The Best iOS Games Like Zelda

The Legend of Zelda has undergone a lot of changes over the years. Beginning in 1986, the Nintendo series originated on the NES, introducing gamers to the rich world of Hyrule through a top-down action-adventure RPG centered on solving puzzles and exploration. However, the franchise has expanded quite a lot in recent years, incorporating 3D action, open worlds, and tons of lore.

Related

33 Switch Games To Play If You Loved Breath Of The Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is among the Nintendo Switch’s most celebrated games, so here are a few games to try after saving Hyrule.

Something that’s also been steadily evolving over the decades is the ability to play AAA-quality games on iPhone. Given the simplicity and influence of Zelda over the video game industry as a whole, it’s not surprising that there are plenty of games on iOS that have been inspired by, or even rip off, Nintendo’s iconic fantasy franchise, such as these 10 Zelda-like games that we highly recommend you play.

10

Afterplace

It’s All About Getting Lost

From just one look at the graphics for Afterplace, its inspiration from The Legend of Zelda is easy to see. The game has players controlling a lost child exploring a vast world, discovering mysteries about this seemingly-barren map, fighting monsters, and uncovering dungeons. Gameplay-wise, it’s as simple of a Zelda clone as it gets from a game made by a one-person dev team.

Particularly, Afterplace is made for mobile devices, and can even be played vertically rather than the sometimes cumbersome horizontal mode most RPGs on iOS allow for. More than anything, Afterplace is a really charming and funny game that deserves a lot more attention, especially from Zelda fans looking for a way to kill time on their commute.

9

Cat Quest 2

This Zelda Copycat Is Purr-fect

Released

September 24, 2019

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence

Cat Quest is sure to entice cat-lovers or animal-lovers of any kind. Originally released in 2017, this mobile game feels as indebted to The Legend of Zelda as it is breaking from the formula, allowing players to control an anthropomorphic cat warrior scouring an open world for his kidnapped sister, a plotline that may sound familiar to fans of The Wind Waker.

However, the 2019 sequel, Cat Quest 2, is an improvement on all fronts, allowing for co-op multiplayer and even featuring—gasp—dogs?! There’s also a Cat Quest 3 that has yet to see a mobile release, so for the latest adventure in this lovably adorable franchise, Cat Quest 2 is the top-down RPG of any feline lover’s dreams.

8

The Swords Of Ditto

There’s No Running Out Of Time Here

With its gorgeously charming visuals and roguelike elements, The Swords of Ditto is one of the more unique games on this list, despite taking a lot from the Zelda formula. With each playthrough, players control a randomly generated hero and are given a limited amount of time to defeat the final boss. If they fail, they start over from the beginning with a new hero, or two if they’d like to play co-op.

Related

10 Zelda Games With The Best Art Style, Ranked

From cartoonish to realistic, these Zelda games have the best art styles in the entire franchise!

The feedback loop in The Swords of Ditto might result in diminishing returns compared to the more emotionally investing experience players get with Zelda, but given its availability on iOS, players will likely find it a fun way to kill time by starting up new adventures. If anything, it’s certainly worth a playthrough just to admire the beautiful animations and art design.

7

Swordigo

It’s No A Link To The Past, But It’s An Adventure

Originally released in 2012, Swordigo has more in common gameplay-wise to obscure Zelda titles like Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link. This sidescroller features a handful of familiar platforming elements, with methods leveling up and growing in strength that are pretty unique to that NES classic. Many reviewers even positively compared this iOS title to Zelda 2 as a solid action RPG.

While Swordigo might not be as fascinating of a world as even the worst Zelda game, the gameplay and variety provided will keep players engaged for multiple playthroughs. Zelda fans may also appreciate the game’s borrowed mechanics from the Metroid series, allowing them to traverse the large map with ease and prioritize different strengths, such as their attack power or magic.

6

Bastion

Before Hades, There Was Supergiant’s Debut Hit

Released

July 20, 2011

ESRB

E10 For Everyone 10+ Due To Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco

Some video game fans may be well aware of Bastion, given it was made by the same company that went on to make the indie darling Hades. However, the two games couldn’t be any more different. While Hades is a hack-and-slash roguelike, Bastion is an action RPG in which players must navigate through levels, only getting to upgrade their weapons and stats in between at the titular home base.

It’s certainly a little more complex than Zelda ever gets, but some of its gameplay and top-down perspective will certainly be familiar to fans. Some critics felt the game needed a better plot, while others were entranced by the addictive gameplay and stunning graphics. If players find themselves completing it too quickly, have no fear, as Bastion also has a New Game Plus mode.

