7 Games Like Zelda – Playing Link Without Link

5. Okami

Okami is everything you could ask for in a game that's "like Zelda, but isn't" and then some. You play the role of Amaterasu, the Japanese goddess tasked with restoring peace and prosperity throughout lands beset by chaos. There's combat, puzzles, and just about everything you can expect—but with a few surprises. 

Okami is stylized in Japanese woodcutting, watercolor, and silk printing—an aesthetic unlike anything ever seen in a videogame. It's a bit like playing with an interactive painting that animates as you play. 

In addition to its art style, Okami offers a unique gameplay mechanic in the form of an interactive brush which allows you to manipulate the environment and overcome challenges.