Table of Contents
The wait is over for Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The highly anticipated next chapter in the Zelda franchise promises to be the biggest game in the series yet. In addition to replaying their favorite Zelda titles, fans search for other games with similar styles. Whether they are games with sprawling open worlds, or simple adventure gameplay, there are plenty of Zelda-adjacent games to pick up.
Games Like Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Here are 10 games like Zelda Tears of the Kingdom if you are looking for something similar to play.
10. Hyper Light Drifter
Zelda Tears of the Kingdom is sure to be filled with intense combat, which is where Hyper Light Drifter shines. This pixilated adventure brings nostalgia to the surface and reminds players of the days of defending Hyrule in earlier Zelda titles. Hyper Light Drifter is a beautiful-looking game that blends sci-fi and fantasy in a unique way. The art style makes the game stand out among others, as its neon-tinted style is pleasing to the eyes. While the game doesn’t have as many puzzle-based challenges, it more than makes up for it with challenging combat. In fact, the hardest of these challenges rivals even Zelda.
9. Sable
One thing fans love the most about recent Legend of Zelda games is the open world. Exploring the land of Hyrule and discovering her hidden secrets adds tons of replayability to the games. For those fans who value exploration above all else, Sable is the game to check out. Sable doesn’t rely too much on combat. In fact, the game encourages players to discover alternate ways around obstacles. This allows the game to focus much more on adventure, as players aren’t focused on leveling up weapons or armor. For fans looking for a more relaxing and calming Zelda-inspired adventure, then Sable is a fantastic choice.
8. Hob
Hob is a game that subtly references the Zelda series. Often times in Zelda, the plot and the mysteries of the land are not obvious right off the bat. The player discovers things as the players do, including controlling the game itself. Hob is very similar in this way. The game gives you the bare minimum to get going and then leaves you to it. Hob has plenty of puzzle-based challenges that require players to think outside the box. The art style is eye-catching as well. The game is beautifully 3D rendered but has hints of classic top-down games. Hob is rewarding as well. Seeing a puzzle and using subtle hints and wit to solve it is just as rewarding as in the Zelda games.
7. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
One of the most exciting parts of any Zelda title is its dungeons. If you take the dungeon segments and base an entire game around them, it would look something like The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. This title is a dark adventure that focuses just as much on the story than combat. While there aren’t sprawling landscapes or beautiful structures like in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, there are plenty of puzzles and tense moments to keep players on their feet. For gamers who want a darker adventure with shades of 2D Zelda dungeons, they should look no further than The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth.
6. Immortals Fenyx Rising
For a game that feels so similar to recent Legend of Zelda titles, it almost feels like a cop. Immortals Fenyx Rising is a great game to check out. The game borrows a lot from Breath of the Wild, and this is far from a bad thing. This Greek Mythology-based game is full of explorable areas, head0scratching puzzles, and thrilling combat. Not to mention the story is engaging and begs players to continue playing just to see what happens next. The game mechanics are where the similarities to Breath of the Wild truly show themselves. From climbing to stamina bars, certain elements of this game will certainly feel familiar to Zelda fans.
5. Okami HD
Gamers that are fans of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom have almost certainly played Twilight Princess as well. In that game, there are several segments where Link is transformed into a wolf. This allows unique gameplay and puzzle challenges that break up the typical Zelda formula. For fans of these Wolf Link segments, Okami almost serves as a full game based on that gameplay. The player takes control of Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess who has taken the form of a wolf. In addition to similar gameplay to the aforementioned game, Okami also has breathtaking visuals. The graphics take on the form of Japanese drawings, giving the game a unique style that helps it stand apart from other games in the genre.
4. The Horizon Series
A great pair of games like Zelda Tears of the Kingdom is the PlayStation-exclusive Horizon series. Horizon: Zero Dawn and Forbidden West follow the adventures of Alloy. Alloy is a character who doesn’t know her true origins in a strange fantasy land, much like Link. While not as expansive as Hyrule, the world in the Horizon series is still massive, with plenty to do and discover. The gameplay is similar to the Zelda games but far from a carbon copy. The story is revealed gradually, allowing players to discover the world as Alloy does. Any fan of adventure games owes it to themselves to check these games out.
3. Elden Ring
For a more punishing adventure akin to Legend of Zelda, there is Elden Ring. This game has made a huge splash since its release and for a good reason. The world of Elden Ring is quite expensive, with nearly limitless areas to explore. Like Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, players much traverse dangerous terrain and battle enemies. There are also a fair amount of puzzles, each more challenging than the last. Elden Ring is not great for casual gamers, as it requires players to always be on full alert. Elden Ring may be harder than Breath of the Wild, but it still owes a lot to the Zelda series.
2. Death’s Door
As anybody who has played a Legend of Zelda game knows, the games can get quite dark. Death’s Door is a game that takes the darker elements of some of the games and builds upon them. Death’s Door follows a crow fittingly named Crow. Crow is a reaper of souls and must reverse through worlds to do so. Much of the game is reminiscent of the Zelda dungeons. Players must solve puzzles and level themselves up in order to leave the dungeons. In addition to the obvious Zelda inspiration, Death’s Door has also been compared to Dark Souls. The bosses remind many players of Dark Souls not because of the difficulty but due to the game mechanics.
1. Super Mario Odyssey
While many fans may scoff at comparing Mario Odyssey to Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, they are somewhat similar. Both games take well-established Nintendo properties and thrust them into an open-world setting. While Mario has explored many different worlds in his game before, this is the first to truly move away from the level-based gameplay of previous games. The player must explore various areas and solve puzzles in order to progress. This is different than simply reaching the end of a level. Alongside Breath of the Wild, Mario Odyssey helped show fans that Nintendo meant business when they released the Switch.
With Zelda Tears of the Kingdom now out, you will most likely be spending some time playing that game. When you get time, you should definitely check out these games like Zelda!