Highlights

• Breath of the Wild is a groundbreaking open-world game that showcases innovation in the gaming industry.
• The game features hidden areas like the Lon Lon Ranch ruins and the Forgotten Temple, which are worth exploring.
• Players can revive their deceased horses at the Malanya Spring, and there are secret locations like the debug room and Dungeon 136 that require manipulating the game's code.

To put it plainly, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has one huge map. The game's open world is absolutely massive and is filled to the brim with different areas to explore.

In fact, the map is so large that it is likely that most people who have played the title have missed a variety of different hidden areas, even if they're the sort of player who's meticulous with their exploration. Here are some hidden areas in Breath of the Wild that many players aren't aware of.

Updated February 10, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Breath of the Wild is one of the greatest games ever made. The title serves as an evolution for open-world gaming as a whole and shows what most AAA developers have been missing when it comes to this genre — innovation. There are so many areas to find and explore in this game that some are bound to be missed. Players are often busy grasping the mechanics of this title and getting lost in their exploration of a desolate Hyrule that has been ruined by Ganondorf's malevolent energy. But when Link has a spare moment, these locations are worth checking out.

21 Lon Lon Ranch

The Ruins Of A Legendary Ranch From Ocarina Of Time

• Where to Find: Southeast of Hyrule Castle

Ocarina of Time is one of the greatest video games ever made, setting a template that many future action-adventure games would follow. One of the game's iconic locations is the Lon Lon Ranch, and the ruins of this area are present in Breath of the Wild.

It can be hard to notice this at a glance, especially since this area isn't shown by name. However, veterans of the Zelda franchise need only explore the ruins near Hyrule Castle to recognize some landmarks from Ocarina of Time. It makes a nice touch for longtime fans of the franchise.

20 Forgotten Temple

An Ancient Temple Devoted To The Goddess Hylia

• Where to Find: Western part of the Great Hyrule Forest region, at the northern end of Tanagar Canyon

The Forgotten Temple plays a much greater role in Tears of the Kingdom, where players must go during their quest to uncover Zelda's memories. In Breath of the Wild, it's a location where players will only be directed after completing the 120 Shrines that players must conquer to gain the Hero of the Wild set.

The area is littered with Decayed Guardians, making it hard for Link to traverse this area unless he takes care of these enemies first. It also features the largest Goddess Statue in the game, which makes for a neat discovery.

19 The Home Of Horse God Malanya

Revive Link's Deceased Horses

• Where to Find: East of the Horse God Bridge in the Faron Grasslands

With all the monsters and dangerous terrain that this game has in store, there are times when players might end up losing their beloved horse to the dangers of the open world. This can be pretty painful if the player gets attached to a particular steed.

Thankfully, players who head to Malanya Spring can find a surprise waiting for them that revives their horses. Players will find a Fairy Fountain-type structure near the spring, which reveals the Horse God Malanya that can revive any dead horse...after a nominal fee, that is.

18 The Secret Debug Room

Players Need To Tamper With The Game's Code To Access This Area

• Where to Find: Not present on the map; an unused room called MarioClubTestDungeon that was discovered by modders in the game's code

It's impossible to access this room without messing around with the code of Breath of the Wild. However, players who decide to embark on this technical journey will gain access to the debug room that the developers used to test out all the mechanics of the game.

Pretty much every weapon in Breath of the Wild is present in this room for players to mess around with. There's even a boss battle with a giant bug... although he goes down in one hit.

17 Dungeon 136

A Cut Shrine That Can Be Accessed By Manipulating The Game's Code

• Where to Find: Not present on the map; an unused room called Dungeon136 that was discovered by modders in the game's code

It has been confirmed that Breath of the Wild houses a total of 135 shrines for the players to explore, including the DLCs. However, modders have found another, secret shrine in the game's code as well.

This shrine is Dungeon 136 and basically serves as an empty room where players generally walk up the stairs to receive a blessing. It's a cool secret that only a handful of fans are aware of.

16 Riola Spring

The Great Dragon Farosh Appears Reliably Here

• Where to Find: South of Mount Floria in West Necluda

Riola Spring is one of the most notable locations in Breath of the Wild. However, for some reason, not a lot of people talk about this beautiful area.

