weeks as you want gathering and crafting before progressing on to the next part of the story.

Visually, Mineko’s Night Market is equally as beautiful. It adopts a simplistic, 2D picture-book aesthetic with lovely elements that nod to iconic Japanese artwork such as Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa. The colors are varied yet somewhat muted, adding to the soft, relaxing vibe of the world, and everything feels like it’s washed in the golden light of a setting sun.

The music is also lovely, with unique, soothing tracks for the gathering locations and a jazzy, whimsical piece that backs up the espionage-esque sections with the agents, among others. Most of the pieces have a lo-fi vibe, and some even incorporate instruments reminiscent of classic Japanese music. It’s a lovely OST that truly enhances the relaxing nature of the game, and I could definitely imagine myself listening to it as I work in the future.

Outside of that, the sound design for the bulk of the game is unintrusive and fitting. The characters aren’t voiced at all, but to be honest, that doesn’t really detract from my enjoyment at all, especially as, combined with the large speech bubbles, it only seems to enhance the overall pop-up picture-book feel.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on both a Switch version and the Steam beta version, both of which I’ve tested thoroughly and played for hours. When it comes to controls, Mineko’s Night Market feels very intuitive on the Switch. Press one trigger to sprint and press the other to creep. One button for inventory, another for opening your journal, and another for collecting an item. It all feels comfortable and responsive, and I didn’t need to do any remapping for it to feel right.

The Steam version, on the other hand, took me a little while to get used to. While WASD works for movement, the default controls seem designed around using the directional arrows, as left shift is sprint and right shift is creep. You press enter to collect/interact with things, E to open your inventory, and J to open your journal, and the mouse doesn’t do anything at all. Luckily, you can remap the controls pretty easily through the settings menu, and after I got used to my new layout (left shift will always be sprint for me, it’s second nature at this point), I’ve come to find it comfortable and somewhat reminiscent of older PC games from back when I was a kid.

The performance on the Switch and Steam is mostly comparable. The simplistic art style and animations makes for a smooth and visually pleasing experience on both platforms for the most part, and screenshots even look comparable – which is a rarity for the Switch.

However, the Switch version does have some issues. Load screens are much longer, so you become very familiar with the running Mineko sprite on the bottom right corner. This is especially frustrating when you are going between the craft shop and tool shop in the village, as there’s a load screen for entering and exiting both of the shops, making the act take much longer than it needs to.

There’s also quite a bit of stuttering when you load into a new area or enter a cutscene, with the music cutting out and the characters sometimes freezing. These issues are essentially absent from the Steam version, so keep that in mind if choosing between platforms.

Outside of that, I experienced some bugginess in the HQ where, on the second floor, jumping into a vent to progress to the area where the door code was broken. I couldn’t progress, which meant I had to restart the game and lost my progress for the day. I also had a few buggy moments on the frozen lake, where Mineko would get caught on the corner of one of the frozen, slip-stream-esque sections, but it always worked itself out. This issue seems to be consistent across both the Steam and Switch versions. However, as this is a beta build, I’m cutting the game some slack here – and I have faith that the devs will fix these grievances in the full launch.

Overall, Mineko’s Night Market is a delightfully charming game, and, to me, it was well worth the wait. I know it’s cliche to say, but it really does emit the same coziness present in Animal Crossing games and Studio Ghibli films (specifically My Neighbor Totoro vibes), while also managing to pay homage to a beautiful culture and stand on its own two feet as a unique experience.

It’s simple and certainly doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but it’s also very relaxing and perfect for those days where the world feels a bit too much. So, if you’re having a rough time and feeling a bit blue, remember the Night Market is every Saturday, and Nikko is waiting for you.

Right, that’s it for our Mineko’s Night Market review. If this type of game is your vibe as much as it is mine, there are plenty of other titles to explore in our list of the best indie games, cute games, or our top picks for the best Switch games overall. We’ve also got a list of all the ACNH villagers, along with guides to Fae Farm multiplayer, Fae Farm flowers, and Fae Farm Fish.

Mineko’s Night Market review

Mineko’s Night Market is a truly charming little game, full of cute cats, quirky characters, and plenty of chill vibes. Its narrative successfully celebrates Japanese culture, friendship, and belonging in such a beautiful way, and is supported by a simple yet engaging gameplay loop made up of gathering, crafting, and even a spot of espionage. A must for cozy game lovers all over the world, and the perfect way to unwind after a stressful day.

Posted on September 13, 2023 by — Leave a comment

NBA 2k24 error codes – what do they mean?

The latest entry in the stalwart basketball title is here, and as such, many players are encountering a fresh NBA 2k24 error code or two. Every new release comes with a fresh batch of bugs, and NBA 2K24 is no different. So, in this guide, we’re going through the most common problems and attempting to help you get back to the game soon.

