By David Flynn
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Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda franchise can feel totally unique in games, with an adventurous spirit and fun combination of puzzles and combat. However, there are actually quite a few titles that, over the years, have been heavily inspired by Zelda. Both indie games and AAA with everything in between have drawn from the series and put their own spin on it. Some titles might be straightforward homages, while others take a wildly different direction.
If fans keep on the lookout for these games, they'll find a lot of variety as well. There are open world titles, top-down 2D games, more linear 3D experiences, and even some Dark Souls inspiration for good measure. Players may even find they prefer another developer's approach more than the actual Zelda series. Other titles might not click as much, but are still interesting and worth a playthrough for any Zelda fan.
10 Immortals Fenyx Rising is Popcorn Zelda
Formerly Of Gods and Monsters
Related
It's Time For the Zelda Series to Return to Its Pre-Sandbox Roots
The Legend of Zelda has gone through a metamorphosis in recent years, as Nintendo moves away from the franchise's roots.
Immortals Fenyx Rising is Zelda if it took place in a Ubisoft open world. Many might be sick of their checklist style of design, but it's great when a player just wants to turn their brain off and feel like they're accomplishing something. Players will know exactly where the plot and gameplay are going from moment one, but that doesn't mean it's not fun to play through. Plus, the game has character customization, so players can make Fenyx look however they'd like.
Immortals draws mostly from Breath of the Wild, so there are smaller puzzles all over the place to solve. The game is framed as Prometheus telling Fenyx's story to Zeus, after a bet that if Typhon can be defeated by a mortal, Zeus will free Prometheus. As a shield-bearer of the Delian League, Fenyx shipwrecks on the Golden Isle, where they discover that their crew and the island's residents have turned to stone. From there, they need to restore the gods to save everyone.
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Immortals Fenyx Rising
Action RPG
Systems
-
- Top Critic Rating: 79/100 Critics Recommend: 78%
- Franchise
- Immortals Fenyx Rising
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia, Xbox One, PC, Switch
- Released
- December 3, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Quebec
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Engine
- anvilnext
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 25 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 32 GB (November 2023)
- Metascore
- 81
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
9 The Plucky Squire is an Adorable Zelda For Kids
A Little Too Easy For Adults
For younger players, The Plucky Squire is a great title to get acquainted with video games. It's fairly simple but has a lot of variety to keep players engaged, and a cute story with fun characters. The game may not give new puzzle-solving tools to protagonist Jot often, but its mechanics are strong enough to carry the game through its short runtime. The game is both 2D and 3D, with Jot being able to leave his storybook to explore the surrounding area.
Even for adults, this combination of 2D and 3D makes for an interesting game. Within the book, Jot can fight enemies with his sword or play with the book's words, rearranging sentences to solve puzzles. Outside the book, things play largely the same, though with some light platforming and the ability for Jot to enter other drawings and artwork at will. This results in a lot of different gameplay styles, from a turn-based RPG to a bullet hell.
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The Plucky Squire
When the malevolent Humgrump realizes he's the villain of the book - destined to lose his battle against the forces of good for all eternity - he kicks the heroic Jot out of its pages and changes the story forever.
Platformer
Systems
-
- Top Critic Rating: 82/100 Critics Recommend: 86%
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Released
- September 17, 2024
- Developer(s)
- All Possible Futures
- Publisher(s)
- Devolver Digital
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
8 Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is an Egypt-Themed Zelda
Two Protagonists For Two Different Modes of Gameplay
Related
Why Story Still Matters In Zelda Games
Zelda may focus on gameplay first, but the story is still important.
Released in 2003 for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is an unfortunately unknown Zelda-like. The game follows the demi-god Sphinx as well as a mummified version of Tutankhamun as they attempt to save their land. Gameplay is split between the pair, with transitions occurring at specific points in the story. Sphinx's gameplay is more action-focused, while Tutankhamun's is more puzzle-focused.
The game may be over 20 years old, but thankfully the game received a fantastic HD remaster in 2017, with a Switch release coming in 2019. The Steam version even comes with a set of authoring tools as free DLC, allowing players to create their own mods and storylines with the same tools the developers used in 2003. It's nice to see the developers still hold a place in their hearts for Sphinx, and players can feel that love in the game itself.
