Summary
Nintendo’sThe Legend Of Zeldaisone of gaming’s most iconic franchises, andThe Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Wakeris one of its most revered entries, primarily for the amount of freedom it gives players, as well as its iconic cel-shaded art style.
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There have been few games that manage to captureWind Waker’s gameplay and atmosphere over the years, but there have been some that come close. These examples provide a variety of games outsideThe Legend OfZeldafranchise that may appeal to fans ofWind Waker, specifically. While not all of these games are wholly similar toWind Waker, they all contain aspects that manyWind Wakerfans might enjoy.
6Darksiders
Darksidershas a completely different theme, aesthetic, and atmosphere toWind Waker, but for those that enjoyWind Wakerprimarily for its gameplay and structure, and are also fans of spectacle fighters andgames likeGod Of War,Darksidersmight be worth a look.
Fans ofWind Wakermight find enjoyment inDarksiders’various dungeons made up of puzzles, enemy encounters, and bosses.Darksidersalso features plenty of exploration and collectibles, something thatWind Wakerfans will likely appreciate. Overall,Darksiderssets a very different tone thanWind Waker, but there’s still familiarity to be found inDarksiders’bones, and for those that enjoy spectacle fighters as well, this game is absolutely worth trying.
5Assassin’s Creed Black Flag
This unique entry in Ubisoft’sAssassin’s Creedseries breathed fresh air into the somewhat stale franchise withits pirate-themed plotand open-sea exploration. Similarly toWind Waker,Black Flaggives the player access to a boat and tasks them with sailing the open seas, giving them plenty of freedom in the process.
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On top ofthe game’s similar sailing gameplay, fans ofWind Wakerwill also enjoyBlack Flag’spirate theme and treasure hunting, and the game’s open-world exploration that contains several islands. However,Black Flag’score gameplay mechanics, such as its combat and stealth elements, are very different fromWind Waker. Furthermore,Black Flagdoesn’t contain the charming, cel-shaded graphical style ofWind Waker.
4Sable
This beautifully imagined,peaceful exploration game doesn’t feature any combat, instead focusing on its narrative and exploration facilitated by a stunning world made up of sweeping landscapes, mesmerizing landmarks, and hulking wreckages.
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Players explore the wonderful world ofSableboth by foot and on the back of a customizable hoverbike. As players explore, they will also be faced with various puzzles to solve, and the game’s day/night cycle transforms the excellent visuals in a way that stops players from taking the gorgeous colors for granted. Overall, players looking for an atmospheric, awe-inspiring game that feels familiar to exploring inWind Wakerare likely to have a good time withSable, but it lacks the swash-buckling hack-and-slash adventure thatWind Wakeris so beloved for.
3Lil Gator Game
This hyper-casual adventure gamefocuses on exploration and a wholesome story packed with fun and quirky characters that players can interact with and complete quests for. The game has no health bar, and therefore no real challenge, as it’s more about the atmosphere and joy of exploration and adventure rather than combat and difficulty.
Due to its nature,Lil Gator Gamewon’t be for everyone. Even though its graphical style and story take inspiration fromWind Waker,Lil Gator Game’sactual gameplay can be quite different, and there’s no sailing to be had here. So, for fans ofWind Wakerlooking for a challenging game with lots of enemies, combat, and bosses,Lil Gator Gameisn’t the best choice. But, for fans ofWind Wakerlooking for a similarly cute and quirky style and atmosphere who don’t mind a casual game focused on exploration and NPCs,Lil Gator Gameis worth a shot.
2Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
UnlikeWind Waker,Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chroniclesdoesn’t have any combat, but for those that can look past the game’s peaceful nature there is an expansive, charming, and wondrous open world to explore.
Yonderhas players completing quests for various NPCs, engaging in the game’s fishing and farming mechanics, as well as crafting and trading items. Along their journey, players will also have to solve various puzzles, something thatWind Wakerfans are sure to enjoy. Overall, the game’s beautifully imagined world and charming graphical style, as well as the immense freedom it gives players, will haveWind Wakerfans that don’t mind the lack of combat in a state of joy.
1Oceanhorn: Monster Of Uncharted Seas
Oceanhorn: Monster Of Uncharted Seasis unabashedly aZeldaclone, taking inspiration primarily from games likeMajora’s Mask, but alsoWind Waker.Oceanhorn: Monster Of Uncharted Seasis packed with action adventure, but unlikeWind Waker, it does have a fixed-camera perspective and elements from the olderZeldagames that might turn some fans ofWind Wakeraway.
Oceanhornwas originally published for mobile, so the Steam version is a port,however, the port is fairly well done and relatively stable. The game has players battling through various dungeons packed with puzzles, loot, and enemies.Oceanhornalso features sailing very similar toWind Wakerin loving homage, but unfortunately doesn’t have the same breadth of freedom asWind Waker. Overall,Oceanhornis a greatZelda-like experience that takes heavy inspiration fromWind Wakerand makes itself unique with its fixed camera and level-up system. However, it doesn’t quite reach the heights ofWind Wakerdue to its more linear structure and general lack of player freedom.
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