Video Game Series As Good Or Better Than Zelda

The first Legend of Zelda game was released in Japan in 1986, and in North America on the NES in 1987. From the beginning, the series stood out with its large, secret-filled world and gameplay that didn’t follow a strict path. Zelda has continued to evolve and arguably reached its best point with Breath of the Wild in 2017, and future installments could be even more impressive. While few franchises are as popular or influential as Zelda, some are considered to be just as good—and maybe even better.

Let’s explore a few exceptional games that rival The Legend of Zelda in terms of both quality and the amount of content they offer. These series come from both Nintendo themselves and other developers, but they all remain incredibly popular and successful today.

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Super Mario

The Only Nintendo Franchise Bigger Than Zelda

First Game: Super Mario Bros. (NES, 1985)
Latest Console Game: Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch, 2023)

The Mario series is undoubtedly Nintendo’s most important franchise. It’s what first made the company a huge success with Super Mario Bros. on the NES. Over the years, Mario games have changed a lot, but they’ve always set the standard for platforming games, both in 2D and 3D. They consistently offer excellent controls, creative worlds, and fun power-ups – whether you’re flying through space or throwing fireballs. While Mario games aren’t as sprawling as Zelda titles with their large open worlds, they don’t need to be to remain incredibly popular.

While Super Mario Odyssey featured large and impressive worlds, it strayed a bit from the traditional Mario experience. What Mario games really excel at is variety – there are challenging RPGs, accessible party games like Mario Party, and even spooky-but-not-terrifying adventures in Luigi’s Mansion. Mario is a universally recognized character for all ages, much like Mickey Mouse, which is something the Zelda franchise hasn’t quite achieved. Ultimately, both Mario and Zelda are flagship Nintendo series that will remain popular for years to come.

Final Fantasy

If JRPGs Are Your Genre Of Choice, Then Square Enix’s Franchise Is Probably Better Than Nearly Any Other Franchise

First Game: Final Fantasy (NES, 1987)
Latest Console Game: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (PS5, 2024)

When Western players think of Japanese role-playing games, the Final Fantasy series usually comes to mind first. In Japan, however, Dragon Quest is often the first series people think of. Final Fantasy started on the NES just after Zelda, and it continues to be popular on Nintendo consoles and other platforms. The Zelda series has some RPG elements, like improving your character’s health, but it’s never fully become a traditional RPG. Final Fantasy, though, has successfully experimented with adventure games similar to Zelda, like Final Fantasy Adventure (which is technically a Mana game). At the time, it was considered the RPG equivalent on the Game Boy to The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.

Putting aside which game is ‘best,’ the classic Final Fantasy titles with turn-based combat are truly special. Like the Zelda series, each Final Fantasy game feels like a standalone story. While you’ll see familiar things—crystals, Chocobos, characters named Cid—they aren’t usually direct sequels. This lets Square Enix (originally Squaresoft) try out new gameplay ideas, making each game unique. For instance, the Materia system in Final Fantasy 7 is completely different from the Draw/Junction system in Final Fantasy 8. Fans all have their favorites, but there hasn’t been a truly bad main Final Fantasy game, and even the spin-offs are consistently good, much like the Zelda series—which is a pretty unusual achievement.

Fire Emblem

Nintendo’s RPG Series Filled With Grand Tales Of War

First Game: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (NES, 1990)
Latest Console Game: Fire Emblem Engage (Switch, 2023)

While Nintendo doesn’t have a role-playing game quite like Final Fantasy, they offer the Fire Emblem series. Fire Emblem games are consistently turn-based strategy RPGs, though some spin-offs offer fast-paced action combat. Starting with the original game on the NES in 1990, players command armies across grid-based maps, and every decision matters. A key feature of Fire Emblem is that characters who fall in battle stay fallen – a challenging element that adds weight to strategic planning, mirroring the permanent consequences of real warfare.

The Fire Emblem series didn’t come to North America until much later than many other Nintendo franchises, skipping both the NES and SNES generations. The first game released here was on the Game Boy Advance in 2003 – it was actually the seventh Fire Emblem game, originally known as The Blazing Blade in Japan. Over time, the developers, Intelligent Systems, made the series more accessible to RPG players by adding difficulty settings and options to avoid permanent character loss. Fire Emblem Awakening on the 3DS was a turning point for the series in North America, and is now considered a standout title. While Fire Emblem games don’t drastically change with each release and often tell self-contained stories, fans enjoy how the tactical gameplay continues to improve.

Xenoblade Chronicles

Bigger, More Interesting Worlds Than Even Zelda

First Game: Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii, 2010)
Latest Console Game: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Switch, 2022)

The Xenoblade Chronicles series, though not developed directly by Nintendo, has been closely associated with the company since its start on the Wii in 2010. These role-playing games consistently feature combat inspired by massively multiplayer online games, though the specifics vary between titles. Battles center around using abilities with cooldowns, and coordinating with teammates can create powerful effects, like stunning enemies to make them vulnerable. While the combat system can be a bit complex to learn, the games are best known for their large, open worlds to explore.

While games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild offer huge open worlds, the Xenoblade Chronicles series truly excels in both creativity and sheer scale. For instance, the first Xenoblade game takes place on the bodies of two colossal titans, all seamlessly explored in real-time with minimal loading screens. Xenoblade Chronicles X adds even more freedom with Skells – customizable mechs that players can drive and fly. Despite being a relatively young franchise with only four main games (not including remakes), Xenoblade Chronicles consistently delivers impressive worlds and experiences, making it a worthy competitor to the iconic Zelda series.

Metal Gear

Perhaps The Most Ambitious Story In Gaming History

First Game: Metal Gear (MSX2, 1987)
Latest Console Game: Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, 2025)

The Metal Gear series stands out from other games, similar to Mario, because it focuses on stealth. Originally a Japanese computer game in 1987, it quickly came to the NES. What sets Metal Gear apart is its open-ended gameplay and the impact of player choices. Unlike many games with linear levels, Metal Gear drops you into a connected world where you complete missions, finding weapons and tools that unlock new ways to play. A quirky example is in Metal Gear Solid, where giving the hero, Solid Snake, a pack of cigarettes actually lowers his health – a strange addition to the game’s inventory!

Later in the game, players can cleverly use cigarette smoke to reveal hidden laser beams that set off alarms. This kind of creative design is a major reason why series creator Hideo Kojima is so revered by video game fans. Similar to the dungeons in Zelda games, Metal Gear missions are like puzzles with multiple solutions. Beyond the gameplay, fans also appreciate the series’ wildly imaginative and often bizarre stories, which blend the ordinary with the supernatural in a way that’s both over-the-top and surprisingly logical. Although the peak of the Metal Gear series may be behind us since Kojima left Konami, many fans still consider the franchise to be among the best, thanks to its main games and spin-offs.

2026-02-08 01:35