10 of the Best Legend of Zelda Inspired Games Worth Playing in 2026

The Legend of Zelda series is one of gaming's oldest and most influential franchises. It feels like once a generation, the wizards over at Nintendo whip together an entirely new game which reinvents what Zelda can be, while retaining its core fundamentals, never veering too far away from what makes us fall in love with the series.

Over the years, we've seen countless "Zelda-like" titles pop up, sharing many of the franchise's beloved design philosophies and adding their own spin on things to make it fresh.

Given that it's been a few years since Tears of the Kingdom blew our minds, and it doesn't look like the series is any closer to announcing a fresh entry, we've had to rely on several of these Zelda-likes to fill the Triforce-shaped hole in our hearts. Whether you're a fan of the puzzles, the action combat, or even the isometric style, we're sure that one of these games will scratch the itch while we're in a drought of new Zelda games.

So, without further ado, here are 10 of our favorite Zelda-like games that any fan of the franchise needs to check out.

10 Darksiders

God of War Meets Twilight Princess

Darksiders is an action-adventure game that you play as the Horseman War, as he faces the hellish armies of The Destroyer to clear his name. This is a title that is fairly compared to God of War, but I would argue it also sits as an excellent companion piece to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Not only will you see yourself mowing down hordes of angels and demons, you'll also be exploring several dungeon-like locations, all with pretty challenging puzzles that you'll need to solve to progress. There are also plenty of upgrades and hidden items scattered throughout the games world, rewarding out-of-the-box thinking with exploring, which also makes backtracking feel immensely satisfying.

If you're looking for a more mature Zelda-like experience, I can't recommend Darksiders enough.

9 Immortals Fenyx Rising

A Brilliant Breath of the Wild-Inspired Experience

Hold on, put down your pitchforks. Yes, I understand that Ubisoft's open-world design isn't for everyone, and I can also see the argument that this game is effectively, "We have Breath of the Wild at home." But sometimes, food at home is still really good, and so is Immortals Fenyx Rising.

Taking place in a reimagined Greek mythology setting, you play as Fenyx, a mortal hero who sets out to rescue the Greek Gods from the tyrannical titan Typhon. What I appreciate most about this title is its focus, especially for an Ubisoft title. At no point will exploring this world feel overwhelming or like a chore, but there's still plenty to do to satisfy the human soul's oh-so-desire for exploration.

This one will take most players around 20 hours to beat, but there are plenty of secrets and short challenges to extend that run time if you're the kind who likes unearthing everything a game has to offer.

8 Tunic

One Fox Given

If your favorite Zelda game is Wind Waker, then Tunic is an absolute must-play game. Playing as a tiny fox guy that wields a sword and shield (almost like a certain Legend of Zelda protagonist, hmmmm?), you'll move from room to room, solving puzzles, finding secrets, and whacking a bunch of slimes.

Once you start the game, you'll be given a manual with several pages missing. You can refer back to this manual throughout the game, where you'll also discover lost pages throughout the world, revealing new abilities, combos, and lore. Beyond that, it's up to you to use your head and start piecing the game's several clues together to find out where you need to go, and how to get there.

It's a game tailor-made for the more nostalgic Zelda fans, or the ones who miss the seafaring bright colors of earlier titles. The combat itself gets the job done, but it's really the mystery and problem-solving that hooks fans in and scratches that same itch older temples used to give us.

7 NieR: Automata

A Zelda-like With An Unmatched Vibe

NieR: Automata is a far more action-oriented experience compared to other Zelda-likes, but its DNA is unmistakable. Even series director Yoko Taro has openly shared that 3D Zelda titles like Ocarina of Time were major inspirations in crafting NieR's world and dungeons. Taking place in a post-apocalyptic world, you play as 2B and 9S, two humanoid androids created by humanity to fight an unending war against alien-machines.

Much like other 3D Zelda games, you'll be tasked to venture from your safe hub into various interconnected areas, which you'll have to fight through mobs of enemies, solve puzzles, and eventually take down a large boss, as the game's zones are connected to your safe hub, which you venture out from to explore these interconnected areas. You'll also need to trek through these areas once again after progressing in the story enough to access previously gated zones.

Zelda games have always been fairly light on story, which is also where NieR carves out a fine niche for itself, taking inspiration from various themes throughout the Zelda franchise and expands on them in a tightly written, equally humorous and dark story.

