Top Games Like Zelda to Play Next

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Laura-May is a Lvl 30 gamer and writer, armed with a Bachelor of Arts and far too much gaming experience. A majority of her experience has come from The Legend of Zelda series, and it is her mission in life to discover every secret that Breath of the Wild has to offer. When she's not exploring Hyrule, you can often find her on Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, Kingdom Hearts, Hogwarts Legacy, or almost any other RPG.

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The Legend of Zelda has a certain charm to it that captures gamers’ hearts. But, unfortunately, it is only one series, and the wait between entries can be unbearably long. So us hardcore Legend of Zelda fans need something to tie us over.

I have spent many decades impatiently waiting for the next Zelda game to come out, only to play it to completion within a couple of days or weeks and go back to the same excruciating dormant period. In an effort to ease my pain somewhat, I have searched for games that are similar to my favorite franchise.

Of course, nothing can quite compare. In the same sense that buying a new cat doesn’t ease the pain of losing your last companion… okay, maybe it’s not quite that dramatic, but you get the idea. You can’t just replace The Legend of Zelda, but you can get close enough.

If you’re ever missing The Legend of Zelda but don’t necessarily want to play the same game for the millionth time, check out the top games like Zelda to play next.

How I Chose the Games on This List

There are so many Zelda games and each and every one has its own unique mechanics that make them special. That means that there are thousands of games that would undoubtedly bear some kind of similarity to at least one of the games in the Zelda timeline. But I can’t fit all of them in this single article, so I had to put some criteria in place when creating my list.

Each game has some mechanic or feature that is similar to a past Zelda title.
Each game had to inspire a feeling similar to that which I felt when playing a Zelda game.
The games chosen had to retain their own distinct identity rather than just becoming a copy.
No game would make it onto the list if I didn’t genuinely enjoy it.

Immortals Fenyx Rising

Developer: Ubisoft and Ubisoft Quebec
Metacritic Score: 77%
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC
Similar To: Breath of the Wild

Immortals Fenyx Rising is like a Breath of the Wild clone wearing a Greek mythology costume. There are loads of similarities between the two games, but not in a bad way.

Many of the game’s mechanics are similar. If you were a fan of the Korok puzzles that speckled Hyrule, you’re in luck. If you fell in love with the Shrine challenges in Breath of the Wild, you can tick that box as well. There are even giant mini-bosses that patrol certain areas that look like the Hinox’s second cousins.

But while there are so many similarities that there was never any question of the inspirations behind Immortals Fenyx Rising, it definitely brings its own personality and flavor into the mix that makes it its own experience.

Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm

Developer: Cornfox & Brothers Ltd.
Metacritic Score: 71%
Platforms: iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Similar To: Breath of the Wild and any Zelda game with a dungeon

The first and most obvious similarity between Oceanhorn and Zelda is, of course, the protagonist’s outfit. The blue tunic says it all, honestly. But while the outfit will seem very familiar to anyone who has played Breath of the Wild, the gameplay is more like a traditional Zelda game.

Dungeons were always an intrinsic part of the Zelda experience, and for those who are fans of the trials and tribulations that you would face in a classic Zelda dungeon, Oceanhorn 2 could be a suitable substitute.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

Developer: Omega Force
Metacritic Score: 78%
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Similar To: Breath of the Wild

This may be an obvious choice, but playing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity after The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is almost essential. If not only because the story is canon and contains important elements that we were missing in Breath of the Wild, but because it is also a really, really fun game.

The game takes place during the calamity and spells out the events that lead up to Hyrule’s destruction. There was a lack of story in Breath of the Wild since there was no one around to tell it, but that isn’t the case in Age of Calamity. You get to know the Champions, as well as meet another extremely important character that we didn’t even learn about at all in Breath of the Wild.

If you’re a fan of Zelda, you have to play this game. If you have been avoiding it because you thought it was a Warriors game rather than a Zelda game, you have been misled. This title is an essential part of the Zelda timeline.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Metacritic Score: 94%
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Similar To: Breath of the Wild

I’m sure many of you knew this was coming, but I had to include Skyrim on this list. One of the most magical parts of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, for me, at least, was the concept of exploration and discovery. Of being able to travel the open world on your own accord.

This element of freedom and the ability to create your own adventure is replicated in Skyrim. Well, I should probably say that this feeling is replicated in Breath of the Wild since Skyrim has been a cult classic since far before Breath of the Wild’s time. But if you hadn’t played this masterpiece before, you definitely should now.

