The Legend of Zelda franchise is one of the most well-known in all of gaming, and few titles are as revered as Breath of the Wild. Released on Nintendo Switch and Wii U in 2017, the game garnered universal acclaim (a whopping 97 Metascore) for its expansive open world, mind-bending puzzles, and free-form combat system.

Breath of the Wild is the first Zelda game to feature an open environment, and it revolutionized the aging series. Instead of following a linear narrative, you're free to roam Hyrule as you see fit, unlocking its secrets and completing its quests on your own terms. You'll find a variety of dungeons and shrines scattered about Hyrule, and diving into these locations treats you to the iconic puzzles and boss battles that made the games popular in the first place.

Nintendo truly brought Zelda into a new era with Breath of the Wild, and it should come as no surprise that the commercially successful title spawned leagues of "copycat" games. Whether it's the whimsical art style or free-form design to quests, the influence of Breath of the Wild is readily apparent in dozens of other titles. And while some of these were quick cash-grabs, many of them innovated on Nintendo's formula to become something special — including such titles as Elden Ring and Genshin Impact. Once you've finished saving Hyrule and collecting all those Korok Seeds, there are plenty of amazing worlds waiting for you to explore.

Here are 10 games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to play next, ranked by Metascore.

Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)

Metascore: 97
Best for: Fans of 3D platformers
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Super Mario Odyssey is another masterpiece from Nintendo. It's not quite as open world as Breath of the Wild, although each stage is big enough to get lost in for hours on end. The 3D platformer sees you once again tracking down Bowser and thwarting his evil plans, but this time you're accompanied by Cappy — a magical hat that lets you steal powers of enemies in your surroundings. The mechanic adds a fun twist to the gameplay, as you'll be unlocking unique skills at a ridiculous pace. A lovable cast of characters, gorgeous visuals, and a perfect soundtrack round out the experience, and turn Super Mario Odyssey into one of the many must-place experiences on Nintendo Switch.

"An innovative masterpiece that takes an already creative series to the next level, demonstrating that there is no limit to the adventures that can be had in games or the ways they can be played." — Gamesplanet

Elden Ring (PS5)

Metascore: 96
Best for: Fans of challenging, open-world action
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Elden Ring has drawn no shortage of comparisons to Breath of the Wild, and for good reason. Its living world is just as mysterious, its narrative is just as sparse, and its combat is just as engaging. The biggest difference, however, is difficulty, with Elden Ring pushing you to your gaming limits more times than you'd like. The only saving grace is the ability to venture off in limitless directions and level up before attempting to clear your latest roadblock. But if you're not put off by one of the most challenging games of 2022, there's more than 100 hours of content waiting to be discovered.

"Elden Ring took the best parts of previous FromSoftware games and expanded them across a living open-world with endless discovery, excitement, and danger." — PlayStation Universe

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (XB360)

Metascore: 96
Best for: Fans of freeform exploration
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While taking a fateful ride to their execution, a prisoner and their convey are overtaken by a dragon, throwing the land into turmoil, and giving them a window to escape. Before long, you discover that this prisoner is the Dragonborn — a mysterious being that's tasked with slaying Alduin the World-Eater before it destroys the realm. Being an Elder Scrolls game, however, you're free to largely ignore the story and venture out on your own. Whether you want to become a thief, a powerful mage, or something in between, Skyrim's snowy world is one gigantic playground that's just waiting to be explored.

"The environments are stunning, the level of control you have over your own experience is amazing and, simply put, Skyrim is an epic experience." — Totally360

Horizon Forbidden West (PS5)

Metascore: 88
Best for: Fans of mechanical dinosaurs (and parkour)
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As a continuation of Horizon Zero Dawn, Forbidden West sees Aloy heading (you guessed it) west in hopes of finding a piece of lost technology that'll save the world from its impending demise. Its narrative relies heavily on the first game, although newcomers to the franchise will still be able to pick up the basics and get up to speed within a few hours of playing. Forbidden West also iterates on the gameplay loop of the original, giving you more crafting options, more weapons, and better parkour skills than ever before. If you're looking for something to really sink your teeth into, Horizon Forbidden West is big enough to keep you playing through the rest of the year.

