Submitted 11 hours ago by AstroLightz@lemmy.world to games@lemmy.world
I’m looking for any games on PC (preferably Steam) that plays like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Mainly, I’m looking for large, open-world games, with lots of things to do, with an over-arching narrative/destination available. Think Minecraft, with but an actual definitive objective to complete.
I’m aware of Fromsoft’s work (Elden Ring), but I’m looking for non-soulslike games.
Crimson desert. You’ll never finish it.
The oft forgotten Gods and Monsters Immortals Fenyx Rising is a shockingly good BOTW-like. Booted it up the other day because I noticed I had it from when they gave it away for free some time ago, and it was such a pleasant surprise. In some ways (combat, traversal, dungeon design, writing) it’s even better than Zelda. Do yourself a favor though and remove most of the HUD and puzzle hints via the ingame options and pirate it if you can so you don’t have to deal with Ubisoft Connect and Denuvo.
Enshrouded
This game keeps on giving.
TUNIC! Play Tunic!
I love Tunic but it’s probably not what OP is looking for. If “Minecraft with a goal” is what you want I’ll recommend Terraria. It’s dirt cheap for the amount of content you get.
Horizon Zero Dawn is on steam. Amazing game. Open world. I haven’t played the second one yet but I need to.
I really don’t get the appeal of Horizon Zero Dawn. I made it more than halfway through and then I quit.
It just felt like I have played the exact same game before just with another coat of paint. It felt completely uninspired gameplay-wise.
Agreed, Horizon: Zero Dawn is a genuinely excellent game. It’s saddled with the usual Ubisoft design elements (map full of things to tick off, towers to unlock areas, etc), but none of that gets in the way of how fun the gameplay is and how good the story is.
It’s one of the few video game stories that has really, really stuck with me. Some moments in that game are genuine gut punches that will leave you reeling.
Slowly working on my newgame+ run. This game is 10/10
They both check the boxes here. First one I got near complete. The second one I’m still working through. Lots to do.
I believe it’s the first 3D game I ever got all of the things in. All the little items and collectathon stuff. Germany I don’t do that I don’t really care enough but I just enjoyed walking around the world and sniping and setting traps enough that it was worth it. Even the DLC was great and worth it
Skyrim
Admittedly it’s a bit older
The Outer Wilds
All due respect to the other recommendations in this thread (The Witcher 3 is in my top 3 favorite games ever), but I get the sense you’re looking for a similar vibe - that self-paced, quiet, almost lonely exploration where, though you do have a goal, the point of the game is to wander the world and discover things. While most of these recs (and most open world games in general, so it’s understandable) have a strong story focus, The Outer Wilds will give you that quiet, unguided exploration BoTW does so well.
(And I know explicitly turned down souls-likes, but Elden Ring also hits that vibe super well. If you’re really stuck for something to play, it might be worth a try with one of the magic-focused builds that significantly reduce the skill needed)
Seconding this. Regardless of what op is looking for everyone should at least give outer wilds a try. Beautiful game.
I personally could not get into the gameplay loop of that game. Not a fan of the whole groundhog day thing. Also, the game is nothing like BOTW lol.
I would imagine horizon zero dawn and the Witcher would be what you’re looking for.
I’ve found Palworld to be a lot like that, and it’s hitting 1.0 in July or so.
Here is a few I can think of that are a bit similar
Btw, you should definitely try Elden ring if you haven’t already
I really enjoyed Sable. It’s not the biggest or most complicated game, but it’s beautiful, thoughtfully written, and really pulls you into its world. I loved just zooming across the wastes on my bike wondering what I would explore next. Incredibly chill.
Bastion is so fucking good
Planet of Lana, while kinda neat, is a linear story. There are almost no places to explore other than the scripted path. It’s not even a Metroidvania, so I don’t think it belongs on this list. With that said, the story is pretty interesting and I played and beat it and look forward more to PoL 2.
I kind of cringe at suggesting this, but Genshin Impact is if Breath of the Wild used a gatcha payment model instead of $60 up front.
I played for a couple of hundred hours a few years ago and didn’t spend any money at all on it. It’s perfectly fine to just ignore the gatcha stuff outside of the free pulls (or whatever it’s called) you get every now and then. I also don’t like Anime at all but this was one of the few things where it was alright.
But with a lot more yapping
Have you tried Legend of Zelda: Vreath of the Wild for PC? They even have it for Steamdeck. I love my Nintendo Steamdeck. I even got a Nintendo Steamdeck 2.
Crimson Desert is very inspired by BOTW/TOTK, and a bunch of other games, rolled into one. It’s also on PC.
I want to play it so vadly but I just can’t afford it :( Also can’t use a hyprland bypass as I play via cloud streaming.
Avowed
Sable
It’s like Breath of the Wild without combat.
It’s not exactly the same, because of the turn-based nature of it, but play Baldur’s Gate 3 if you haven’t.
It’s a massive world with a shitload of things to do and a definite objective (or rather 3 as each act has a major one)
With respect, Baldur’s Gate 3 is nothing like what OP is asking for.
Sounds like Crimson Desert
Genshin impact
Does Genshin run on Linux?
Look up the “Twintail Launcher”. Pretty easy entry point for several anime games. Theres even a version of proton, dwproton, that’s recommended for several of them.
Yup.
Maybe Kena Bridge of Spirits? Its not full open world if i remember correctly but it goes into the Zelda direction and i had a lot of fun with it
Not the MOST open world but the new tomb raider games are pretty great. Exploration, crafting, axing badguys in their stupid faces. Friendship, Bow and arrows. It’s a good set of games.
Agreed! Not something I’d think of or expect to be recommended but definitely fits. Lots of exploration, puzzle solving, secret finding, hunting etc.
Morrowind, Fallout, and Dragon Age are all quality contenders.
I came here to say Pine, but also to say Pine isn’t very good. I played 5 hours, and it just was not that good.
The reviews are mostly positive, do you want to expand on why you didn’t enjoy it? Is it a poorly made game, or is it just not a game genre you don’t like? Poor art, slow controls, or a boring story?
Witcher 3 Ghost of Tsushima Crimson Desert Dragons dogma 1/2 Skyrim Oblivion Kingdom come deliverance 1/2 Lego Batman? Guild Wars 1/2 Genshin/wuwa/ open world gacha of choice
Not quite Minecraft but open world and lots to do.
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I haven’t played this, but Crimson Desert seems pretty close
It’s not. It’s like playing breath of the wild on three different consoles a dit also being every game (and none of it very fun).
I haven’t actually fired it up in a while, but Gedonia might be up your alley.
store.steampowered.com/app/1114220/Gedonia/
Looks like a sequel is currently in early access, too.
Would emulating Wind Waker be an option?
Besides that I would say Genshin is probably your best bet.
I’d imagine The Witcher 3 falls into this camp? Maybe Kingdom Come Deliverance 1 & 2 as well? I can’t be incredibly sure, as I haven’t actually played them.
You mentioned Elden Ring, but it’s much more combat focused and less mini-dungeon puzzles. Though fighting a boss can feel like a puzzle sometimes.
Wuthering Waves might fit your bill, but it’s a free to play gacha game so that comes with its own can of worms. It’s also a bit more combat focused that BOTW and ranged combat + gadgets don’t really exist.
You may like some of the Assassin’s Creed franchise if you never played that. AC2 was my favorite of those, but it’s been a long time since I touched that franchise.
fruitdealer@lemmy.world 38 minutes ago
Elden Ring really gave me botw vibes.
All that exploration, shrines, random story lines and gigantic map and biome variety.