Updated at: 14-05-2022 - By: Leo Hall

Zelda is one of the most successful video game series of all time, with a devoted fan base eager to check out any and all Zelda-related products that come their way.

Many reimaginings and spin-offs of the main series keep the world of Hyrule open to new adventures for Link and his allies. Many of the best games, such as The Legend of Zelda, draw inspiration from the game’s fantastical setting and addictive gameplay.

We’ve compiled a list of the top games on current-gen devices that are reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda. We’ll be adding additional entries to this list in the future, so be sure to check back.

Check out our other handpicked lists/stories for additional gaming recommendations.

Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King

the Switch and the PC

The graphical aesthetic of Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King bears a remarkable resemblance to A Link to the Past, and the protagonist employs a sword, shield, and boomerang to defeat and overcome obstacles.

Blossom Tales Publisher Reveals Switch Version has Outsold Steam Version Twenty Times Over - Zelda Dungeon

The tale of the game is told from the point of view of a grandfather reading a bedtime story to his two grandchildren about a magical knight named Lily. Players assume control of Lily as she embarks on a journey to rescue her king, who has been imprisoned by his evil brother.

Lily of the Valley is a great, 2D platformer with a compelling tale and a variety of puzzles, traps, and monsters that require you to mix Lily’s weapons in a variety of ways.

Ittle Dew 2

All four major consoles: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch

An enjoyable and visually appealing experience, Ittle Dew was hampered by a few issues that the sequel hoped to fix. Without abandoning the distinctive humor and bright art style of the original Ittle Dew, the independent top-down action game is taken to new heights in Ittle Dew 2.

Ittle and her magical fox companion Tippsie are stuck on an island after their raft is damaged in the game’s first chapter. When it comes to the gameplay, Ittle is charged with finding eight pieces of her raft that have been scattered over the island, much in Link’s Awakening.

Hyper Light Drifter

platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, and iOS

A hero known as a Drifter is doomed to die due to a lethal illness and the curse of forgotten knowledge in Hyper Light Drifter, a gorgeous 16-bit pixel graphic action-adventure RPG. Afraid that his time is running out, the protagonist sets out for the enigmatic realm of Buried Time in search of a cure.

Journey through dangerous surroundings loaded with branching routes filled with surprises to find is what follows. There are, however, a large number of dangerous foes that require quick reflexes and knowledge of dodging, deflecting, and hack n’ slash tactics to overcome.

Supraland

The PC is the platform of choice.

Supraland is a fascinating puzzle-based adventure game full of personality and rewarding gameplay that combines the greatest features of Zelda, Metroid, and Portal. Zelda games are known for their tendency to keep the player hand-holdy, but Supraland believes the player is clever and well-versed in video game fundamentals, and offers a stripped-down tale in exchange for complete freedom at the outset.

Some regions of the sandbox can only be reached by players who have learned new abilities.

A lot of the game’s skills have hidden uses and may be combined in fascinating ways, so new talents aren’t meant to fulfill a single function. In order to find a solution that works, you need to try out a variety of various approaches in a well-designed puzzle.

RiME

All four major consoles: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch

RiME is a graphically beautiful 3D adventure-puzzle game that sees players controlling a young boy who awakens on a strange island after enduring a powerful storm. It’s the beginning of an exciting journey through the island’s long-forgotten ruins as gamers are pursued by a flying creature.

On the outskirts of the island, a gigantic tower elicits mixed emotions of dread and intrigue in those who approach it. But first, players must solve a series of ancient puzzles involving shadows, perspective, and the passage of time in order to get to the tower and discover its numerous mysteries.

Minit

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, and iOS are all supported.

One of the most interesting aspects of Minit is its focus on a single mechanic: the player only has sixty seconds to complete the game in its 2D world. The game does an excellent job of introducing you to the concept, even if it’s a little difficult to grasp at first.

A range of tasks, from fetch quests to killing adversaries, await players as they explore the world beyond their home and learn about the curse that is causing the one-minute-a-day cycle in this game.

Forager

Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC

With a bright, open world, Forager is a 2D Zelda-inspired exploration and survival game An ever-expanding base capable of holding numerous crafting/cultivation stations must be constructed by players.

As they progress through the game, players will be able to discover new biomes, each with their own set of challenges, dungeons, and secrets to discover. The game’s free-form upgrading system allows players to customize their gameplay to their personal preferences, with a total of 64 talents to learn.

Dragon Quest Builders 2

PS4 and Nintendo Switch

At every turn, Dragon Quest Builders 2 aspires to be more grandiose than its predecessor, all the while incorporating more exploration-based gameplay that evokes memories of The Legend of Zelda. Almost everyone has lost their capacity to make even the most basic of objects, therefore your goal in the game will be to restore civilization.

