Hi everyone, this is my very first thread here!
This is gonna be a thread for discussing/sharing games in the Zelda-like genre, be them already released or upcoming.
You might be wondering what exactly is a Zelda-like, and to answer that question I'll be using a definition I've read from user 'Enraric' over on Reddit a while ago, I think their definition is the most accurate at describing the genre since there are many games out there that claim to be Zelda inspired but don't actually play anything like Zelda when you actually sit down to play them.
So, for the purposes of this thread, a Zelda-like is:
This also means that BotW/TotK, while Zelda games, aren't Zelda-like games due to the lack of bullet points 2 and 3, so please refrain from sharing games inspired by those in this thread. Please don't derail the thread by arguing semantics on what a Zelda-like is/isn't, it's pretty clear that this thread is for games that follow the traditional Zelda gameplay and progression, either faithfully or loosely, instead of the modern formula.
However, it's fine to discuss whether or not the games posted in this thread fulfill all the requirements needed to be considered a Zelda-like. I'll admit I haven't gotten around to playing a good portion of the games listed here yet, so I'll update these lists to add/remove games as we go in case I mistakenly added games that don't fulfill at least 3/4 requirements.
Without further ado, I took the liberty to compile this list of all the 2D and 3D Zelda-likes that I know of so far. Enjoy!
Top-down Zelda-likes
Already released:
Already released:
This category is for games that either have a clear Zelda influence despite not sticking faithfully to classic Zelda gameplay, or have similar vibes.
Already released:
Upcoming
This is gonna be a thread for discussing/sharing games in the Zelda-like genre, be them already released or upcoming.
You might be wondering what exactly is a Zelda-like, and to answer that question I'll be using a definition I've read from user 'Enraric' over on Reddit a while ago, I think their definition is the most accurate at describing the genre since there are many games out there that claim to be Zelda inspired but don't actually play anything like Zelda when you actually sit down to play them.
So, for the purposes of this thread, a Zelda-like is:
- An action adventure game with
- mandatory puzzle solving
- progression gated via new abilities (usually in the form of items)
- and dungeons that are distinctly separate from the overworld
This also means that BotW/TotK, while Zelda games, aren't Zelda-like games due to the lack of bullet points 2 and 3, so please refrain from sharing games inspired by those in this thread. Please don't derail the thread by arguing semantics on what a Zelda-like is/isn't, it's pretty clear that this thread is for games that follow the traditional Zelda gameplay and progression, either faithfully or loosely, instead of the modern formula.
However, it's fine to discuss whether or not the games posted in this thread fulfill all the requirements needed to be considered a Zelda-like. I'll admit I haven't gotten around to playing a good portion of the games listed here yet, so I'll update these lists to add/remove games as we go in case I mistakenly added games that don't fulfill at least 3/4 requirements.
Without further ado, I took the liberty to compile this list of all the 2D and 3D Zelda-likes that I know of so far. Enjoy!
Top-down Zelda-likes
Already released:
- Ittle Dew
- Ittle Dew 2+
- Saga of the Moon Priestess
- Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas
- Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
- Super Dungeon Maker ("Zelda Maker" style game)
- Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King
- Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince
- CrossCode
- Unsighted
- Adventure of Rikka - The Cursed Kingdom
- Yono and the Celestial Elephants
- Ocean's Heart
- Prodigal
- Minishoot' Adventures
- Lenna's Inception
- Retronym
- Horn of Balance
- Castaway
- Mina the Hollower
- Quest Master (Another "Zelda Maker" style game)
- Spindle
- The Girl from Arkanya
- Elementallis
- Dawnthorn
- Proudheart
- Master Key
- Maple Forest
- Ancient Mind
- Under the Island
Already released:
- Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy
- Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm
- Okami HD
- Darksiders
- Darksiders II
- Blue Fire
- Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon
- StarFox Adventures
- Okamiden
- Abyss X Zero: It describes itself as a 3D Metroidvania but some elements from the trailer such as locked doors, block puzzles and treasure chests show a lot of Zelda DNA.
- Seed of Life: A 3D Zelda-like with a painterly artstyle where you swap between two playable characters: a wolf cub and a bird.
- Azaran: Islands of the Jinn: Heavily inspired by Ocarina of Time's artstyle, this is a Zelda-like based on 1001 Arabian Nights.
- Legend 64: Another 3D Zelda-like which tries to mimic the N64 artstyle, this time with a japanese theme.
- Untitled game by Yarn Owl / Annapurna: Not confirmed to be a Zelda-like yet, but it sure sounds like one going by the dev commentary.
- Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi
This category is for games that either have a clear Zelda influence despite not sticking faithfully to classic Zelda gameplay, or have similar vibes.
Already released:
Upcoming
- Beyond Good and Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition
- The Plucky Squire
Last edited: