The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Visual Mastery: A Closer Look

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BOTW) may have launched back in 2017, but its visual presentation continues to impress, demonstrating that exceptional art direction can transcend hardware limits. From its sweeping vistas to refined lighting and bold stylization, it still stands out in the open-world genre—and recent enhancements hint at its potential on future hardware.

Why the visuals still stand out

Several reviewers have pointed out that while BOTW doesn't aim to be the most technically advanced game in terms of raw fidelity, its art style and design are what make it shine. According to TechRadar:

"The game maintains a steady 30 fps… and though it lacks the incredible level of detail seen in the latest PlayStation 4 and Xbox One titles, the cel-shaded art style really shines and the draw-distance is remarkable."

GameSkinny echoed a similar sentiment:

"The game features lovely cel-shaded graphics… I have paused just to look at the scenery."

In other words, the visual identity of BOTW—its painterly skies, soft textures, and rich color palettes—remain its strongest assets.

The "next-level" visuals and enhancements

Beyond its base hardware visuals, BOTW has become something of a sandbox for enthusiasts pushing it into 4K/8K, ultra-wide displays, and even ray-tracing mods. For example:

A report from Wccftech shows BOTW running at 8K resolution with full ray tracing via emulation:

"The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild looks unreal with complete ray tracing in new 8K video."

Additionally, Nintendo has announced that BOTW will receive an upgraded version for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, featuring enhanced resolution, better frame rates, and HDR support.

These enhancements mean that this classic title still has room to grow visually—whether via official updates or community efforts.

Some caveats worth noting

Of course, no visual package is perfect. Reviewers and players have noted:

Occasional frame-rate dips and texture pop-in, particularly in dense environments on Nintendo Switch.

The original Wii U version had noticeably lower draw distance and resolution compared to the Switch version.

While the art style is timeless, players looking for ultra-realism or next-gen texture fidelity may want "more".

Final thoughts

BOTW's visuals succeed because they prioritise coherence, emotion and exploration—rather than chasing photorealism alone. The fact that the same game still looks incredible years later is a testament to the care in design. With the coming Switch 2 edition and modded enhancements, BOTW's visual legacy continues to expand.