In the years since we first ventured out into the vast plains of a truly open Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildwe found them all Temple, defeat Calamity Ganon and scour the kingdom for every last item and Korok seed. We’ve seen it all – and we’re back to watch it again in Labo VR – and now we’re looking for something other to scratch that Zelda itch. Tears of the Kingdom will come of course, but we need another shot.
We’re sure many of you can sympathize. Zelda Games is an event to enjoy, and waiting for a sequel can be tough. Breath of the Wild’s open world has outlasted most of us, but we’re on the verge of another action RPG fix. The Legend of Zelda: The Awakening of the Link short and sweet, and Skyward Sword HD helped some, but we want than.
Therefore, we have put together a series of games that have been influenced, to one degree or another, by the Zelda series of games in the hope of satisfying your cravings until the next entry. Some of the following titles focus on a specific aspect and dive into that – dungeons for example – while others take a more holistic approach and have the power to build entire kingdoms. Full of puzzles in two or three dimensions.
The bar is set by games like Breath of the Wild, Ocarina of Time and A path to the past However, it’s exceptionally tall and it takes a particularly brave, daring developer to evoke the series and expect to benefit from the comparison. You’ll often see them referred to as ‘Zelda clones’, which is a bit hard to come by – especially since Breath of the Wild draws so much inspiration from other open world games. While some may be an art style or a mechanic, these games often bring many of their own ideas and offer a different spin on 2D or 3D Zelda.
Have lots of rich Zelda games to pass if you’re after an ‘authenticated’ fix, but they’re not all on Switch. As of today, we’ve expanded our network to find a wide selection of games that will appeal to players who have explored every last inch of Hyrule.
So put down the Hylian shield, put the Master Sword back in its pedestal, and join us on a journey of discovery – in no particular order – the links between worlds…
Publishing company: Capcom / Developers: Capcom
Okami HD is an absolutely amazing piece of software, a 40 hour adventure that wonderfully emulates Zelda. Said to be one of the first games to truly master the style that Zelda pioneered, it adds a lot of memorable mechanics, has one of the most memorable art styles in the game, and now fully playable on the go, boot. While it can show its age a bit visually and its combat is a bit easy at times, Okami is a notable landmark in the history of the game – and one of the easiest propositions we’ve come across. we can make for your Switch library. If you’re after something in the classic Zelda 3D mold – an Ocarina or Twilight Princess – this is up there with those games.
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Publishing company: THQ Nordic / Developers: Kaiko
Darksiders: Warmastered Edition is a faithful port of the 2010 original game, bringing every Chaoseaster slash and every bloody execution to the Nintendo Switch in all its glory. It’s Zelda with an addition of hacks and slashes, and while it’s the lesser entry in the Darksiders trilogy (its sequel is rumored to be coming to Switch soon), this first outing is still a strong action platformer full of satisfying melee combos, open-ended stages, and a story to match. Easily one of the most underrated franchises to come out of the previous generation, Darksiders is a solid portal that finally opens up to the Apocalypse in handheld form, and a decent choice if you want to experience it. Experience the slightly darker Ocarina style.
Publishing company: FDG Entertainment / Developers: Castle Pixel
Developer Castle Pixel intentionally created Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King with a feeling of loving and admiring classic Zelda games from top to bottom. While it’s not as perfectly executed as the series it inspired and doesn’t add anything particularly groundbreaking, it’s a heartfelt tribute to earlier entries in the long-running series. Nintendo episode. Critics may be annoyed by how much money it borrows, but it’s right enough to be worth investigating if you simply can’t wait until the Link’s Awakening remake hits the Switch at the end. this year (or if you want a fresh 2D adventure you haven’t played before).
Publishing company: Abylight Studios / Developers: Heart machine
Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition put Heart Machine back where it belongs – in portable Nintendo form – and it makes the final version. With some exclusive features, the game is suddenly fresh and new on Switch. It uses Zelda stereotypes and emphasizes puzzles to create something amazing in its own right. With smooth frame rates, loads of bosses, secrets, and upgrades to experience, it’s one of the best games on a platform jam-packed with good indies and a great alternative for fans Zelda’s grave.
Publishing company: PlayEveryWare / Developers: PlayEveryWare
Ansimuz Games takes some of the best elements from a variety of inspirations and presents them almost successfully in this side-scrolling platformer. Its crawling RPG and dungeon exploration elements are fun to play through. Unfortunately, the lack of clarity in the direction of the game (both in terms of plot and literally for the player) keeps the game from reaching the awesomeness that it can, but anyone who is following chasing something like Zelda II: Link’s Adventure will be used with a slightly blunt design, so will feel at home with Elliot’s Quest. Those players are sure to get some fun out of this game; If you haven’t been on Link’s second adventure, you’re better off starting with something else on this list.
Publishing company: Nicalis / Developers: Comicality
From Swedish studio Ludocity, Ittle Dew 2+ is a great game. On a console with a library filled with great indies, it’s one of the best of them all, and it delivers on the best aspects of 2D Zelda games like A Link to the Past and Minish Cap. The Switch version comes out a year after the original and adds five more dungeons (hence the ‘+’), making it the pick of the bunch. The adventures of Ittle and Tippsie are charming, funny, and embrace the spirit of discovery from the series that it pays homage to. Definitely worth a look.
Publishing company: US NIS / Developers: Digital eclipse
There’s something unusual about this list, Crystalis really one of the games available on SNK 40order Commemorative Collection and it also available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers as part of the NES game collection. It was one of the best Zelda-eqsue games on the NES at the time. It’s a more linear experience than the original Zelda, but it has a good soundtrack and blends Hyrule’s medieval fantasy with a bit of science fiction. It’s not the most demanding game, but it still benefits from the handy rewind feature in the SNK Collection and with Switch Online help not at all The NES game is a less grueling endeavor – older gamers who want a pure retro challenge can simply skip it. If you’re after an authentic 8-bit action RPG adventure, this is a great choice.
Publishing company: 11 Bit Studios / Developers: Digital sun
If you want to play the game The Legend of Zelda from top to bottom as a scammer while also taking shifts as a shop owner then, hey, Moonlighter Prepare a special itch scratcher for you. It hits a sweet spot somewhere between satisfying swordplay and realistic economic simulation, although some players may feel it’s ‘grinded’ after a while. However, Digital Sun Games has produced a great piece of work that it can be proud of; one thing even touches us in an optimistic way, and a little bit of optimism is rarely a bad thing.
