Looking for something like Zelda 1...

[tempest2k]

Not to spoil anything specific, but Deltarune Chapter 3 has had me itching for a game like Zelda 1 that plays just a little bit smoother. An open action RPG with a focus on exploration and figuring out where to use items. Just like.... something where I can also move diagonally though? It's weird that you can't move diagonally in Zelda 1. I haven't been able to find a patch that adds diagonal movement though.

 

[χKai]

Zelda Parallel Worlds was good and challenging. It's not as difficult as people say it is.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Haven't really played it myself, but isn't that pretty much what the original Hydlide was like? Or you could play Link's Awakening DX if you just want a polished take on the same formula while keeping it "in the family". I highly recommend the "Redux" ROMhack as well.

 

[Darzhgrod]

Maybe Willow or Crystalis on the NES? There's a modern series called Bit Dungeon with strong Zelda influence.

 

[Dakarus]

*Neutopia II has diagonal movement

 

[χKai]

Seiken Psychocalibur

Grand Master

Radia Senki: Reimeihen

 

[Zerohour2k12]

Not sure if it counts but CrossCode comes to mind.

 

[SecretStrategist]

You should check out Gunple: Gunman's Proof for the SNES which is literally a Wild West version of Zelda:

 

[tempest2k]

Not sure if it counts but CrossCode comes to mind.

oh man i was so psyched when i first saw the kickstarter page for crosscode. it's been sitting in my library for years... maybe it's finally time to give it a real spin

You should check out Gunple: Gunman's Proof for the SNES which is literally a Wild West version of Zelda:
View attachment 83243

oh, a friend of mine recommended this recently! it's very cute and charming, if clunky.

Haven't really played it myself, but isn't that pretty much what the original Hydlide was like? Or you could play Link's Awakening DX if you just want a polished take on the same formula while keeping it "in the family". I highly recommend the "Redux" ROMhack as well.

i really gotta finish link's awakening... i grabbed the switch remake with the other half of the voucher i used to get TOTK when that came out. i've gotten real far, but honestly i prefer the look of the original... and the only in-between i know of that adds more buttons than the gb/gbc original is the PC port from a couple years back, and that has a lot of weird visual additions that can't be turned off... so i may as well finish with the switch version, i guess.

Seiken Psychocalibur
View attachment 83222
Grand Master
View attachment 83225
Radia Senki: Reimeihen
View attachment 83226

these all look real tasty, but i'm not seeing any diagonal movement! the art style in all of these rules though

 

[sneakyguts]

Nazo no Murasame Jō (English Patched) FDS ROM Download – RGT Repository

Nazo no Murasame Jō ROM Download for FDS console. Play Nazo no Murasame Jō (Japan) ROM on an emulator like retroPie. Works on PC/Windows, Mac, and Android devices.

retrogametalk.com

 

[CSmith327]

Ittle Dew 1 and 2 are nice parody games of classic Zelda. They're very item based puzzle oriented and the world is pretty much open but restricted to wherever you're able to progress with your current items. They're both on GOG (I know one of them is for sure) which makes them very easy to pirate if you know where to look. If you like Adventure Time the game Adventure Time - Secret of the Nameless Kingdom is a great Zelda gameplay inspired game. It's pretty item puzzle heavy too. (in a nice satisfyingly challenging way) You don't particularly have to know anything about the show to play it. It's got a version for PS Vita and PC, but the game was removed from Steam. It's hard to find a download of it, but I believe it can be found on an old post on IGG Games. As for older stuff I second the Neutopia games from TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine. Also check out the first Alundra game and Brave Prove for PSX. You might be pleased to know that there's actually an official SNES remake of the first Zelda game that has updated graphics and I believe diagonal input iirc. It uses the BS-X Satelliview add-on and you can even play as Zelda in it if you want.

 

[tempest2k]

Ittle Dew 1 and 2 are nice parody games of classic Zelda. They're very item based puzzle oriented and the world is pretty much open but restricted to wherever you're able to progress with your current items. They're both on GOG (I know one of them is for sure) which makes them very easy to pirate if you know where to look. If you like Adventure Time the game Adventure Time - Secret of the Nameless Kingdom is a great Zelda gameplay inspired game. It's pretty item puzzle heavy too. (in a nice satisfyingly challenging way) You don't particularly have to know anything about the show to play it. It's got a version for PS Vita and PC, but the game was removed from Steam. It's hard to find a download of it, but I believe it can be found on an old post on IGG Games. As for older stuff I second the Neutopia games from TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine. Also check out the first Alundra game and Brave Prove for PSX. You might be pleased to know that there's actually an official SNES remake of the first Zelda game that has updated graphics and I believe diagonal input iirc. It uses the BS-X Satelliview add-on and you can even play as Zelda in it if you want.

i thought BS-X zelda was a unique quest...? thank you for the other recommendations though, i've heard of just about all of these- though this is the first time i'm learning that secret of the nameless kingdom is a top-down zelda-like! i just figured it was a 3D adventure game like that other AT game that's still on steam....

