Nintendo’s next-gen console launch has taken a high note, but perhaps not for the reason you expect: the top 2 Games of the Year on Metacritic are none other than upgraded remasters—The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild—specifically their Nintendo Switch 2 versions.
🏆 Switch 2 Zelda Remasters Dominate Metacritic
According to Metacritic’s “Best Games of the Year” list, both Zelda titles—enhanced for the Switch 2—now occupy the #1 and #2 spots for 2025:
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Metascore 96/100, the highest-rated game of the year so far
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Metascore 94/100, the second-best rated
These polished remasters have surpassed all 2025-original releases, highlighting Nintendo’s ability to breathe new life into its acclaimed classics.
🎨 What Makes the Switch 2 Editions Shine?
Both remasters deliver substantial technical and visual upgrades:
- Patched to 4K visuals, now with stable 60 FPS
- Enhanced HDR support, faster loading via the console’s SSD
- New Zelda Notes app, improving usability with auto-navigation, hint systems, and blueprint sharing
Critics describe these versions as the “definitive” editions of their respective games, elevating the original experiences with modern enhancements .
🗣️ Community Reactions
Fan communities have erupted in praise:
“Tears of the Kingdom… now tops Metacritic’s best‑rated game of 2025” (Reddit) metacritic.com+15reddit.com+15gamesradar.com+15
Many hail the remasters as essential for both newcomers and returning fans, citing improved performance and added polish as major selling points.
🤔 Remasters vs. New Releases
This dominance raises interesting questions: should remasters count alongside new titles in “Game of the Year” races? Critics argue that while the Zelda upgrades aren’t new stories, their overwhelmingly improved presentation and enduring quality make them worthy contenders.
New releases like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue Prince, and Split Fiction lead the pack of 2025 originals—but they trail behind the Zelda remasters.
