Be it old-school style 2D Zelda, or the more modern high-graphic iterations, sometimes you just want to find a game as complete, engaging, and well-lored as a Zelda game.
Fortunately, if Steam is your go-to for finding new games, you’re in luck. There are plenty. Here are the 5 best games like Zelda on Steam.
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5. Cat Quest
It’s hard not to immediately fall in love with Cat Quest’s charm from the very first time you open it. The game, developed by The Gentlebros, is easily one of the best games like Zelda on Steam, and it seems to roll the best bits from a few games into a cutesy little world filled with hero cats, evil hedgehogs and foxes, among other things.
The game plays like any other RPG with weapon upgrades, character customization, and experience points to level up different attributes. There’s also a decent sized 2D open world available to explore. Some have said that the game can get a bit samey after a few hours, but the cat-themed humor keeps things light and I found myself wanting to return to the game more often than I expected to.
If you like a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this could be for you. If you end up enjoying it, there’s also a Cat Quest 2 out now as well.
4. Undertale
Undertale is a completely whacky 2D RPG that is adored by many for good reason. Developed and written almost entirely by Toby Fox, Undertale follows the player’s journey back to the surface after falling under the Earth into the Underground.
It plays like Zelda in the sense that there is a vast open world to explore abrim with interesting characters, dungeons, and monsters. It’s obvious that Fox is a big fan of the early Zelda games, but Undertale’s main catch is actually how original it is. The story is completely unique and the dialogue, humor, and character interactions make the game completely immersive and engaging throughout.
When you add to this an excellent musical score, unique art style, and strong combat system, Undertale easily becomes one of the best games like Zelda on Steam.
3. CrossCode
CrossCode was one of my favorite games of 2018. The game, developed by Radical Fish Games, is an Action-RPG which has a vibrant world that feels like a cross between the Zelda universe and Ready Player One.
Much of CrossCode is spent playing a game within a game, whereby the protagonist synchronises her body into a video game universe called Crossworlds. In this universe, you encounter different quests, guilds, friends, enemies, and environments, and there are tons of secrets and items to encounter along the way. There is also a separate storyline that simultaneously takes place in the ‘real world’ of the game.
All in all, the game is very well-written with good dialogue between some very interesting characters. Combat utilises a mixture of melee, ranged, and special attacks, and there are a surprisingly vast number of armor and skill upgrades available. The boss fights all feel unique and rewarding, too.
The flowing, smooth animations compliment the atmospheric musical score, and each new zone explored feels like a cinematic experience. CrossCode is definitely one to try if you’re in the market for the best games like Zelda on Steam.
2. Okami HD
Okami is oft-cited as one of the best games like Zelda on Steam. When it was released in high definition in 2017, the greatness of the game was solidified. It is simply beautiful.
Set in Japan and based heavily on Japanese mythology, Okami accomplishes the difficult task of successfully combining beautiful visuals, quirky characters, and satisfying gameplay. Oh, and you get to play as a wolf, which is pretty cool. Granted, some of the puzzles seem a bit easy to complete, but they are all satisfying and spaced out enough as to not feel overwhelming.
Okami borrows heavily from the gameplay of Zelda, with similar combat, pacing and environments. Indeed, the developers even admitted to being strongly influenced by the Zelda franchise. That being said, it still stands on its own as a great game and is most certainly worth checking out for fans of action-adventure RPGs.
1. Hyper Light Drifter
I haven’t spoken to anybody who has played Hyper Light Drifter that didn’t end up loving it. The game has an unending charm that combines a colorful, unique artstyle with an expertly written story to create an intensely atmospheric RPG that, at times, goes to some very dark places.
The controls are smooth, the combat is frantic, and the visuals are fluid. Although Hyper Light Drifter is challenging, especially some of the bosses, it’s also fair. After you’ve learned enemy patterns and upgraded your character sufficiently, there shouldn’t be too much problem reaching the finish line.
I loved this isometric RPG immensely and don’t think it has gotten the recognition it deserves. For me, this is the best game like Zelda on Steam.
Play Hyper Light Drifter on Steam
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What do you think are the best games like Zelda on Steam? Do you agree with our list? Let us know in the comment section below!
For any enquiries, contact me at richard@blogofgames.com
To see a review of Hyper Light Drifter, watch the great YouTube video below by Dan Waterfield.