"An enjoyable game from start to finish which easily allows you to become lost in its virtual mythology." — Impulsegamer

Halo Infinite (XBX)

Metascore: 87
Best for: Fans of FPS games
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Halo Infinite shares the same premise as Breath of the Wild: take iconic gameplay and throw it into a handcrafted open world. The transition is largely a success, with players given the freedom to approach missions from any angle and clear objectives at their own pace. It also benefits from a new grappling hook mechanic, letting you zip across its map, pull in distant objects, or clasp on to opponents. When you get tired of its single-player campaign, you can always jump into its competitive multiplayer, which is offered for free on Xbox and PC.

"A phenomenal game that completely exceeded my expectations. By seamlessly blending exciting new elements with Halo's traditional formula, 343 Industries has crafted its magnum opus." — Windows Central

Pokémon Legends: Arceus (Switch)

Metascore: 83
Best for: Fans looking for a new twist on the old Pokémon formula
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Pokémon Legends Arceus puts a daunting task in front of you, as you'll need to build the world's first-ever Pokédex. Unlike past installments, this 3D adventure game gives you the ability to catch monsters without ever seeing a turn-based battle, and you can even take advantage of certain Pokémon to quickly traverse the huge Hisui region. You can also be attacked directly by wild Pokémon, meaning you'll need to stay vigilant when exploring some of its more remote areas. With 242 available Pokémon (including several new species), the spin-off game is a breath of fresh in for a series that was starting to grow repetitive.

"Pokémon Legends Arceus is exactly what it promised to be: a new frontier for the series." — Everyeye.it

Genshin Impact (PS4)

Metascore: 81
Best for: Fans of fast-paced combat
Where to buy: MiHoYo Store
Also available on: iOS, PC, PS5

It might be a free-to-play game, but don't let that fool you: Genshin Impact offers more gameplay than several other titles on this list. Microtransactions are available if you're looking to build the best possible team, but most players will get along just fine without breaking into their wallet. The game sees you tracking down a missing sibling in a sweeping 3D world, although you'll run into a variety of mythological beings along the way that both seek to help and hinder your progress. And thanks to dozens of updates since its original launch, Genshin Impact has only grown better over the years. Anyone seeking a fast-paced action game will find a lot to love about this free title.

"With so much to offer, you can easily get lost in its lush world, fun and exciting combat, and deep exploration." — PlayStation Universe

Immortals Fenyx Rising (XBX)

Metascore: 81
Best for: Fans of Greek mythology
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Immortals Fenyx Rising is a 3D adventure game that tells the tale of Fenyx, a mortal that goes up against a litany of monsters inspired by Greek mythology as they attempt to rescue their brother. Along they way, Fenyx must slay a handful of powerful bosses, overcome dozens of elaborate puzzles, and explore a world filled to the brim with content. Combat can become quite challenging, too, as you'll need to manage a stamina game — drain it, and you won't be able to successfully block incoming attacks. And while the stakes are high, the game maintains a humorous tone and is a blast to play from start to end.

"An enjoyable and fun adventure, with a classic open-world gameplay structure in a fascinating and humorous setting." — MondoXbox

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (Switch)

Metascore: 81
Best for: Fans of classic Zelda games
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While Breath of the Wild stands as one of the best Zelda games, Skyward Sword is often thrown towards the bottom of the list. But the quirky title recently saw a release on Switch, and while it's not perfect, it's managed to fix several flaws of the original and win over plenty of new fans. Like any good Zelda game, you'll be diving into dungeons and taking down bosses with an arsenal of unique gadgets, and it's very much a more traditional experience than Breath of the Wild. Skyward Sword benefits from improved visuals and a new control scheme, making this the best way to experience the high-flying action.

"Skyward Sword HD gives one of the most misunderstood Legend of Zelda games a second chance." — GamesRadar+

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (Switch)

Metascore: 78
Best for: Fans seeking more Breath of the Wild lore
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Age of Calamity might take place in the same world as Breath of the Wild, but its gameplay couldn't be more different. You'll head out to the battlefield to face off against dozens of foes at once, with fast-paced action and bombastic skills that puts anything in traditional Zelda titles to shame. The main reason for Breath of the Wild fans to check out the musou title is for the lore — taking place prior to the events of Breath of the Wild, Age of Calamity gives you a closer look at events that led to the downfall of Hyrule.

"If the name The Legend of Zelda means a lot to you, and you can have fun with musou-style games, then Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will not disappoint." — GameMAG