Every Zelda dungeon runs on the same promise: find a tool, open a door, find a better tool. A whole genre of games borrows that loop without Hyrule’s precise theme music, and every few years one of them, like Tunic or Death’s Door, breaks out and lands on everyone’s recommendation list. This list is for the games that usually don’t make the cut.
By the genre’s usual definition, a Zelda-like is an action-adventure game with mandatory puzzle solving, progression gated by new abilities or items, and dungeons that stand apart from the overworld. These nine games hit at least three of those criteria — usually with a bit of an oddball twist. Grab your sword (or yoyo, or large key), it’s time for an adventure!
Zelda, but: A girl searches a world of islands for her missing father. At one point, Tilia’s biggest problem was dealing with dirty dishes. Along with her father and sister, Tilia runs the family tavern in Limestone, a village on a small island — until disaster strikes.
Pirates raid the island and kidnap her best friend…and then her father, in hot pursuit of the pirates, vanishes outright. Tilia grabs a sword and starts following their trail. Ocean’s Heart features Zelda-like progression: You gain weapons and tools by exploring, and those tools unlock further environmental exploration, including a set of ancient, foreboding dungeons.
The whimsical wit is there, too: The first town Tilia visits is guarded by the Barbell Brutes, a cartel of lifting-obsessed guards. There’s even a whole side quest centered on a dog’s birthday. Consider this your invite to take the scenic route to help reunite Tilia with her dad.
Zelda, but: It’s from the Octopath Traveler team, and the dungeons span four eras. Humanity’s last refuge is the walled Kingdom of Huther. Everything outside belongs to the beastmen.
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