How Shigeru Miyamoto Helped Shape Zelda: Breath of the Wild Through Unscripted Play

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild stands as one of Nintendo’s most groundbreaking achievements, redefining the iconic Zelda franchise while setting a new standard for open-world adventure games on Nintendo Switch.

Developed by Nintendo and directed by Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Breath of the Wild was launched globally on March 3, 2017, alongside the release of the Nintendo Switch console.

The game’s innovative design and vast game world have captivated millions, surpassing 30 million units sold as of 2023, making it a flagship title in Nintendo’s celebrated history. Creating an ambitious game of this scale was no small feat.

In a candid discussion with gaming publication Kotaku, director Hidemaro Fujibayashi offered insights into the design process and the challenges of convincing Nintendo’s leadership to embrace Breath of the Wild’s unprecedented freedom.

At the heart of this process was an internal prototype—an early version of the game designed to showcase the possibilities of emergent gameplay. When Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary creator behind the Zelda series, was given access to this prototype, the team observed his natural curiosity in action.

According to Fujibayashi, Miyamoto spent a considerable amount of time simply exploring the environment by climbing trees, moving up and down their branches for nearly an hour within a small area just outside the Shrine of Resurrection.

The developers intentionally hid rupees and other small surprises at the tops of trees, but refrained from guiding Miyamoto, instead asking him to "just play the game." His instinctive enjoyment of unstructured exploration underscored the potential of the open-world concept and showed the development team that their vision resonated at the highest levels of Nintendo. Recounting this key moment, Fujibayashi explained, "When Miyamoto tried the prototype for the first time, he immediately started climbing the trees in the area, spending a significant amount of time simply moving up and down.

Despite hints placed around the field for him to discover, he was so engrossed in the simple act of exploration that he continued climbing trees, reinforcing the central concept of player-driven discovery in the game." Breath of the Wild’s design philosophy draws inspiration from Miyamoto’s own childhood adventures, reflecting the spirit of curiosity and wonder that has defined the Zelda series since its beginnings.

The game allows players an extraordinary degree of freedom, encouraging them to experiment with mechanics, explore the landscape, and approach challenges in countless ways.

This freedom has been praised widely and was one of the key factors in the game’s critical and commercial success—winning numerous Game of the Year awards and maintaining a strong presence on the Nintendo eShop. Through unscripted moments like Miyamoto’s tree-climbing exploration, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild became a showcase for the power of emergent gameplay and remains a defining experience not only for the Nintendo Switch, but for the entire gaming industry.

Its lasting legacy is a testament to Nintendo’s commitment to creativity, innovation, and the spirit of adventure that continues to inspire both players and developers worldwide.

Zelda Nintendo Switch Breath of the Wild Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild The Legend of Zelda Shigeru Miyamoto Legend of Zelda Switch Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Zelda: Breath of the Wild Miyamoto Legend