Just before we launch a ball of knowledge from the three-point line and watch it swoop into the net of your brains, be sure to check out the rest of our great guides on NBA 2K24 and other sports games. We’ve got NBA 2K24 locker codes, Dodge Stars codes, Hoop Simulator codes, Push Simulator codes, and get some cardio with our guide to RunStar Simulator codes as well.

Here’s how to fix each NBA 2K24 error code:

How do I fix NBA 2K24 error code 4b538e50?

The NBA 2K24 error code 4b538e50 appears for some players when the game is missing some data. The best way to deal with it is to ensure you have the latest version of the game downloaded, and you can also often fix this by turning off your Switch device and restarting it. If it persists, some players are encountering a screen saying their MyPlayer account has expired, in which case, follow these steps:

Open up the NBA 2K website
Sign into your account with the button on the top right of the screen
Select the applicable service (Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5, etc.)
Enter your NBA2K MyPlayer account email address, and log in.

That should just about cover it for this particular error code!

How do I fix NBA 2K24 error code EFEAB30C?

Next, some players are receiving the NBA 2K24 error code EFEAB30C, and it seems to relate to the version of the game on players’ devices being out of sync with the NBA 2K24 servers. Much like before, the best thing to do is ensure you have the latest version of the game downloaded, and if you still encounter the problem, then turn off your device and start the game again. It can also mean an issue connecting to NBA 2K24 servers, which you can fix with a few helpful tips. Try one of these steps:

Restart your internet router
Disconnect your console from the current internet line, and then reconnect
Ensure your router has the latest firmware
Make sure you have the latest version of NBA 2K24
Use a wired connection instead

Well then, folks, that’s all we have for our NBA 2K24 error code guide for today! For even more great games, be sure to check out our guide to the best Switch sports games next.

Posted on September 5, 2023 by — Leave a comment

Get your bells ready for a cute new Animal Crossing Switch Lite

Today Nintendo announced a few fun new Nintendo Switch bundles, finally adding some variety alongside the stalwart Mario Kart 8 Deluxe SKU that has arrived every holiday season like the Coca-Cola Christmas advert. Luckily, Nintendo fans have a Nintendo Switch Sports bundle on shelves, alongside two Animal Crossing New Horizons Switch Lite consoles with special artwork.

All three bundles arrive on October 20, 2023, just one day before the release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Nintendo is pairing a pre-installed digital Nintendo Switch Sports alongside a regular (non-OLED) Nintendo Switch with neon red and blue Joy-Cons. It’s a little strange to still be getting a regular old Switch, but Nintendo might be squeezing out the last bits of stock before a Nintendo Switch 2 release date in the future.

Meanwhile, you can also grab either a coral pink or turquoise blue Nintendo Switch Lite, though, unlike the previous versions of those colors, these new Animal Crossing-themed versions feature a white pattern on the back of the Switch, with the illustrations featuring the iconic Animal Crossing leaf. There’s even a little Animal Crossing logo under the right analogue stick adding an extra bit of flair. Will you be picking any of these up?

There’s no trailer for the Animal Crossing New Horizons Switch Lite, but you can check out this cozy advert below to get in the mood for some winter gaming.

That’s all we have on these Nintendo Switch bundles today folks, but if you’re getting ready to grab the console for yourself or a friend, be sure to check out our list of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2023.

Posted on August 18, 2023 by — Leave a comment

The best tactics games on Switch and mobile 2023

We love tactics games, and luckily for us, there are plenty of fantastic examples of the genre on both the Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. It’s always a thrill to plot your moves ahead of time, unleash your different units, and try your best to overpower your opponent with brain power and weapons. Plus, you can pretend to be an army general without any of the guilt. Sorry little virtual troops, some of you aren’t ever seeing your virtual wives and children again.

Anyway, before we send some fictional soldiers to meet their makers, be sure to check out our huge army of amazing content. Let us command some information into your eyeballs with our guides covering the best Switch RPGs, the best Switch party games, the best Switch strategy games, and of course the best Switch adventure games.

Alright, troops, let’s march on down into our guide to the best tactics games on Switch and mobile.

Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp – Switch

Nintendo and developer Wayforward recently took two of the best tactics games ever made, jammed them together into one delicious package, and gave them a gorgeous update in this HD remaster. In fact, remaster is cutting it short, as Wayforward gives the games a spiffy new toybox art style, as well as the addition of extra modes and smart enhancements that make these perfect for the modern tactics fans.

Read our Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp review to see why we call it the “blueprint to the perfect remake.”

Fire Emblem: Three Houses – Switch

The Fire Emblem franchise rarely steps a foot wrong, but co-developers Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo’s school-focused entry is a particularly stellar step forward for the tactical IP. You play as a young professor called Byleth who must choose which school house to steward, and ultimately lead into war. Full of great characters, amazing fights, and a fantastic story, this is the best Fire Emblem game since Awakening.

Get to know the cast with our Fire Emblem: Three Houses characters guide.