 

[bjork]

Shotgun Legend is more recent but its influence is immediately apparent.

There's also Spiritual Warfare on NES and Genesis, it's Zelda with bible stuff tacked on

 

[alpha_wolf24]

obviously i think most 2D Zeldas fit the bill if you wanna keep it simple. in particular the BS Third Quest on the SNES is good if you can get Satellaview up and running since thats just as it sounds. i know theres the Neptunia games on the PC Engine too. the Genesis has Crusader of Centy i know. im sure theres some newer indie games that fill that niche too. and of course theres always ROM hacks and such of Zelda 1 too. most of those are more or less another quest so im sure if you can get those up and running youll be set.



unrelated but if you want some more good action RPGs the Mana series is good too. if you wanna go 3D Kingdom Hearts is also generally good gameplay wise anyhow (i know Chain is more mixed and people dont really like 3 but still at least 1, 2, BBS and 3D are good. Days isnt bad either if you can get DS games up and running.). the Monster World games are interesting platformer/RPG hybrids kinda like Zelda 2 but good. also theres the Ys games too. the first two are kinda more Zelda like.

 

[CSmith327]

It's mainly a new quest yeah, but they also made one that's the entirety of the quests from Zelda 1. There's a English patch of it available but I dunno if it's on here. I'd assume it is tho

Post automatically merged: Jun 22, 2025

I kinda liked Zelda Goddess of Wisdom better than Parallel Worlds in terms of Link to the Past hacks. They're both pretty solid and probably the best two hacks for it. There's a bugfixed version of Goddess of Wisdom that'w slightly newer than the other final release of it. Try to find that one if you can. I think the other one had bad crashes in it at some points

 

[nyka]

the first Ys, or maybe Golvellius!

​

 

[CSmith327]

The SNES version of Ys V lets you attack manually instead of the bump system. Other than Ys 3 (with it's side scrolling Zelda II style) I think it was the first Ys game that did that

 

[Leviafen]

Zelda 2 :)
try the enhanced edition a fan made for it. i remember seeing it a few years back and it adds like a ton of qol and new tiles for palaces n stuff as well as new mechanics n stuff

 

[χKai]

Didn't even notice the thing about diagonal movement until now..
I jnow there's one like this where you can but I can't think of it offhand..
¬_¬"
I'll let you know if I remember. (Which I probably won't)

 

[Morgana Veil]

Not to spoil anything specific, but Deltarune Chapter 3 has had me itching for a game like Zelda 1 that plays just a little bit smoother. An open action RPG with a focus on exploration and figuring out where to use items. Just like.... something where I can also move diagonally though? It's weird that you can't move diagonally in Zelda 1. I haven't been able to find a patch that adds diagonal movement though.

Tunic might be just what you're looking for. it's very heavily inspired by Zelda and it's cute as well.
it's more or less a combo of Zelda 1 and ALTTP, and you can move diagonally

 

[Don Patch]

View attachment 83218View attachment 83219View attachment 83220*Neutopia II has diagonal movement

Came here to post those specifically. Good on ya!

Post automatically merged: Jun 22, 2025

Anodyne!

Steam
Itch.io

 

[twistedbee]

Maybe Willow or Crystalis on the NES? There's a modern series called Bit Dungeon with strong Zelda influence.

I came here to say Crystalis as well. its a solid game. Also Startropics & Startropics II: Zoda's Revenge, which are both made by nintendo and have a ton of Zelda DNA

Post automatically merged: Jun 22, 2025

View attachment 83218View attachment 83219View attachment 83220*Neutopia II has diagonal movement

ooo also Golden Axe Warrior i recently tried that out its very much a zelda clone but a really good one so far!

 

[Your_Homie_Gale]

Does binding of Isaac count? It was directly inspired by the 1st Zelda but it plays almost nothing like the 1st Zelda. It's also rogue-like which may not be everyone's cup-of-tea.

 

[Graw]

forgot to mention it but if you like action RPGs try out the SaGa games

The SaGa games are turn based.

Also, I didn't see it suggested but I enjoyed Hyper Light Drifter. It's a bit more combat focussed than Zelda but I found it had some Zelda 1 vibes to it.

 

[alpha_wolf24]

The SaGa games are turn based.

Also, I didn't see it suggested but I enjoyed Hyper Light Drifter. It's a bit more combat focussed than Zelda but I found it had some Zelda 1 vibes to it.

noted