17 best games like Zelda to play after Tears of the Kingdom (2023)

Once you finally finish Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you're going to have a void to fill, so here's a list of the best games like Zelda that will scratch a similar itch in 2023. Every iteration of a Zelda game has been a little different, bustling with new ideas for fans to explore, which also means the series' influence is nearly unmatched as it explores new ideas over time. 

With the series being so influential, we have had plenty of games inspired by Zelda released over the years. Thanks to their variety, there should be a little something for everyone. With that said, here are all the best games like Zelda to enjoy after you finish Tears of the Kingdom.

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Best games like Zelda to play in 2023

As mentioned, the Zelda series is rather varied - even if you look at it in two halves of 2D and 3D - so two games like Zelda could hypothetically be rather different. So, while the games listed below are all very different overall, you'll very likely find something here that fits your preferences. 

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Death’s Door

Death's Door details:

• Platforms: PC, PS5, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
• Price: $19.99 / £16.75 (Steam)

While Death's Door is one of the more recent Zelda-like games to be released, it is by no means the weakest. When it launched back in 2021, it instantly became a hit with critics and gamers alike.

The game was praised for its unique world, which mixed animated visuals with a gothic representation. Despite being an isometric title, each area of Death's Door is fuelled by incredible level design and art direction.

Of course, the gameplay complements its visuals extremely well, borrowing the traditional Zelda formula and merging it with other franchises such as Dark Souls.

While it never reaches the devilish difficulty of the latter, it does manage to keep players on their toes during the game's many combat encounters and epic boss fights. All of this is packaged with some excellent dungeon design, meaning if you're wanting something to play before Tears of the Kingdom then this should not be missed.

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Tunic

Tunic details:

• Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
• Price: $29.99 / £24.99 (Steam)

Another release to hit in the past year, Tunic is a game like Zelda right down to its very core. Instead of embracing the design of more recent titles in the franchise, Tunic goes back to basics, with some incredibly old-school ideas. 

Instead of relying solely on superb dungeons and being an enthralling adventure, Tunic does its best to not guide the player through the game too much. Problem-solving and discovering all the game's secrets - including simple controls - delivers an extra dimension to the game, making the entire experience one giant puzzle to solve.

As you explore, you'll come across pages of an in-game manual that will slowly but surely teach you the Tunic's world and mechanics, making the experience akin to learning a new language.

It's incredible how seamless its lessons are, meaning this is one of the best games like Zelda on Switch if you're looking for a more retro-style experience.

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Okami

Okami details:

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3, PS2, Xbox One, Switch, Wii
• Price: $19.99 / £15.99 (Steam)

When you look at any list of the best games like Zelda, Okami always rears its head - and for good reason. It unashamedly wears its Zelda influences on its sleeve, but takes the formula in a different direction with its mesmerising art design. With a visual flair that's reminiscent of a watercolour painting, every frame of Okami is beautiful enough to be framed.

Again, as with every other game on this list, it also marries up well with its gameplay. Okami uses its visual art style as anything but a gimmick, as it entrusts players with a mystical paintbrush, which acts as your main tool in the game.

Despite it being one of the most recognisably Zelda-like games, there really is still nothing quite like it. Combined with an emotional story drenched in Japanese mythology, it's perhaps one of the more unique titles on this list.

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Sable

Sable details:

• Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
• Price: $24.99 / £19.99 (Steam)

Speaking of visceral experiences, Sable is another game like Zelda that will have your eyes watering with how gorgeous it is. With an incredibly detailed handcrafted world, every single corner of Sable absolutely beams with personality. It's hard to quantify into words just how pretty the game is, and needs to be played to be believed.

Heavily inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, players are entrusted to make their own adventures in Sable, with very little handholding throughout the adventure. By adopting Breath of the Wild's mechanic of being able to climb anywhere and everywhere, it allows for an incredible amount of freedom and discovery.

The story also compliments its game design, curating a narrative about finding yourself in the world and becoming the person you want to be. Combining all these elements together, Sable is a truly mesmerising experience that makes it feel far more than just a game like Zelda.

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Immortals Fenyx Rising

Immortals Fenyx Rising details:

• Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
• Price: $59.99 / £49.99 (Steam)

Ubisoft's take on creating a game like Zelda was a surprising success. Immortals Fenyx Rising does very little to hide its inspirations, outside its Greek mythology, but that's absolutely fine. What it does instead is takes the known formula and refines it.

Operating as one of the clearest games like Breath of the Wild, everything in Immortals Fenyx Rising is what made the Nintendo game so special. Tons of puzzles scattered across the world to solve, exhilarating combat, unique abilities, and a sense of playfulness, as players are able to experiment and create their own unique solutions to problems.

