Summary
- Hirogami, an action-adventure game released on September 3, 2025, with a paper aesthetic, will satisfy Zelda fans.
- Ghost of Yotei, a PS5 exclusive, offers combat and exploration, appealing to Zelda fans for its beauty.
- Mina the Hollower, releasing on multiple platforms on Halloween 2025, offers a spooky, Zelda-like experience.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was Nintendo’s last big 3D Zelda title, and it was released in 2023 for the Switch. In 2024, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was a smaller game, but one that a lot of series fans still enjoyed. As of now, Nintendo has not announced another first-party Zelda game other than Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and that’s more of an action game than an adventure game.
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Thankfully, fans looking to play a Zelda-like game in terms of tone and gameplay can look forward to these upcoming smaller titles, all of which evoke that classic Zelda feeling. Some of these games have dates, while others have more nebulous release windows.
Hirogami
A Paper Adventure
Hirogami
- Released
- September 3, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Hirogami is certainly one of the most unique upcoming action-adventure games. Played primarily from a top-down perspective, players will inhabit the role of an origami character navigating a world made of paper. It’s being developed by a small Bandai Namco studio, and features a paper aesthetic not unlike Paper Mario or Tearaway.
Players can fight enemies, solve puzzles, turn into paper animals, and gather items to help their cause. Zelda and action-adventure fans won’t have to wait long, as it will be released on September 3, 2025, on PC and PS5. Anyone already interested can check Hirogami out on Steam, as there is a demo available.
Ghost Of Yotei
The Next Samurai Epic
Ghost of Yotei
- Released
- October 2, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
Ghost of Yotei is the next game in the Ghost of franchise developed by Sucker Punch, following Ghost of Tsushima. Based on everything shown in trailers and showcases so far, it looks just as epic as its predecessor. The game takes place hundreds of years after the original and follows a female samurai, Atsu, on a quest for revenge.
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Players can slice enemies up with katanas or whip them with kusarigama chains. New to this sequel is the inclusion of animal companions such as wolves. Ghost of Yotei, so far, will be exclusive to the PS5 when it launches on October 2, 2025. It may be more violent and less puzzle-heavy than a Zelda game, but the beauty of exploring its world will appeal specifically to fans of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Mina The Hollower
Move Over Shovel Knight
Mina the Hollower
- Developer(s)
- Yacht Club Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Shovel Knight was Yacht Club Games’ first release, and it proved to be a wildly successful indie game that soon turned the developer into a publisher and household name. A decade later, they are back with what appears to be their next big franchise, Mina the Hollower. As a spooky game akin to Castlevania, it seems fitting that it will release on multiple platforms on Halloween 2025, and those interested can experience it right now with a demo. Mina is a young mouse hero who can swing weapons around, from knives to flails.
It’s a top-down game that looks a lot like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, complete with similar pixel art. There are RPG elements too; collecting enough enemy bones will “Bone Up” Mina, allowing players to increase a stat like her attack power. There is a demo out for Mina the Hollower on the Switch, and it's quite extensive. The game itself will be available at launch on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault
Rebuilding Your Town
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault
- Released
- November 19, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Digital Sun
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Open-World, Action, Adventure
Moonlighter deftly blended roguelike elements into a dungeon crawler and shopkeeping game when it launched in 2018. The first game had a top-down perspective, which gave it a feel akin to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Players dove into dungeons, acquired loot, and then sold that loot at their shop. Players could then upgrade the town with the money they acquired, along with their gear.
It was a satisfying gameplay loop and one of the easier roguelikes to dive into thanks to its action-adventure influences. Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is looking to do the same thing sometime in 2025. So far, the official page only lists its Steam link, but since the original game launched on consoles as well, it should make it to platforms like the PS5 at some point. A demo for the game can currently be played on Steam or Microsoft’s launcher for their Xbox PC hub.
Zwaard
An Eerie Exploration Game
- Developer: Beleef Studios
- Publisher: Top Hate Studios
- Planned Release: 2025
- Platform: PC
Zwaard will be the debut of Beleef Studios, and the game currently has a Kickstarter page up, along with the developer's Steam access. The game looks a bit like Hyper Light Drifter, which was in turn inspired by Zelda games, except Zwaard has a lot more colorful splashes in its world. In some of the screenshots and trailer footage, it bears a strong resemblance to the post-apocalyptic world seen in the Splatoon series.
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Players can solve puzzles, fight monsters with quick reflexes, and build up their weapons in several ways. What’s most striking about the trailer is that it featured voice acting, which rarely happens in old-school action-adventure games like this. Between that, the visual style, and the cool weapon-building mechanics, Zelda fans should keep an eye on Zwaard whenever it releases on PC in 2025.
The Adventures Of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
The First Original HD-2D Action RPG
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Team Asano, Square Enix, Clay Tech Works
The Switch was privy to one of Square Enix’s best recent trends, creating HD-2D games, when the first Octopath Traveler game was released as an exclusive in 2018. Since then, Square Enix has made many original turn-based games, but no new original action games. That’s where The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales comes into play.
The titular Eliot is aided by a fairy guide, which is very Zelda-like, on his time-traveling quest to set the world right. Players can equip and upgrade their weapons while fighting and exploring in dungeons. Puzzle-solving is also a big part of the game, just like it is in Zelda games. Players can check out all The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales has to offer right now on Switch 2, as there is a demo available. It is set to launch sometime in 2026 on PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S.
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