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Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy
Action-Adventure
Systems
-
- Top Critic Rating: 64/100 Critics Recommend: 39%
- Platform(s)
- GameCube, PC, Switch, PS2, Xbox (Original)
- Released
- November 10, 2003
- Developer(s)
- Eurocom
- Publisher(s)
- THQ
- Engine
- engineX
- ESRB
- t
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
7 Blossom Tales is a 2D Zelda throwback
A Gorgeous and Hilarious Tribute
Framed as a story told to two kids by their grandfather, Blossom Tales follows Lily, a rookie Knight of the Rose who needs to explore the Kingdom of Blossom and save it from eternal darkness. The king has been put into a deep slumber, and Lily is the only one who can wake him. The game is a pretty straightforward Zelda clone, drawing mostly from the older 2D titles like A Link to the Past or Link's Awakening. Players find various items throughout the game they can assign to one of three buttons.
They can use these items both in combat and to solve puzzles. For example, the player may need to hit multiple switches that they can't reach but can use the boomerang to hit them all in a line. It's fairly simple and straightforward, and while it doesn't do anything new or special it's still a fun time. The game is a very cozy, familiar experience, so players may want to choose this instead of replaying A Link to the Past again.
6 Hyper Light Drifter Combines Zelda and Diablo
A Story About Congenital Heart Disease
Hyper Light Drifter attempts to recreate the experience of playing an SNES game, though with a minimalist story and some gorgeously detailed pixel art. The game is a direct metaphor for Congenital Heart Disease, with the mysterious protagonist battling increasingly difficult enemies to find a cure for their strange disease. The Drifter travels to the Land of Light from the Northern Realms and must piece together the story from visuals alone.
The player explores the land trying to find a way forward, with various roadblocks blocking paths that must be surmounted. The game is easy to pick up, but extremely difficult, with the Drifter being incredibly frail and enemies hitting very hard. Hyper Light Drifter is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and even mobile devices, with the Switch version being called the Special Edition featuring some new content, weapons, and a special outfit.
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Hyper Light Drifter
Action RPG
Systems
-
- Top Critic Rating: 84/100 Critics Recommend: 85%
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
- Released
- March 31, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Heart Machine
- Publisher(s)
- Heart Machine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Engine
- GameMaker
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
- Metascore
- 84
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
5 Sable is Zelda Without Combat
Explore a Vast Open World at a Relaxed Pace
Related
The Legend of Zelda: Does Termina Really Vanish After Majora’s Mask?
The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia states that Termina ceases to exist soon after Link departs it, but how true is that statement?
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Sable begins with the titular character preparing to set off on a journey. She must leave her village behind for a time to explore the land, collect masks for different vocations, and discover who she wants to be. Players do just that over the course of the game, with almost all of the game's content being optional. After reaching a certain point, players can simply return to their village to end the game whenever they wish.
That said, players will want to explore every inch of Sable's world, both because it's fun and because there are a ton of quests to complete, mysteries to solve, and vistas to see. The game follows in Breath of the Wild's footsteps, though completely removing combat. Players can climb virtually every surface, slowly glide down from heights using a magic bubble, and ride around the desert in style on a sci-fi hoverbike.
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Sable
Adventure
Systems
-
- Top Critic Rating: 75/100 Critics Recommend: 59%
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Released
- September 23, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Shedworks
- Publisher(s)
- Raw Fury
- Engine
- unity
- ESRB
- e
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
- Metascore
- 76
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
4 Anodyne 2 Asks Players to Think Outside the Box
Combining 2D and 3D in Another, Novel Way
Developed by Analgesic Productions, Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is a fascinating game in a lot of respects. The game follows Nova, a Nano Cleaner working for The Center to save New Theland from something called Dust. Over the course of the story, Nova begins to question her role, why she was created, and how she fits into this world. The story is heartfelt and touching and features some incredible music.
