The Legend of Zelda is one of the best game series out there. It combines a lot of things from strategy to puzzles, which make this game a masterpiece. Sadly, The Legend of Zelda is only available on Nintendo’s consoles as a first-party exclusive. To remedy this problem, we have compiled a list of all the games which resemble The Legend of Zelda or are blatant rip-offs of it in terms of gameplay, art, storyline, and/or style. So, without any further ado, here are the best games like Zelda you should play:
1. Okami HD (PS3, PS2, Wii)
Okami is a beautiful game which came out first on the PS2. Okami HD is the remastered version which makes this game even more beautiful. The art style is unique in this game, it features an ink filled world, which means everyone and everything look like they are hand drawn. Other than the beauty of the game, this game features gameplay similar to The Legend Of Zelda. You play as a wolf and go on various quests. You also face numerous enemies on your quest in all kinds of dungeons.
Okami portrays the past of Japan, where emperors and kings rule the land, and mystical forces are an active part of this game. The game focuses on solving complex puzzles with brush techniques. By drawing the right icons players can make dead trees bloom, repair bridges, and do much more.
Download ($13.99)
2. Hyper Light Drifter (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Hyper Light Drifter is a nod to the early days of Zelda. It is a 2D style game, with simple game mechanics and psychedelic sounds and visuals. The game is well-thought and has subtle touches, which make it extremely appealing. Its plot is more intense than the art portrays. It covers extinction, time travel, genocide, and symbolism.
This game combines the Zelda world with modern Sci-Fi. The hero wields a sword, but he also has an arsenal of blasters and other arms. The game also has a host of different temples, but every one of these temples borrows something from Sci-Fi; such as lasers as traps. Overall, it is extremely fun to play and provides a lot of excitement to the players.
Download ($19.99)
3. Dark Souls (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
If you look at Dark Souls separately, it is a game about beating your enemies through any means necessary, whether by forging your weapons or buying them. However, if you look closely, it resembles Zelda in more ways than one. Firstly, the shops in both games are set in inconvenient places and are at times run by enemies. The game also shares similarity to Zelda in terms of gameplay. In both the games, you are breaking stuff to find some money or items to use.
The game Dark Souls is pretty good, with it being a third-person action game. Everyone is trying to kill you, and you have to defend yourself and complete your quests.
Download ($19.99)
4. Beyond Good and Evil HD (Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Beyond Good and Evil has a female main lead donning an all green suit (just like Link) who gets stuck in a political uprising in an Earth-like planet called Hillys. The visuals are decent, and the gameplay is amazing. The game has you explore dungeons in a Zelda-like fashion, which have a military feel to them. The dungeons are intriguing and fun to explore.
The game differentiates itself from Zelda by its mix of genres. It combines attributes of stealth oriented games, as well as have you take photographs of various things in the start as the main character is a photojournalist. These photos earn you pearls, which play an important part in the game. Without enough pearls, you cannot upgrade your hovercraft and other skills, so they are indeed important.
Download ($9.99)
5. 3D Dot Game Heroes (PS3)
3D Dot Game Heroes clearly emulates the style and gameplay of The Legend of Zelda. In this game, you are an adventurer tasked with stopping an evil bishop from making the world a miserable, monster-filled hell. The pixelated protagonist holds a sword, shield and some other gadgets to make his adventure safer.
Like Zelda, this game comprises of various dungeons in which you face numerous enemies. The game even consists of many items the Zelda games have, such as boomerangs, bombs, and much more. 3D Dot Heroes mixes the world of Zelda with a modern retro themed game and does so in an entertaining manner.
Download ($13.99)
6. The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth (PS4, PS3, Switch, PS Vita, Xbox One, PC)
The Binding Of Isaac is a wonderful game. It has a lot of content and every time you play the game, it generates something new for you to find. The game is extremely difficult for a newbie, so be wary when you are just starting out. It borrows some cues from The Legend Of Zelda, like the boss fights and the items. It also has some easter eggs, which refer to Zelda.
Other than that, it has randomized content, with collectible hearts, items, and dungeons like Zelda, but adds some twists of its own. As you play as a child to fend off monsters, the main attack you have is your tear projectiles, which are affected by your momentum and velocity. The game might be played out in a fun manner, but the gameplay is amazing.
Download ($11.99)
7. Psychonauts (Xbox, Xbox 360, PS4, PC)
Psychonauts is an upbeat game, which is set on a summer campground for special kids. These kids are psychic, and the game revolves around them. Psychonauts share the same genre as Zelda – platformer- but adds a twist to the traditional genre. In addition to the swinging and slashing, you use psychic powers to solve puzzles as well.
The fun design and innovative ways the creators use these characters is mesmerizing and puts a new spin on a genre. Instead of following the dialogue in the real world, you will find yourself traveling through other people’s minds which is more than enough of a reason for us to recommend this game.
Download ($7.99)
8. Ys: Memories of Celceta (PS Vita, PC)
Ys is a series much like Zelda, and Memories of Celceta is one amazing game in this series. It is based on an ordinary map, where you follow quests and slash your way through your enemies. The game revolves around Adol, who has amnesia and is asked to explore the map for the unknown. But on his quest, he slowly starts to find his memories, which makes for an interesting plot, which can be a little disruptive.
The game is not all about the plot as the mechanics are really fluid and easy to comprehend, with plenty of options for each character. The game also has unlockables, like many games of this genre.
