The Legend of Zelda has grown and evolved over the years, offering different flavors of its unique formula. But at the core of the overall Zelda experience remains that sense of adventure that has come to define the series.
And while the series has stayed exclusive to Nintendo consoles since it was first introduced on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986, many games have sought to replicate that experience on other platforms with varying levels of success. What follows are some of the very best ones that can be played through Xbox Game Pass.
Updated on February 20, 2023 by Keitha Sims-Korba: Game Pass titles come and go, but Zelda is forever. Everyone could use a little journey in their lives every once in a while, so we've done a deep dive in search of more games available on Game Pass to soothe your Zelda cravings. While they can vary dramatically in terms of aesthetics and gameplay, they all play to the most crucial aspect of Zelda: the promise of an unforgettable journey.
11 Eastward
It might not be so bad underground, but the sun misses you. Eastward is a charming pixel art game that puts you in the shoes of a miner named John, who lives beneath the surface after a cataclysmic event forced humanity into the earth. His adoptive daughter, Sam, is a strange little girl with a gift for magic.
Eastward took a lot of inspiration from Zelda, from its use of hearts as indicators of health to its varied cast and A Link to the Past-style graphics. So if you're hungering for something with that distinctive Zelda flair, just slightly more sci-fi, follow your compass Eastward.
10 The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls and The Legend of Zelda have many similarities: RPGs set in medieval, magical lands, and cool swords. But, of all the Elder Scrolls games, Morrowind feels the most Zelda-like. This is to say, Morrowind is weird in the way Zelda games are weird.
The combat leaves something to be desired, unlike any 3D Zelda game. Yes, the graphics are muddy, and you may have to squint a bit to read the dialogue. Oh, and everyone (probably) hates your guts. Yet, Morrowind's vibes, as far its world-building goes, are impeccable. If you're coming hot off of playing Majora's Mask, Morrowind is precisely the right fit.
9 Darkest Dungeon
One of Zelda's signature elements is dungeon crawling. As its name suggests, Darkest Dungeon is dedicated to forcing yourself through increasingly Eldritch dungeons — lit only by your dwindling torch, guided by little more than hope. At least, unlike Link, you don't have to fight alone.
The aesthetics couldn't be further from Zelda if they tried. Gloomy and dark, there is no warmth other than your dim torch. The closest Zelda ever comes to such depths are its undead-themed temples. Yet, despite their differences, Darkest Dungeon feels like a natural progression from Zelda, as they share a core element: the thrill of discovery.
8 Dragon Age: Inquisition
It's okay if you get stuck in the Hinterlands for hours on end — there's a lot of elfroot that needs collecting, after all. Dragon Age: Inquisition brings you to Thedas, a continent torn asunder politically and through literal tears in the sky. Setting the world right is no easy task, but thankfully your party is stalwart and (mostly) unbreakable.
There is much to explore in Inquisition, in every corner of every map. It's similar to Breath of the Wild in this way — so much space with so much to discover, including brutal overworld battles with beasts that will lay you out. It's not the first Dragon Age game, but it is the easiest to dive right into, especially for a newcomer to RPGs.
7 Stardew Valley
If the Stardew Valley soundtrack wasn't so incredible, we'd recommend blasting some of Zelda's more farm-adjacent tunes as you game. While the closest Zelda ever gets to being a farming sim is picking pumpkins, Stardew Valley clearly took inspiration from the SNES-era of the series for its combat sections.
In Stardew Valley, eventually, you will find yourself traveling into the local mines in search of ore and treasures — but it's not so easy. There are hostile creatures afoot, and you need to deal with them with the help of your trusty sword. Later, you will find new combat areas to test your merit in. Link would be so proud.
6 Fable Anniversary
When Fable was first announced prior to its release on the original Xbox in 2004, it was with a lot of features that didn't end up making it into the final game. Regardless of that, it was still wow-worthy with its beautiful visuals and open-ended gameplay, going on to sell more than three million copies.
The action RPG owes a lot of that gameplay to innovations introduced in 3D Zelda games like Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker, such as the ability to lock on specific enemies during fights. The Anniversary Edition of the game comes bundled with The Lost Chapters expansion, all of which has been spruced up with HD visuals and smoother framerates.
5 Death's Door
Another game that often gets compared to The Legend of Zelda is Death's Door. Launched in 2021 before eventually making its way onto Xbox Game Pass in early 2022, the action-adventure title has you playing as a crow whose job it is to reap the souls of the dead.
The game is played from an isometric point of view but showcases several elements reminiscent of a classic Zelda release, like item-based puzzles and dungeons with bosses you'll need to fight at the end. It still manages to strike out an identity of its own though, through its dark yet whimsical setting and sharp gameplay that is challenging without being too difficult.
4 Fe
One aspect of the design in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that gets remarked upon often is its sense of discovery, and Fe is another game that takes that design philosophy to heart, where you can head in almost any direction and still encounter enough sights and wonders to keep yourself engaged.
You control a fox-like creature who traverses its painterly world through some light platforming and an ability to glide from the top of trees and other pinnacles, much like you can do in Breath of the Wild. Unique to the game, though, is the ability to communicate with other animals through non-verbal shouts, which can be used to reveal points of interest or nearby objectives.
3 Moonlighter
In Moonlighter, you take on the role of a shopkeeper whose daily duties are supplemented by nighttime adventures. As such, the game blends the social interactions and day-to-day management of a typical life sim like Stardew Valley with action-RPG elements typically found in traditional Zelda clones.
Its top-down pixel art style in particular should immediately call to mind 2D Zelda games like A Link to the Past and The Minish Cap. And much like those games, you'll be fighting your way through dungeons and slaying all manner of enemies on your quest to become a hero.
2 Undertale
While The Legend of Zelda might not be the first thing you think of when playing Undertale, there is no denying the influence the series had on the development of the indie title. This can be seen through its world, which is made up of several unique regions, and the dungeons you'll need to explore during your adventure.
There are even several direct and indirect references made to Zelda games, from power bracelet-shaped croissants to the general aesthetic of its 2D top-down, retro-style graphics. The game itself is distinct for its use of humor and its memorable cast of characters, and it is those things that ultimately make it a standout title that needs to be experienced.
1 Tunic
From the very first moment Tunic was announced and shown off to the public, it was clear that it aimed to be a love letter to classic games in The Legend of Zelda series. This is immediately apparent through the green tunic that clads its fox protagonist, to his use of classic Zelda weapons like a sword and shield, among others.
The biggest parallel to the Nintendo series though comes in the form of the in-game instruction manual, the pages of which you'll need to gather and piece together in order to fully understand some of the game's mechanics and objectives. These pages are adorned with artwork that looks ripped straight off an actual manual from one of the early Zelda games.