Best iOS Games Like Zelda – Top 10 Adventure RPG Picks

The games mentioned below do not just resemble Zelda; they are more than that. Their gameplay and storytelling have all the elements of quality, originality, and depth. Let’s get to the best part of the blog and discuss the Zelda-like games in detail.

• Platforms: iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, among others
• Developer: Cornfox & Brothers Ltd.
• Genres: Role-playing game, Action-adventure game
• Publishers: Cornfox & Brothers Ltd., FDG Entertainment
• Engine: Unreal Engine 4

Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm is an action-adventure RPG based on a third-person perspective gameplay style. The game features exploration, puzzle-solving, sword combat, and light RPG elements. It is also equipped with companions who help you in your missions.

The game is set 1000 years before the events in the Oceanhorn series. A dark warlock, Mesmeroth, wreaks havoc and brings a cataclysmic war to the society. Being a young protagonist in the form of Knights, players are destined to defeat Mesmeroth.

The Legend of Zelda series inspires the game’s high graphics and visuals. Other key features include expansive worlds with towns, dungeons, and secrets. Combat requires strategies with magical weapons. The companions can harness unique abilities to help the protagonist. Fans who love this style might also enjoy exploring the best Diablo-like iOS games for a similar blend of action and adventure.

• Platforms: iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, macOS, Mac operating systems, among others
• Developers: Heart Machine, Abylight Studios, Abylight Studios S.A.
• Genres: Platform game, Adventure game, Action role-playing game, Fighting game, Shooter Video Game
• Publishers: Heart Machine
• Engine: GameMaker

The game’s USP is its art style, which boasts handcrafted pixel art with neon aesthetics and retro-futuristic vibes. It provides a fast-paced combat system perfect for users craving action like Zelda, a mix of sword slashes, ranged attacks, and dashes. The exploration in the game is non-linear in a post-apocalyptic world.

Another outstanding feature of the game is the story’s narration through visuals, symbols, and environment design; no dialogue is used in the game. The protagonist, Drifter, is a wanderer suffering from a mysterious illness who explores ancient technology and a lost civilization, much like Tomb Raider.

There are a number of reasons that make this game special. The best is its delivery of emotional depth without using dialogue. The world design is beautiful, and the combat mechanism is tight and responsive.

• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, among others
• Developer: NAPS team
• Genres: Puzzle Video Game, Role-playing Video Game, Action-adventure game, Indie game, Fighting game, Adventure
• Publishers: NAPS team, Editions Pix’n Love
• Engine: Unity

Another game like Zelda with a beautiful Studio Ghibli-inspired animation. The open world in the game is filled with dungeons, puzzles, and secrets that the protagonist needs to unravel. The game provides a top-down view and offers real-time battle mechanics. You can collect many in-game items as you focus on environmental puzzles.

The game is set in a magical world where the protagonist is part of an ancient prophecy that foretells his purity of heart, which will help stop an evil force. Baldo, the protagonist, will quest to uncover secrets and awaken ancient owls.

The game is aesthetically pleasing and awakens nostalgia. Its lore is very deep and features mystical elements, temples, and characters. It shares a strong connection with iOS games like The Legend of Zelda and the JRPG genre. For developers inspired by such mechanics, learning the cost to develop an iOS game can help in effective budget planning.

• Platforms: Android, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Cloud Gaming, iOS, among others
• Developers: Digital Sun, Crunching Koalas
• Genres: Action role-playing game, Indie game, Fighting game
• Publishers: Netflix, 11 Bit Studios, Merge Games
• Engine: Unity

Developed by Digital Sun, Moonlighter is an indie action RPG with rogue-lite elements. You will witness a unique gameplay loop in this game with dungeon crawling and shopkeeping. Apart from combat and exploration, economic strategy is another dimension where you must excel.

The game is divided into two halves, i.e., day and night. You play the role of a shopkeeper by day, and slap monsters by night. Set prices, manage inventory, upgrade the shop, and deal with customers during the day in the village of Rynoka. Explore randomly generated dungeons, collect loot, and defeat bosses at night.

The protagonist of Rynoka is Will, who dreams of becoming a hero. Although he is just a simple merchant, Will strives to prove his worth by venturing into mysterious portals to uncover the secrets of an ancient civilization. If you’re thinking about monetizing such games effectively, you should explore the StoreKit 3 in-app purchase revenue guide to maximize earnings.

• Platforms: iOS, Android, among others
• Developer: Touch Foo
• Genres: Platform-adventure, action role-playing game, Metroidvania
• Publisher: Touch Foo
• Engine: Custom game engine developed by Touch Foo

Swordigo is a 2.5D side-scrolling game developed by the indie studio Touch Foo on a custom game engine. You are a young protagonist in the game tasked with retrieving the Mageblade, which will eventually defeat the evil Corruptors of the land.

The gameplay elements include exploration, platforming, and RPG elements. Players can run, double-jump, attack with a sword, and cast magic spells while navigating the game. Attributes like health, attack, or magic are replenished as you cross levels in the game. The game has an in-game currency, ‘Soul Shards’, that players earn after defeating enemies or breaking objects.

The game provides slick and responsive controls that are tailor-made for iOS devices. It also establishes a strong mix of nostalgia and modern polish, with a thoughtful blend of combat, platforming, and exploration. Developers interested in creating similar titles can explore building a 2D iOS game without Unity for a streamlined development approach using Apple’s native tools.

