It's been almost two years since Nintendo unveiled The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, and fans know just as much about it today as they did back then. Suffice to say, information on the game is scarce, and that might not change any time soon.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 seems to have a ways to go before it sees the light of day. Some fans might be perturbed by the long wait ahead for the sequel to 2017's hit Switch launch title, but fortunately, there are all sorts of Zelda-inspired games to help make the time go by faster. Indie games in particular have taken quite a few cues from The Legend of Zelda thanks to the series' reputation as one of the pioneers of gaming. Many developers have found creative ways to innovate and improve upon the series' classic gameplay.
Hyper Light Drifter
Equipped with a vibrant, retro-2D art style, fast-paced combat, and an emphasis on exploration, Hyper Light Drifter is certainly a game for Zelda fans to check out. Set in a dark world filled with monsters, the Drifter, equipped with an energy sword, must traverse hostile lands to find a cure for his terminal illness. The game takes some obvious cues from 2D Zelda games; many of the enemies in Hyper Light Drifter look like they'd fit right into a Zelda title.
Perhaps the indie game's biggest influence is A Link to the Past, which is evident through how both games allow players to maneuver through each of their core areas in whatever order they please — a design philosophy featured prominently in Breath of the Wild.Â
CrossCode
Radical Fish Games' CrossCode follows an amnesia-afflicted young girl named Lea who is tasked with playing a popular MMO to regain her memories. The game hardly resembles Zelda when it comes to story, and its combat is pretty different too. But where the similarities lie are in CrossCode's puzzles, which encourage players to use their various abilities in innovative ways to solve them. Fans of Breath of the Wild's shrine puzzles might get some enjoyment out of CrossCode's creatively crafted challenges.
A Short Hike
Take a trip to Hawk Peak with A Short Hike; the game's title is pretty self-explanatory. Players control a bird named Clair who is taking a short hike around an island to clear her mind. The game lets players loose with little direction beyond ascending a mountain, encouraging them to determine for themselves what Claire's journey will entail. Its setting is packed with many secrets, and players who were drawn to Breath of the Wild's freeform exploration are sure to find value in what this charming open-world title has to offer.
The Pathless
As the name implies, The Pathless drops players into an open world and tasks them with finding their own way through the game's story. Boasting an expansive world and a beautiful art style, The Pathless' world is certainly a visual marvel, and some incredibly fast, fluid, timing-based movement makes traveling to unexplored areas just as much fun as discovering what secrets they have.
Tunic
This game isn't out yet, but it's certainly one to keep an eye on, as Tunic is very clearly inspired by Zelda. Its reveal trailer evokes nostalgia of Link's Awakening in many regards, and a limited-time demo recently allowed players to see the Zelda influences firsthand. Based on what's been shown, the game will also be modernizing the gameplay seen in the older 2D Zelda titles.
Added mechanics like a dodge-roll and an auto-targeting system akin to the one present in the 3D Zelda games look like they will go a long way in making this delightful-looking indie game not just a heartfelt homage to the iconic franchise, but perhaps the closest the industry will ever come to seeing a completely new, top-down Legend of Zelda game.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2Â is in development for Nintendo Switch.
