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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the closest follow-up to Breath of the Wild: it returns to Hyrule and builds on its exploration with new places to discover and the Ultrahand construction ability. If you want something outside Zelda, choose Immortals Fenyx Rising for mythological puzzles, Elden Ring for less-guided exploration and demanding combat, Horizon Forbidden West for a story-led science-fiction adventure, or Genshin Impact for a free-to-play starting point—with gacha character mechanics to consider.
Which game is closest to Breath of the Wild?
Tears of the Kingdom is the clear first choice if you want more of the same world and style of exploration. It is a follow-up set in Hyrule, where you can travel through familiar territory while discovering sky and underground areas. Its Ultrahand ability adds a construction system, and its world also offers shrines, enemies, chests, and open-ended travel. Nintendo lists the game in its Switch store collection, while GameSpot highlights its exploration and building elements.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Super Mario Galaxy™ + Super Mario Galaxy™ 2 | $64.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Tears of the Kingdom is a Nintendo Switch game. Nintendo’s collection also lists a Switch 2 Edition, so check the current store listing and edition details for your console before buying.
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Best alternatives, depending on what you liked
Immortals Fenyx Rising: mythological adventure and puzzles
Choose Immortals Fenyx Rising if you want a colorful adventure built around mythological creatures and puzzle-solving, rather than a return to Hyrule. Ubisoft describes its premise as: “Play as Fenyx, a new winged demigod, on a quest to save the Greek gods.” Its official page lists PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The overlap with Breath of the Wild is in broad adventure and puzzle elements; that does not make the games identical. See Ubisoft’s game page and platform list.
#1 Best Overall
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Elden Ring: discovery and a tougher combat challenge
Elden Ring suits players who want to find their own way through an open world and are comfortable with demanding action-RPG combat. PlayStation describes travel on foot or horseback, secrets to discover, and combat that is “demanding but fair.” PlayStation’s open-world guide gives the broad overview; PC Gamer notes that the game does not rely on a quest log, map markers, or a collectibles list to direct exploration. That makes it a contrast to Zelda’s tone and approach, not a gentle or low-pressure substitute.
Horizon Forbidden West: a cinematic science-fiction story
Pick Horizon Forbidden West if narrative, expansive scenery, and varied combat matter more to you than physics-driven puzzles. PlayStation describes it as an open-world adventure with a high-concept story and intense, varied combat. The listed 4K/HDR support requirements, performance mode targeting 60 fps, DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers, and 3D audio on compatible headphones apply specifically to the PS5 version. Check PlayStation’s Horizon Forbidden West page for version details.
Rank #2
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
Genshin Impact: a free-to-play entry point
Genshin Impact may appeal if you want a large open-world adventure without an upfront purchase. GameSpot describes puzzles, monsters, quests, and additional regions, and notes that the game uses gacha mechanics to obtain limited-time characters. Consider whether that character-acquisition system suits you before choosing it. The available description does not establish current platform availability. Read GameSpot’s review.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best fit | What sets it apart | Platform information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tears of the Kingdom | Closest continuation of Breath of the Wild | Hyrule, open-ended exploration, Ultrahand building, shrines, and sky and underground areas | Nintendo Switch; Nintendo’s collection also lists a Switch 2 Edition. Check the current listing. (Nintendo) |
| Immortals Fenyx Rising | Mythological adventure and puzzles | A winged demigod, mythological beasts, and ancient puzzles | PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, according to Ubisoft. (Ubisoft) |
| Elden Ring | Unmarked exploration and a substantial combat challenge | Secrets found through exploration without a quest log, map markers, or collectibles list | Not stated in the cited descriptions. See PlayStation’s guide and PC Gamer’s guide. |
| Horizon Forbidden West | Story-led science-fiction and varied combat | Expansive open-world adventure with a high-concept narrative | The listed 4K/HDR, performance, DualSense, and 3D-audio details are PS5-specific. See PlayStation. |
| Genshin Impact | Free-to-play open-world entry point | Quests, puzzles, monsters, additional regions, and gacha character mechanics | Not stated in the cited description. See GameSpot’s review. |
How to choose your next game
- Want to stay in Hyrule? Start with Tears of the Kingdom; it is the only recommendation here that continues the setting. Nintendo and GameSpot describe its world and exploration.
- Want puzzles outside Zelda? Consider Immortals Fenyx Rising for ancient puzzles and mythological adventure. Ubisoft’s page describes its premise and platforms.
- Want fewer prompts and tougher fights? Elden Ring is the stronger fit for organic discovery and challenging combat, not for Zelda’s lighter tone. See PlayStation and PC Gamer.
- Want a more cinematic story? Choose Horizon Forbidden West for its science-fiction narrative and varied combat; the listed technical features are for PS5. See PlayStation’s game page.
- Want to avoid an upfront game purchase? Genshin Impact is described as free-to-play, but its limited-time character gacha system is an important part of the choice. See GameSpot’s review.
There is no single best match for every player: the closest choice depends on whether you value continuity, puzzles, exploration, combat, story, or monetization most. A reader asking for the closest game to “BoTW/ToTK” is asking for those trade-offs, not an objective similarity score. One discussion illustrates that phrasing; it is an example of the question, not evidence of broad player consensus.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Journey through space in two Super Mario adventures, now improved for the Nintendo Switch system!
- Travel the stars with enhanced resolution, improved UI, and additional content
- Learn more about the Lumas from additional Storybook chapters, groove to a bit of additional music
- Get additional Health and fall recovery in Assist Mode
- Join Rosalina and the Lumas to restore the Comet Observatory and rescue Princess Peach in Super Mario Galaxy.
Rank #3
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