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Linux, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Ouya, Wii U, Mac operating systems, among others
• Developer: Ludosity
• Genres: Puzzle Video Game, Indie game, Action-adventure game, Fighting game, Shooter Video Game, Adventure
• Publishers: Ludosity, 1Print Games
• Engine: Unity

Ittle Dew is a 2D light-hearted counterpart of games like The Legend of Zelda. The game will introduce you to a quirky protagonist with the same name as the title. His objective is to explore an island filled with puzzles, enemies, and secrets. The game boasts hand-drawn cartoon-style visuals and a humorous dialogue style.

As a protagonist, you will get tools, like a fire sword, a portal wand, etc. Using these tools, you need to focus on solving the puzzles, collecting items, and engaging in combats. The game does not have a linear gameplay, and the storyline depends on the items you collect in the game.

• Platforms: iOS, Steam, Linux, Nintendo, among others
• Developer: Red Blue Games
• Genres: Adventure game, Role-playing Video Game, Indie game, Fighting game, Shooter Video Game
• Publishers: Playdigious, Merge Games, Silver Lining Interactive, Maple Whispering
• Engine: Unity

Sparklite is another action-adventure rogue-like game, similar to Zelda. It is set in a vibrant, procedurally generated world, combining classic top-down exploration with modern mechanics. There are many reasons why Sparklite stands out. The procedurally generated world of Sparklite offers new landscapes that keep the gameplay fresh and unpredictable, making it addictive.

The game’s pixel-art style features colorful, retro-inspired visuals that users adore. Its animation is top-notch and full of intricate details. The combat system relies on gadgets, gear, and upgrades to help the protagonist beat the bosses.

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows · See more
• Developer: The Gentlebros
• Genres: Adventure game, Action role-playing game, Indie game, Fighting game, Adventure
• Publishers: The Gentlebros, Kepler Interactive, PQube
• Engine: Unity

Deployed in 2016, Cat Quest II is the sequel to its predecessor. People who love pets, especially cats and dogs, will love this game. It is set in a colorful world of cats and dogs and follows a co-op gameplay. However, it is not necessary to require another person to play this game. You can either switch between characters or play solo with AI switching.

The game follows a fast-paced combat with real-time battles, through magic, weapons, and dodging mechanics. Like other games on the list, Cat Quest II allows you to explore dungeons, towns, and secrets across the kingdom of Felingard and the Lupus Empire. Another notable feature is the ability of players to customize weapons, armor, and spells for strategic combat.

Unlike a serious and emotional storyline, Cat Quest II follows a heartwarming narrative with features like witty dialogue and puns, making it a light-hearted title.

• Platforms: Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, iOS, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
• Developers: Iron Lore Entertainment, Demiurge Studios
• Genre: Hack and slash
• Publishers: THQ, THQ Nordic, HandyGames
• Engine: Iron Lore Engine

If you love Mythology, this game is for you. Titan Quest is an action RPG set in the mythological worlds of ancient Greece, Egypt, and Asia. It was initially released in 2006 but was later remastered and expanded for modern platforms, including iOS.

The game boasts elements from Greek, Egyptian, and Asian mythology, including legendary monsters with whom the protagonist has to battle. Some examples include centaurs, hydras, and gorgons. It also offers character customization, and you can create a hybrid class incorporating multiple skills.

• Platforms: iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Android, Linux, among others
• Developer: Onebitbeyond
• Genres: Action RPG, Indie game, Fighting game, Shooter Video Game, Adventure
• Publisher: Devolver Digital
• Engine: GameMaker Studio 2

The Swords of Ditto follows a top-down Zelda-like gameplay. It is a charming RPG combining roguelike elements. Like Sparklite, it also features procedurally generated worlds. The world in The Swords of Ditto is dynamic and keeps changing with fresh levels. As the game progresses, you will experience fresh layouts, dungeons, and challenges.

The game can also be played in co-op mode, where you team up with your friends and take on the enemies together. It features vibrant, cartoonish visuals and playful animations that create a lighthearted yet epic atmosphere.

Besides swords, the game boasts many quirky tools like vinyl records and golf clubs. You can battle the enemies with a mix of these tools. If colorful, fast-paced, and replayable RPGs are your thing, then The Swords of Ditto should be on your list.

Here is a comprehensive table that compares all ten titles based on their genre, platforms, visual and combat style, and their key features.

The Legend of Zelda continues to strike a chord with gamers. It provides a nostalgic feel because of its decades-long series etched in the minds of early gamers. The modern games in the series also appeal to young gamers.

Modern developers focus on player engagement, among other things, while developing a game for the audience. A nostalgic touch does a great job if the target audience is players from the 90s; hence, if you want to impress the gamers from the 90s, you must incorporate elements from the old games.

BR Softech specializes in end-to-end game development. We understand your concept, provide the best blueprint for the development process, and seamlessly deploy your game. Below-mentioned are a few things that we excel at:

• Game design and prototyping
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You can book a free consultation with BR Softech to bring your iOS game vision to life. Our team is always on the edge to help and support you in paving the way for your game development journey, from ideation to launch.

You can also check our detailed guide on Swift vs Unity for iOS game development to choose the right framework for your project.

The list includes all types of games, from classic sword-swinging action titles to games with open-world puzzles. Zelda-inspired iOS adventure games have become a niche in mobile gaming.

These games seamlessly capture the magic of exploration, puzzle-solving, and hero-driven narratives, which were the core pillars of The Legend of Zelda. Hence, they are similar to this legendary video game series. Players are consistently drawn to the worlds of Moonlighter and Baldo: The Guardian Owls, as these games feature pixel-art combat and charming questlines.

If you’re ready to enter this space, our complete guide on how to make an iPhone game will walk you through every step from concept to launch.