The game features two main modes of play. The overworld is fully 3D, but shrinking down to clean Dust out of someone begins a top-down, 2D dungeon where the player needs to solve puzzles and defeat enemies to progress. Both are fun to play, though later on in the game players are asked to find ways out of bounds to discover secrets and fully complete the game. It's a rare game that actually embraces being a video game — limitations, glitches, and all.
3 Tunic Plays Like a Zelda ARG
This Adorable Fox Hides Countless Secrets
On the surface, Tunic looks like yet another indie Zelda clone. It has minimalist storytelling, atmospheric music, and an adorable fox wearing a green tunic as a protagonist. What makes the game special lies just underneath the surface, with puzzles players need to solve together online, secrets hidden in the game's collectible manual, and even areas only accessible through a second save file. It's a game that lets players go as deep as they wish while rewarding those that dive in head first.
If a player doesn't want to discover all the ARG secrets, they still have a fantastic adventure ahead of them. There are several items to discover and use in novel ways for both puzzle-solving and combat. As players explore, they'll find shortcuts back to previous areas that were available the entire time but hidden by clever camera angles or perspective tricks that make them rethink every screen. Getting to the credits is a blast, but there's always more for players who want it.
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Tunic
Explore a land filled with lost legends, ancient powers, and ferocious monsters in TUNIC, an isometric action game about a small fox on a big adventure.
Adventure
Systems
-
- Top Critic Rating: 86/100 Critics Recommend: 93%
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Released
- March 16, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Andrew Shouldice
- Publisher(s)
- Finji
- Engine
- Unity
- ESRB
- e
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 3 GB (November 2023)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
2 Unsighted Pushes Zelda to Its Limits
Discover a Punishing But Beautiful World on a Time Limit
Unsighted combines Zelda with Dark Souls to great effect, allowing every puzzle-solving tool to also be an effective weapon in the brutal combat. Players take on the role of Alma, an android who's lost her memories, but is the only person who can save the world from a slow death at the hands of humanity. Each android she meets is on a literal, in-game timer, and will go Unsighted and lose themselves if time runs out.
This gives the game some great urgency, though players can turn off timers if they wish. Every NPC, and Alma herself, is on a different timer, which can be extended by giving them a very rare item that can also be used to power up Alma's healing capabilities. It's a very delicate tightrope to walk, which makes it all the more satisfying when the player finishes the game with time to spare. It's a blast to play, and great for speedrunners.
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Unsighted
Alma is an Automaton that awakens to a world in ruin after the war with the humans. Anima, the resource that gives Automatons sentience, is running out and turning Alma’s friends into mindless killing machines, the UNSIGHTED.
Action-Adventure
Systems
-
- Top Critic Rating: 85/100 Critics Recommend: 96%
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
- Released
- September 30, 2021
- Developer
- Studio Pixel Punk
- Publisher(s)
- Humble Games
- Engine
- Unity
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
- How Long To Beat
- 9 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
1 Okami is the Ultimate Zelda-Like
Why Pet the Dog When You Can Be the Dog
Related
An Ōkami Sequel Is Officially In Development
The unexpected and long-awaited Ōkami sequel was surprisingly announced at The Game Awards.
Okami isn't just the best Zelda-like, it might just be the best Zelda-inspired game, period. As the Japanese goddess of the sun takes on the form of a white wolf, players explore ancient Japan to root out evil and restore nature in a stunningly beautiful adventure. Rather than traditional items or equipment, players acquire new brush techniques and draw directly on the screen to destroy objects with a slash, turn night into day, slow down time, and summon gusts of wind.
The game is an epic tale inspired by folklore and mythology, recreating multiple Japanese tales over its 30 to 40 hours journey. From the terrors of Orochi to the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Okami feels incredibly grand in scope, with three major arcs that essentially could have been their own, full games. The game makes players feel like they've crossed the entirety of Japan and mastered the Celestial Brush by the end, with some fantastic locations and intricate dungeons.
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Okami
Action
Adventure
Systems
-
- Top Critic Rating: 87/100 Critics Recommend: 95%
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS3, PS2, Xbox One, Switch, Wii, PC
- Released
- September 19, 2006
- Developer(s)
- Capcom, Clover Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Metascore
- 93
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Games
- The Legend of Zelda
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