Do You Love 'The Legend of Zelda?' Try These Games Next

The Legend of Zelda is one of gaming's most beloved franchises. It's obvious why the games are some of the most popular in history. Whether it's the beautiful soundtrack, the cool items Link weilds, or the well-written story that ties it all together, the games are truly legendary.

There have been plenty of imitators inspired by The Legend of Zelda, and some of the byproducts of the franchise offer up exerpiences that are a near equal. These are the games you should play next if you're looking for a Zelda-like to add to your library.

Tunic

The character you control is Tunic is blantantly copying Link, but he's absolutely adorable so I'm sure nobody will mind. A fox in a greeen tunic wakes up with no direction, and it's up to the player to explore their surroundings and make sense of the world.

The game doesn't hold anybody's hand, so the difficulty may be somewhat of a turnoff for the gamer that wants a more easy-going Zelda experience. Tunic is in this way a spiritual successor to the original NES Legend of Zelda.

Under the Island

So many Zelda-like games are set in derivative fantasy settings that feel stale. Not enough developers emmulate the Zelda style of play while setting it in a completely different world. Under the Island stands apart by taking these risks and it pays off tremendously.

Players control a girl whose parents move the family to a mysterious island that has a lot more going on underneath the surface than expected. The protagonist still explores like Link, but her items and means of adventuring are unique. Hockey sticks instead of swords, platns that shoot fire instead of a bow and arrow, you know, that sort of thing!

Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King

Blossom Tales is the closest to a Zelda clone you're going to get in modern gaming. The character uses the exact same weapons as Link, the dungeon design is similar, and the plot is pretty typical fantasy stuff. Some Zelda enthusiasts may feel it's too much of a copycat, but those who just want more of this type of adventure game will really enjoy it.

Okami

We have to include one 3D game on this list since so many Zelda-likes are only 2D. Okami is a modern classic that takes a lot of elements from Ocarina of Time and other 3D games in Nintendo's series. The gorgeous graphics and incorporation of Japanese culture seperate Okami and make it much more than just a cheap clone.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 2:33 PM.