Save 35% on DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS™ 2 on Steam

With the use of a BOTW-inspired paraglider, you’ll be able to learn how to use new equipment and gather pals to help you run your community.

More inventory space, the ability to glide and dive underwater, a new tool for gathering and filling places with water and online multiplayer support for up to four players are just a few of the new features and quality-of-life improvements in the sequel. Despite the presence of combat, the core of the gameplay revolves around crafting and building.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Platforms include: PlayStation 4/Xbox One/Switch/PC/3DS/iOS

Edmund McMillen, the man behind Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac, has created an independent roguelike called The Binding of Isaac. After a week-long game jam, the game was grown into a full-fledged flash title that was eventually updated and rereleased as Rebirth.

Players take on the role of Isaac, a little boy who is forced to flee the basement of his home when he discovers that his mother has gone insane, believing that she has communicated with a religious spirit.

However, despite the game’s ominous tone and pixelated visuals, its top-down perspective and tiny dungeons seem like traditional 2D Zelda.

Okami HD

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC

When Okami was first released in 2006, it was hailed for its unique art design and gameplay that was influenced by The Legend of Zelda. Because it was one of the final PlayStation 2 games to be released, it was generally overlooked by gamers.

On current-generation consoles, however, its cel-shaded surroundings and ink brush visual style may finally achieve their full potential thanks to an HD remake.

A land engulfed in darkness can only be saved by the sun goddess, Amaterasu, in Okami HD, which incorporates a variety of Japanese folklore. Players control a white wolf-like spirit in this game.

Amaterasu’s heavenly brush, which uses gestures to produce miracles, is used in conjunction with combat, platforming, and puzzle solving to provide a unique gameplay experience.

Moonlighter

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC

As a shopkeeper named Will, you’ll take on the role of an adventurer who longs to leave the rat race behind and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Days are spent running a shop and upgrading gear, while evenings are used to explore Zelda-esque dungeons, battling foes and earning resources..

Moonlighter’s gameplay hinges on balancing risk and reward, since venturing further into dungeons increases your chances of finding more valuable items while also putting your life and the loot you’ve collected at risk.

Immortals Fenyx Rising

Immortals Fenyx Rising by Ubisoft is an excellent alternative to Breath of the Wild, the most recent main series Legend of Zelda game. Even while Immortals Fenyx Rising features more in-game support and handholding than Breath of the Wild, it includes a beautifully designed island full of puzzles and activities to complete that makes it comparable.

It’s interesting to note that the idea for the game came about as a result of a glitch discovered while working on Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

Genshin Impact

After launching in 2020 on PS4, PC, and mobile platforms, MiHoYo’s Genshin Impact will make its way to the PS5 and Nintendo Switch in the future. Commercially, the game has been a huge success, with revenues expected to top $1 billion in the coming months.

One of the seven nations of the fictional world of Teyvat serves as the setting for the action RPG Genshin Impact. Four characters that can be instantly swapped out for devastating battle combinations are available to players in the game.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

As the year 2003 rolled around, the video game industry was undergoing a period of transformation. A shift from the mascot platformers that had been popular in the 1990s to more realistic action franchises was made feasible by the sixth generation of home consoles, which had better graphics capabilities than the previous generation.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, an action-adventure-platforming hybrid, was developed by Ubisoft to take advantage of this transitional time. The game’s mix of genres feels carefully thought out, similar to how the Legend of Zelda series did.

Anodyne

As with Even the Ocean, Anodyne was produced and published by Melos Han-Tani and Marina Kittaka of Analgesic Productions. Surreal dream world and action-puzzle gameplay reminiscent of Link’s Awakening can be found in the game, which doesn’t conceal its Zelda inspiration. As of this writing, the game has an All Reviews rating of Very Positive on Steam.

Anodyne | Nintendo Switch download software | Games | Nintendo

Anodyne 2: Return to Dust, a sequel to the game, was released by Analgesic Productions in 2019.

Undertale

After being published on PC in 2015, 2D RPG Undertale has now appeared on a variety of platforms, including the Xbox One and Xbox Series X in March of this year. Rather of being compelled to fight foes, players can try to befriend them in this game’s unusual take on the genre’s standard RPG components.

Critics loved Undertale a lot. Undertale’s Metascores, which range between 92 and 93, attest to the game’s high level of excellence.

The Binding of Isaac

A Link to the Past and the original Legend of Zelda are two examples of games that are similar in gameplay to The Binding of Isaac.

There are numerous dungeons to conquer, as well as a top-down perspective. The somber tone and dynamically generated dungeons, which draw inspiration from the biblical account of the same name, set this game apart from its Zelda cousin.