Download ($38.36)
9. Oceanhorn: Monsters of the Uncharted Sea (Android, iOS, PS4, Xbox One)
Oceanhorn is one of the closest titles to Zelda. It borrows a lot from the Legend Of Zelda series. The plot revolves around a boy, who wakes up to find his father has left off to fight a beast. He takes lessons in lore from a local and sets off on his own journey. The game’s atmosphere consists of a tropical island, and the game is played top-down, like some Zelda titles. The game has numerous dungeons and monsters, and the greatest monster of all is Oceanhorn.
The puzzles are simple, yet entertaining, and the entire game is simple to play. Analog stick moves, one button attacks, and the other moves objects. The plot might get a little boring, but the game is really fun.
Download ($14.99)
10. Evoland (Android, iOS, PC)
Evoland is a combination of many games. Early Zelda, Final Fantasy, Diablo, all are present in this game, one way or the other. The gameplay is really interesting though. In Evoland, the gameplay is constantly evolving (as the name implies) and thus offering a unique experience. In the beginning, the game starts out as a top-down, greyscaled arena with chunky pixels like The Legend of Zelda on Gameboy. As you advance and open chests, the game gets more colorful. For instance, the first chest gives you 16-bit colors, and the one after that gets you background music, and so on.
Along with the graphics enhancement, you also get new and better weapons to fend off your increasingly tough enemies. The game is not for those who want a complete experience of all the constituent games, but rather for those who want a fun and entertaining title to pass their time with, and with the added bonus to get some nostalgia.
Download ($9.99)
11. Fable III (Xbox 360, PC)
Fable III gives you the power to crush cities or save them. The game is a fantasy world game, which follows some of the styles of Zelda. You have a miniature world with you being the higher authority. You can save towns from monsters, or if you are feeling a little sour, aid these monsters and watch them devour innocent citizens. This is what makes this game so great – the power. To get to that position, you must follow the storyline.
In the storyline, the king is evil, and you need to gain support from the people and overthrow him. The journey to the crown is half the plot of Fable. After gaining support by promising help and incentives in return, you are faced with a choice when you overthrow the king: to keep your promises and play out as the good guy, or slowly turn into a great evil. This idea is pretty neat, and to be honest, it is much more fun being the bad guy.
Download ($0.97)
12. Darksiders 2 Deathinitive Edition (PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U)
Darksiders 2 offers some great action, with puzzle aspects similar to The Legend Of Zelda, actions similar to God Of War, and platforming like the Prince of Persia. Despite this merger of games, Darksiders 2 does well in providing a different experience than all of these games. The game is lengthy and is jam-packed with action for the action adventure fans. The game follows Death and War with the story of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
The game has a nice immersive narrative, and the controls are simple. You have a primary weapon and a secondary weapon, which you can use to beat your enemies. In addition to standard weapons, you get special abilities, which can cause havoc on command. The game does well to blend its dark atmosphere with constituent titles like Zelda and makes for one amazing game.
Download ($29.99)
13. Secret of Mana (SNES, PC, Wii, Android, iOS)
Secret of Mana is an old title, but it is a good one which has some hints of Zelda in it. Secret of Mana is an amazing role-playing game with active battles like Zelda, rather than turn-based battles. This battle system has made this game so memorable and famous even to this year. The game initially came out of the SNES, but thanks to emulators and Wii’s virtual console, you can play this masterpiece on PC or on Wii.
The game supports up to 3 players – something which Zelda does not do. The game has plenty of dungeons and puzzles, and the main character wields a sword as well. You must work together with the two of your companions or else you will not be able to succeed. This game has a charm which is still alive and fresh, and the amazing storyline helps in making this game so good.
Download ($8.99)
14. Dust: An Elysian Tale (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Dust is a beautiful 2D game created and animated by one lone developer. The animations are smooth, and the art style is amazing, thanks to it being hand drawn. The game starts in a magical place, and as you follow the game, you will be taken to all sorts of places, ranging from dimly lit caves to amazing extensive forests. The light and ambient atmosphere are set up to provide optimal viewing pleasure, with different characters such as talking animals. The main character is not very well developed, but there is something about him which still makes things pleasing.
Apart from the beautiful graphics, this game offers smooth animations and a flawless battling system to keep you immersed. The game has you follow an amazing story with numerous fights with bosses, which incorporate beautifully within the storyline. Nothing is abrupt, and the overall game is fantastic with puzzles, enemies, goodies, and visuals.
Download ($14.99)
15. Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
Kingdoms of Amalur is an amazing RPG with exceptional gameplay. The story is the heart of this amazing game. It starts with your character (which you can fully customize and make yourself) waking up from death through a contraption. This changes the strings of fate and leaves you without a course. This sets the setting for the entire game as the game is about how you can take advantage of this, or about how others exploit you for their gain. This gives depth to the game and this story leads you to explore the Kingdom of Amalur.
The game gives you freedom to move around yet the entire gameplay is contained. You face foes like in Zelda, and on your quest, you get to face puzzles as well. This game is amazing, and anyone who likes Zelda should try this game out at least once.
Download ($19.99)
SEE ALSO: 15 Best Free Steam Games You Should Definitely Play
Some Great Games like Zelda You Can Play
If you can’t play the latest Zelda games, like the Breath of the Wild, because of the lack of any Nintendo console or maybe you just want to try out something different with a similar gameplay style then the above-mentioned games should cover you for a decent amount of time. If you think there are other games similar to The Legend of Zelda then feel free to mention them in the comments below.
