10 Games like Zelda that are full of exploration and adventure

The best games like Zelda offer up fantastic experiences that capture the essence of what you might find in Hyrule.

From the open world exploration of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, to the dungeons and puzzles found in some in some of the older entries, there's all kinds of great alternatives out there that tap into different facets of Nintendo's iconic series.

From some of the best open world RPGs, to delightful puzzle games that tap into the classic Zelda experience, we've made sure to include picks across all platforms so you can find something here to try out. So whether the arrival of the new game, Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time remake, has reignited your desire for something similar to play, or you want to explore alternatives after tucking into some of the best Zelda games, read on to find our pick of the best games like Zelda that you can play right now.

10. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered

OK hear me out, Link and Geralt have a lot in common especially when you look at The Witcher 3 and Breath of the Wild together. Both have an open world filled with monsters that they need to explore. Both have weapon durability mechanics, both have stories involving powerful women in their lives, and both are timeless heroes at this point. Now I will say that The Witcher 3 is much more adult and dark in tone and aesthetic than Breath of the Wild, but if you loved that game, you are going to love stepping onto the Path as the White Wolf.

But the thing that really stuck out to me was how these titles offer that wonder of exploration. Geralt and Link's journeys can feel mostly solitary, but when they uncover a new place or meet a new NPC, it's exciting. I should also mention that The Witcher 3 is one of the best RPGs of all time, and the remaster on the Switch 2 is just as stunning as the Breath of the Wild Switch 2 port. For more details, check out our The Witcher 3 Remastered review.

9. Eternal Strands

Eternal Strands is the newest entry on this list, which should explain how it takes inspiration from the wall-climbing and physics-based gameplay introduced in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, though there's a mix of Shadow of the Colossus, Monster Hunter, and Dragon Age too. As magic weaver Brynn, you explore a lost domain called the Enclave, where you'll also have to defeat 90-foot-tall ancient machines and mythical monsters.

But rather than just a sword or bow, you'll have the most fun with fire, ice, and telekinetic spells that also affect the world in a realistic way, like being able to burn down a wooden door in your way or encasing a dragon's legs in ice to stop it from flying away. For Zelda fans, it's also a massive 2025 highlight that you should check out. Read our Eternal Strands review for even more insights.

8. Minit

Zelda games often give players an expansive world to explore and all the time in the world to explore it (even in Majora's Mask, Link could rewind time to avoid death by moon crash). Minit instead asks you to explore the world one minute at a time.

Yup, 60 seconds is all you get before your life comes to an end, and only by living through a countless number of brief adventures can you lift an evil curse. It's an interesting twist and one that may not feel too similar to the Zelda formula, but there's still that sense of exploration, puzzle-solving, and basic combat - it's just all crammed into, that's right, a minute.

7. Death's Door

Death's Door is a lovely mix of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, and Metroidvania titles, with mechanics and systems pulled from all of them and mixed together in a cauldron that's somehow both Gothic and cute. In Death's Door, you play as an adorable crow just trying to do their day job: disposing of stagnant souls in a bizarrely beautiful world.

Death's Door feels like a love letter to Zelda games that makes tough combat somehow less frustrating than other Metroidvania titles. Its beautiful visuals, melancholic piano, and characters that feel ripped from the world of Zelda make it all the more interesting. Death's Door is a top game of 2021 and one you should definitely check out if you're a Zelda fan. Check out our Death's Door preview for more details!

6. Hyper Light Drifter

Of all the games on this list, Hyper Light Drifter may be the one most likely to make you grind your teeth in frustration. A neon-tinted adventure set in a universe that's equal parts fantasy and sci-fi, HLD is full of mystery and challenges.

There's a bit less emphasis on puzzles, but the game makes up for it with an intriguing world that begs you to explore and uncover its secrets. But really, the main draw here is the combat. It's fast and fierce, but as long as you're prepared, you'll make it out okay. Maybe.

5. Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact is a free-to-play gacha game that launched in 2020 and quickly became an addiction for many. You play as the Traveler, putting together a team of allies - all with their own special powers - exploring the huge land of Teyvat to look for your lost twin.

It's got the same open-world adventure feel as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - you collect recipes that can be cooked up at campfires and kitchens, and the Teyvat is full of hidden puzzles and secrets you can uncover with the right powers - and looks utterly stunning. The gacha mechanic might put a few players off, but it's easy to sink hours into the game and quests without ever reaching for your wallet, and new content is added at a blistering pace. Read our Genshin Impact review next.

4. Tunic

The work of a solo developer, Tunic, is a top-down isometric action-adventure game that's inspired by the original Legend of Zelda on the NES, especially the joy of poring over the instruction manuals that used to come with boxed games. In fact, piecing together what looks like a game instruction manual with a cryptic language is itself core to Tunic, where you play as a cute fox sporting an iconic green tunic and trying to figure out the mystery of the world you wake up in.

Despite its tranquil visuals and soundtrack, its enemies aren't to be taken lightly, as well as its punishing bosses. Fortunately, an invincibility mode is also available for players who just want to focus on exploration. Indeed, just trying to uncover all of Tunic's secrets will be just as intimidating as your memories of hopelessly bumping around Hyrule on the NES.

3. Chicory: A Colorful Tale

You might be a little dog wielding a paintbrush rather than a sword, but Chicory: A Colorful Tale captures the essence of a classic top-down Zelda adventure. After something causes the color to drain from the world, you find yourself becoming the wielder of an enchanted paintbrush that can restore color to the world, just as if you were painting in a coloring book.

All the ingredients of a Zelda game can be found in Chicory: A Colorful Tale, from charming towns to overgrounds and dungeons designed with intricate puzzles that make use of powers unlocked from your brush. There's even one that lets you swim through paint, like in Splatoon! Top it off with a beautiful soundtrack from Celeste composer Lena Raine and a heartfelt story tackling themes of art and impostor syndrome, and you have a game that's not just for Zelda fans but a modern classic.

2. Okami HD

Imagine the wolf sequence from Twilight Princess, give the wolf a magic paintbrush, and expand that sequence out to a full-length game. That's Okami. Well, sort of. Okami definitely has its own unique qualities, like the hand-painted Japanese art style, deep combat system, and creative character design, but the Zelda influences simply can't go unnoticed.

Amaterasu, the game's white wolf protagonist, travels around the world, helping NPCs, battling hordes of dark spirits, and delving into dungeons as she attempts to bring life back to the cursed land. The way you earn new powers by meeting with mystical figures throughout your journey is reminiscent of the Zelda titles, and Ami even has an annoying, talkative little companion that will clue you in to the next step in your quest. So you take the Zelda good with the Zelda bad. Read our Okami review for more on this gem.

1. Undertale

Undertale certainly strays from many of the Zelda series conventions, but if you're looking for an expansive world full of unique and interesting dungeons, unconventional and layered gameplay mechanics, and colorful characters, there are few games that would come as heartily-recommended as this indie darling.

The game is practically a love letter to games of Zelda's early days, and there are even a few clever series references peppered throughout, if you're eagle-eyed enough to spot them. We don't want to say too much more for fear of spoilers, but trust us, it's better if you go in blind on this one.

Be sure to check out our article on the games like Minecraft and our list of the best Switch 2 games.