Experts Name 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' The Greatest Video Game Ever

Why It Matters

The accolade reinforces Nintendo’s influence on modern game design and validates open‑world mechanics as a benchmark for future titles, while the sales figures illustrate strong commercial viability.

Key Takeaways

• GQ’s expert panel voted Breath of the Wild #1 in 2023 ranking.
• Open‑world freedom cited as primary reason for its top placement.
• Game earned most first‑place votes among 652 contenders.
• 33.64 million copies sold, fourth‑best Switch seller.

Pulse Analysis

When GQ assembled a panel of 239 video‑game professionals in May 2023, it set out to settle a long‑standing debate: which title deserves the crown of greatest ever. The magazine’s point‑system—awarding ten points for a first‑place vote down to one for tenth—produced a clear winner: Nintendo’s 2017 release The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The poll’s composition, spanning developers, directors, journalists and prominent streamers, gives the result weight beyond fan polls, positioning the accolade as a benchmark for industry excellence.

Breath of the Wild’s triumph stems largely from its redefinition of open‑world design. By discarding linear progression and embracing a physics‑driven, sandbox environment, the game lets players solve puzzles, combat enemies and explore Hyrule in virtually any order. This freedom sparked a wave of imitators, from Ubisoft’s ‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ to CD Projekt’s ‘Cyberpunk 2077,’ each borrowing the systemic approach to reward experimentation. Critics also praised the seamless integration of survival mechanics, dynamic weather and a minimalist UI, establishing new expectations for player agency in future titles.

The critical acclaim translated into staggering commercial success. With 33.64 million units sold, Breath of the Wild ranks as the fourth‑best‑selling Switch title, confirming that innovative design can drive mass‑market appeal. Nintendo leveraged the momentum to cement the Switch’s position as a hybrid console, expanding its ecosystem with DLC and a sequel that promises to build on the open‑world formula. For developers, the game’s dual achievement—critical darling and sales juggernaut—underscores the business case for investing in ambitious, player‑centric experiences that push genre boundaries.