Since its launch, it's gone on to release on Xbox Game Pass, had multiple expansions, and is relatively cheap for anyone else out there looking to dive in. Ubisoft has fallen from grace in recent years, but Immortals Fenyx Rising was - and still is - easily one of the best games like Zelda.

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim details

• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
• Price: £34.99/$39.99 (Steam) 

Very few games offer the player a sense of discovery like Tears of the Kingdom, yet Bethesda's Skyrim comes very close. It also has so much to do in the world, and just like in Tears of the Kingdom, you can play the game for 100 hours and never even touch the main story.

There is a sense of wonder in both of these games which not many games have successfully captured. So, if you enjoy looking at something intriguing in the distance and being distracted to the point you have to check it out, then Skyrim is a must-play, regardless of whether you're revisiting it after some time or haven't tried it out before.

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Darksiders 2

Darksiders 2 details:

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, Wii U
• Price: $29.99 / £24.99 (Steam)

You could take any of the Darksiders series and pop it in the list, but Darksiders 2 is perhaps the one that ticks the most boxes for anyone looking for another game like Zelda in their life.

Gorgeous fantasy world? Check. Tons of items to unlock and the ability to open up new areas with? Check. Simplistic, yet engaging combat that has you coming back for more? Check.

Darksiders 2 builds upon its predecessor and allows for a more open and exciting world to explore. Unlike the ravaged ruins of Earth seen in the original, the sequel contains lush green landscapes, stunning snowy areas, and incredibly intricate dungeons that will leave you exploring every nook and cranny so as to not miss anything. This is truly an adventure worth taking.

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Oceanhorn

Oceanhorn details:

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Switch, Android, iOS
• Price: $14.99 / £10.99 (Steam)

If you're like us and are always searching for games like Wind Waker, then Oceanhorn may just fill that void. You can't go wrong with the original or its sequel, Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm, but for us, the first game just comes out on top. 

This bite-sized adventure has you travelling from island to island, completing puzzles and dungeon exploration. It has a simplistic art style, having originated on mobile devices, but easily slots in as one of the best games like Zelda on Switch. If you're looking for a nuts-and-bolts Zelda-like experience, you can't go wrong with Oceanhorn.

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CrossCode

CrossCode details:

• Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
• Price: $19.99 / £14.99 (Steam)

If you haven't heard of CrossCode, it absolutely needs to be on your radar. Unlike other games on this list, CrossCode takes a more futuristic approach to the Zelda formula by placing you in an MMO-esque world. If you're familiar with anime such as Sword Art Online, you will feel right at home here.

CrossCode might not seem like it falls within the Zelda-like game formula at first. You'll spend the early hours living in a single-player take on an MMO game. This means you'll be grinding to level up, visiting towns, and completing a lot of quests. However, stick with it and the layers soon begin to peel off as more gameplay elements are introduced.

Eventually, you'll be introduced to dungeons and relax into a Zelda-like rhythm as you explore the world and gain new abilities. Additionally, with the added RPG systems and punchy combat, you'll have plenty to sink your teeth into. If you're looking for something different that still retains that Zelda-like feeling, you'd be hard-pressed to find something as unique as CrossCode.

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Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact details:

• Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Android, iOS
• Price: Free

While most games like Zelda are solely single-player experiences, Genshin Impact is the opposite. It is possible to play the game solo, but it's recommended to lose yourself in the world of Teyvat with friends.

This free-to-play title allows you to unlock a handful of characters as you advance through the story, but you'll need to drop a bit of extra cash to earn any on top, or complete in-game events. Honestly, with how engaging Genshin Impact is, it won't be long before you're tempted.

As for how it fits in the Zelda-like category, it takes many of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's mechanics, mixes in an anime aesthetic, and adds a dash of online-style gameplay into the mix.

You'll be running, climbing, and even gliding across the world as you complete quests and explore dungeons with your party. Many were worried this would be a simple knock-off before release, but thankfully, Genshin Impact has proven it has a place in the vast collection of games like Zelda.

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Dark Souls

Dark Souls details:

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch
• Price: $39.99 / £34.99 (Steam)

While you could argue that its influence has almost matched that of Nintendo's long-running series, it would still not be incorrect to label Dark Souls as one of the best games like Zelda.

Easily serving as one of the best games ever made, Dark Souls has many of the hallmarks of a Zelda-like game, with a somewhat non-linear path, complex dungeons, and a silent protagonist.

Sen's Fortress as a level is just about as close to Zelda as FromSoftware have ever got, as it has you ascending up a tower filled with traps and tricky foes. While you should play Dark Souls on its own, it is certainly also an excellent choice if you're wanting something Zelda-like to play before Tears of the Kingdom.

