this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2026
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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.

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[–] 64bithero@lemmy.world 1 points 22 hours ago

Ocean horn 1 + 2

[–] phar@lemmy.world 62 points 4 days ago (8 children)

Horizon Zero Dawn is on steam. Amazing game. Open world. I haven't played the second one yet but I need to.

[–] DaTingGoBrrr@lemmy.ml 16 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Uruanna@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

You shoot dinosaurs with a bow. Also, the storytelling.

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[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 10 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Agreed, Horizon: Zero Dawn is a truly 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.

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[–] BrinkBreaker@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Honestly. Try Dragon Age Inquisition. It isn't "open world", but it has MASSIVE regions (that people complained were too big). Lot's to explore, plenty of side quests and puzzles. A base you can customize. Armor too.

Edit: Honestly, play on easy if the combat is too annoying.

[–] winkerjadams@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 3 days ago

Palworld full release is coming next month

[–] PrimeErective@startrek.website 54 points 4 days ago (5 children)

There was one called Immortals Fenyx Rising that I remember being quite similar to BotW. Unfortunately it's Ubisoft

[–] Davel23@fedia.io 16 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Occasionally Ubisoft will make something worth playing. Immortals: Fenix Rising is one of them. It's BotW without weapon breaking and no weather to make travel miserable.

[–] knuk@piefed.ca 6 points 3 days ago

I worked on that one, it still makes me happy to see good comments about it, and annoyed that ubi went on to cancel the sequel.

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[–] MrGabr@ttrpg.network 39 points 4 days ago (5 children)

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)

[–] Donebrach@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Seconding this. Regardless of what op is looking for everyone should at least give outer wilds a try. Beautiful game.

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[–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Exactly, Shadow of the Colossus is a better recommendation than Genshin Impact because of this. I'd also like to give a shoutout to some metroidvanias that fit the vibe and have big maps and lots of abilities like Aquaria and Knytt Underground.

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[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 3 days ago

Immortals: Fenyx Rising

[–] CubitOom@infosec.pub 21 points 4 days ago (3 children)

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

[–] ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.zip 12 points 4 days ago

Bastion is so fucking good

[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 days ago

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.

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[–] mushroommunk@lemmy.today 23 points 4 days ago

I would imagine horizon zero dawn and the Witcher would be what you're looking for.

[–] danciestlobster@lemmy.zip 8 points 3 days ago

Horizon zero dawn is live action breath of the wild

[–] dustyData@lemmy.world 12 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Crimson desert. You'll never finish it.

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[–] adaveinthelife@lemmy.ca 13 points 4 days ago (5 children)
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[–] Big_Boss_77@fedinsfw.app 21 points 4 days ago (4 children)

I've found Palworld to be a lot like that, and it's hitting 1.0 in July or so.

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[–] Toribor@corndog.social 6 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I haven't seen Sable suggested, but it's a very pleasant indie game with a lot of BotW in its DNA. It's not as large and content filled as some of these suggestions but it does have a great sense of style and is more tonally similar to Zelda.

[–] mercano@lemmy.world 20 points 4 days ago (3 children)

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.

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[–] Fondots@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

No Mans Sky comes to mind

I wasn't exactly crazy about the story personally, but its there, and the game feels fairly Minecraft-y to me since you also mentioned that game.

I didn't play it at launch, and I know that left a bit of a bad taste in a lot of peoples mouths, but in its current state I think its pretty amazing.

[–] lucientheluckless@lemmy.zip 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I enjoyed botw and totk, so you might also enjoy Enshrouded. Open world, lots of craft ability, base building and combat is fun and challenging. It's a little less cartoony than Zelda but definitely not as intense as Elden Ring. They are still in early access but the next big update should be 1.0.

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[–] blockheadjt@sh.itjust.works 10 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Skyrim

Admittedly it's a bit older

[–] BigBananaDealer@lemmy.world 17 points 3 days ago

older? it just released like 5 years ago, and 8 years ago, and 12 years ago

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[–] Xenny@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

Really enjoying outward right now. It feels like a mix of botw Elden ring and a healthy dose of modded skyrim

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 11 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (3 children)

Crimson Desert is very inspired by BOTW/TOTK, and a bunch of other games, rolled into one. It's also on PC*.

*it uses Denuvo tho.

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[–] actionjbone@sh.itjust.works 13 points 4 days ago

Sable

It's like Breath of the Wild without combat.

[–] Arcane2077@sh.itjust.works 8 points 4 days ago

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.

[–] Pistcow@lemmy.world 11 points 4 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Have you tried Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for PC? They even have it for Steamdeck. I love my Nintendo Steamdeck. I even got a Nintendo Steamdeck 2.

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[–] Strider@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Saints row iv.

Well no, not really. But it does unexpectedly have some commons.

You could also go for dying light. Both feature the points you mentioned though.

[–] 11111one11111@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Switch emulator with eden and play the other two newer zelda games. I stopped playing them cuz they seemed like the same exact game as botw. They even have mods for zelda games on emulators.

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