Cadence of Hyrule

Developer: Brace Yourself Games
Metacritic Score: 85%
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Similar To: 2D Zelda games

Cadence of Hyrule is one of the best Zelda spin-off titles on the market and is definitely worth bringing to the front of your backlog if you’re a Zelda fan. Cadence of Hyrule is like the Zelda version of Crypt of the Necromancer, which is a rhythm-based game. But don’t cringe yet! It’s not like Melody of Memory or anything like that.

Every move you make in Cadence of Hyrule has to be in time with the music. It is a simple yet challenging mechanic because as an enemy approaches you from behind, your immediate response is to kill it before it gets too close. But you really have to wait until they are almost on top of you to slash them to the beat.

I was really bad at this game for that reason at the start. There would be an enemy literally on the tile behind me, and I would freak out and slash it off-beat, leading to my demise. The key is to stay calm and work with the music in this game.

Genshin Impact

Developer: miHoYo and Shanghai Miha Touring Film Technology Co. Ltd.
Metacritic Score: 84%
Platforms: PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation
Similar To: Breath of the Wild

Genshin Impact is so similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that many gamers boycotted it upon its release. But if they had actually taken the time to play the game, they would have realized that it is so much more than just a clone of Breath of the Wild.

Okay, it is an open-world RPG with an absolutely stunning world that matches Hyrule in terms of its beauty, but that’s about where the similarities end. Genshin Impact has a completely different play style. It traded the lone Link out in exchange for a party, introduced intricate and in-depth elemental combat mechanics, and it has its own incredible and unique story to experience.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Developer: Guerilla Games
Metacritic Score: 89%
Platforms: PlayStation, PC
Similar To: Breath of the Wild

Horizon Zero Dawn is by no means an exact replica of any Zelda game. But it is definitely still well within the realm of similar titles because of its incredible open world. Its storyline definitely makes it more linear than the likes of Skyrim and Breath of the Wild, but it is just as epic and wondrous as either of those classics.

If the great titans of Breath of the Wild were some of your favorite parts and you always sought out the Hinox, Igneous Talus, and Lynel’s in Hyrule, you will love Horizon. The combat is extremely satisfying, and you will end up face-to-face with plenty of creatures that easily compare to the great beasts in Breath of the Wild.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Developer: Rockstar Games
Metacritic Score: 95%
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC
Similar To: Breath of the Wild

Red Dead Redemption 2 is like the Cowboy version of Breath of the Wild, with a massive sprawling open-world RPG that reminds me of my favorite Zelda game in more ways than one. It has significantly more story than Breath of the Wild, but putting it off to just explore the world is still something I loved doing and is part of the charm of Red Dead.

There are tons of NPCs for you to meet, many with their own side quests to distract you from the main campaign as well. The world is huge, and there is so much to do and explore in it, shops to burgle, bounties to collect, you get the gist. If you loved the freedom of Breath of the Wild and you’re also a huge fan of Western movies, Red Dead Redemption 2 is certain to appeal to you.

Outer Wilds

Developer: Annapurna Interactive and Mobius Digital
Metacritic Score: 82%
Platforms: Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Switch
Similar To: Breath of the Wild

Outer Wilds is a super unique exploration game with a twist that reminded me of Majora’s Mask immediately. That is, of course, the time loop. This time loop forces you to explore one world at a time so you can ensure you have long enough to get it all done before your loop begins again. It really spices up the experience and makes your exploration a little more stressful.

Not quite as stressful as a hideous moon constantly staring intently into the depths of your soul, but it definitely makes you a little more tactical in your movements. Outer Wilds has the time loop from Majora’s Mask, combined with the exploration of Breath of the Wild. And although Outer Wilds is definitely different from either of those games, it is one you will more than likely enjoy nonetheless.

Sonic Frontiers

Developer: Sonic Team
Metacritic Score: 70%
Platforms: PlayStation, PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Similar To: Breath of the Wild

While Sonic Frontiers may be Sonic’s Breath of the Wild moment, it is definitely not a clone by any stretch of the word. It’s actually very different. Sonic Frontiers is more of an open zone game, meaning it doesn’t take place in an open world whatsoever, and it is still very much a classic Sonic adventure in many ways.

There are still moments where you hurtle and mind-bending pace through a course just like the good old days, but with a unique Breath of the Wild twist.

