The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom preorder guide

By Antonio G. Di Benedetto and Brandon Widder

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If you’re looking to buy yourself a ticket aboard the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom hype train and preorder the game ahead of its impending launch on Friday, you might as well get some cool extra bonuses. Some retailers are offering free preorder incentives like a wooden plaque or an art print, which are a nice bonus that doesn't cost anything extra. Or, super-fans willing to plunk down extra money can get the fancy Collector's Edition with lots of accouterments (if it ever becomes available again, sadly).

So which way to preorder nets you the most benefit? There's already one method that allows you to save $20 on the game, but that's only on the digital version and exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. Here, we’ll go over the small handful of preorder bonuses for the physical edition of Tears of the Kingdom so you can make your purchasing decision in one place, easy-peasy.

These are the best incentives when it comes to preordering Tears of the Kingdom for its regular $69.99 price and getting a little something-something thrown in.

Best Buy is including a free art print with the physical cartridge version of the game. It's the key art for the game that we’ve all seen frequently, which looks great, but be aware that there's no indication of its size.

Best Buy's preorder of the new Zelda nets you a free art print, pictured here.

The arguably more interesting preorder incentive is GameStop's offer of a free wooden plaque that looks pretty cool. But the trade-off with this exclusive preorder gift is GameStop requires you to claim it in-store. I can't believe GameStop expects me to go outside on the day I should be inside playing the game nonstop.

GameStop's preorder incentive for Tears of the Kingdom is an exclusive wooden plaque that must be claimed in-store.

Walmart's incentive is a free Master Sword wall scroll. Unfortunately, after Walmart quickly sold out of a golden-colored wall scroll that was limited to 5,000 units, it came back with a black wall scroll that sold out, returned, and sold out again. The black scroll is also "limited," but there's no mention that there's a set number, so perhaps it might crop up once more.

Walmart's free preorder gift with Tears of the Kingdom is a limited wall scroll, pictured here and very much not to scale.

While a little more expensive at $74.99, we’d be remiss not to point out that Costco is also getting in on the preorder mayhem. Right now, the popular wholesale retailer is offering members a Zelda-inspired PowerA Protection Case with each purchase, which includes a physical version of the upcoming Nintendo Switch title.

Costco is including the case with the game for an additional $5, though it normally sells for $19.99 on its own.

Target is another late arrival to the Tears of the Kingdom extra-swag-with-purchase game, offering an exclusive Adventure Hip Pack when you buy the game. Like GameStop, the incentive is for in-store purchases only, though you currently can't order it online at all. That means you’ll have to go to your local Target store and try your luck on Friday, May 12th — likely by getting there right when it opens or lining up in advance.

It's a Zelda-themed fanny pack, compliments of Target when you purchase Tears of the Kingdom in-store on launch day.

We’ve already got a little explainer on where you can get the Nintendo Switch OLED The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition, which is now readily available. It's a beautiful-looking console, with gold Joy-Cons and a white dock all decked out in Zelda graphical adornments. If you want one for its $359.99 asking price (which does not include the game), you can get one now from Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, or Nintendo.

Nintendo's limited-edition console celebrates the forthcoming launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It includes a Nintendo Switch OLED, Zelda-themed Joy-Con controllers, and a docking station outfitted with Zelda iconography.

If you’re buying the special Zelda-themed Switch OLED, you might as well complete the look and preorder the Tears of the Kingdom Edition of the Nintendo Switch Carrying Case for $24.99 at Best Buy. It's decorated with matching markings to the special-edition console, includes a screen protector, and is set to launch on May 12th with the game. Unlike the Zelda-themed Switch Pro Controller, this one hasn't completely sold out during the preorder window (at least not yet).

A Zelda-themed carrying case for a Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED Model, with a plastic screen protector included.

Lastly, let's finally talk about the elusive white whale of Zelda preorders. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Collector's Edition is the requisite expensive bundle of the game with a bunch of added swag included. In it, the standard cartridge version of the game is accompanied by a metal steelbook case that will look fancier on your shelf, along with a poster, collector pins, and a small art book that all together cost $129.99.

Preorders at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, and Target sold out quickly and periodically cropped up again for short stints, but it's currently unavailable. It's possible that online availability may return as it did with the special edition of Metroid Dread, but there's definitely no guarantee. Nintendo, GameStop, and possibly Target (based on its listing) will have more Collector's Editions available in-store for launch day, but judging by Nintendo New York already selling out of tickets for its midnight launch event, those may be quite the endeavor to try and score.

The Collector's Edition of the new Zelda includes the physical game with a steelbook case, a pin set, poster, and art book.

Update May 6th, 12:38PM ET: Adjusted availability for several items and added Costco's preorder deal for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Update May 9th, 11:18AM ET: Added Target's in-store preorder deal and information about launch day availability for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Collector's Edition.

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