The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has an endgame problem that isn't unique to it, and Breath of the Wild suffered from the same issue. When it comes to open-world games, creating a satisfying endgame can be difficult. Once the final boss is defeated, there's generally a lot left to explore, but players more often than not need to use a save file set before the last boss if they want to continue working on side quests or gathering collectibles.

Tears of the Kingdom gives Link new abilities that lead to a variety of puzzle solutions and let players be creative, allowing for the creation of vehicles that can be used to explore Hyrule. Between the Surface, the Sky, and the Depths, there's no shortage of exploring for players to do, and it's clear that the Upheaval has hurt the land in ways that will require a lot of time and effort to fix. Yet Nintendo doesn't capitalize on this situation as much as it could for additional content that could keep players invested in the game even after facing Ganondorf.

Players Could Help Rebuild Hyrule After Defeating Ganondorf In Zelda: TOTK

Hyrule is in dire need of repairs after the Upheaval, and Link is fully capable of helping to an extent that would make the process a lot faster using the abilities of his arm. Link already uses Ultrahand to repair Lurelin Village in Zelda: TOTK, so there's no reason that he wouldn't be able to use it to help with other construction projects. This addition would give TOTK an endgame for players to experience after defeating Ganondorf. Right now, the only way to keep playing after fighting Ganondorf is to use a save file from before the fight.

Zelda: TOTK Post-Game Could've Centered On Hyrule's Reconstruction

While not all players might feel the desire to keep playing after finishing the main quests, it could have been an interesting option to allow players to collect materials and get quests to help rebuild Hyrule, especially Castle Town. This set-up would keep players who want to continue busy, but for those who are satisfied with completing the main quests and moving onto their next game, there wouldn't be pressure to stick around and help with the effort to rebuild Hyrule. Instead, TOTK falls into the common problem of not offering a chance to experience the game's world after defeating the villain threatening it.

This isn't an issue that only affects Zelda games, but it feels more prevalent in open-world games like BOTW and TOTK compared to classic style ones like Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker. Hyrule is generally damaged by the villain that threatened it in that era, and the finale of the game tends to leave players with the promise that now that Ganondorf or the antagonist who took the spotlight this time has been dealt with, the land and people who inhabit it can begin healing. While it provides an adequate amount of closure, it ignores the opportunity for unique endgames that let Link be a hero who keeps helping the world even with the smallest tasks.

Logistics Of A Different Endgame In Zelda: TOTK

The physics in Zelda: TOTK are impressively complex, and that likely took time to develop, then test, and fix any bugs or glitches that presented themselves in the process. That system is added to an open-world map which includes three separate elevations, with the Surface alone being larger than the already massive map of BOTW. Then, there are the dungeons, quests, and memory cutscenes that certainly took no small amount of effort to create and perfect. Players likely prefer that developers focus on the main features of a game rather than extra content for post-game that's optional.

Overall, it's easy to understand why Nintendo didn't focus on adding an endgame to TOTK, which is more disappointing than the lack of endgame in BOTW since Link is equipped with abilities that are perfect for rebuilding Hyrule. However, the systems included in the game, the scale of the map, and every other feature that make Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom into a captivating experience would take enough time to program, test, and adjust as needed without worrying about giving players even more content to explore beyond completing the main quests. It's simply a lot to ask of developers, but it could turn into a fun idea for DLC.

A Rebuilding Hyrule DLC For Zelda: TOTK

While endgame content revolving around rebuilding Hyrule would be a lot to ask for as part of the main game, that doesn't mean it couldn't provide a DLC opportunity for Tears of the Kingdom. Since BOTW received DLC and TOTK has received glowing reviews and a lot of love from players, it seems like it's only a matter of time before DLC is announced. As of writing, no extra content has been revealed yet for TOTK, but from a business standpoint, it seems like a given that there will be at least one DLC released for it.

Naturally, on the off chance that there would be a DLC for rebuilding Hyrule in TOTK, the downside would be that it would cost more money. It's unlikely that a DLC for this would be created in the first place, but it could be a pleasant change of pace for players who want to have tasks that put Link's abilities from Rauru's arm to the test. Depending on its design, it could be a way to create a puzzle heavy experience for players who are looking for a challenge that doesn't involve combat.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has a lot of features that are impressive and deserving of praise, especially for how smoothly the game runs despite the complex physics system it includes. However, the same issue that affected BOTW is present in TOTK regarding its lack of endgame content for after the main quests are completed. It could be fun to bring puzzles in the form of rebuilding Hyrule, particularly Castle Town, with Link's abilities and seeing the world recover from the Upheaval, even if that comes in the form of DLC for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.