Why 'Zelda' Outshines 'Mario' in the Nintendo Universe

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the sequel to Breath of the Wild, has cemented Zelda's position as the standard-bearer for Nintendo and the Switch, surpassing Mario. Breath of the Wild reinvented open-world games and became the generational standard for big-budget, console-selling, single-player action-adventure games. Tears of the Kingdom adds uncharted territory and unique mechanics, making the game feel boundless in its geography and creativity. Despite the massive success of this sequel, Nintendo may not reuse these assets for a third consecutive entry, and we may play the next Zelda on a new console.