Triangle Strategy – Switch

Ignore the silly name, as Square Enix and Team Asano’s HD-2D tactics game is much more complex than its mundane moniker might suggest. A political thriller with more depth than its bright visual style suggests, there’s a reason we argue that it’s the closest thing to a good Game of Thrones game on the market. Read our full Triangle Strategy review to learn why we call it a “sublime tactical game with a gut-wrenching story of political and personal strife.”

Mario & Rabbids Sparks of Hope – Switch

Gamers were in for a big surprise in 2017, as Nintendo and Ubisoft’s Mario & Rabbids collaboration is a fantastic tactics title that somehow blends the Mushroom Kingdom with those loony Lepus. Fast forward to 2022, and Mario & Rabbids Sparks of Hope is an interstellar sequel that improves the franchise in almost every single way. You can read our Mario and Rabbids Sparks of Hope review for more information, and make sure you don’t miss the Mario and Rabbids Sparks of Hope Rayman DLC.

Wargroove – Switch

Developer Chucklefish is behind Wargroove, an Advance Wars-like that definitely toes the line between inspiration and imitation. However, this is a really smart tactics game with a lot of great characters, and some really interesting online features. You can even take part in matches with friends, and play whenever you want like a game of chess. It also looks gorgeous, so tactics fans will have a blast with this one.

Into The Breach – Switch and mobile

I will talk about Into The Breach any chance I get. The futuristic roguelike is a tactics masterclass, using just a few units and locations to their fullest potential. Developer Subset Games has crafted an endlessly replayable tactical game that features high-stakes matches to save the human race from a ruthless army of insect-like aliens. The isometric look is also absolutely gorgeous with an incredible synth soundtrack, slightly taking the sting out of watching the end of humanity.

Bad North – Switch and mobile

If you want something a bit less complicated, this minimalist masterpiece is a great starting point. From Plausible Concept, Bad North is a game that balances wordless war with simple visuals to offer a tactical game with a difference. Everything is easy to understand, and fantastic visual design means you always know what to do. It gets tricky, but this is a great pick for younger gamers as well.

Meet more about the violent delights of Vikings in our Bad North review.

Clash of Clans – mobile

Everyone and their moms know about Clash of Clans, but much like other megahits such as Angry Birds or Candy Crush, Clash of Clans is successful because it’s a great game at its core. Command your own army, build your base, and defend your forces from millions of other players around the world. It’s addictive, it’s easy to understand, and there are potentially years of gameplay. Give it a try, and then use our Clash of Clans bases guide to get started.

Stand down, troops, our guide to the best tactics games on Switch and mobile is over for now. However, if you still have the itch for more gaming – like Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker – then strap on your bomb suit and wander down into our explosive guide on the best Switch survival games.

Posted on May 19, 2023 by — Leave a comment

The Legend of Dopamine: Zelda, me, and ADHD

Back in 2017, at the spritely age of 27 years old, I couldn’t wait to get the Nintendo Switch and a new Zelda game. What I didn’t realise at the time was that I likely had ADHD, and oh how I wish I could go back and shake the younger version of me.

If I had stopped to think about it for a few seconds, I might have known, but sadly my ADHD often means I can’t stop to contemplate things very much. Classic really. In my twenties, I was acutely aware of my anxiety. I also knew I was a bit hyper sometimes, but I just put that down to the fact that I’m an enthusiastic person. However, during my twenties, I knew people who are autistic and neurodivergent, and the last thing I wanted to do was take up space.

There are many things that are key to my initial realisation that I have ADHD. Countless abandoned projects, intense hyper fixations, a rollercoaster of acute concentration mixed with a brain that can feel dizzy and disorientated. I also struggle with books, long films, and a lot of games that lack immediacy. I think this is why I gravitate towards Nintendo games, because when I press the jump button, Mario jumps… instantly.

I’m a huge Zelda fan, and I’m lucky enough to say that I got to play and enjoy several titles alongside their original releases, such as Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword. Breath of the Wild’s launch is still so special, however, as the drastic transformation of the series’ gameplay and style remains shocking to this day. It also represents everything I love about videogames but often struggle to articulate.

Before becoming a journalist, I was terrible for getting stuck in a game and only coming back months, if not years, later. One wrong turn in a dungeon, and I was so disorientated I could never go back. One too many deaths at the hand of a boss, and I threw in the towel. If I lost an hour or two of progress, I was probably never coming back.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild didn’t entirely help me realise I have ADHD, but it helps me explain so many things about my brain, what appeals to it, and what keeps me coming back. I have well over 600 hours across multiple saves in Breath of the Wild, and it’s a world I am happy to just occupy, aimlessly wander, and jump from point of interest to point of interest.

