Open-world games have always been a staple in the gaming industry, securing thousands of hours of exploration and adventure for gamers worldwide. One such game is The Legend Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In this game, you control Link, the famed protagonist of the series as he makes his way through the kingdom of Hyrule to defeat the evil Gannon.
Combining various elements of exploration, puzzle-solving, combat, terrain traversal, and excellent storytelling, Breath of the Wild is guaranteed to provide you with a fantastic experience. However, you’re bound to finish the game at some point, so what do you play when you want that open-world itch scratched? Well, we have prepared this list of the best games that have the same elements as Breath of the Wild, all of which have their own twists to them to make them unique!
Best Games Like Breath of the Wild
Elden Ring
FromSoftware is known for producing notoriously difficult games, and they usually have a linear progression system where everything is connected in some way. Their games range in theme from medieval to gothic to Japanese, and Elden Ring is their best game to date. Set in The Lands Between, you play as a Tarnished warrior who is in search of the Elden Ring, an item so powerful it is capable of altering the natural order of the world.
The map is gigantic and split into different regions, all with varying themes and difficulties. Each region you go to has many bosses that you can fight. The main bosses of the game are called demigods, and there are six of them. These beings are incredibly powerful and difficult to beat, so you have to practice and get their moves down to evade everything properly.
Aside from the main quests, you also have the complete freedom to go anywhere you want, since the map is absolutely packed with content and new things to explore, something fans of exploration will appreciate. This game has the potential to be one of the best games of all time, and it would be a shame if you missed it!
What makes Elden Ring fun:
- Massive open world
- Great art direction
- Challenging difficulty
- Tons of exploration
- High build variety
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
You can’t have a list of great open-world games without mentioning this gem. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt places the player in the world of Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, in the role of the main protagonist — Geralt of Rivia. The story follows your quest to find your ward, Cirilla, a child of Elder Blood. The main protagonists of the game, the Wild Hunt are looking for her, and it is of paramount importance that you find her before they do.
As you play, you will come across many different monsters that you have to kill with one of your swords. They range in type and methods of execution, so you have to approach them differently, like using alternate oils and potions.
This game also has a lot of RPG elements, from many, many NPC quests, to finding gear upgrades in the wilds, to the fantastic story that is hard to forget. Oh, and there is this minigame called GWENT, a card game. You should check that out if you want to sink another 10,000 hours into the game.
What makes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt fun:
- Incredible story
- Exciting combat
- Rich quests
- Interesting monsters
Horizon Zero Dawn
Set in a world that has been brought to desolation, overrun by mechanical beasts, you are a ranger that has to prove her worth and figure out the secrets of your origin. Horizon Zero Dawn features a complete open-world experience where you can approach combat and general gameplay from multiple angles, adding to the depth considerably. Your primary way of defending yourself and hunting the beasts around every turn is a bow, but you also have access to other weapons like boluses and bombs.
The crafting mechanics are satisfying since you can get more of the materials you need directly from the world, making it immersive. When it comes to the story, it is filled with many different NPCs that will guide you along and help you on your way. Of course, not everyone is going to help you, as some of them might not trust someone of your origin. This is a great game for anyone looking for an unforgettable experience!
What makes Horizon Zero Dawn fun:
- Refreshing enemy concepts
- Primitive gameplay
- Interesting story
- Many customization options
Darksiders 2
The Darksiders series focuses on the four horsemen of the apocalypse and their interactions with one another. The second game is all about Death, the Pale Horseman, and his quest to clear his brother’s name. His brother War was accused of going against the upper orders of the world, so he was imprisoned. Your goal in all of this is to traverse the massive world, fight enemies, solve puzzles, and interact with NPCs you come across.
When it comes to the combat, it is your traditional hack n’ slash combat, where you can collect gear upgrades as you progress through the story. Death has access to two weapon classes — Heavy and Light. Light is quicker, with less damage, while Heavy is slower, with more damage. Other than that, there are also some items you will find on your journey that will add more gameplay mechanics for your to master. Darksiders 2 is an excellent game that takes a unique approach to the open-world genre.
What makes Darksiders 2 fun:
- Badass protagonist
- Interesting story
- Exciting gameplay
- The mechanics constantly evolve as you play
Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
While the newest instalment of the Assassin’s Creed series has switched up the dynamic from being an inconspicuous assassin to leading major shifts in history, it still remains a solid game that is worthy of a few playthroughs. In this game, you play as a Viking warrior who has to carry out assassination missions and take part in massive battles.
Old mechanics from previous games have been ported over and improved, so it still feels like all of the other games in essence, while still having its own style. The open world is filled with many enemies and outposts that you can attack in any way you see fit, so the whole experience is fairly dynamic. If you’re looking for a next-gen game that fills all of the criteria for a complete RPG adventure, you can’t go wrong with Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla!
What makes Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla fun:
- Fresh experience
- Intuitive gameplay
- Great open world
- Fascinating NPC interactions
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
This game is a fantastic representation of what being a Numenorian ranger is like. In Middle-earth: Shadow of War you control Talion, a ranger who is guided by an ancestral Elven spirit. The gameplay is in an open world that is inhabited by a large number of orcs, goblins, and other dangerous creatures. You primarily fight with a sword and bow, and the combat is very exciting and fun.
Since you are working in tandem with a spirit, you also have the option of blending the two worlds together, engaging the spirit into combat, as well as making him help you turn enemies to your side. There is also a base mechanic where you can use your ill-gotten soldiers to siege various fortresses you come across, making them yours. This system has a lot of depth to it, so you can also assign positions to your commanders, and they might help you outside of sieges, as well.
