Zelda Notes breathes new life into Tears of the Kingdom

Nintendo Switch 2 is here! And with it comes many new features for existing Switch titles, such as Zelda Notes for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild.

The companion app was first announced in April, breathing new life into the Zelda open-world wilds. At the time, there was confusion regarding the app’s use across both Switch and Switch 2 systems. But now, Polygon can confirm after going hands-on with the console that players with a Nintendo Switch Online membership, a Nintendo Switch 2, and the Switch 2 Edition of Tears of the Kingdom can use the Zelda Notes app.

So, how is the app?

At first glance, the mobile feature appeared underwhelming and pointless to me; the app seemed to be a glorified Prima strategy guide, helping players navigate a vast Hyrule setting with various tools, tips, tricks, ideas, and maps. However, after playing Tears of the Kingdom with the Zelda Notes as my guide, I unlocked a new perspective and experience. I checked out the nine different features of the companion app during my time with the game — here’s what I found prancing around Hyrule for a couple of hours.

Ed. note: To follow along, you need to do a couple of things. First, ensure your system is connected to the app by opening the app and selecting the Switch 2 icon at the top right-hand corner of your phone screen. Then, click on settings in your game and make sure the “ZELDA NOTES enabled” prompt is turned on.

Okay, now we can get started.

Voice memories

The voice memories function is a brand new collectible players can scrounge up during their travels and can be tracked using the app. Think of the voice memories as a real-time tour guide of calamity-stricken Hyrule narrated by various TOTK characters, including Princess Zelda in all her pseudo-British glory.

To start things, you will need to open the voice memory feature in the app, select the voice memory you want to locate, and then use the navigation feature to direct you to the destination.

Upon arriving at the destination, players will be greeted by narration from that memory’s owner, recalling a bit of history and lore about the area and/or artifact. This feature uses a chiming noise to indicate whether the player is close to the designated area, so be sure to turn your phone’s volume up! It took me a while to locate a couple of the memories, scaling mountains and falling to my untimely demise along the way. But discovering these memories after seemingly fighting Hyrule’s geography was so worth it.

Daily bonuses

This feature is all based on luck. Daily Bonuses grant the player, well, daily bonuses, through a randomized wheel littered with rewards that boost stamina, energy cells, attack and defense power, shield repairs, and more. The randomized effect wheel is reset and replaced with new bonuses daily at 8 p.m., so check back to see what new rewards await you.

Using your mobile device, players will need to touch the screen to start the roulette wheel, and then it will stop on a random effect. The bonus effect will then be placed in your Key Items menu, where players have 24 hours to use it before it disappears.

I snagged a Rapid Meal bonus, which grants a swim-speed boost for five minutes. I couldn’t claim the reward during the game’s early Temple of Time portion. However, once I completed the tutorial area, the bonus appeared in my Key Item menu.

Play Data

This feature enables an achievement-like system in your TOTK or BOTW adventure, allowing players to earn medals for various tasks based on gameplay stats. In my short time playing the game, I was able to earn the Citizen of Hyrule medal, which is awarded to players for increasing “your time spent in Hyrule” by 20 hours (bronze), 60 hours (silver), 100 hours (gold), and 200 hours (master). Players can also use this feature to check out their stats and even change their Zelda Notes profile picture using pictures snapped in-game and uploaded to the Photo Studio function.

Additionally, users can select the Global Play Data feature to compare their stats, such as Shrines of Light cleared, locations visited, treasure chests opened, enemies defeated, and more, with other players worldwide.

Item and Autobuild Sharing

These features create a shared ecosystem between TOTK players, allowing users to exchange items and designs. Item sharing, which is found in the Key Items menu, can also transfer items from your game storage to your Zelda Notes item box. I placed items that I didn’t want or need in the ZN item box, giving other players using the app the chance to transform my trash into their potential treasure — which was kind of cool.

Autobuild sharing arrives later for players, as users have to unlock Link’s Ultrahand ability first by completing the A Mystery in the Depths quest line — which I haven’t gotten to yet! But after you’ve done that, you can share your creations in the app via a QR code for other players to scan and obtain in their own games.

I was delightfully surprised by how the Zelda Notes app elevated my TOTK adventure with new ways to play the game and a vast array of stats, achievements, and more to keep track of during my journey. The companion guide made the adventure way less lonely than my previous playthrough.

Is the Zelda Notes app required to get the whole TOTK experience? Not really. But it does reward players with a different and new experience. And with the Switch 2 running Tears of the Kingdom at a smooth 60 fps in 4K, different and new is exactly what I’m looking for.