The Legend of Zelda was released for the NES in North America in 1987, and it changed the action-adventure genre forever. Its influences on the gaming market are incomprehensible because of how long the series has been relevant. Then there is God of War, which was released for the PS2 in 2005. While it drew on some other games, it carved itself a niche in the action genre to create something more brutal and bloody.
Open-World PlayStation Games Like Zelda
Thankfully for those without a Nintendo console, there are plenty of other great open-world games like Zelda that can also be enjoyed on PS4 and PS5.
Together, The Legend of Zelda and God of War series are very influential franchises in their own right. Have there ever been games that combined the two? The following games are firmly situated in the action-adventure genre, but they have more mature stories or more visceral action to accompany their inherent whimsy.
Darksiders
A Hodgepodge Of Inspirations
Darksiders
- Released
- January 5, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
Darksiders is the best example of a game that blends the two franchises together and more. The game follows War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who is sent to Earth after the end of days draws near. He soon discovers a war between angels and demons that’s not all it’s cracked up to be, and he must find a way to stop the chaos from spreading.
Set in a sandbox environment, players will discover tools and weapons that will help them progress further in the world and in dungeons. One cool example is an artifact that functions like the Portal Gun in Portal. The world design is clearly Zelda- influenced, while the action and stoic protagonist fall very much in line with God of War. Among the series four games, the first Darksiders is still the best.
Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver
A Vampiric Legend
Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver
- Released
- August 16, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Crystal Dynamics
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Platformer, Fighting, Puzzle, Adventure
Kain, from the Legacy of Kain series, is probably a better, angrier fit. He is like Kratos, but Raziel’s rage from Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver also fits. He was betrayed by his lord, Kain, and thrown into the underworld to rot for all eternity. Not one to back down, Raziel climbs out of his pit of despair to seek revenge on Kain and vampire kind as a whole.
The Best Action Games To Play If You Like God Of War
The God of War reboot gave players a new story with Kratos, and gamers seeking a similar experience are certain to enjoy these other action games.
It may be a PS1 game from the same era as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, but it holds up better as an action-adventure game thanks to the recently released HD collection, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered. The core first game is timeless, with simple combat, challenging puzzles, and a deep story with some of the best voice work of the era.
Pandora’s Tower
Eat Your Heart Out
Pandora's Tower
- Released
- April 16, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Ganbarion
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Pandora’s Tower is a Wii game that most players probably passed up on due to its low availability and because it launched late into the console’s life. It’s a more linear experience, taking place in a tower wherein the hero, Aeron, has to climb to heal his beloved Elena, who suffers from a disease that is eating away at her body. To keep Elena whole, players must find hearts to feed to her, which is a bit disgusting, but it’s all in the name of love.
The whole game is like one big Zelda dungeon, with players gaining new items and upgrades for their chain sword as they climb upward. The chain sword can grapple onto surfaces to pull up gates, swing players around, or dominate arenas in battle. The only downside is that there are time constraints and the motion controls aren’t perfect, so an HD remaster with traditional controls could benefit the game a lot. Otherwise, it’s a hidden gem to be sure.
Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow
The Rise Of Belmont
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
- Released
- October 5, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- MercurySteam, Kojima Productions
The Castlevania series shares a lot with the Zelda games, as both typically center around unlocking or discovering abilities or gadgets to solve puzzles and move forward. One could even argue that Zelda games are Metroidvanias, but putting that debate aside, the most Zelda-infused entry in this vampire-slaying series is Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.
It’s a reboot for the series, featuring Gabriel Belmont, who fights various wicked monsters and demons. There are plenty of puzzles to enjoy, big bosses, and God of War fans will enjoy the combat and gothic themes. Gabriel’s whip operates much like Kratos’s Blades of Chaos, and it’s clear that God of War was an influence on the development team as they were making this game.
Nier
Straight To Gestalt
Nier
- Released
- April 27, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Cavia
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Nier was originally released as two separate games in Japan with the Gestalt and Replicant versions. Both games were virtually the same except they had different protagonists with slightly altered character backgrounds. Gestalt is the version North America received, which followed an older protagonist trying to find a way to save his daughter in a fantasy world.
Players could explore open areas in between dungeons, which did have some puzzles, but action was definitely more the game's focus. Nier's dark themes and characters align with the God of War series, while the world and dungeons fall in line with something like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
Upcoming Games Like God Of War
These upcoming action-packed games will satisfy God of War fans with their brutal combat, gripping stories, and fantastical settings.