Now that The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is out and is considered one of the best games ever made, there's naturally a lot of gamers that would love to get their hands on it. Unfortunately, for many fans, investing in a brand new console like the Nintendo Switch is an expensive investment for just one game, and there's even more than a few gamers who are reluctant to buy the cheaper Nintendo Wii U despite having a good library of games on that platform.
So if you're still undecided about making the switch to the Switch (not sorry), I've decided to put together a list of games that are a good alternative to the Zelda series to keep you busy until you make your minds up.
3D Dot Game Heroes
Platform: PlayStation 3
3D Dot Game Heroes is a game developed by Silicon Studio who are better known for their Bravely Default series, it was designed as a love letter to the 8-Bit era of action RPGs like The Legend Of Zelda.
The game is aesthetically similar to the Zelda series in its screen-to-screen level design, dungeon exploration and puzzle solving. Your hero, which you can craft to be anyone you want (including Link if you like to get creative) is destined to save the Dotnia Kingdom from a dark plague.
3D Dot Heroes is a fun tribute to the games of yesteryear and fans of old school Zelda's will find a lot to love in this game.
Okami
Platform: Playstation 2/Wii/PlayStation 3
In Okami you play as Amaterasu who in Japanese legend is the goddess of the sun in the form of a white wolf. She is tasked with saving a village from an eight headed demon called Orochi and restoring color to a cursed land with the use of what is known as the Celestial Brush.
The timeless art design of Okami and the Celestial Brush mechanic provides the game with its own unique gameplay style and look, but it definitely draws comparisons to the 3D Zelda games especially Twilight Princess.
Alundra
Platforms: PlayStation/PSP/PS Vita
Alundra was a superb game for the original PlayStation, that some could argue with it's release falling in between Final Fantasy VII and The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time in the West, it went a bit under the radar at the time -- which is a shame because it was a hit with all those who played it.
Alundra is considered a spiritual sequel to the SEGA Megadrive/Genesis game Landstalker. In this game you play as the titular Alundra who discovers he's a Dreamwalker, and has the ability to enter people's dreams -- something he must do in order to save a village from a demon who is killing the villagers from within their nightmares.
Alundra is a beautiful game with intricately designed and challenging levels, it also has some of the nicest looking sprites in the genre. Fans of A Link To The Past and Link's Awakening should definitely experience this title.
The Demon's/Dark Souls Series
I suspect this particular choice is going to have a few people thinking what "hell is he talking about?", but hear me out.
The games cryptic clues and messages, hidden walls, invading dark entities and interlinked worlds that become bigger after you complete the first major objective are all reminiscent of the original Zelda games.
I could easily compare the boss battles and the combat system of the Zelda series to Souls too, the bosses are usually huge and require strategy, as do the normal enemies. The Souls series takes this to another level but the combined feeling of dread and excitement when you encounter some of the bosses is parallels the two games.
The combat systems share more than a few similarities where patience and studying your enemies is all the more rewarding when you emerge victorious.
While on the surface the games couldn't be more different and there's no great emphasis on puzzles in the Souls series, but they share quite a few similarities especially in the earlier far more unforgiving Zelda games.
Ys: Memories of Celceta
Platform: PlayStation Vita
Although they are much faster paced, all of the Ys games are mechanically similar to the Zelda series. The series' dungeon exploration, strategic action based combat system and sense of adventure, all feel very Zelda-esque. But I am listing Ys: Memories of Celceta here because it's considered by fans as the best entry in the series so far.
The Ys series has a long storied history over many generations of gaming systems, but just like the Zelda games, it can be picked up from any point in the series.
The game is expecting a new release this year in the form of Ys VIII, which is releasing in the West for both the Vita and PlayStation 4 -- it is listed as one of my most anticipated titles of the year.
The Darksiders Series
Platforms: PlayStation 3/Xbox 360/Xbox One/PlayStation 4
On the surface the Darksiders series isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a Zelda-alike. Mechanically though the games are very similar, with their focus on solving environmental puzzles and using your weapons and equipment, such as your hookshot and portal gun to reach new areas.
Darksiders was released again remastered for the Xbox One and PS4 and should definitely be close to the top of your list if you're looking to get your Zelda fix.
Beyond Good And Evil
Platforms: PS2/PS3/Xbox/Xbox 360 - Compatible with Xbox One
Beyond Good and Evil is another overlooked but superb game, aesthetically it couldn't look any different to the Zelda series but its environmental puzzles and quest system are very similar.
Beyond Good and Evil is filled with quirky characters and a great story just like the Zelda series. There are some obvious nods to the series too such as, the protagonist Jade wears a green outfit just like LInks tunic, and her race is known as the Hillyans which sound remarkably similar to the Hylian race of Hyrule.
Fans are still waiting for a long promised sequel to the game but until then you can pick up a HD remaster on the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Did I miss any other Zelda-esque games? Let me know in the comments below!
Published: Mar 6, 2017 08:44 am