5

Secret Of Mana

From The SNES To Your Pocket

Systems

Released

October 3, 1993

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes

It’s kind of cheating to put Secret of Mana on this list, given that it predates the modern smartphone by a few decades. Adapted by Square Enix, Secret of Mana is not only one of the most iconic JRPGs in the genre’s history but is considered by many one of the greatest video games of all time. Of course, its similarities to Zelda are also shared with other top-down RPGs like Final Fantasy or Chrono Trigger.

Related

JRPGs With the Best Music

A great soundtrack is important to any video game, and these JRPGs went above and beyond with their music.

Where Secret of Mana really differs from those other games is its real-time battling system, allowing for much more dynamic action sequences akin to The Legend of Zelda even at its most primitive. Just the fact that one of the best SNES RPGs, enhanced but still capturing the essence of the original release, is playable on iOS is nothing short of a privilege for JRPG fans.

4

The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth

An Indie Classic Remade And Reborn

Action

Adventure

Roguelike

Dungeon Crawler

Released

November 4, 2014

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Mature 17+ Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Violen

The Binding of Isaac might be indie game royalty at this point, but it also wears its Legend of Zelda influence on its sleeve. A procedurally-generated roguelike, the gameplay strongly resembles that of the original NES Zelda. Players control the naked and teary-eyed Isaac as he navigates the labyrinthian basement of his home while trying to survive the ire of his devoutly religious mother.

As of 2025, only the base game of the remake, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, has made it to iOS, while further expansions like Afterbirth and Repentance are exclusive to consoles (or, for Apple fans, tvOS). It’s the perfect indie game for mobile devices, given that playthroughs of The Binding of Isaac tend to be pretty short unless players are fully equipped for the mayhem that’s ahead of them.

3

Shovel Knight Dig

Steel Thy Shovel, And Thy Apple Arcade Subscription

6/10

Shovel Knight Dig

Systems

Released

September 23, 2022

ESRB

e

If there are any flaws to this Shovel Knight prequel, it’s the fact that it’s exclusive to subscribers of Apple Arcade’s services. That being said, it’s worth the subscription fee, as Shovel Knight Dig takes all the best elements of the iconic indie game and turns it into a roguelite, as players descend into a hole underground, encountering enemies, and restarting their descent whenever they die.

Related

Every Shovel Knight Game, Ranked

Coming from humble beginnings, the Shovel Knight series has expanded into a variety of genres and Knight tales, but which game is the series’ best?

While it’s also available for PC and Nintendo Switch, the iOS version of Shovel Knight Dig is what it was made for, combining the Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link influence of the original game with roguelikes such as Spelunky. If players are tired of replaying Shovel Knight again and again, maybe give this spin-off a go instead.

2

Legend Of The Skyfish 2

What If Zelda Was All About Fishing?

When glancing at the gameplay for Legend of the Skyfish 2, it might be easy to draw comparisons to the top-down Zelda games. However, this is a hack-and-slash action adventure where the player’s primary weapon is… a fishing rod? Surprisingly, compared to most standard fishing games, Legend of the Skyfish 2 is a genuinely engaging action RPG, albeit at the expense of world-building and exploration.

There’s a lot that Legend of the Skyfish 2 does have working in its favor, from an open world to a quest system that allows players to encounter dungeons and fearsome bosses. Its variety from the Zelda series may seem like a novelty, but until Nintendo makes a proper iOS Zelda game, Legend of the Skyfish 2 may be the best option for those wanting a similar experience.

1

Oceanhorn 2: Knights Of The Lost Realm

Breath Of The Wild Dives Onto Mobile Devices

Released

September 19, 2019

ESRB

t

For a next-gen game like Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm, currently available on Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, it’s surprising that it even runs on iOS. The 2013 predecessor was a top-down action RPG, but Oceanhorn 2 strongly takes after Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, such as in its gorgeous art style, open-world exploration elements, and exciting combat.

Like Shovel Knight Dig, this is another exclusive to Apple Arcade, but it’s worth it if players want the most up-to-date Zelda clone out there. It’s got a lot more content than even Tears of the Kingdom, including playing card minigames, solving puzzles, and dozens upon dozens of side quests to get enveloped by. Suffice it to say, Oceanhorn 2 is a Zelda game for iOS that even Nintendo would envy.

8:16

More

15 Best Metroidvanias, Ranked

The Metroidvania is one of the most popular genres in indie gaming, even bleeding over into AAA titles. These games represent the best of the genre.