{"id":59007,"date":"2026-06-08T11:51:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T03:51:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=59007"},"modified":"2026-06-08T11:51:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T03:51:58","slug":"5-open-world-games-like-breath-of-the-wild-to-play-before-nintendo-reveals-a-new-zelda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=59007","title":{"rendered":"5 open-world games like Breath of the Wild to play before Nintendo reveals a new Zelda"},"content":{"rendered":"


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It’s been a year since the launch of Nintendo Switch 2. Over the last 12 months, Zelda fans have received updated versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild<\/em> and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, <\/em>but there’s still no word of a new installment of the beloved RPG series for Nintendo’s newest console. If you’re looking for a similar experience \u2014 a vast map to explore, non-linear progression, and the freedom to take on challenges of your choosing \u2014 the five games below should scratch that itch.<\/p>\n

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\n 1 <\/span>
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\n Elden Ring
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\"A\n <\/picture>Image: FromSoftware\/Bandai Namco via Polygon<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

FromSoftware’s 2022 blockbuster could make a believer out of the most diehard Soulslike skeptic. Both Elden Ring<\/em> and Breath of the Wild<\/em> set you loose in a massive world full of stunning locations, sidequests, and secrets to discover. But the combat here is a lot more challenging and fast-paced \u2014 constant death is just a fact in Elden Ring<\/em>‘s Lands Between. That said, if the thought of parrying nonstop sends a shiver down your spine, you have near unlimited freedom to customize your character however you like.<\/p>\n

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\n 2 <\/span>
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\n The Witcher 3
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\n <\/h2>\n
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\n \"The\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The success of CD Projekt Red’s epic RPG launched the franchise into the mainstream, including a pulpy Netflix series starring Henry Cavill (and later Liam Hemsworth) that feels more like the descendant of Xena: Warrior Princess<\/em> than Game of Thrones<\/em> (complementary). With a massive, intricate narrative and two story-based DLCs, experiencing the vast world of The Witcher 3<\/em> could easily take 100+ hours. But with the new Songs of the Past <\/em>DLC due out in 2027 \u2014 and The Witcher 4<\/em> sometime after that \u2014 now’s as good a time as any to get started.<\/p>\n

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\n 3 <\/span>
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\n Final Fantasy 15
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\n <\/h2>\n
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\"Final\n <\/picture>Image: Square Enix<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Square Enix’s ode to the open road is a wonderfully odd Final Fantasy game. The story starts with Prince Noctis on a road trip in his convertible with his three best friends, having one last hurrah before his wedding. While Eos isn’t quite as lively a place as Hyrule, there are tons of jaw-dropping locations to explore, from a luxurious coastal resort to a Venice-inspired city of canals. If you find the character development lacking in the Zelda games, the banter and bickering between Noctis and the chocobros in Final Fantasy 15<\/em> feels wonderfully deep and true to life by comparison.<\/p>\n

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\n 4 <\/span>
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\n Immortals Fenyx Rising
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\n <\/h2>\n
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\"A\n <\/picture>Image: Ubisoft<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

I know, I know. Try to look past the clunky, “fake game in a TV show” title. Ubisoft’s 2020 riff on the open-world RPG doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Sure, there are some hokey jokes to endure, but the colorful, Greek mythology-inspired world of Immortals <\/em>is a delight to explore, and the combat is a satisfyingly arcade-y and streamlined riff on the Breath of the Wild <\/em>formula. Best of all: it’s frequently on sale for under $10, which is an absurdly good deal.<\/p>\n

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\n 5 <\/span>
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\n Genshin Impact
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\n <\/h2>\n
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\"An\n <\/picture>Image: Hoyoverse via Polygon<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

If you crave more of the exploration experience in Breath of the Wild, <\/em>consider checking out Hoyoverse’s vastly popular free-to-play RPG. The in-game world of Teyvat is enormous and beautiful, with regions based on China, Germany, South Asia, Russia, and more. The map is continually expanding, as the Genshin Impact<\/em> development team aims to add one new continent each year. Don’t be lured in by the gacha for the latest and greatest characters: you can easily experience all the story content without spending a dime.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/p>\n

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\t\t\tThe best Witcher 3 replacement officially releases in 4 days<\/p>\n<\/h5>\n

In the form of a remade 25-year-old RPG<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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