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Eastward

Eastward details:

• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Switch
• Price: $24.99 / £21.99 (Steam)

A ton of games like Zelda manage to infuse their own art style, but none look as beautiful as Eastward. The pixel art isn't just great for a Zelda clone, it's also one of the prettiest out there in the entire gaming landscape. Each frame is perfectly realized and you may just find yourself standing still every few moments to take it all in - or capture a screenshot.

As for the game itself, Eastward places you in the role of a father-daughter combo. Stuck underground due to a cataclysmic event, the pair decide to break free and explore the open world.

Throw in some towns, dungeons, and a lot of combat with your trusty frying pan, and you have the perfect recipe for an adventure.

It may be fairly dialogue heavy for a Zelda-like game, but those who throw themselves into Eastward's charms may just find a new all-time favourite.

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Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey details: 

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch 
• Price: £49.99/$59.99 (Nintendo eShop) 

Zelda and Mario games normally have very similar main stories to follow, with the protagonist usually needing to save the princess from a big monster. There has obviously been some variation on this over the years, but that plot point pops up often.

However, not only does Mario Odyssey have this in common with Zelda games, but the sheer amount of puzzles to enjoy is also similar. It is a testament to the quality of Nintendo games that in Mario Odyssey, and the more recent Zelda games, you can go from thinking you're a genius one minute, to the next questioning how you can be so silly. It's a unique feeling that very few games make you feel.

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Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince

Blossom Tales II: The Minataur Prince details:

• Platforms: PC, Switch
• Price: $14.99 / £11.39 (Steam)

While the original game is still a fine recommendation for a Zelda-like game, Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince is a worthy successor that builds upon the original.

This retro-inspired adventure harkens back to classic titles such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, yet still manages to feel modernized and infuse some gorgeous sprite work.

It doesn't reinvent the wheel when compared to some other games like Zelda, but what it does do is use that formula to create a mighty fine recreation of it. With plenty of dungeons, quests, and a sprawling overworld to explore, you'll find yourself enamoured for dozens upon dozens of hours, proving it to be easily one of the best Zelda-like games on the Nintendo Switch.

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Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Chicory: A Colorful Tale details:

• Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Switch
• Price: $19.99 / £16.75 (Steam)

When it comes to games that have attempted to replicate what Nintendo's long-running adventure series has done, it feels as though every possible avenue has been explored. That was until Chicory: A Colorful Tale came in and decided to take a chance at creating something truly unique among the other games like Zelda.

Instead of focusing on end-of-the-world stakes and blistering action, Chicory: A Colorful Tale instead takes a more wholesome route. In a world that is devoid of colour, it's your job to fill it with life again, as you paint environments and help the residents to restore life.

The game really is a canvas for you to create what you want, while still giving you those Zelda-like tropes you're looking for.

You'll tackle deadly bosses, explore an expansive overworld, and even dive into many side quests to help bring the world of Chicory: A Colorful Tale to its former glory. If you think you've seen everything that games like Zelda have to offer, this could end up proving you otherwise.

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3D Dot Game Heroes

3D Dot Game Heroes details:

• Platforms: PS3

Before games such as Elden Ring, the legendary developer FromSoftware helped publish strange and weird titles such as 3D Dot Game Heroes. While it may not have the most inspired name, it is often considered one of the best Zelda-like games out there, with an extremely unique art style to accompany it.

With voxel-based graphics, the world of 3D Dot Game Heroes feels very reminiscent of something you'd see in Minecraft, however, it takes much inspiration from the Zelda series.

You'll explore a wide-open world, explore perilous dungeons, defeat multiple bosses, and complete a variety of puzzles. It may be a bit harder to track down and play these days, but if you manage to find it, you're in for a treat as it is definitely a must-play Zelda-like game.

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Star Fox Adventures

Star Fox Adventures details:

• Platforms: GameCube

Rare may be more commonly known for classic titles such as Banjo-Kazooie and Goldeneye, but did you know they also created a Nintendo GameCube exclusive based on Star Fox? That's right, Star Fox Adventures is not only a Nintendo-exclusive title, but it's also secretly one of the best games like Zelda out there right now.

With developers of the game citing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as the main inspiration, it's clear to see why when you get your hands on the game. Stepping away from Star Fox's traditional gameplay, Adventures allows players to explore a strange new world, which slowly opens up the further you dive in.

As you progress, more areas will become obtainable as you unlock new gadgets and abilities. Exploration is at the heart of Star Fox Adventures, which is what Zelda is all about. If you can track down a Nintendo GameCube, take a look into this slice of history for a truly wonderful Zelda-like game.

So, that wraps up this comprehensive list of the best games like Zelda that you can play after you finish Tears of the Kingdom. If you're wanting to see all of the latest news and guides for the Zelda series though, then check out our dedicated game page for more.