I don’t know where Breath of the Wild because synonymous with exploration, but perhaps it’s just the way that Sonic Frontiers and Breath of the Wild both completely revolutionized their respective series that makes me and many others correlate the two.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Developer: CD Projekt and CD Projekt RED
Metacritic Score: 93%
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC
Similar To: Breath of the Wild

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is another amazing open-world title that could scratch your Zelda itch. It is certainly more story based and more of a classic Western RPG, but you are still free to travel around on your own accord so the spirit of Breath of the Wild is there.

It is also filled with monsters that can only be described as absolutely badass and it boasts an extremely epic storyline. You also get to see that iconic bathtub scene. That’s right. You know the one I’m talking about.

Tunic

tunic

Developer: Andrew Shouldice, TUNIC Team, Isometricorp Games Limited, and 22nd Century Toys LLC
Metacritic Score: 85%
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC
Similar To: Any Zelda game you play without a walkthrough or guide

Remember playing games back in the day before there were walkthroughs available for every game that brought all of the answers straight to your fingertips? I remember being stuck in Jabu Jabu’s belly for weeks because I couldn’t find my bearings in the pink gooey maze of organs.

Tunic is like that. Trying desperately to figure something out with no help from anyone or anything around you. The game has a built-in instruction manual, but it is all written in another language, leaving you to figure it out all on your own. Just like the good old days.

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

Developer: Snoozy Kazoo and Snoozy Kazoo LLC
Metacritic Score: 72%
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, PC, Xbox, PlayStation
Similar To: All of the 2D Zelda games

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is almost a perfect game. Whoever the writers were, they definitely deserve a raise. It is absolutely hilarious, and adorable, and action-packed all at the same time, wrapped up and delivered in a bite-sized indie game.

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is like many of the older top-down Zelda games, and it fully embraces that fact. It even references Zelda games putting its own spin on the iconic line “It’s dangerous to go alone, take this”

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles

Developer: Prideful Sloth
Metacritic Score: 74%
Platforms: Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Switch
Similar To: Breath of the Wild

Yonder is like the cozy version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. There’s no stress, no combat, and nothing is out to kill you. You won’t have to fight for your life once throughout your adventure, and that is a nice breath of fresh air.

That’s not to say it isn’t an exciting game, though. It just takes more of the open-world exploration aspects from Breath of the Wild and makes them even more relaxing. If you were looking for a combination of Breath of the Wild and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, this is it.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Developer: Nicalis and Edmund McMillen
Metacritic Score: 86%
Platforms: PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox
Similar To: Pretty much any Zelda game with a dungeon

If you love a good old-fashioned Zelda dungeon, that’s pretty much what this game is. It’s a dungeon crawler with roguelike elements, so if you aren’t a fan of those, maybe this game wouldn’t be for you.

But it isn’t too bloodthirsty, so it is probably a good game to dip your toes into the world of roguelikes if you have ever been interested in trying them out. And if you like Zelda, all the more reason to give this one a go.

Ittle Dew 2

Developer: Ludosity
Metacritic Score: 77%
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS
Similar To: Link’s Awakening, A Link Between Worlds, The Minish Cap

Ittle Dew reminds me of some of my favorite old-school Zelda games in more ways than one. It uses your classic adventure formula, so it’s a very familiar feeling game. Almost like a nice, warm, cozy hug from a GameBoy game from your childhood.

It isn’t afraid to admit its inspirations, either. Even the main character is wearing a Link outfit. I do really enjoy when games give subtle nods to those that inspired them, and Ittle Dew is full of them.

Windbound

Developer: 5 Lives Studio
Metacritic Score: 63%
Platforms: PlayStation, PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Similar To: Windwaker, Breath of the Wild

If you’ve made it this far into the list and you’re feeling a little disappointed that I haven’t included a Windwaker-like game yet, you can let out a sigh of relief. You don’t even have to play Windbound to get Windwaker vibes from it.

Of course, that is mainly because of the fact that you spend much of your time in the game sailing around the seas on your little boat. But Windbound also reminds me of Breath of the Wild in many ways, especially when it comes to its cooking and foraging elements. It is a charming little adventure and one that I think many of you would enjoy.

FAQs

Question: Are Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Cadence of Hyrule Nintendo games?

Answer: No, neither of those games were developed by Nintendo. Nintendo did trust them enough with the Zelda IP, though, and both games absolutely did it justice.

Question: Which of these games do you recommend playing first?

Answer: It depends on whether you want an old or new-school Zelda experience, but I would suggest playing The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim or Immortals Fenyx Rising first.

Question: What is the best Zelda game?

Answer: That is a hot debate that has raged on for many many years. But, depending on who you ask, the top contenders are usually Majora’s Mask, Ocarina of Time, and Breath of the Wild.