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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

16 Sandbox games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that you should try

Games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time · Find similar →

We filtered the 50 games similar to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time down to the 16 that fit the “Sandbox” category. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Scribblenauts Unlimited top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

NextGameLike92/ 100

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GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure
Tags
DarkSolo
Year 1998Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development

Quick answer

Within the “Sandbox” category, the closest game to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — scoring 87/100 on our similarity scale. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Scribblenauts Unlimited follow close behind.

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The best sandbox games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

16 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Each one has been evaluated across 11 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

87
NGL95
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Closest overall match
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloRangedSandbox WorldOpen WorldFantasyExplorationThird Person
Year 2023Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 · NintendoOn Switch

What brings it close to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a sandbox world, ranged combat and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is setting and progression: a sci-fi setting and crafting mechanics.

Released 25 years after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100World100Visuals100Setting64
2

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

86
NGL97
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloRangedSandbox WorldOpen WorldFantasyExplorationThird Person
Year 2017Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 · NintendoOn Switch

It shares the essentials of what The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time does: a sandbox world, ranged combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in progression and setting — its own ground is loot and gear systems, and a sci-fi setting.

Released 19 years after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100World100Visuals100Setting47
3

Scribblenauts Unlimited

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NGL87
Scribblenauts Unlimited
Closest on setting
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloRangedDarkSandbox WorldOpen WorldFantasyExploration
Year 2012Dev 5th Cell · WB GamesOn Android · PC · iOS

What brings it close to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is dark, oppressive atmosphere, a sandbox world and ranged combat, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. To that it adds fantasy world and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and tone: this one brings a casual, approachable feel and magic-based combat.

Released 14 years after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100World100Progression100Combat64
5

From Dust

71
NGL71
From Dust
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldFantasyExploration
Year 2011Dev Ubisoft Montpellier · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

It shares the essentials of what The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time does: a sandbox world, fantasy world and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery. The distance is in combat and visuals — its own ground is magic-based combat and an isometric view.

Released 13 years after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100World100Progression100Combat0
6

L.A. Noire

69
NGL87
L.A. Noire
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloRangedDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2011Dev Team Bondi · Take-Two InteractiveOn PlayStation 3 · PC

It shares the essentials of what The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and ranged combat. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on setting and tone: this one brings strong narrative focus and historical setting.

Released 13 years after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals100Combat79
7

Super Mario Odyssey

65
NGL97
Super Mario Odyssey
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldFantasyExplorationThird Person
Year 2017Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 8 · NintendoOn Switch

If The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time worked for you because of a sandbox world, fantasy world and single-player focus, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on game mode: this one brings co-op play.

Released 19 years after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Genre100Setting100World100Progression100Visuals100Game mode47
8

Assassin's Creed

61
NGL81
Assassin's Creed
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldFantasyExplorationThird Person
Year 2007Dev Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

If The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time worked for you because of a sandbox world, fantasy world and single-player focus, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on combat and setting: this one brings stealth mechanics and historical setting.

Released 9 years after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals100Progression50Setting35
9

Grow Home

59
NGL85
Grow Home
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2015Dev Ubisoft Reflections · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

If The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time worked for you because of exploration and discovery, open world exploration, and single-player focus, the same is here. The common ground extends to a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: a casual, approachable feel and a sci-fi setting.

Released 17 years after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals100Tone0
10

Roblox

59
Roblox
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2006Dev Roblox CorporationOn PS4 · Android · PC

Shelved next to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for good reason: exploration and discovery, a sandbox world, and single-player focus. Both also lean on a third-person camera. The distance is in game mode and visuals — its own ground is multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view.

Released 8 years after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Genre100World100Progression100Visuals62Game mode34
11

Kerbal Space Program

58
NGL88
Kerbal Space Program
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2015Dev Squad · Private DivisionPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

The genre is the same as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s, and with it exploration and discovery, a sandbox world, and single-player focus. Both also lean on a third-person camera. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is punishing difficulty and a space setting.

Released 17 years after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression70Visuals45Tone0
12

Animal Crossing: City Folk

51
NGL70
Animal Crossing: City Folk
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2008Dev Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.2 · Nintendo

It comes from the same genre as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and shares exploration and discovery, a sandbox world, and single-player focus. The common ground extends to a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is game mode and visuals: multiplayer gameplay and an isometric view.

Released 10 years after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Genre100World100Progression100Visuals62Game mode54
13

Animal Crossing: Wild World

49
NGL75
Animal Crossing: Wild World
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloRangedSandbox WorldOpen WorldExploration
Year 2005Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Nintendo

The genre is the same as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s, and with it a sandbox world, ranged combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery. The distance is in tone and visuals — its own ground is a relaxing pace and multiplayer gameplay.

Same studio: Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development.

Genre100Combat100World100Progression68Game mode54Tone0
14

X2: The Threat

47
NGL72
X2: The Threat
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2003Dev EgosoftPlaytime ~1hOn PC

Genre puts it alongside The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and so does exploration and discovery, open world exploration, and single-player focus. The common ground extends to a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is combat and setting: melee combat and a space setting.

Released 5 years after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals62Progression57Combat0
15

X: Beyond the Frontier

47
NGL60
X: Beyond the Frontier
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 1999Dev Egosoft · THQPlaytime ~1hOn PC

Shelved next to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for good reason: exploration and discovery, a sandbox world, and single-player focus. The common ground extends to a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is combat and setting: melee combat and a space setting.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression66Visuals62Combat0

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Found one on the list you already love? Open its own list: the games that play most like it, ranked, with the reason for each.

Explore games similar to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time by category

If The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the adventure or the puzzle that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PlayStation, Xbox and Mobile, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time look-alike but simply the best Open-World Adventure Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Adventure Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.