Games Like Zelda Breath of the Wild: 8 Worlds to Explore

If you loved Breath of the Wild, start with Tears of the Kingdom, its direct sequel, then try Horizon Zero Dawn or Genshin Impact to get back that feeling of spotting a peak on the horizon and just going. We kept the games that actually leave you alone to explore, not the ones that bury the map under icons. Eight picks, from closest to most different.

What makes Breath of the Wild special

Breath of the Wild came out in 2017 from Nintendo EPD and tore up the old Zelda formula. Once you leave the opening plateau, you can go anywhere, in any order, even straight to the final boss. If you can see it, you can reach it: climb the cliff, glide off the top, swim the river.

The real magic is the physics. Fire makes updrafts, metal draws lightning, a plank becomes a bridge. Every problem has more than one answer and the game lets you find yours. According to players on IGDB, the story alone takes about 37.5 hours, climbs to around 92 hours with side content, and close to 247 hours for everything. The full breakdown is on our dedicated page.

How to pick your next game

Think about what hooked you most. If it was freedom and curiosity, go for an open world that rewards wandering without holding your hand. If it was the Zelda vibe, look at other entries or brighter adventure games. And if it was the tense fights against enemies stronger than you, something tougher like Elden Ring might be your thing, even if the pace is harsher.

1. 

   1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

   2023 · Main story 55 h

   The direct sequel and the obvious first stop. Hyrule is back, now with sky islands, a huge underground and new powers that let you fuse objects and build vehicles. If the physics in Breath of the Wild blew your mind, here they become the main event. It's the same freedom with far more toys.

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2. 

   2. Horizon Zero Dawn

   2017 · Main story 23 h

   A huge post-apocalyptic open world where nature has taken over and animal-shaped machines roam free. You play Aloy, a hunter who scans each creature to find its weak spots. It's more guided than Zelda, but the exploring and the hunting give you that same urge to see what's over the next hill.

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3. 

   3. Genshin Impact

   2020

   The closest in pure feel: you climb anything, glide everywhere and mix elements to solve puzzles. It's free to play with a character gacha system, so go in knowing that. For exploration alone, it's very generous and the world keeps growing. More ideas in our Genshin list.

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4. 

   4. Immortals Fenyx Rising

   2020 · Main story 25 h

   Ubisoft clearly studied Zelda here: free climbing, a glider, puzzle chests scattered everywhere and vaults to solve. The tone is light and full of jokes, set in Greek mythology. A great pick if you want something less solemn that still lets you scale any mountain you see.

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5. 

   5. Elden Ring

   2022 · Main story 46 h

   Different mood, same idea: a massive world, almost no signposting, and the thrill of finding a dungeon hidden behind a hill. The combat is much harder. If you enjoyed taking on Lynels, you're ready to try it. Riding across the Lands Between feels a lot like those horseback rides through Hyrule.

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6. 

   6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

   2015 · Main story 37.5 h

   Less freedom in the physics, but incredibly rich in quests and stories. You play Geralt, a monster hunter, in a dark and grown-up open world. Pick it if you want every detour to hide a real story, not just a chest. See also games like The Witcher 3.

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7. 

   7. Death Stranding

   2019 · Main story 36.5 h

   The odd one out. You deliver cargo across a ruined country, and every trip turns into a small terrain puzzle: where to drop a ladder, how to cross that river. If you loved staring at a cliff in Breath of the Wild and planning your route, this works the exact same muscle.

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8. 

   8. Super Mario Odyssey

   2017 · Main story 11.5 h

   Nintendo's other big 2017 game. Not a true open world, but sandbox kingdoms packed with secrets, where every corner hides a moon. Curiosity pays off constantly. Perfect when you want a shorter, happier adventure between two huge epics, and a great palate cleanser after hours of Hyrule.

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FAQ

What game is most like Zelda Breath of the Wild?

Tears of the Kingdom, the direct sequel, keeps the same map and freedom and adds new powers. Outside Nintendo, Genshin Impact is the closest in how climbing and gliding feel, and Immortals Fenyx Rising borrows a lot of its structure and puzzle ideas.

Should I play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom?

It's a good idea. Tears of the Kingdom works on its own, but it assumes you know Hyrule and some of the story. Playing Breath of the Wild first also makes you appreciate everything the sequel adds, especially the sky islands and the depths below.

Are there games like Zelda on PC?

Yes. Several games on this list are on PC, such as Elden Ring, The Witcher 3, Death Stranding and Horizon Zero Dawn. None of them copies Zelda entirely, but each keeps one part of it: the freedom, the exploration or the joy of stumbling on a hidden place.