Creating a list of games like Zelda isn't easy, as there are so many games out there with open-world elements and action-adventure gameplay. But the games in this list capture the essence of games like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, with beautiful worlds that encourage exploration and RPG elements that let you build out your character to suit your playstyle. Games like Sable capture give you gorgeous world to explore, while the coming-of-age narrative in Undertale feels especially Zelda-like.
This list contains games like Zelda that cover myriad genre bases, so that every type of player should feel like they can grab at least one suggestion from this list and get cracking. No matter what your preferred vibe is, there should be game here for you, so enjoy this list of 10 games like Zelda.
Death's Door
Developer: Acid Nerve
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch
Death's Door is a lovely mix of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, and Metroidvania titles, with mechanics and systems pulled from all of them and mixed together in a cauldron that's somehow both Gothic and cute. In Death's Door you play as an adorable crow just trying to do it heir day job: disposing of stagnant souls in a bizarrely beautiful world. 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. Death's Door is a top game of 2021, and one you should definitely check out if you're a Zelda fan.
Hob
Developer: Runic Games
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch
If you want a game to gently take you by the hand and lay out all the fine details of its world and rules, carefully ensuring that you understand everything before you go venturing off into the wilderness... well, Hob isn't for you. 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 awhile, but the pull of puzzles and "there's a thing over there - I wonder how I get to it" will spur you onward.
Hyper Light Drifter
Developer: Acid Nerve
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch
Of all the games on this list, Hyper Light Drifter may be the one most likely to make you grind your teeth in frustration. A neon-tinted adventure set in a universe that's equal parts fantasy and sci-fi, HLD is full of mystery and challenges. There's a bit less emphasis on puzzles, but the game makes up for it with an intriguing world that begs you to explore and uncover its secrets. But really, the main draw here is the combat. It's fast and fierce, but as long as you're prepared, you'll make it out okay. Maybe.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
Developer: Nicalis
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch
Certainly one of the darker Zelda-inspired games on our list, The Binding of Isaac tells the story of Isaac, a young boy who must escape the murderous wrath of his own mother, whom she believes God has sentenced to death. Binding of Isaac won't take you to scenic vistas or force you to solve brain-bending environmental puzzles, but if you like a classic Zelda dungeon, this game streamlines that experience into a fast and frenzied dash. And as a roguelike, Binding of Isaac play sessions won't eat up much of your time - at least not individually. By the 27th "just one more" run, you may want to check what time it is.
Genshin Impact
Developer: MiHoYo
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC, Android
Genshin Impact is a free-to-play gacha game that launched in 2020 and quickly became an addiction for many. You play as the Traveler, putting together a team of allies - all with their own special powers - exploring the huge land of Teyvat to look for your lost twin. It's got the same open-world adventure feel as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - you collect recipes that can be cooked up at campfires and kitchens, and the Teyvat is full of hidden puzzles and secrets you can uncover with the right powers - and looks utterly stunning. The gacha mechanic might put a few players off, but it's easy to sink hours into the game and quests without ever reaching for your wallet, and new content is added at a blistering pace.
Sable
Developer: Shedworks
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Sable's gorgeous open-world, cast of endearing characters, and open-ended narrative make it ripe for Zelda comparison, even if the former is a non-combative affair. As such, Sable leans heavier into its contemplative moments, which in turn enriches its sense of adventure, where players are encouraged and are driven to explore beyond its beautiful horizon.
Minit
Developer: Jan Willem Nijman, Kitty Calis, Jukio Kallio, Dominik Johann
Platforms: PC, Android, iOS
Zelda games often give players an expansive world to explore and all the time in the world to explore it (even in Majora's Mask, Link could rewind time to avoid death by moon crash). Minit instead asks you to explore the world one minute at a time. Yup, 60 seconds is all you get before your life comes to an end, and only by living through a countless number of brief adventures can you lift an evil curse. It's an interesting twist, and one that may not feel too similar to the Zelda formula, but there's still that sense of exploration, puzzle-solving, and basic combat - it's just all crammed into, that's right, a minute.
Spiral Knights
Developer: Three Rings Design
Platforms: PC, Mac
This one goes out to all the Zelda fans who ache for another Four Swords Adventures. Spiral Knights takes that multiplayer dungeon-delving concept and multiplies it tenfold, into a full-on MMO. Sure you're not a tunic-wearing fantasy lad, but playing as what's basically a cross between a Digimon and a knight in sci-fi armor is just as good (and way cuter), and the everchanging Clockworks dungeon means infinite replayability. Plus, it's free!
Okami HD
Developer: Clover Studio
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
Imagine the wolf sequence from Twilight Princess, give the wolf a magic paint brush, and expand that sequence out to a full length game. That's Okami. Well, sort of. Okami definitely has it's own unique qualities, like the hand-painted Japanese art style, deep combat system, and creative character design, but the Zelda influences simply can't go unnoticed.
Amaterasu, the game's white wolf protagonist, travels around the world, helping NPCs, battling hordes of dark spirits, and delving into dungeons as she attempts to bring life back to the cursed land. The way you earn new powers by meeting with mystical figures throughout your journey is reminiscent of the Zelda titles, and Ami even has an annoying, talkative little companion that will clue you in to the next step in your quest. So you take the Zelda good with the Zelda bad.
Undertale
Developer: Toby Fox
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
Undertale certainly strays from many of the Zelda series conventions, but if you're looking for an expansive world full of unique and interesting dungeons, unconventional and layered gameplay mechanics, and colorful characters, there are few games that would come as heartily-recommended as this indie darling. The game is practically a love letter to games of Zelda's early days, and there are even a few clever series references peppered throughout, if you're eagle-eyed enough to spot them. We don't want to say too much more for fear of spoilers, but trust us, it's better if you go in blind on this one.
Be sure to check out our article on the games like Minecraft and our list of the best Wii U games.
