In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Link may be saving Hyrule from another iteration of Ganon, but he still has a lot of activities that he can do throughout Hyrule to avoid finishing his main quest. There are countless activities that are available to players.
One activity players can partake in is the many mini-games found around Hyrule. These games are extremely fun, and you can find about 13 different mini-games scattered around the Kingdom of Hyrule. Some of these games are better than others.
10 Rito Training Mini-Game
The Rito Training mini-game is found south of the Great Tabantha Bridge. There, a Goron and Rito will be near a giant wooden crane-like structure. The Rito explains that he uses it to train as a Rito Warrior. What makes this game so much fun is that it is a lot like basketball.
The Rito will ask you to figure out how to catch balls that are thrown by the Goron and throw them into the swinging basket. If you make a regular ball into the basket, you get one point. For a red ball, you get 3 points. The challenge this game offers makes it fun; however, it can be frustrating at times.
9 Ball Carry Mini-Game
The Ball Carry mini-game can be found near the Rito Training mini-game. This game is located below the Great Tabantha Bridge. Here, you will find another Goron who wants to see Link participate in a game. He will ask you to pay him 20 Rupees to try to move his ball as far as possible.
What makes this game so fun is that you can move the ball however you want. You can just pick it up and carry it, attach it to a fusion vehicle, or even attach it to your horse and ride it. There is no limitation on how you move the ball. This gives you the opportunity to work on your creativity in the game.
8 Zonai Wing Glider Mini-Game
The Zonai Wing Glider mini-game can be found on Eventide Island. In order to unlock this mini-game, you will need to complete the quest "Seeking The Pirate Hideout" on Eventide Island. Once you have finished the quest, you can travel to the southeastern most point and find a Hylian and Rito.
The Hylian and Rito will ask you to hop on the Zonai Wing Glider and try to land inside a giant circle in the ocean. What makes this game so fun is that it is easy. You've been using this Zonai Device since you started the game. If you reach the center circle, you will receive 100 Rupees. This can be a great way to farm Rupees if you have the time.
7 Desert Race Mini-Game
In order to play the Desert Race mini-game, you'll need to complete the "Riju of Gerudo Town" quest and stop the sandstorm plaguing the Gerudo region. Once you have done that, you can find this mini-game in the Southern Oasis Training Area.
Once you reach the area, a Gerudo will allow you to race through archways in the Gerudo Desert. This can be a really fun game since you can get around the desert however you want. You can create a sled, use a Sand Seal, run, or use Sand Boots. This game allows for some creativity, which is always fun.
6 Strength Challenge Mini-Game
The Strength Challenge mini-game is found on a hilltop behind the Coliseum Ruins in Hyrule Ridge. Here, you'll meet another Goron who has a game for Link to participate in. He will tell you that he needs you to ring the nearby bell by whatever means necessary.
This is another mini-game that gives you a lot of creativity. You can find a ton of Zonai Devices nearby that can be used to create devices that can ring the bell. You can also just build a bridge up to the top and hit it with your weapon. You have a ton of options, and it can be so fun trying to outdo your last try.
5 Tarrey Town Race Mini-Game
The Tarrey Town Race mini-game isn't unlocked until you help the Gerudo racers in Tarrey Town create their own car. You can do this on the eastern side of the Hudson Construction Site just west of Tarrey Town.
Once you are able to participate in the race, you're able to build your own car. You are given Zonai Devices, but you can also use whatever Devices you already have lying around in your inventory. Once you build your car, you just need to add the race's Steering Stick and get started.
4 Lurelin Boat Race Mini-Game
Interestingly, you cannot start the Lurelin Boat Race mini-game until you complete the Tarrey Town Race mini-game. You will be asked to find some racers for the boat race, and those racers are the Gerudo you race in Tarrey Town. What makes this more fun than the Tarrey Town Race is that you have more options when it comes to what courses you race on.
Just like the Tarrey Town Race, you get to build your own boat here in Lurelin. You are given Zonai Devices but can use whatever you have with you. Here, you can pick among three different courses to race. Once your boat is built, you have to add the race's Steering Stick to it and take off.
3 Flight Range Mini-Game
The Flight Range is a reoccurring area in the Zelda franchise. You cannot start this mini-game until you complete the "Tulin of Rito Village" quest and stop the blizzard around the Hebra region. Once that is completed, you can head to the Flight Range (located northwest of Rito Village) and start the game.
In the game, you will be required to use your paraglider to fly through rings that are scattered around the Flight Range. You'll also need to drop from the paraglider to hit other rings in the area. You'll be required to fly through 15. This game is so fun because you'll get great at using the paraglider, and it feels like you're a true Rito Warrior.
2 Diving Mini-Game
The Diving mini-game is found in three different locations on the Sky Islands. You can find it on Courage, Bravery, and Valor Islands. These areas can be reached by several different means, but the easiest is using the Skyview Towers nearby.
This mini-game has you diving through rings as you jump from the top of a Sky Island to the bottom of it. To begin with, these can be pretty difficult; however, once you obtain the Glide Armor set (obtained by completing all three mini-games), this becomes a lot more fun.
1 Shield Surfing Mini-Game
The best mini-game is also a returning fan favorite. The Shield Surfing mini-game can be found in Selmie's Spot after completing the quest "The Duchess Who Disappeared." Once you finish the quest, Selmie can be found in the cabin in the area.
The point of this mini-game is to use your shield to surf down a mountain in a certain amount of time. This is basically a Hylian version of skiing. What makes this so fun is that Shield Surfing can help Link get around fast, so a mini-game to hone this skill is amazing. You also have three different courses to pick from, making it so much fun.