The Legend of Zelda stands as a pinnacle in gaming. Its fusion of strategy and puzzles crafts a gaming experience of unparalleled excellence. Regrettably, restricted to Nintendo’s consoles as an exclusive, many miss out on its brilliance. To address this, we’ve curated a selection of games akin to The Legend of Zelda, either mirroring its essence or boldly emulating its gameplay, art, narrative, or style. Without delay, here are the standout alternatives:
1. Okami HD (PS3, PS2, Wii)
Okami, initially released on the PS2, boasts stunning visuals. Okami HD, its remastered counterpart, further enhances its beauty. With a unique ink-filled world, the game exudes a hand-drawn aesthetic. Its gameplay mirrors that of The Legend Of Zelda, with players assuming the role of a wolf embarking on various quests and confronting diverse enemies in dungeons.
Set in Japan’s historical backdrop, Okami delves into the era of emperors and mystical forces. The game revolves around solving intricate puzzles using brush techniques. By drawing specific icons, players can manipulate their environment, from blooming dead trees to repairing bridges and beyond.
2. Hyper Light Drifter (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Hyper Light Drifter pays homage to Zelda’s early days. It’s a 2D game with simple mechanics and psychedelic audiovisuals. The game’s intricacy adds to its appeal, with a plot delving into extinction, time travel, genocide, and symbolism.
This game merges the Zelda universe with modern Sci-Fi elements. The protagonist wields both a sword and an arsenal of blasters. Each temple, while diverse, incorporates Sci-Fi elements like laser traps. Overall, it’s a thrilling and enjoyable experience for players.
3. Dark Souls (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
Looking at Dark Souls individually, it’s a game about defeating enemies by any means necessary, whether forging or purchasing weapons. However, upon closer examination, it shares resemblances with Zelda. Firstly, both games feature shops situated in inconvenient locations, occasionally operated by enemies. Additionally, gameplay in both titles involves breaking objects to uncover money or items.
Dark Souls is a solid third-person action game where survival is paramount as everyone seeks to eliminate you, compelling you to defend yourself and fulfill quests.
4. Beyond Good and Evil HD (Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Beyond Good and Evil features a female protagonist clad in an all-green suit akin to Link, embroiled in a political upheaval on a planet reminiscent of Earth, named Hillys. The visuals are decent, complemented by amazing gameplay. Players explore dungeons reminiscent of Zelda, imbued with a militaristic atmosphere, offering both intrigue and enjoyment.
The game distinguishes itself from Zelda through its genre fusion, blending elements of stealth games with photography mechanics, given the protagonist’s role as a photojournalist. These photographs yield pearls, a crucial currency for upgrading your hovercraft and skills, underscoring their significance.
5. 3D Dot Game Heroes (PS3)
3D Dot Game Heroes boldly mimics The Legend of Zelda’s style and gameplay. As an adventurer, your mission is to thwart an evil bishop’s plans to plunge the world into a monstrous abyss. Armed with a pixelated sword, shield, and various gadgets, you embark on this perilous journey.
Similar to Zelda, this game features diverse dungeons teeming with adversaries. It also incorporates iconic Zelda items like boomerangs and bombs. 3D Dot Heroes seamlessly blends Zelda’s world with a modern retro theme, creating an engaging gaming experience.
6. The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth (PS4, PS3, Switch, PS Vita, Xbox One, PC)
The Binding Of Isaac, a remarkable game, brims with content, perpetually offering fresh experiences with each playthrough. Its difficulty can be daunting for newcomers, warranting caution at the outset. Drawing inspiration from The Legend Of Zelda, it incorporates elements like boss battles and items, along with subtle nods to the Zelda franchise through Easter eggs.
Beyond these influences, the game introduces its own twist with randomized content, featuring collectible hearts, items, and dungeons reminiscent of Zelda. Playing as a child combating monsters, your primary arsenal consists of tear projectiles, their trajectory influenced by momentum and velocity. Despite its lighthearted presentation, the gameplay is truly exceptional.
7. Psychonauts (Xbox, Xbox 360, PS4, PC)
Psychonauts, set in a summer campground for special psychic kids, offers an upbeat gaming experience. It shares the platformer genre with Zelda but adds a twist with psychic powers for puzzle-solving.
The innovative character design and utilization of psychic abilities add a mesmerizing dimension to the traditional genre. Instead of conventional dialogue, players traverse others’ minds, making it a compelling recommendation.
8. Ys: Memories of Celceta (PS Vita, PC)
Ys, akin to Zelda, Memories of Celceta stands out as an exceptional entry in this series. Set within a conventional map, players embark on quests, slashing through adversaries along the way. Centered around Adol, afflicted by amnesia, the game tasks players with exploring the unknown territories. However, amidst this journey, Adol gradually recovers his memories, lending depth to the plot albeit somewhat disruptively.
Yet, the game’s allure extends beyond its narrative, boasting fluid mechanics and intuitive controls, catering to a diverse range of players. Furthermore, akin to many titles within its genre, Memories of Celceta offers a plethora of unlockable features.