It's a shame since Riola Spring features the most frequent and reliable appearances of the Great Dragon Farosh. Players can camp out here to spawn him time and time again, getting as many materials from this dragon as they want.

15 Lurelin Village

A Legendary Village That Not Many People Visit

• Where to Find: On the coast bordering the Faron and Necluda areas in East Necluda

Hidden away near Tuft Mountain, there is a teeny little village that goes by the name of Lurelin. Upon closer inspection, this village seems to be modeled after Outset Island, the starting island of GameCube's The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

The similarities sure are there, and it is a wonderful callback to another great Zelda title. Another one that brought us a very memorable open-world experience, even if most of it was filled with water. Good times. While there isn't much to do in Lurelin, it is still a great trip down memory lane.

14 Tarrey Town

After Buying A Horse, Players Can Initiate A Quest To Help Build This Town

• Where to Find: The northern section of Lake Akkala in Akkala Highlands, which is uninhabited until Link gets his house built and the builders move to this area near a Great Fairy Fountain

Tarrey Town is literally the most demanding place in this entire game. Offering perhaps the most expansive side quest in Breath of the Wild, Tarrey Town is a completely optional location that Link and co. build as a team.

There is so much unnecessary nonsense that goes on here (for example, only people with names ending in "son" can be recruited to help in Tarrey Town's formation), but once it's done, it is nice to see all that work culminate in an entire town.

13 Eventide Island

An Isolated Island Where Players Must Complete A Tough Gauntlet

• Where to Find: A small island in the southeastern portion of the Necluda Sea

Eventide Island is a mysterious island found in the southeast corner of Hyrule, and it presents Link with a little challenge once landing there. Can the player take on this island after losing everything?

Eventide strips the player of all of Link's armor and tools and has them start from scratch to find three spirit orbs and deliver them to a platform. If players can do this, they'll be rewarded. It is no easy task though, as one of the orbs resides within a Hinox. While this challenge can be easily won with the use of Urbosa's Fury, it is still a very fun area to explore.

12 Great Fairy Fountains

Must Be Accessed To Improve A Player's Armor

• Where to Find: The woods near Kakariko Village, south of Tabantha Tower, in the woods near Tarrey Town, and within the Leviathan skeleton in Dragon's Exile in Gerudo Desert

The Great Fairy Fountains are completely hidden in Breath of the Wild, so finding the few that are scattered around the map is tough. If the player does find them, they're willing to upgrade the player's armor if they have the required materials.

Of course, the Great Fairies require rupees to restore their power before they'll help upgrade Link's armor. Each takes a higher sum than the last, but their fees are worth the armor upgrades.

11 Lover's Pond

A Unique Heart-Shaped Pond That's Hidden Away

• Where to Find: On the summit of Tuft Mountain in East Necluda, west of Lurelin Village

Lover's Pond is the cutest little area in Breath of the Wild, and it can be found on Tuft Mountain. Oh my god, it's a little heart! There is an adorable side quest that can be completed here, and afterward, hey, half the fun of Breath of the Wild is stopping to enjoy the scenery, so why not take a moment and appreciate the little things?

Also, there's definitely another pond that is literally a broken heart, that a man travels to because he's confused. What an absolute mood.

10 Taobab Grassland

The Legendary Giant Horse

• Where to Find: South of the Great Plateau and north of the Oseira Plains in the Gerudo Highlands

Taobab Grassland isn't exactly a hidden area on its own. Rather, what it houses deserves a spot on the list. Want to guess what it is? Here's a hint: Massive Horse.

The aptly named Giant Horse can be found and tamed in this area of the map, which makes for a great activity. This thing is about double the size of Link, to give some context. It's a horse that fans didn't know they needed, and definitely don't deserve. This boy can be found in Taobab Grassland, so head there as soon as possible, please.

9 Basement Of Hyrule Castle

The Best Shield In The Game And An Encounter With A Powerful Stalnox

• Where to Find: Deep in the bowels of Hyrule Castle

Hyrule Castle is the best dungeon that the game has to offer, and there certainly is a lot to explore there. Chances are that players missed quite a bit on their first time around. The castle is full of secrets, but one of the best areas to explore in the castle is the basement.

The path there is absolutely manic, and once inside, there's a boss fight with a skeleton Stalnox. The reward for beating this monster is the incredibly powerful Hylian Shield, which has massive stamina and can reflect Guardian lasers. Not too shabby, huh?