Dark Souls

Compared to Breath of the Wild, The Binding of Isaac has more in common with Zelda’s earlier games, whereas Dark Souls is more like Zelda’s most current main series game. While most of these games were inspired by Zelda, Breath of the Wild was inspired by Dark Souls, which sets it apart from the pack. Breath of the Wild’s lore-based storytelling necessitates player exploration in order to locate and parry combat targets.

Like many games, the Ocarina of Time had an enormous impact on Dark Souls’ design. When asked about the analogies between Dark Souls and Zelda, Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki of FromSoftware said that he felt the FromSoftware franchise was “unworthy.”

Ittle Dew 2

To leave the island in Ittle Dew 2, players must first collect all eight parts of a raft.

Players will face several foes, including monsters at the end of dungeons in addition to the usual Zelda-style puzzles. Due to disagreements between the game’s developer and publisher, the game was removed from a number of digital distribution channels. However, because it was self-published on Steam and the Nintendo Switch, players can still enjoy this title right now.

Hyper Light Drifter

Heart Machine created and distributed Hyper Light Drifter, which got its start on Kickstarter. The game was released on PC in March 2016 after a successful campaign.

A Link to the Past or A Link Between Worlds fans will enjoy this 16-bit-style adventure game, which is a homage to the 16-bit era. The indie game’s 84 Metascore and 8.2 User Score indicate that it was well received by both fans and critics.

Fable

Fans of the classic Zelda games will find a lot to enjoy in Fable. In 2004, the alignment feature was implemented to set the game apart from the competitors.

Players’ in-game decisions gained more significance with the alignment function, which assigned good or evil points based on their choices. In RPGs today, alignment systems are standard, but in the mid-2000s, it was a novel concept.

Beyond Good and Evil

It’s hard to argue with the game’s excellent puzzle-solving in the cult classic Beyond Good and Evil. Platforming and stealth are just as important as solving puzzles in order to save Jade’s life.

The original plan was for this to be the first in a trilogy of games. Poor sales, on the other hand, necessitated postponement of further endeavors. There was a teaser trailer presented during Ubidays five years after the game’s initial release, but rumours of a sequel quickly died down. A prequel was finally confirmed at E3 2017.

Kamiko

Kamiko is the final game on this list that will appeal to fans of Link’s top-down perspective adventures, such as A Link to the Past and A Link to the Future. Although the game is brief, it packs a lot of content into it.

The combo meter in Kamiko keeps the arcade-style action exciting, but in Zelda, the emphasis is more on exploration. A Metascore of 74 was awarded to the game upon its initial release on the Nintendo Switch. It was later released on the PC in mid-2019.

Psychonauts

Psychonauts, a cult favorite adventure game from the mid-2000s, has pleased fans with the news of a long-awaited sequel, similar to Beyond Good and Evil.

Despite Some Occasional Insensitivity, the Original Psychonauts Still Radiates Empathy - Paste

There is a lot of emphasis on the game’s unique idea of psychic abilities in Psychonauts. Raz’s powers aren’t the only way this is accomplished, as the levels that take place in the brains of specific characters lend an interesting twist to Zelda’s dungeons.

Darksiders II

The Zelda formula is given a heavy metal makeover in Darksiders II and its predecessors. Link and Epona are replaced by Death, one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, and his fearsome steed Despair in the new game.

Players can utilize a variety of weapons, including scythes, axes, maces, and more, in this hack and slash game. But Darksiders II isn’t only an action game; it offers puzzles and adventuristic exploration as well, regularly changing the tone and tempo.

Aloy aiming her bow at a robot.This game is based on Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4, PC)

Horizon Zero Dawn received a bad rap when compared to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild because it was a PS4 exclusive at the time. Everybody was ecstatic by Link’s ability to scale any surface in the game, but Aloy was constrained to a few select spots. Not helping matters was the close proximity of the two games’ release dates. Aside from the climbing, the post-apocalyptic robot hunting game shares many similarities with The Legend of Zelda series. Horizon Zero Dawn would be what you get if you took Link and gave him a strong female voice and made the bow his primary weapon.

Whether or whether you’ll enjoy your time spent with Horizon depends on how much you enjoyed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Unlike Hyrule, Aloy’s mission is far more plot and battle centered, with fewer secrets or items to stumble into in the open environment. So if you’ve ever wanted to envision what it would be like for Link to traverse the woodlands pursuing huge robotic animals with a quiver full of varied arrow types, Horizon Zero Dawn is the only place to go.

Dark Souls: Remastered (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Link has a habit of taking down bosses who have the potential to reduce him to ash with a single blow. Basically, Dark Souls is what a 3D Zelda game would be like if Link were as vulnerable as the character should be when hit with a large spear or stepped on by a gigantic monster. In this enigmatic adventure, you take control of an unknown, voiceless protagonist and travel through a variety of locations in and around a ruined country. The world is your oyster, but you’ll quickly realize that some things are better left until another time. There are plenty of weapons to choose from in Dark Souls if you’re looking to recreate Link’s classic sword and shield build.