9. Oceanhorn: Monsters of the Uncharted Sea (Android, iOS, PS4, Xbox One)
Oceanhorn closely resembles Zelda, drawing heavily from the Legend Of Zelda series. The story follows a boy awakened to discover his father has departed to battle a beast. Learning lore from a local, he embarks on his own journey. Set on a tropical island, the game adopts a top-down perspective akin to Zelda titles. It features numerous dungeons and monsters, with Oceanhorn as the ultimate foe.
The puzzles are simple yet entertaining, and gameplay is straightforward. Movement is controlled via an analog stick, with one button for attacks and another for object manipulation. While the plot may lag at times, the gameplay remains enjoyable.
10. Evoland (Android, iOS, PC)
Evoland amalgamates various games: Early Zelda, Final Fantasy, Diablo—each finds representation here. The gameplay dynamically evolves, as its title suggests, delivering a distinctive experience. Initially, it adopts a top-down, greyscaled arena akin to The Legend of Zelda on Gameboy. Advancing and unlocking chests introduces vibrant changes. For instance, the first chest introduces 16-bit colors, followed by background music, and so forth.
With graphics enhancement, you receive new and superior weapons to combat increasingly tough enemies. The game isn’t for those seeking a comprehensive experience of all constituent games, but rather for those desiring a fun and entertaining title to pass the time, with the added bonus of nostalgia.
11. Fable III (Xbox 360, PC)
Fable III empowers you to crush or save cities. It’s a fantasy world game, reminiscent of Zelda in style. You govern a miniature world, holding ultimate authority. Save towns from monsters, or, if inclined, aid the monsters and witness them devouring innocent citizens. The game’s greatness lies in this power. To attain this position, you must follow the storyline.
In the storyline, the king is evil, and you need to gain support from the people to overthrow him. The journey to the crown comprises half of Fable’s plot. After gaining support by promising help and incentives, you face a choice when overthrowing the king: keep your promises and play as the good guy or gradually become evil. This concept is intriguing, and honestly, being the bad guy is more enjoyable.
12. Darksiders 2 Deathinitive Edition (PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U)
Darksiders 2 offers great action, with puzzle aspects akin to The Legend Of Zelda, actions akin to God Of War, and platforming akin to the Prince of Persia. Despite this blend, Darksiders 2 provides a distinct experience. The game is lengthy and packed with action for adventure fans, following Death and War in the story of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
The game features an immersive narrative, and simple controls. You wield a primary and secondary weapon to defeat enemies, along with special abilities for havoc. Darksiders 2 effectively merges its dark atmosphere with titles like Zelda, creating an amazing experience.
13. Unveiling the Essence of Mana (SNES, PC, Wii, Android, iOS)
Despite its age, Secret of Mana remains a gem, echoing shades of Zelda. It stands as a remarkable role-playing experience, distinguished by its dynamic battles akin to Zelda’s, eschewing turn-based mechanics. This unique combat system imbues the game with enduring appeal and renown. Originally released for the SNES, accessibility has widened through emulators and Wii’s virtual console, facilitating enjoyment on PC or Wii platforms.
The game supports up to 3 players, unlike Zelda. It features numerous dungeons, puzzles, and the protagonist wields a sword. Cooperation with companions is essential for success. Its enduring charm and captivating storyline contribute to its excellence.
14. Dust: An Elysian Tale (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Dust, a visually stunning 2D game crafted by a lone developer, boasts smooth animations and an exquisite hand-drawn art style. Transporting players from magical realms to dimly lit caves and expansive forests, it offers a captivating journey. The ambient lighting enhances the visual experience, complemented by charming talking animals. While the main character lacks depth, their presence adds a certain allure to the experience.
Besides its stunning graphics, this game boasts smooth animations and a flawless battling system for immersion. You’ll embark on an engaging storyline filled with numerous boss fights seamlessly woven into the narrative. The game excels with puzzles, enemies, goodies, and visuals.
15. Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
Kingdoms of Amalur, an exceptional RPG, boasts remarkable gameplay with its heart lying in its captivating storyline. The narrative commences with your character, fully customizable, awakening from death via a contraption, disrupting the strings of fate and leaving you directionless. This pivotal moment sets the tone for the entire game, exploring themes of exploitation and seizing opportunities within the Kingdom of Amalur.
The game offers expansive freedom of movement while maintaining contained gameplay. Encounter foes akin to those in Zelda, accompanied by puzzles on your quest. For enthusiasts of Zelda, Kingdoms of Amalur presents an enthralling alternative worth experiencing at least once.
Alternative Games with Similar Gameplay to Zelda
If you’re unable to access the latest Zelda titles, such as Breath of the Wild, due to the absence of a Nintendo console, or simply seek a fresh experience with a comparable gameplay style, the aforementioned games offer a satisfying alternative. Feel free to share additional Zelda-like games in the comments below.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