8 Fang And Bone

Sell Monster Parts To Gain Rare, Valuable Equipment

• Where to Find: Initially found on the left eye of Skull Lake in Deep Akkala at night. Following this discovery becomes a regular spawn across most major settlements barring Goron City at night

After talking to Kilton, a creature that can be found at night near Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, he will open up his shop. It will be available near important villages at night, and it houses some great items to buy. His shop has its own currency: as the player sells Kilton monster parts, they'll receive it.

The best item that the player can buy from Kilton is a Dark Link armor set, but hey, does that even matter? The real point of shopping at Fang and Bone is to support local small businesses!

7 Satori Mountain

An Homage To The Late Great Satoru Iwata

• Where to Find: South of Hyrule Ridge in Central Hyrule, near Mogg Latan Shrine

This mountain (which is likely an homage to the late Satoru Iwata) houses a fascinating secret. On certain days, the Lord of the Mountain can be found and tamed, which is a complete disaster to attempt. It takes over two stamina wheels, so good luck.

However, if the player can tame the best steed in the entire game, it certainly is a joy to ride. It can't be registered at any stable, though, so players should make this time with the creature count.

6 Gerudo Summit

The Highest Point In The World Of Hyrule

• Where to Find: At the peak of the Gerudo Highlands

The Gerudo Summit has some great features going for it, including a very important side quest. However, one notable distinction for the mountain is that it is likely the highest point in the entirety of Hyrule, which is no small feat.

Players should do themselves a favor and explore it when they get the chance. That way, they can truly appreciate the beauty of this game from its highest peak, even if the view isn't great.

5 Sturnida Secret Hot Spring

A Refuge In The Cold, Where A Dip Can Restore Link's Hearts

• Where to Find: Between Lake Kilsie and the Hebra West Summit in the Hebra Mountains

Being the only one able to save Hyrule can get tiring, especially when Link's stamina keeps running out and he's low on hearts. Luckily, there are several secret hot springs all over Hyrule that Link can jump into for a relaxing time and a full replenishing of hearts.

One such hot spring is the Sturnida Secret Hot Spring, found in the western part of the Hebra Mountains. What makes this hot spring special is the steaming hot water in the middle of the freezing tundra that is Hebra, a welcome refuge from the cold winds and relentless enemies.

4 Rist Peninsula

A Spiraling Peninsula With A Shrine In The Middle

• Where to Find: Ranges from the Akkala Highlands into the Akkala Sea at the eastern edge of Hyrule Kingdom

This unique peninsula may look like a long, relaxing walk on the beach, but it will throw players a curve ball. Rist Peninsula is a spiraling path that extends into the Akkala sea, right on the easternmost side of Hyrule's map. The path is littered with monsters itching for a fight, but Link can simply swim to the center island, where Ritaag Zumo Shrine is located.

The curveball is that the shrine can only be opened by using an orb, and that orb is all the way over on the mainland, meaning players will have to carry it the long way around, past all those darn monsters.

3 Lomei Labyrinth Island

One Of The Hidden Labyrinth Challenges

• Where to Find: Off the shore of North Akkala Beach

This area is tucked away on the map, being the most northeastern location in the game. Once players manage to find and reach the labyrinth's entrance (which can take a lot of stamina), the fun can really begin.

The Trial of the Labyrinth requires Link to locate the Tu Ka'Loh Shrine, nestled deep within the labyrinth's twisting walls. The player will run into many guardians, especially in the basement, but there's also plenty of treasure and gear to be found, such as a Diamond Circlet and Ancient Core.

2 Thyphlo Ruins

Dark Ruins Where Players Need A Source Of Light To Navigate

• Where to Find: North of the Great Hyrule Forest

The Thyphlo ruins are found directly north of the Great Hyrule Forest but can be missed in all the excitement of hunting down the Master Sword. Entering the ruins (which is best from the west bridge) activates the Shrouded Shrine quest, which can be completed on-site.

The goal is simple enough: obtain the orb from the ruins' Hinox and open the Ketoh Wawai shrine. However, the entire area is completely cloaked in darkness, meaning torches and other light sources are essential to completion. Running around in the dark will force players to rely on their other senses and maybe even remind fans of Dark Link from Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link.