Best Xbox Series Zelda-Like Games, Ranked

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Summary

  • Blue Fire offers divisive gameplay at first but becomes a blast once leveled up for fans of 3D platforming.
  • Minit provides a brief but nostalgic experience with a curse that causes the character to die every 60 seconds.
  • Hyper Light Drifter modernizes retro adventure titles like Zelda, offering fluid combat, even though it falls short in some comparisons.

The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s foremost and respected franchise flagships. Although it’s Mario, the rotund plumber, who typically generates massive sales and popularity, the Zelda series consistently sets a high standard for quality with nearly every one of its 21 mainline games receiving widespread critical praise upon release.

It’s no secret that many people still view The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as one of the greatest video games ever made. Given this, it’s not surprising that other developers aspire to mimic its success and create games based on its classic structure. Since the Zelda series has continuously evolved over its nearly four-decade history, we’ll look at a variety of Zelda-inspired titles when selecting the top Zelda-like games now available to play on the Xbox Series.

8. Blue Fire

Gravity Defying Dungeons

Blue Fire” can be challenging to suggest since it received mixed reviews from critics, and it might not immediately grab your attention. However, as players progress and their protagonist gains more advanced maneuvering and combat skills, the game becomes incredibly enjoyable all the way through, particularly for those who enjoy 3D platforming games.

As a gamer, I find that this game carries an ambiance reminiscent of the beloved Zelda series, yet its gameplay mechanics have their own unique flavor. The thematic elements are woven throughout the diverse array of adversaries and intricate dungeons filled with puzzles and treasure chests. Not to mention, each dungeon culminates in a towering boss battle, which will surely delight fans of the series.

7. Minit

Time-Looping Exploration

In essence, “Minit” is a game that openly acknowledges its inspiration from classic “Zelda” titles, such as the original on NES. The unique selling point of “Minit” lies in the character, who is bound to a cursed sword that claims his life every 60 seconds in real-time. As the time runs out, the progress will be saved, but the character will then return to the closest bed found and have to restart the loop again.

This creates a sensation reminiscent of roguelike games, featuring a sequence of environmental challenges that need quick problem-solving to progress into the next zone. Afterward, you delve into exploration to determine the location of the next respawn point. It’s a short yet satisfying journey, ideal for enthusiasts who appreciate the charm of classic Zelda-style gameplay.

6. Hyper Light Drifter

Modernizing The Classics

The game titled Hyper Light Drifter strives to update the vintage top-down adventure genre, similar to the initial The Legend of Zelda. It manages to achieve this goal for the most part, infusing a rhythm and pizzazz that revitalizes the once antiquated game mechanics, making them more suitable for contemporary tastes. At its finest, the combat feels smooth and rewarding.

As a fan, I must admit that while Hyper Light Drifter offers a nostalgic feel, it struggles to deliver the same level of excitement as contemporary action roguelikes like Hades. It’s not quite able to fully measure up to either comparison, making it a recommendation with some reservations. However, it does have a strong following who appreciate its unique charm.

5. Genshin Impact

JRPG Of The Wild

In a straightforward manner, Genshin Impact appears to draw heavily from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, as it shares similarities in its game world design, movement mechanics, and problem-solving aspects like freezing water to walk on ice. However, unlike some other games that tried these concepts, Genshin Impact effectively utilizes them, demonstrating a level of mastery that others seemed to have missed.

Genshin Impact embodies the spirit of discovery that propelled The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to greatness, compelling players to delve into this expansive universe, where they are consistently rewarded for their curiosity. Notably, what sets Genshin Impact apart is its unique blend of role-playing elements, featuring a variety of classes and customizable characters, enabling players to tailor their gaming experience according to their preferences.

4. The Plucky Squire

Meta-Retro Nintendo Adventure

The Cheerful Knight’s Tale is an enchanting, miniature video game that cleverly manipulates its themes and affectionately salutes several iconic titles from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) era, with The Legend of Zelda being one of the most evident influences. The narrative unfolds primarily within a storybook, documenting the events; altering or swapping words in the text to modify environments is a crucial aspect of problem-solving puzzles.

In this game, the rules keep changing, and the main character, Jot (the squire), is suddenly moved beyond the pages of the book into the real world. There’s a mix of various gameplay elements in this meta-adventure, but the primary focus on exploration and overhead battle scenes with swords reminds players strongly of classic Zelda games.

3. Immortals Fenyx Rising

Exploring The Greek Pantheon

If you ask some people, this entry might be used synonymously with “Genshin Impact,” a more complex system that has elements of pay-to-progress. However, it’s really a matter of personal preference and financial restraint. In terms of games that are most like “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” on the Xbox platform, “Immortals Feynx Rising” stands out as the closest successor in fullness.

Upon its release, the game was criticized by dedicated Zelda enthusiasts due to its striking similarities, but it has since become the top choice for gamers without a Nintendo Switch. The game encompasses everything, even nearly identical puzzles. It’s hard to find fault with it for Zelda fans, but it clearly emulates rather than pioneers gaming concepts.

2. Death’s Door

Haunting Adventure

It’s quite clear that I have a soft spot for it, but “Death’s Door” is an exceptional action-adventure game. Its charm seems to draw heavily from the “Zelda” series, and among its contemporaries, it bears the strongest resemblance to games like “The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks” during the DS era.

In Death’s Door, you’ll find that combat and exploration are not like anything you’ve experienced before. Instead of using a sword, bow, bombs, or hookshot, you’ll be using unique tools suited for this game. What sets Death’s Door apart is its captivating gothic setting, where you play as a reaper tasked with collecting the souls of those who refuse to embrace death. This game has a personality all its own and offers some impressive boss battles at the end of each act.

In Death’s Door, you’ll use special tools for combat and exploration instead of a sword, bow, bombs, or hookshot. The game takes place in a dark, beautiful world where you collect the souls of those who don’t want to die. It has its own unique style and some challenging boss fights at the end of each level.

1. Tunic

Cunning Like A Fox

This independent game, Tunic, openly showcases its inspirations, but crafts a one-of-a-kind adventure that’s truly captivating. The main charm of Tunic lies in its challenging learning process and the absence of guidance. It offers a familiar experience reminiscent of classic Zelda games, but with the added challenge found in modern Soulslike titles.

Playing Tunic on the Xbox Series offers a genuinely challenging Zelda-like experience for those seeking a modern recreation. Since there are no instructions provided, discovering the game’s mechanics becomes an integral part of gameplay, similar to dungeon crawling and exploration. This can be intimidating for some players, but uncovering secrets on your own provides thrilling ‘wow’ moments that online guides might deprive you of. Although guides can alleviate frustrations, they may diminish the excitement of unearthing secrets yourself.

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2025-02-14 14:49