6 Elden Ring

Dungeons, Bosses, and Bears, Oh My!

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is arguably one of the most influential games of the modern console era, and no game demonstrates that influence quite like FromSoftware's magnum opus, Elden Ring.

It's a game at this point that needs no introduction, but in case you need the broad strokes, Elden Ring takes place in the magical realm called The Lands Between. You play as a Tarnished being, who ventures on a journey to kill the Elden Lords and decide the fate of the world.

Much like Breath of the Wild, once you launch into the game and complete a small area, the world opens up massively, filled with various locations to explore, dungeons to loot, and bosses to fight. While the game is absent of those classic Zelda-like puzzles, it does retain the series' new-found open-world philosophy in letting players go wherever they want, while letting them figure out how to get there.

5 Mina the Hollower

A Zelda-like That'll Test Your Skills

Mina the Hollower is the latest isometric 2D action-adventure title, and there's no doubt it wears its Zelda influence on its sleeve.

It's got everything a fan of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past could want: a retro, top-down art style, a large open world with non-linear progression loaded with secrets and optional areas, and of course, a cute mouse you can play as. What sets Mina the Hollower apart is its focus on combat and platforming, offering up some pretty intense fights and combat scenarios that will really test your skill unlike anything in a Zelda game.

Throw in some light Castlevania and Bloodborne elements, and you've got a truly unique action-adventure title for a more mature audience that grew up with those classic Zelda titles.

4 CrossCode

What if Sword Art Online was a Zelda-Like?

CrossCode is another retro-inspired Zelda-like game, taking inspiration from the franchise's philosophy around exploration and worldbuilding, but throwing in a few new tweaks to carve out its own identity.

Set in the distant future, CrossCode takes place in the MMO game called CrossWorlds. You play as Lea, an avatar who logs into CrossWorlds, but wakes up on a cargo ship with no memories of her past and how she ended up here (a familiar narrative hook to any Zelda fan). But the Link comparisons don't end there, as Lea is completely mute, and can only communicate through a chat box.

The game will see Lea set out on a journey to regain her memories, completing quests in the world, exploring dungeons, and piecing together some of the the world's greatest mysteries. If the story and setting aren't enough to pull you in, this game's stellar combat is sure to seal the deal, making it one of the most surprising hidden gems in the genre.

3 Okami HD

The Other Wolf Zelda Game

Remember how, in Twilight Princess, Link got to turn into a wolf? Well, Okami is essentially more of that, but in a new, heavily stylized form. But the comparison here goes far beyond the superficial stuff, as there's thankfully a number of interesting mechanics that push Okami to be a truly special Zelda-like experience.

The game is packed with puzzles and unique regions that make you want to explore every nook and cranny available for upgrades or new items. Okami's main gimmick, the Celestial Brush, will let you modify the surrounding environment, often leading to some pretty unique solutions to puzzles depending on which brush stroke you decide to use. There's a surprising amount of freedom in such an older title, which makes it a must-play for any Zelda fan itching for a similar experience.

2 Hyper Light Drifter

A Top-Down Masterpiece

Hyper Light Drifter is a fantastic top-down action game that gives homage to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past titles. You'll find yourself moving from arena to arena, leveling up, and becoming more powerful before taking on the next boss of the big bad himself.

You play as Drifter, a silent, sword and gun-wielding warrior who's suffering from a heart-related illness. You aren't told too much about the world at the start, all you know is that you're on a quest, and you'll be picking up some heart containers, weapons, and skills as you move through the world.

Much like how The Legend of Zelda has its temples, Hyper Light Drifter contains four major bosses in each different region, with each one explaining important new lore, while also giving you some pretty exciting upgrades.

1 Kena: Bridge of Spirits

A Spiritual Zelda-Like

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a charming action-adventure game, which will see players explore lush green environments, rich with collectibles, puzzles and mobs of monsters to deal with.

As the name of the game suggests, you play as Kena, a mostly non-verbal spirit guide who's tasked with helping lost souls find peace in a once-thriving village that has now been overtaken by corruption. While you don't get a master sword or shield, you do weld a nifty staff, which you use to bonk evil spirits on the head and heal the land.

While the game is a bit more action oriented compared to most Zelda games, you'll still progress through the game by solving puzzles and exploring fascinating environments. There are also a few secrets and collectibles scattered around that are worth hunting down to make the most of your time in the game.