Even though Dark Souls has a bad notoriety for being difficult, it’s a lot like a dark 3D Zelda game should be. Fake walls, which you won’t discover until you hit them with your weapon, huge bosses that seem like a fight and a riddle, and finding your way around the globe are all part of the pleasure of this game. Take a crack at Dark Souls and see how it feels once you’ve defeated your first boss if Zelda’s combat ever felt flat and unrewarding.

Shadow of the Colossus Remake (PS4)

Many, but not all, Zelda games revolve around a young boy’s quest to rescue a princess. There are a few big twists in the story that make it appear this way on the surface. Wander is a new silent protagonist who has brought a woman to the forbidden realm in an attempt for Dormin, the mysterious being who can return the dead back to life, to bring her back to life for you. However, he demands that you kill 16 colossi that contain his shattered essence in order to accomplish this. Killing them is the only way for him to return and accomplish your request, according to legend. There aren’t any monsters or dungeons to contend with in this area. The game consists of a series of combat with various bosses, but these battles are brutal. Climbing a colossus in Breath of the Wild is like climbing a cliff in that game, but the cliff is alive and doesn’t want you to climb on it.

Wander resembles Link a lot. Sword, bow, and horse Agro are all he has. For the duration of the game, you’ll only have access to the extras that can be unlocked in other modes. With Shadow of the Colossus, each and every one of Zelda’s bosses is a nail-biting test of willpower and courage as you hold on for dear life while a giant tries to shrug you off before you can scramble up to his weak spot and thrust your sword in. Fans of The Legend of Zelda should not miss this game, which stands on its own as a work of beauty in and of itself.

Darksiders 2: Deathinitive Edition (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

If you compare Darksiders 2: Deathinitive Edition to the other two main Darksiders games, it’s most similar to a Zelda game. But that’s where the similarities end, and that’s where the differences come in. You don’t have to have played the original game to enjoy this one, even if it is a sequel. You play as a new character on their own journey, and it’s not all that essential either. The story isn’t really linked up with the original game. Death, one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, is your character, and your goal is to save War, the other horseman.

In comparison to Zelda, Darksiders 2 is an RPG with loot mechanics reminiscent of Diablo or Destiny. You can use your standard attacks, ranged weapons, skills that can be unlocked, and special techniques to do this. Where the Zelda influence is most apparent is in the game’s overall progression and design. In order to move through the game’s many dungeons and rooms, you’ll need to ride a horse through the overworld to get from one dungeon to the next. Each dungeon has its own set of unique artifacts that must be collected in order for the player to progress and kill the boss. This sounds familiar? Deathinitive Edition fixes a number of the game’s flaws, but you’ll have to get over the moniker to enjoy it.

Buy Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition Steam

Hob standing on the ledge of some ruins.Heave a sigh (PS4, PC)

Another independent game that punches well above its weight class is Hob. This is a game that asks you a lot of questions, but doesn’t provide you any obvious solutions. You’re the only one in this vast, gorgeous, and enigmatic universe who can offer assistance or provide answers. After a few minutes of exploration, you’ll begin to feel the same excitement and awe that a new section of Hyrule inflicts upon you. Throughout the game, you are given no indication of your character’s role in the plot, not even a single spoken word. All of your learning comes from your own experimentation and observations.

In Hob, you begin with only a little area to explore, but as you work your way through the game’s environmental puzzles, you’ll get new skills that allow you to explore further. Military combat is really easy to understand. You have a sword and a robotic arm at your disposal, which you can use to execute swift, slow, charge, and dodge strikes. As you go through the game, you’ll unlock new fighting options and get access to stat upgrades. There aren’t many games like Hob out there for Zelda fans who remember when the tale was more open and you could almost make up your own version of events based on the world.

FAQS:

What is the closest game to Zelda?

For PlayStation and Xbox owners, here are the 10 closest Zelda games.

  1. Those who like Wolf Link in Twilight Princess will love Okami, which draws heavily from the Zelda series.
  2. Indy Love Letter To Zelda Fans: Hyper Light Drifter.
  3. Zelda-like 3 Beyond Good And Evil slipped under the media’s radar….

Is fable like Zelda?

It’s Fable’s Birthday!

Is Zelda skyward sword better than Breath of the Wild?

Breath of the Wild is not as good as Skyward Sword HD. This game has a more compelling plot, more interesting characters, and more challenging dungeon and boss encounters. Even more than Ocarina of Time, the HD remaster of Skyward Sword solidifies its place as the best Zelda game of all time.