The first real adventure many gamers ever experienced was in the world of Hyrule. The Legend of Zelda series was one of the earliest examples of Nintendo paving the way for the types of large-scale, and even non-linear, adventures that really made the player feel like they were venturing into an unknown world and discovering all of its secrets for the first time. Whether your first game was the original adventure on the NES, or Tears of the Kingdom on the Switch, it can be hard to imagine any other game satisfying that same sense of adventure, action, and freedom.
Just like Nintendo’s Mario series, The Legend of Zelda is another franchise that has managed to keep both its original 2D style of games running alongside the larger 3D offerings. While the two types of games share a lot of the same DNA, there is distinct differences in feeling and satisfaction that each one provides. Whichever style you prefer, many other games have been released that iterate and improve on those formulas. A new Zelda title is almost certain to be an upcoming Switch 2 game, but until that day, these are the games you can turn to for an epic adventure.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
90%Elden Ring
95%Shadow of the Colossus
85%Hyper Light Drifter
81%Genshin Impact
79%OK, we’ve all heard the jokes and comparisons even before the game came out, but Genshin Impact really is similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and that’s not at all a bad thing. It takes pretty much all the things people loved about the latest Zelda games (minus the building) and makes it into an evolving game that is continuously getting new content. At the same time, those additions may just be what put people off of trying this game. Since it is free to play, Genshin Impact does attempt to lure you into spending money with several gotcha mechanics, daily timers, and currencies to purchase. However, there’s a huge amount of content to enjoy without ever feeling pressured to interact with those systems at all. No part of the main story, as thin as it is, is gated off, and unless you become very invested, you probably won’t hit any progress walls you need to pay to overcome naturally. Besides the art style, what’s similar between Genshin Impact and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? Well, a lot. The world is completely open; you can climb anything you want, provided you have enough stamina. There are secrets and trials all around the world, resource gathering and cooking for buffs, and you even have a glider. The biggest change is in your party. You only control one character at a time, but you have four characters you can swap between on the fly, each with their own elemental proficiency, weapon, and abilities.
Tunic
84%The Binding of Isaac: Repentance
92%