I think Breath of the Wild is a fantastic game for people with ADHD, and there are a few reasons why. First is the aforementioned immediacy. If I press jump, Link jumps. If I want to go somewhere, I can go there. If I see something interesting, you can bet I can find it, and almost every single time, the game rewards me for doing so. The Hyrule of Breath of the Wild is densely populated not just with things to do, but visual cues that point you towards them.

The most crucial of these points of interest are two things, shrines and koroks. They stand out distinctly in the overworld, and both give you a quantifiable reward for solving their puzzles. In essence, all of the Hyrule map is the dungeon, and shrines and koroks represent puzzles in every square inch instead of individual rooms. The shrines are the macro puzzles, and the koroks are the micro puzzles.

They’re both fun and satisfying to solve in their own right, but the fact they’re both visually appealing is essential. Spotting the bright glow of a shrine is still so fun, and it’s just as present in Tears of the Kingdom. But the koroks are the star of the show here, littering the world with visually distinct oddities that always catch the eye.

As you wander around Hyrule, you might see three trees in a row. They all have very similar displays of fruit, except for a single apple out of place. How strange. So to satisfy the symmetry-loving part of your brain you knock down the odd apple, and low and behold, up pops the leafy critter as you have just solved a korok puzzle.

There are so many of these puzzles, like circles consisting of rocks with a single one missing, begging you to complete the circle. There are rings of leaves floating on bodies of water, with a suspiciously positioned spot just above that looks perfect for diving. There are rows of statues, all holding offerings of apples, except for one, and you know exactly what’s bound to happen if you drop an apple into that empty space.

If you’re familiar with the viral TikTok of a person watching someone put blocks into the wrong-shaped holes, you know the exact opposite of this feeling. There’s such a rush of dopamine when you create order out of disorder, when you finally bring together two separated elements, much like when completing a line in Tetris.

Breath of the Wild is essentially a million tiny tasks, but while other videogames gate these off with blocks to progression or singular solutions to puzzles, Breath of the Wild begs for you to solve these small puzzles any way that works, and in any order. You can walk in a straight line in any direction in Breath of the Wild and come across puzzles to solve, shrines to complete, and enemies to defeat. And it’s never, ever, the wrong thing to do.

I’ve fallen in love with games before, and I often can force myself to play games I describe as anti-ADHD. While the agonising pace of a title like Red Dead Redemption 2 is too much for me, I managed to get through the mental blockades in Animal Crossing: New Horizons created by the obtuse nature of terraforming.

Perhaps it’s because Animal Crossing still allows you to quickly do small tasks in between other larger ones, whereas in RDR2, I feel like I’m following a script, and I can only do it as quickly as the game wants me to. Either way, I can play any game, really, but I only fall completely in love with games that work alongside my brain.

This is how I know Breath of the Wild is the perfect ADHD game for me. Instead of ominous and obtuse large tasks, I have an easy-to-solve pile of small tasks all along the way, offering dopamine with every solution. I don’t have to wait for hours for resolution or essential story development, every moment actively involves me, it makes me think, and rewards me.

I remember those early days in 2017, when my housemates and I had Breath of the Wild up on a projector, playing it for hours at a time, endlessly entertained and constantly curious. My housemate jokingly referred to it as “mash A – the game”, and he was incredibly right. Much like the many korok puzzles and the many shrines, there’s also always something to pick up, whether it’s plants, resources like wood, or drops from enemies. And crucially, it’s immediate.

Everything about Breath of the Wild works with my brain, nothing gets in the way, and that’s how I could still gladly sink another 600 hours into it. Now, this is where I’m both delighted and terrified. You remember how I said Breath of the Wild is the perfect ADHD game? Well, scratch that, because Tears of the Kingdom is the perfect ADHD game.

I’m one week and nearly twenty hours into my latest Hyrule adventure, and already I’m seeing smart amendments to the few blockades that Breath of the Wild offers to progress. The shrines are back and even more visually appealing, just teasing you from across the map with their green swirling lights and asking to be explored.

Except now they aren’t contained to the ground, and neither is Link. That curiosity is rewarded threefold, with new things to spot, pin, and explore on the ground, in the sky, and even below the surface. I’m a magpie, and the sky islands are shiny coins, dazzling me with their secrets as my mind aches to discover what each new floating area holds.

One of my only issues with Breath of the Wild is the amount of rain and having to genuinely just wait for several real minutes for the weather to pass just so Link can explore again. However, Tears of the Kingdom isn’t just about climbing, it’s also about vertical exploration, and the height offered by the skyward propulsion of the towers or the many zany Zonai devices is so, so, satisfying.

No more is my curiosity restricted to the land and beholden to the rain gods. I can go anywhere, and I mean anywhere. Tears of the Kingdom wants you to explore every inch of the sky, the depths, and it happily rewards you for doing so. I find myself spotting mesmerizingly high islands, using Zonai balloons and fire emitters to slowly float up there, and every time being rewarded with something special.