What makes Middle-earth: Shadow of War fun:
- The combat has a massive scale to it
- Intuitive mechanics
- Great characters
- Fulfilling gameplay
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Moving on, we have a game with an incredible premise and setting. You are Kena, a young woman who serves as a guide for different spirits in the world. Your primary way of interacting with things is your staff, which can be used to channel spirit energy to solve puzzles, fight enemies, and reach difficult positions.
Many mechanics are shown to the player throughout the journey, so there is never a dull moment. The main focus of your quest is to find little companions called Rot, that will assist you in different objectives. When it comes to the general feel of the map, it is very colorful and vibrant, creating a whimsical adventure that will fill you with a sense of wonder and enjoyment!
What makes Kena: Bridge of Spirits fun:
- Colorful adventure
- Interesting mechanics
- Well-written story
- Complex characters
Super Mario Odyssey
Mario is such a popular Nintendo character that it would be strange if there wasn’t a game like this made for him. In Super Mario Odyssey, you control Super Mario as he goes on yet another quest to save Princess Peach from Bowser. The world is presented through levels called Kingdoms, each of which has a distinct theme to it that sets it apart from the others.
The gameplay is reminiscent of standard Super Mario games, except for beefy graphics and a third-person perspective. You will cover a large area as you interact with the different threats in the world. There are some interesting mechanics added to this game that make your combat capabilities even better, such as triple jumping and throwing your hat at things.
Super Mario Odyssey puts the classic Super Mario adventure into a new, fresh perspective, and everyone should try it.
What makes Super Mario Odyssey fun:
- A new look on a classic series
- Fun puzzles
- Exciting gameplay
- Very bright and colorful
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim has remained a timeless classic in the realm of open-world adventure games simply because its worldbuilding is unlike any other. It is set in a Norse-inspired world that is inhabited by many different races and factions, many of which are at war with each other. You play as the Dragonborn, a prophetic hero that is said to be able to kill dragons and harvest their souls to gain their power. This little fact about you is the basis for the entire story, which is quite long and will take you across the entire map.
On your way there, you will be able to improve your gear, level up skills, and improve relationships with NPCs. These relationships define how your playthrough will go, as having alliances with important figures will unlock other features that you previously might have not known about. If you can, you should try out this game, anyone can do it. Seriously, your toaster can probably run it.
What makes The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim fun:
- Timeless classic
- Race variety
- Tons of content
- Great leveling system
Immortals Fenyx Rising
In this epic adventure, you are located in the world of the Greek gods. The whole story is centered around you, a young Greek man who has been shipwrecked. On your way to rescue your brother, you are thrown into the underworld, where you will face many enemies that you will have to defeat in creative ways.
There is a noticeable open world that is shaped around the myths of Greek gods. The combat system is intuitive with many mechanics that you will learn along the way. Aside from this, the general feel of the game is excellent and you will feel immersed the entire time you’re playing.
What makes Immortals Fenyx Rising fun:
- Colorful adventure
- Amazing setting
- Great for mythology buffs
Okami HD
If you’re a fan of smaller games with alternative art styles, this one is a banger! Okami HD is set in ancient Japan and encompasses all of the styles usually associated with it. You play as Amaterasu in a massive colorful world full of all kinds of challenges, from action-packed combat to puzzles to platforming.
Whatever you can think of, Okami HD most likely has it. When it comes to combat, you can expect a wide array of enemies to assail you, at which point you need to utilize many different combat techniques to win. This means that there is a solid amount of skill required to execute everything properly. Nonetheless, you can get the hang of everything fairly quickly. Everything in Okami HD is tailored to secure the best possible experience for anyone, no matter their background.
What makes Okami HD fun:
- Fresh art style
- Smooth gameplay
- Various gaming styles
- Complex characters
Genshin Impact
Of course, we were going to add a title with a distinctive anime theme to it! Genshin Impact is one of the most popular games available at the moment, and many aspects of it are very similar to Breath of the Wild. In this game, you are in the world of Teyvat, which is divided into sections devoted to different gods. Your job is to traverse the world and defeat any enemy that comes across you.
To this end, you have the freedom to choose any hero to add to your party, and you upgrade them frequently as you progress through the game. Your party members have their own signature abilities that make them an asset, some of which can even be combined to create devastating combos. There is a lot to discover in this fantastic game and it would be a shame if you were to miss it!
What makes Genshin Impact fun:
- Anime theme
- You can create unique combinations
- Fantastic story
- Colorful palette
Dragon’s Dogma
While it is a bit of an old game, Dragon’s Dogma is still more than capable of delivering a fantastic fantasy experience that is quite similar to Breath of the Wild. In true RPG fashion, you select your starting class that will shape the way you play the rest of the game. There is an interesting system implemented called the “Pawn” system. With this, you can control other units to aid you in combat.
They follow you around and follow your commands. It’s a great way of making sure that you feel like a commander in the heat of battle. Many other gameplay mechanics make Dragon’s Dogma the game it is, like the feature where you can cling to large enemies and hack at their weak spots. The story of the game is centered around stopping the apocalypse, much like other games in the same genre work.
What makes Dragon’s Dogma fun:
- Fantastic medieval setting
- Intriguing gameplay
- Interesting characters
- Fresh gameplay mechanics
And that would be all when it comes to games like Breath of the Wild. Each one of them is fantastic and carries a specific flavor that is great for any player looking for a satisfying open-world experience. No matter the theme, they all encompass the essence of Breath of the Wild without being a copy of it. Hopefully, you have found what you were looking for and the game you found here is going to be your new main!
Wrapping Up
Now you know all of the best games to play similar to Breath Of The Wild. Take your pick from the list and fire up your console. Some of these games are just as much, if not more fun than Breath of The Wild. Let us know what game you choose down in the comments.
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