The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is out in two months which is a lot of unused gaming time. While waiting why not check out some other Zelda-like games? And by Zelda-like I mean fun puzzle-based dungeons, a solid story, and an action-adventure set in a wonderful world. Let’s get into this list!
Tunic
Finji, Tunic Team
Tunic is a game very much inspired by The Legend of Zelda, even our hero is dressed up as a homage to Link. In this wonderful action-adventure game you’ll explore a land filled with lost legends, ancient powers, and ferocious monsters.
Stranded in a ruined land, and armed with only your own curiosity, you will confront colossal beasts, collect strange and powerful items, and unravel long-lost secrets. Dive into varied, technical combat. Dodge, block, parry, and strike. Learn how to conquer a wide cast of monsters, big and small — and discover useful new items to help you on your way.
Platforms: PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac
Eastward
Pixpil, Chucklefish
While Eastward doesn’t look quite like The Legend of Zelda the main themes of rescue and puzzle-action-adventure still remain. In this post-apocalyptic world, society is starting to collapse, and the human population is at an all-time low. A deadly toxic presence has spread across the land, destroying and devouring everything in its path. Those who could escape the miasma flocked to underground villages to start a new life. But for a hardworking miner and a mysterious young girl, the hope of a thriving outside world beckons.
You’ll switch between John and Sam using a variety of weapons to fight your way through formidable dungeons. As well as use both to solve environmental puzzles. Get to know a quirky cast of characters with oodles of personality! Immerse yourself in a heartwarming story-driven adventure, packed with fun and wacky humour.
Platforms: PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac
Genshin Impact
miHoYo
If you’re missing the world of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild then you’ll feel right at home in Genshin Impact. The world of Teyvat has been influenced heavily by The Breath of the Wild and it even looks extremely similar. You’ll be familiar with the same climbing and gliding mechanics. And enjoy the open world exploration full of secrets to uncover and puzzles to solve.
If anything Genshin Impact blows up a Breath of the Wild world and makes it infinitely larger. If that’s what you’re missing from your Zelda-like then this is the game for you and it’s free so there’s no reason to not try it out!
Platforms: PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac
Death’s Door
Acid Nerve, Devolver Digital
If you’re looking for a Zelda game that is part Dark Souls then you can check out Death’s Door. This game is more like the OG top-down Legend of Zelda games rather than Breath of the Wild. In Death’s Door, you’ll experience the same mechanic while battling through dungeons and solving puzzles.
In this game dark and comedic game you’ll play as Crow whose job it is to dispose of stagnant souls. Death’s Door feels like a love letter to Zelda games that makes tough combat somehow less frustrating than other Metroidvania titles. Its beautiful visuals, melancholic piano, and characters that feel ripped from the world of Zelda make it all the more interesting.
Platforms: PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Hob
Runic Games
A gorgeous Zelda-like puzzler with a sharp edge in the combat department, the real joy of Hob is the world that you’ll explore. Whether you want to stick to the golden path or meander off into unknown territory, Hob‘s satisfying trek across a land of hidden danger plays like Zelda’s Game Boy Advance adventures crossed with indie sensation Journey.
Rendered in 3D with a gorgeous art style but presented much like a classic top-down adventure, Hob channels that lonesome, wandering spirit in a way that few games beyond the Zelda series itself can. You probably won’t know what’s going on for a while, but the pull of puzzles and “there’s a thing over there – I wonder how I get to it” will spur you onward.
Platforms: PlayStation 4|5, Nintendo Switch, PC
Okami HD
Clover Studio, Capcom
If you love The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess then you’ll love Okami. In fact, daresay you might love Okami more by the end of it. In this game, you play as the God Amaterasu in white wolf form and your magic of choice – a celestial brush.
All the puzzle and platform inspiration of the Zelda series can clearly be felt in Okami. The game is charming and beautiful with a gorgeous flowing art style, set in ancient Japan. There are plenty of regions to explore, puzzles to solve and lots of wonderful side quests. In fact, solving the side quests with magic instead of throwing bombs at it is dare I say better?
Platforms: PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Baldo: The Guardian Owls
Naps Team
Baldo: The Guardian Owls is a Legend of Zelda-ish game, set in a Ghibli-esque world. Journey through a magical land teeming with mysteries to unravel. Baldo is full of challenging puzzles to solve and intricate dungeons to explore. From delightful whimsy to thrilling adventure, discover new towns and their distinctive inhabitants, fight ferocious foes, locate hidden temples, and collect objects both magical and mundane to obtain powerful new weapons, or to help unveil the myriad secrets of this strange land.
Baldo clearly borrows from Breath of the Wild and fans of the game will be happy to know that Baldo’s dungeons are very much in the old-school mould of the series.”
Platforms: PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac
