It’s likely to be a while before we get a brand new Zelda game, but the good news is there are plenty of games out there like the Legend of Zelda. I’ve highlighted some Zelda-likes before, but today I’d like to dive into some more games like The Legend of Zelda to play while we wait for the next entry in the Zelda series.

Without any delay let’s dive into the games like Zelda.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo

This one has Link’s Awakening vibes, plus the Gameboy pixel artstyle to match. This is a fairly recent game, releasing in 2025, and it’s a great place to start if you like old-school Zelda games like A Link To The Past, Link’s Awakening or Minish Cap.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a narrative-driven 2D top-down platforming adventure set in a sprawling urban world. You play as Pippit, a rising yoyo master drawn into a wild story involving your aunt’s shady business empire, a soul-stealing mega-laser, and four notorious crime bosses. Use a growing arsenal of yoyo tricks to fight enemies, uncover secrets, and carve your own routes through the city’s four districts, filled with over 1000 screens of challenges. With over 40 badges, 20 upgrades, and 80+ collectibles, the game rewards creativity, exploration, and skillful yoyo-parkour as you take down the mob one building at a time.

Arzette The Jewel of Faramore

A spiritual successor to the infamous CD-i titles Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, the game follows the protagonist Arzette on a quest to defeat the villain Daimur across the land of Faramore. The difference between this and the CDI Zelda games is this one is pretty good.

Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is a 2D animated action-platformer developed by Seedy Eye Software and released on February 14, 2024, for multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Windows. Featuring hand-drawn animated cutscenes reminiscent of its CD-i inspirations, the game blends classic platforming mechanics with a nostalgic, cartoon-style presentation, and has drawn comparisons to the Monster World series.

Okami

Okami draws it’s inspiration from the Zelda series, in particular Twilight Princess. It’s a 2006 action-adventure game developed by Clover Studio and published by Capcom, originally released for the PlayStation 2. Set in a mythological version of classical Japan, the game follows the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu, who takes the form of a white wolf to save the land from darkness. Known for its unique sumi-e-inspired cel-shaded art style and the innovative Celestial Brush mechanic, Ōkami blends Japanese folklore with gameplay influenced by The Legend of Zelda.

Despite critical acclaim and awards—including IGN’s 2006 Game of the Year—the game initially struggled commercially, leading to Clover Studio’s closure. However, ports to Wii, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Windows, Switch, and Amazon Luna helped it gain a wider following and recognition as one of the greatest video games of all time. A spiritual successor, Okamiden, was released in 2010, and a direct sequel was announced in 2024 with original director Hideki Kamiya returning.

Master Key

This one is for fans of old-school top-down Zelda games like the first Legend of Zelda. Master Key is a beautifully crafted 2D Zelda-like RPG where you play as an adorable fox exploring a monochrome world filled with secrets, puzzles, dungeons, and upgrades. Developed by a solo creator, Achromi, the game distills classic Zelda gameplay to its purest form, offering a constantly expanding map, satisfying abilities like the hook-shot and boomerang, and a world brimming with charm and discovery. Despite lacking dialogue, its pictogram-based interactions give the characters life and personality. While it’s flown under the radar compared to titles like Animal Well, Master Key is a deeply engrossing, polished adventure that deserves far more attention and acclaim.

Portal 2

While the gameplay of Portal 2 isn’t exactly like Zelda, it’s a game I like to go back to for that dungeon feeling. When I’m playing Portal it invokes some of the best Zelda dungeons through the puzzles and gameplay mechanics. Definitely one to check out if you haven’t done before.

Portal 2 is a 2011 puzzle-platformer developed by Valve, expanding on the original game’s portal-based mechanics with new elements like tractor beams, lasers, light bridges, and movement-altering gels. Available on multiple platforms, including a 2022 Nintendo Switch port, the game features a single-player campaign starring Chell and returning AI GLaDOS, along with new characters Wheatley and Cave Johnson. It also introduces a cooperative mode with robot duo Atlas and P-Body. Praised for its inventive gameplay, sharp writing, and voice acting, Portal 2 received widespread critical acclaim and is widely regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time.

Ghost of Tsushima

This game is similar to the modern Zelda games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. If you’re a fan of these open-worlds, then it would be worth giving Ghost of Tsushima a look.

Ghost of Tsushima is a 2020 action-adventure game by Sucker Punch Productions, set during the first Mongol invasion of Japan. Players control Jin Sakai, a samurai torn between traditional honor and stealth tactics to protect Tsushima Island. Featuring a vast open world and cinematic combat, the game draws inspiration from samurai films, Japanese history, and titles like Shadow of the Colossus. A multiplayer mode, Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, launched in 2020. The game received critical acclaim for its story, combat, and visual design, selling over 13 million copies by 2024. An expanded Director’s Cut released on PS4, PS5, and Windows, and a sequel, Ghost of Yōtei, is set for October 2025, alongside a film and anime adaptation in development.

Moonlighter

Moonlighter gives off A Link To The Past vibes with it’s exploration and combat, plus the top-down look and feel. Moonlighter is an action RPG developed by Digital Sun, where players balance running a shop by day and dungeon-crawling by night. Released in 2018 for multiple platforms—including Windows, consoles, and later mobile via Netflix Games—the game combines inventory management, town-building, and combat across four themed dungeons: Golem, Forest, Desert, and Tech. Players earn money by selling loot, which can be reinvested to upgrade the town, craft gear, and enhance the shop. A DLC expansion, Between Dimensions, launched in 2019, and a sequel, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, is scheduled for release in 2025.

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

This is another top-down Zelda-like similar to the Zelda games of old. However, this one is very different because you are colouring in the black and white world. Chicory: A Colorful Tale is an adventure RPG developed by Greg Lobanov and published by Finji, released across major platforms between 2021 and 2023. Players control an anthropomorphic dog who wields a magical paintbrush to color a black-and-white world, solve environmental puzzles, and explore a richly detailed landscape. As the game progresses, new abilities—like jumping and swimming through paint—unlock further exploration. Though mostly non-violent, the game includes optional boss fights featuring bullet hell mechanics. Widely praised for its innovative gameplay, emotional depth, and uplifting themes, Chicory received universal acclaim from critics.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn is similar to the more modern Zelda games. It’s famous for coming out around the same time as Breath of the Wild, which then sucked all the air out of the room and had the whole world focusing on The Legend of Zelda. However, Horizon Zero Dawn is often overlooked, and if you like the game then there’s an excellent sequel too.

Horizon Zero Dawn is a 2017 action RPG developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony, later released on Windows in 2020. Set in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by machines, the game follows Aloy, a young hunter uncovering her mysterious past. Players use ranged weapons, melee combat, and stealth, while unlocking abilities via a skill tree in a vast open world filled with quests and exploration. Praised for its visuals, story, and combat—though criticized slightly for its dialogue and melee system—the game was a critical and commercial success, selling over 24.3 million units by 2023. It spawned an expansion (The Frozen Wilds), a sequel (Horizon Forbidden West), a LEGO adaptation, and a remastered version in 2024.

Unsighted

Unsighted is a 2021 Metroidvania action-adventure game by Brazilian indie studio Studio Pixel Punk, where players control Alma, an amnesiac automaton navigating a post-war world between humans and robots. A unique mechanic imposes a real-time countdown on both the player and NPCs—if time runs out, characters become “unsighted” and vanish permanently. Players must manage limited meteor dust to extend lifespans, adding emotional weight to exploration and decision-making. Featuring platforming, dual-wielded melee and ranged combat, resource crafting, and character upgrades, the game supports co-op modes like Dungeon Raid and Boss Rush. Praised for its narrative innovation, combat, visuals, and queer representation, Unsighted received favorable reviews despite some critiques of its controls and interface.

Let me know what you think of these Zelda likes, plus check out the other videos too if you’re looking for something to play while we wait for the next Zelda game.