Games for Zelda lovers who want to try something new

The Legends of Zelda games, created by Shigeru Miyamoto (Mario's father) in partnership with Takashi Tezuka, released in 1986 in Japan are, without a shadow of a doubt, a success and one of Nintendo's longest-running and most prosperous franchises. There's no denying that what these two created was revolutionary, and they remain beloved by fans and newcomers alike to this day. Link, the Hero of Time, on his eternal journey to keep the powerful TriForce from the hands of Ganondorf, the king of the Gerudos, and rescue Princess Zelda.

From the 1980s, with 2D graphics and a top-down view, to today, with a 3D open world and stamina management, The Legend of Zelda has influenced countless games. Some, even more so, almost as if it were a blatant copy, with some small inspiration in some more discreet mechanics or aesthetically speaking. In any case, the Legend of Zelda is one of the greatest franchises in gaming and deserves to be played by everyone. It's a shame they're exclusive to Nintendo (except for these Zelda games here).

So, if you don't have access to a Nintendo console, let's talk about some games heavily inspired by The Legend of Zelda that will give you the feeling of playing a genuine adventure with Link and his friends. If you have any questions, just leave a comment.

If you're a longtime fan and loved playing Zelda when you owned a Nintendo 8-bit, then it's a must-play for you to play this SEGA classic that allowed the Sonic’ home to compete directly with Link and his TriForce.

In Golden Axe: Warrior, we follow a young warrior who seeks to defeat the evil Death Adder, a tyrant who killed the royal families of three different kingdoms and stole the magical crystals that protected them from Adder. Through exploring ten labyrinths, collecting nine lost crystals, and finding the Golden Axe, the only weapon that can finally kill the evil tyrant Death Adder, the game follows.

This RPG was released in 1991 as a direct response to Zelda and leveraged the name of the Golden Axe franchise, already well-established in arcades and SEGA consoles, to capture players' attention. Golden Axe: Warrior's gameplay is very similar to Zelda, and the top-down view also lends a familiar feel to fans of Link and his titles.

Crystalis, originally released in 1990 for the NES by SNK, is one of the most notable examples of 8-bit games that drew directly from The Legend of Zelda—but with its own identity. Instead of a classic medieval fantasy world, the game is set in a post-apocalyptic future, blending magic with technology, and features a story much more focused on narrative and progression than the Zelda titles of the era.

The perspective is overhead, with real-time combat, but the difference lies in its RPG focus: there's leveling, equipment swapping, and four elemental swords with both attack and scenario progression functions.

Despite the hardware limitations, Crystalis impressed with its detailed graphics and atmospheric soundtrack. The game's vast and interconnected world requires constant exploration and strategic swordplay to access new areas, closely resembling Zelda's key-based progression formula. Still, the tone is more serious, with a plot revolving around an ancient war and the threat of the Draygon Empire attempting to revive destructive technologies. Crystalis may not be named after Zelda, but for fans of the franchise, it's a must-play experience set in the 8-bit era.

Another 8-bit game from SEGA's console for those who miss the original Zelda from the NES. This game is an adaptation of the Japanese RPG originally from the PC-88. The gameplay is reminiscent of Zelda, featuring real-time combat and a "bump" system, where you touch enemies to inflict damage, as well as a top-down view. The game focuses more on story and soundtrack.

In Ys: The Vanished Omens, we follow Adol Christin, a young adventurer who arrives in the isolated kingdom of Esteria, overrun by monsters and surrounded by legends about the lost civilization of Ys. To discover what happened, Adol must find the six Books of Ys, scattered throughout ancient temples and dangerous ruins.

Released for the Master System in 1988, it has everything Zelda fans love: town exploration, items that unlock areas, and dungeons with bosses. Even with combat that might be unusual for fans of the SEGA console, Ys delivered a solid action RPG experience and is still remembered today for its striking soundtrack and well-built world, full of mystery and continuous progression.

This is a recommendation for fans of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, as the game doesn't have the series' traditional top-down view, but the protagonists of Wonder Boy use items, explore dungeons, and have several other mechanics that are quite familiar from the side-scrolling sessions of Link's second adventure through the kingdom of Hyrule. So, it's worth leaving it here for those unfamiliar with the series to try.

Wonder Boy is a series created by Westone and published by SEGA, with games released for the Master System, Mega Drive, arcades, and other platforms. The franchise began as a simple platformer but soon incorporated RPG and adventure elements, with exploration, real-time combat, item use, and character development. The most famous titles, such as The Dragon's Trap and Monster World IV, blend side-scrolling action with metroidvania-style progression and are remembered for their varied gameplay and charismatic visuals.

Released for the TurboGrafx-16, Neutopia is practically a Zelda in a different guise: it features an open world divided into screens, puzzle-filled dungeons, challenging bosses, items that unlock new areas, and fluid gameplay that respects the classic top-down adventure formula. Neutopia II improves on all of this, delivering an even more refined experience.

