7 Games Like Zelda – Playing Link Without Link

7 Games Like Zelda

The Legend of Zelda is a game that defined videogames for a generation of gamers, and ever since its release in 1986, the series has spawned over a dozen sequels. So influential is the Legend of Zelda that even its music has been infused into the minds of gamers everywhere, its symbols and art in the tattoos of a great many fans. They are, in other words, some of the most beloved games of all time. 

Shigeru Miyamoto's creations have also been the main influence of numerous games not unlike The Legend of Zelda—some of which had aspirations to succeed the series, while others happily ruled over their own domains. 

The pretenders aside, this article takes an in-depth look at seven of the best games to offer a "Zelda-like" experience while retaining their own sense of originality, style, and unique experience—in addition to offering distinct contributions to videogames as a whole.