The final two improvements go hand in hand, and I can see myself losing years of my life to them. My favourite element of Breath of the Wild is the koroks, and my favourite new element of Tears of the Kingdom is the ability to create vehicles with Zonai devices, only limited by your imagination.

So, you had better believe that I’m in love with the latest korok puzzle, where you must reunite two little korok friends separated over large distances. I’m going to be making cars, planes, and flying death machines to reunite my leafy friends for the next few years.

I can’t say yet if Tears of the Kingdom is set to help me realise something new about myself, but I’m immensely happy that Breath of the Wild did. Six years and one ADHD diagnosis, later I have steps in place to help me, and crucially I know exactly what my brain likes and what it doesn’t like. I thought I had found perfection, but it just might be trumped, as Tears of the Kingdom offers all the immediacy, curiosity, and constant rewards that make the dopamine in my brain go brrrr… and then some. I’ll see you in another 600 hours.

Posted on May 11, 2023 by — Leave a comment

The BotW recipe book

BotW recipes are one of the more playful additions to the reinvented Zelda formula. Alongside the crafting system, this offers many, many concoctions for you to discover. It’s very rare that you get given recipes, so finding them by trial and error is key to creating culinary masterpieces. Of course, some players would like to have a recipe book, and that’s what we’ve made here. Every single BotW recipe for every tasty meal.

So, bookmark this page and check back here every time Link’s tummy starts rumbling. Once you’ve had your fill, check out our BotW amiibo guide to get some in-game freebies, or our Zelda BotW map rundown to make sure you actually know where you’re going. If you need a refresher on the stars of the game, check out our BotW Zelda and BotW Link, then head over to our Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review to embark on a new adventure.

BotW recipe book

Here you can find all the dishes you could every need in BotW:

How do you cook BotW recipes?

Cooking in Breath of the Wild is simple, but not tutorialised. First, you need to find a cooking pot. If it doesn’t have a lit fire beneath it, use some sort of flame to light it (or drop some flint on the wood and use a metal weapon to light it). Once the fire’s lit, it’s time to get cooking.

Go into your inventory and choose the ingredients you want and make sure you get Link to hold them. You can hold up to five items. Once you’re holding them, exit the menu and drop them into the cooking pot. Et voila, you’re now on your way to making countless culinary creations. Bon appetit!

Every BotW recipe

Here are all the BotW recipes. Any ingredient that is non-descript (e.g. vegetable, mushroom, seafood etc.) means that you can use any type of that ingredient. Well, what are you waiting for? Get cooking.

Vegan BotW recipes

Ever wanted to roleplay as an eco-conscious Link? Well, here are all the BotW recipes that don’t harm any animals.

Copious fried wild greens – four different vegetables
Copious mushroom skewers – four different mushrooms
Curry rice – Hylian rice, Goron spice
Fragrant mushroom sauté – mushroom, Goron spice
Fried wild greens – vegetable
Fruit and mushroom mix – fruit, mushroom
Herb sauté – vegetable, Goron spice
Mushroom rice balls – mushroom, Hylian rice
Mushroom skewer – mushroom
Rock-hard food – gems or wood
Salt-grilled greens – vegetable, rock salt
Salt-grilled mushrooms – mushroom, rock salt
Sautéed nuts – acorn or Chickaloo tree nut
Spicy sautéed peppers – spicy pepper
Steamed fruit – fruit, vegetable
Steamed mushrooms – mushroom, vegetable
Vegetable curry – carrot or pumpkin, Goron spice, Hylian rice
Veggie rice balls – vegetable, Hylian rice
Wheat bread – rock salt, Tabantha wheat

Vegetarian BotW recipes

If you can’t do without eggs and milk, not to worry. You can also be a veggie in Breath of the Wild with this wide array of recipes.

Carrot stew – carrot, goat butter, fresh milk, Tabantha wheat
Cream of mushroom soup – mushroom, vegetable, fresh milk, rock salt
Cream of vegetable soup – vegetable, fresh milk, rock salt
Creamy heart soup – radish, hydromelon, voltfruit, fresh milk
Curry pilaf – Hylian rice, goat butter, Goron spice
Glazed mushrooms – mushroom, courser bee honey
Glazed veggies – vegetable, courser bee honey
Mushroom omelette – mushroom, bird egg, goat butter, rock salt
Mushroom risotto – mushroom, goat butter, Hylian rice, rock salt
Pumpkin stew – fortified pumpkin, goat butter, fresh milk, Tabantha wheat
Vegetable omelette – vegetable, bird egg, goat butter, rock salt
Vegetable risotto – carrot or pumpkin, goat butter, Hylian rice, rock salt
Veggie cream soup – pumpkin or carrot, fresh milk, rock salt

Meat BotW recipes

You may see Link as a hardy young man trying to save the world. He can’t be picky with his dietary requirements, right? Well, here’s the list for all you meat lovers out there.