This is often considered the most faithful clone of The Legend of Zelda from the 8-bit era. With a top-down view and a world divided into screens, the game offers a classic exploration adventure, where the player faces enemies, solves puzzles in dungeons, and collects essential items to unlock new areas.

The similarity to Zelda is clear not only in the gameplay, but also in the map design, in the use of bombs, swords, and keys to progress. Although it didn't achieve the same popularity, Neutopia stands out for its quality and for capturing the essence of the formula that made the Nintendo series famous.

This is another one that can't be left off a list for those who love Zelda-style games. Genshin Impact is a game that was heavily inspired by Breath of the Wild, to the point that it had Nintendo fans breaking Sony consoles in front of the game's booth at the 2019 ChinaJoy event, when Genshin Impact was announced. The similarities are so many that there's no denying that the game had a specific audience in mind when it was developed.

Developed and published by HoyoVerse, it follows the siblings Aether and Lumine, interdimensional travelers who arrive in the world of Teyvat and are separated by a mysterious and powerful goddess. As one of them, you explore the new world, meet friends and allies, and defeat evil forces while searching for your missing brother.

The gacha-style game, where characters are won in a raffle, has been among the top 10 most-played games in the genre for years and boasts a huge, active community, hundreds of hours of content, regular events, and a variety of characters to collect. You can finish your current Zelda game and wait for the next release in the franchise, yet still not finish playing Genshin Impact.

Immortals Fenyx Rising flaunts its inspiration from Breath of the Wild without being ashamed of being happy. Players can climb or glide across its massive open world, as long as they have the stamina. Breath of the Wild players will feel right at home, even if stamina management is anyone's nightmare.

Published by Ubisoft in 2020, the game is set in a lighter version of Greek mythology. You won't see an evil Hades with flaming hair or an immensely violent God of War, but rather a lighthearted and even ironic story. While Immortals Fenyx Rising doesn't reinvent the wheel, players can still find plenty of enjoyment in its story and humor. There's plenty to do and plenty to see—what more could anyone want from a Zelda-like game?

However, as with many recent games, players went from "very excited" about Immortals Fenyx Rising to "a little discouraged" by the high expectations. But with time and updates, it's safe to say this title is well worth it.

The Oceanhorn series is one of the most underrated and forgotten Zelda-style games of recent times. The first Oceanhorn, ‘Monster of the Uncharted Seas’, was released in 2013 and was heavily inspired by The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, albeit in a top-down style. The level designs are extremely interesting, with a blocky look that actually enhances the visual spaciousness.

Its sequel, 2019's Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm, took its Zelda inspiration even further, drawing inspiration from 3D Zelda games with an aesthetic reminiscent of Breath of the Wild. The game moves away from the top-down style and instead offers players a more classic exploratory action game feel. The visual and gameplay leap between the first and second Oceanhorns is impressive, and it’ll be fascinating to see what a third Oceanhorn would look like.

In Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas, a young hero sets out to search for his missing father and faces the monster Oceanhorn, unlocking the secrets of an ancient civilization. Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm, set a thousand years earlier, follows a novice knight on a quest to defeat the sorcerer Mesmeroth and save the world of Gaia.

Tunic is a passionate love letter to the old Zelda games, developed by Isometricrop Games. Everything evokes Zelda, from the clothes worn by its anthropomorphic fox protagonist to the 2D top-down gameplay. The friendly little fox is as brave and daring as Link himself when wielding his short sword. Released in 2022, Tunic can be enjoyed by players on any console.

In Tunic, you control a small fox who wakes up on a mysterious island and sets out on a journey to explore ancient ruins and confront hostile creatures. Along the way, they discover fragments of a forgotten story involving gods, sealings, and an imprisoned ancient force.

Players collect pages from a manual reminiscent of classic video game instruction manuals. These pages include information on game mechanics, tips, clues, story, and maps. Tunic conveys the nostalgic feeling of having to consult an instruction manual while playing, which is both a creative design choice and a necessity, given Tunic's challenging nature.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits combines action and adventure in a magical world with the soul of a Zelda game, but with the look of a Pixar animation. Released in 2021 by Ember Lab, the title was one of the biggest indie surprises of recent years, featuring a charismatic protagonist, a colorful world, and charming creatures called Rot, who help solve puzzles and face enemies. The setting blends spirituality and nature, with temples, ruins, and forests that beg to be explored—all with jaw-dropping graphics.

The gameplay alternates between direct combat with a staff and spiritual abilities that are unlocked throughout the adventure. It's a classic structure: finding relics, unlocking areas, solving environmental puzzles, and facing challenging bosses—all tightly coupled, with a well-balanced difficulty curve. Although more linear than Breath of the Wild, the experience of exploration and discovery is very reminiscent of the 3D Zelda games, especially Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess.

Kena may not reinvent the genre, but it executes with finesse and heart. It's a short but impactful adventure, with a story about grief, healing, and spiritual connection. For those looking for a Zelda-style game with a modern look and a stronger emotional feel, Bridge of Spirits is one of the best options outside of Nintendo.