Released alongside the Nintendo Switch in March of 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild quickly became viewed as one of the best in the series by fans and critics alike. In fact, it’s now thought of by many to be one of the best games ever made, let alone as part of its respective franchise. Giving players the chance to truly roam free helped it stand out among other open-world games. It also made it one of the best-selling games on the Switch. Yet it is still revealing its secrets.
It’s only natural that a Zelda game this big would hold a treasure trove of Easter Eggs for players to discover. But one found only recently was hiding in plain sight. And it’s not as if it was something minuscule.
The coastal Lurelin Village lies in the East Necluda area of the map. While it isn’t vital to completing the game’s story, many curious adventurers undoubtedly wandered through it while exploring. But no one seemed to realize it’s a replica of Outset Island until now.
Jon Carwright of GameXplain on Youtube discovered the reference. While filming a different Zelda video, he noticed similarities in the layout of the map. It is nearly identical to Link’s home in 2002’s The Wind Waker, just with more graphical flourishes.
Of course, this isn’t the first time that Nintendo has included references or maps from past Zelda titles in other games. And it likely won’t be the last. Even as far back as Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, they inserted the original’s map into a small corner of the game.
It’s a testament to the care that Nintendo poured into it that players still uncover new, interesting things. The beloved entry has even inspired fans to create their own unique art. But that begs the question: What other Easter Eggs is Breath of the Wild hiding? Many were found within the first few months of the game’s release, but this one took two years. Only time and a little bit of effort will tell.