Copious meat skewers – four different raw meats
Creamy meat soup – raw meat, herb, fresh milk, rock salt
Glazed meat – meat, courser bee honey
Gourmet meat curry – raw gourmet meat, Hylian rice, Goron spice
Gourmet meat stew – raw gourmet meat, goat butter, fresh milk, Tabantha wheat
Gourmet meat and rice bowl – raw gourmet meat or raw whole bird, Hylian rice, rock salt
Gourmet meat and seafood fry – raw gourmet meat or raw bird thigh, any fish
Gourmet spiced meat skewer – raw gourmet meat or raw whole bird, Goron spice
Meat curry – raw meat, hylian rice, Goron spice
Meat pie – raw meat, Tabantha wheat, goat butter, rock salt
Meat skewer – raw meat
Meat stew – raw meat, goat butter, fresh milk, Tabantha wheat
Meat and mushroom skewer – raw meat, mushroom
Meat and rice bowl – raw meat or raw bird drumstick, Hylian rice, rock salt
Meat and seafood fry – raw meat or raw bird drumstick, fish
Meat-stuffed pumpkin – raw meat, fortified pumpkin
Meaty rice balls – raw meat, Hylian rice
Prime meat curry – raw prime meat, Hylian rice, Goron spice
Prime meat stew – raw prime meat, goat butter, fresh milk, Tabantha wheat
Prime meat and rice bowl – raw bird thigh, Hylian rice, Goron spice
Prime meat and seafood fry – raw prime meat or raw bird thigh, fish
Prime spiced meat skewer – raw prime meat or raw bird thigh, Goron spice
Salt-grilled gourmet meat – raw gourmet meat or raw whole bird, rock salt
Salt-grilled meat – raw meat or raw bird drumstick, rock salt
Salt-grilled prime meat – raw prime meat or raw bird thigh, rock salt
Spiced meat skewer – raw meat or raw bird drumstick, Goron spice
Spicy pepper steak – meat, spicy pepper
Steamed meat – meat, vegetable

Poultry BotW recipes

A more delicate flavour than the meat above, here are all the poultry BotW recipes.

Gourmet poultry curry – raw whole bird, Hylian rice, Goron spice
Gourmet poultry pilaf – raw whole bird, bird egg, goat butter, Hylian rice
Poultry curry – raw bird drumstick, Goron spice, Hylian rice
Poultry pilaf – raw bird drumstick, bird egg, goat butter, Hylian rice
Prime poultry curry – raw bird thigh, Hylian rice, Goron spice
Prime poultry pilaf – raw bird thigh, bird egg, goat butter, Hylian rice

Seafood BotW recipes

Link is a fine swimmer, and great at riding boats with that big leaf he has. Surely he’s a fan of seafood?

Clam chowder – hearty blueshell snail, goat butter, fresh milk, Tabantha wheat
Copious seafood skewers – four different fish
Crab omelette with rice – crab, bird egg, rock salt, Hylian rice
Crab risotto – crab, rock salt, Hylian rice, goat butter
Crab stir-fry – crab, Goron spice
Creamy seafood soup – seafood, herb, rock salt, fresh milk
Fish pie – seafood, rock salt, goat butter, Tabantha wheat
Fish and mushroom skewer – fish, mushroom
Glazed seafood – seafood, courser bee honey
Porgy meunière – porgy, goat butter, Tabantha wheat
Salmon meunière – hearty salmon, rock salt, Hylian rice, goat butter
Salmon risotto – hearty salmon, rock salt, Hylian rice, goat butter
Salt-grilled crab – crab, rock salt
Salt-grilled fish – fish, rock salt
Seafood curry – porgy or hearty blueshell snail, Hylian rice, Goron spice
Seafood fried rice – porgy or hearty blueshell snail, Hylian rice, rock salt
Seafood meunière – seafood, goat butter, Tabantha wheat
Seafood paella – porgy, hearty blueshell snail, rock salt, goat butter, Hylian rice
Seafood rice balls – fish, Hylian rice
Seafood skewer – crab or snail
Spicy pepper seafood – fish, spicy pepper
Steamed fish – fish, vegetable

Monster BotW recipes

If you’re looking to explore Link’s darker side, here are all the monster-based BotW recipes. He has to take what he can get, right?

Dubious food – monster parts or other non-edible items
Monster cake – monster extract, cane sugar, goat butter, Tabantha wheat
Monster curry – monster extract, Goron spice, Hylian rice
Monster rice balls – monster extract, Hylian rice, rock salt
Monster soup – monster extract, goat butter, fresh milk, Tabantha wheat
Monster stew – monster extract, meat, seafood

Desert BotW recipes

Everyone deserves a treat every now and then. Ruin Link’s diet with these lovely sweet treats.

Apple pie – apple, goat butter, cane sugar, Tabantha wheat
Carrot cake – carrot, goat butter, cane sugar, Tabantha wheat
Copious simmered fruit – four different fruit
Egg tart – bird egg, goat butter, Tabantha wheat, cane sugar
Egg pudding – bird egg, fresh milk, cane sugar
Energising honey candy – courser bee honey
Energising honey crepe – courser bee honey, Tabantha wheat, bird egg, cane sugar, fresh milk
Fried bananas – mighty bananas, cane sugar, Tabantha wheat
Fruit cake – apple or wildberry, fruit, cane sugar, Tabantha wheat
Fruit pie – fruit, goat butter, cane sugar, Tabantha wheat
Honeyed apple – apple, courser bee honey
Honeyed fruits – fruit, courser bee honey
Hot buttered apple – apple, goat butter
Nut cake – acorn or Chikaloo tree nut, goat butter, cane sugar, Tabantha wheat
Plain crepe – Tabantha wheat, bird egg, cane sugar, fresh milk
Pumpkin pie – fortified pumpkin, goat butter, cane sugar, Tabantha wheat
Simmered fruit – fruit
Wildberry crepe – wildberry, bird egg, cane sugar, fresh milk, Tabantha wheat

Drink BotW recipes

One stiff drink for Link. Well, he’s underage, so no booze. But still, it’s got a fairy in it. That’s got to make him feel a little wavey, right?

Fairy tonic – fairy

Whoa, that’s a lot of BotW recipes. You’re ready to explore Hyrule with a full belly thanks to our BotW recipe book. If you need more Zelda magic, we’ve got a Skyward Sword amiibo guide to get you started in this classic Wii adventure.

Posted on April 27, 2023 by — Leave a comment

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom preview breakdown

We’re absolutely champing at the bit for any information on the upcoming sequel to Breath of the Wild, as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is now tantalisingly close. So close in fact, that several outlets recently played the title at Tears of the Kingdom previews, and are spilling a few key details in the process. So, we’re putting together several of these previews and going over some of the details you might miss.

Before we para-sail into the rest of this guide, we’ve got more great pieces of content than Hyrule has shrines, so be sure to check it all out. We’ve got articles covering Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom fusion, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom enemies, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailer breakdown, Zelda Tears of the Kingdom: Zonai, and much more.

Let’s take a closer look at everything revealed in the Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom previews.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom previews

First up, we’re gathering up some of the most informative previews all in one place, so you can easily watch them all right here.

IGN

Nintendo Life

GameXplain

Good Vibes Gaming

Zeltik

New Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom preview information

We’re busy pouring over every single second of new footage on Tears of the Kingdom and are picking several key new details we’ve spotted, that you otherwise might have missed. You can find them all below.

The Travel Medallion returns from Breath of the Wild’s DLC, and serves exactly the same purpose. This customisable fast travel warp point means Link can return to sky islands with ease
Link makes exciting new creations by using the Ultrahand ability and items known as Zonai parts. A fun new gacha-like sphere drops new parts when Link brings it a Zonai charge which the new enemy known as Zonai constructs drop when killed
Footage reveals that those blue vials at Link’s hip are to be charged for a battery meter, which powers your Zonai creations. We don’t know how to increase this battery charge yet, but footage reveals Link with different amounts, so he must gain more somehow
There’s a second map now with the addition of the sky map. This new addition helps Link chart the land high above Hyrule, and keep track of the many different sky islands. Though we’re not sure how we reveal the map just yet, or if it’s like the Shiekah Tower mechanic from the original Breath of the Wild
When Link picks up a weapon with a full inventory, you’re now given the option to drop a weapon immediately. In Breath of the Wild the game forces you to go back into your inventory before opening the chest again, so this is a huge timesaver
We now have a recipe book, so Link remembers meals he cooks, and presumably can cook them again if he has the ingredients. Another simple change that saves a lot of time
You can now throw any item, much like tossing weapons in Breath of the Wild. Alongside the elemental items such as the various chu chu jellies, this means Link can unleash an attack without wasting any weapons
The new Ascend feature not only allows Link to travel through solid objects from below and peer out into the world above, but it also freezes time. This means if Link uses ascend in a cave, but uncovers an enemy camp high up above, you can choose to quickly dip back down and save your skin
Link’s new abilities such as Fuse and Ultrahand are selectable with a radial dial, much like choosing weapons in Skyward Sword. This is much easier than the menu from Breath of the Wild, plus, footage reveals at least two additional slots for abilities, so there is more to discover in the full game

Alright, folks, that’s all we have on the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom previews for now. We hope you find this helpful, and if you’re just as excited as us to finally revisit the land of Hyrule, be sure to check out our Zelda Tears of the Kingdom pre-order guide next.

Posted on April 19, 2023 by — Leave a comment

Meowza Games announces Mineko’s Night Market release date

Here at Pocket Tactics we’ve been eagerly awaiting the Mineko’s Night Market release date for years at this point, so we’re beyond excited now the developer Meowza Games finally announced it in April 2023’s Indie World Showcase. You can join Mineko at the base of Mount Fugu sooner than you think.

We’re a big fan of indies at Pocket Tactics, so we’ve put together an April Indie World Showcase wrap-up for you to check out. Some highlights include DLC for Cult of the Lamb and Shovel Night and an appearance from Dunkey himself.

When is the Mineko’s Night Market release date?

Mineko’s Night Market releases on Nintendo Switch on September 26, 2023. You can check out the trailer below to see what all the fuss is about.

That’s everything you need to know about the Mineko’s Night Market release date. If you’re into games about Japanese folklore, check out our Oni: Road to be the Mightiest Oni Switch review or our Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo Switch review.

Posted on March 29, 2023 by — Leave a comment

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom – Zonai explained

Being such a humongous game, Nintendo’s Switch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is full of mysteries, many still unsolved to this day (keeping many a YouTube creator in business). As we hurtle towards the imminent release of BotW’s sequel, one particular mystery is unfolding, so we’re going over everything we know in our Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai explained guide.

Before we magnesis your eyes down to the rest of the guide, be sure to check out our Hyrule compendium of content on The Legend of Zelda games, new and old. We have articles on the best Zelda games, Wind Waker Switch, Twilight Princess Switch, Tears of the Kingdom pre-orders, Zelda Lego, Zelda wallpapers, Breath of the Wild wallpaper, and plenty more Links for you to explore.

Alright, explorers, let’s gallop on the back of Epona into our Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai explained guide.

Who are the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai?

Alluded to heavily in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Zonai tribe are an ancient civilisation, already wiped out during the time of Breath of the Wild. Though the people are long gone, evidence of the tribe exists thanks to the Zonai ruins, as well as buildings and ruins based on their notable dragon sigil dotted around the map.

While there’s not much in the way of direct references to the Zonai, several items and locations include descriptions of the ancient race. Players find the three pieces of the Barbarian armour set at the centre of each of the three labyrinths, hinting that the tribe built these giant constructs. The description for each armour piece mentions “an ancient warlike tribe from the Faron region,” while each armour piece also increases attack. From this, it’s likely the Zonai were warriors, kitted out in armour similar to the Barbarian set.

The Zonai crest depicts a water dragon, and many of the Zonai ruins in the Faron region feature a similar water dragon. Etching in the ruins also depict a triforce symbol, suggesting the Zonai have a connection to it, and possibly are able to wield magic. The race also has a strong connection to animals, with each triangle of the triforce associated with an animal. Dragons represent courage, owls for wisdom, and boards for power.

Are the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai associated with the Shiekah?

Both from their location, as well as text descriptions within The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it’s likely the Zonai and the Shiekah are two completely different tribes, but they had access to both the triforce and magic, however through different means.

While there isn’t much connecting the two, we know the Shiekah built the shrines, and it’s hinted the Zonai built the three labyrinths to test warrior’s strength. The fact that each labyrinth contains a shrine hints towards the two tribes working together, so it’s entirely possible the two races worked together to fight Calamity Ganon many centuries ago.

Is Link using Zonai technology in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom?

In the trailers released for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, we see Link and Zelda exploring underground caverns with columns and statues matching the style of the Zonai. One trailer shows Link using a shield with a dragon head attacked, similar to the dragon head that symbolises the Zonai tribe.

The most recent Zelda Tears of the Kingdom stream gives fans an extended look at the title, and Link fights an enemy known as a soldier construct. The enemy drops an item called a Zonai charge, which looks similar to some of the later technology we see powering fans, wheels, and other traversal methods. Link’s new fuse ability and the technology he uses to create methods of transport all seem directly tied to the ancient Zonai technology.

When did the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai exist?

It doesn’t explicitly state within The Legend of the Zelda: Breath of the WIld the era that the Zonai belong to. However, descriptions of the Zonai in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Master Works (Creating a Champion in the West) state that “it’s rumoured that these people disappeared suddenly thousands of years ago.”

Where are the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai ruins?

The Zonai ruins and many of the statues bearing the Zonai sigil and markings are all located in the Faron region of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. However, it is heavily suggested that the Zonai also built the three labyrinths found throughout the game, suggesting that the Zonai travelled all over Zonai, despite calling the Faron region their home.

Trailers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom show many underground caverns with statues and wall etchings using Zonai iconography, possibly hinting that the Zonai tribe actually used underground caverns to travel across Hyrule, explaining why they have technology spread across the land, while only seeming to exist within one region. The Barbarian armour hints that they are a fearsome warrior race, so it is believable that they travel underneath the Hyrule we know, tackling large monsters and paving their own roads across the map of Hyrule.

Alright, folks, that’s all we have for our Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Zonai explained guide for now folks, but we are updating this guide as more information becomes available, especially as we approach the Tears of the Kingdom release date. For even more great Zelda content, be sure to read our guides covering the Zelda BotW map and BotW amiibo.