It’s no surprise that Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has become one of Nintendo’s fastest-selling games. The reveal of Link’s newest ability, which involves fusing items to create new weapons and vehicles, breathed new life into the franchise’s creativity. This ambitious design decision sent everyone wild with inventive new creations that showcase many different ways to tackle this new mechanical approach to problem solving.
Like most Legend of Zelda titles, many of the game’s ideas appeared in other titles, but were introduced to mainstream audiences through the mythical world of Hyrule. For those who crave more open-ended puzzles with plenty of options, here are some titles that follow similar design philosophies.
9 Path Makers
While vehicle-based puzzle solving seems to have gained popularity with the introduction of Tears of the Kingdom, indie projects have been experimenting with mechanical approaches to design for much longer. Trailmakers exemplifies this by placing objectives in hard-to-reach areas in an open world designed from the ground up to use player-created machines.
Each of these objectives have unknown items waiting at their respective destinations. Once cleared on a stationary workbench, these items increase the utility and customization options of vehicles, allowing for greater travel. Trailmakers ends up playing like a Metroidvania with the freedom to approach objectives from any path.
8 fairy tales from lego blocks
Lego seems like an obvious comparison to Tears of the Kingdom’s imaginative, structural, player-driven approach to puzzle design, but very few Lego video games take advantage of the toy’s greatest appeal, construction. Bricktales once again puts this at the center of a good little adventure game, where experimental designs are used to manipulate the environment and help the characters solve various problems.
Just like a real Lego set, you have the pieces to build a simple creation, but there’s a lot of flexibility in how you use these bricks. When it comes to construction, there is a lot of emphasis on structural integrity. The bricks feel as fragile as their real-world counterparts, adding a nice level of challenge to any scenario.
7 TerraTech
One of the most underrated aspects of Tears’ expansive and creative design is the ability to share any number of unique stories of overcoming challenges that encourage experimental minds instead of spoilers. It would be really nice if there was a multi-layered vehicle building game that could further enhance these elements.
TerraTech not only provides this experience, but extends Nintendo’s build system with circuits and systems that allow for a higher level of feature customization and vehicle flexibility. The use of these creations is also widespread, with challenges ranging from exploration to full-on combat against other machines.
6 Stormworks
If you’re looking for a solid, immersive approach to vehicle creation, Stormworks has you covered. This puzzle simulation hybrid revolves around ambulances that are used to solve complex rescue missions in harsh environmental conditions.
One of the biggest additions Stormworks adds to the build formula is its automation system, as many elements of the vehicle can essentially be programmed to increase their functionality. Additionally, there are plenty of realistic handling mechanics to dig into, such as engine construction that uses gas, temperature and charge gauges.
5 Fantastic device
This VR vehicle building game has a simple premise: use the provided materials to bring the object safely and reliably to its destination. Due to the in-depth perspective and user-friendly approach to construction, the gameplay looks like one of those team-building exercises where students create structures out of straws and noodles.
The gaming medium allows this concept to be expanded with a variety of materials that can be used to create a wide variety of machines. With the addition of virtual reality, construction and experimentation can take place within the confines of real space, helping to measure the utility of creations in an accessible way.
4 Scribblenauts
Considered one of the most inventive puzzle games ever created, Scribblenauts offers a sandbox that allows you to conjure up any item that exists in the dictionary. From the second title onwards, descriptors can be used to combine an almost infinite list of items with an equal amount of secondary abilities.
The puzzles themselves often have simple solutions, but there are more rewards for thinking outside the box. Sometimes the scenarios are as simple as throwing a great birthday party, while other times it’s about stopping the dragons from causing death and destruction. But no matter what, it’s always fun to see the effects of imaginative creations in action.
3 Doodle God
Tears of the Kingdom’s Fuse ability immediately reminded me of the classic 2010 mobile game Doodle God, a game about combining elements to create the structure of the universe. While the concept is big, it’s an incredibly accessible game that lets you experiment with hundreds of combinations.
Doodle God is a great companion for players who may feel overwhelmed by Zelda’s fuse ability, as it breaks down this experimental mechanic to its simplest form using casual point-and-click gameplay.
2 Ctrl Alt Ego
When it comes to experimentation within the video game format, Ctrl Alt Ego pushes the boundaries of possibility with a staggering amount of underlying systems that allow almost every object in the game to be manipulated through a first-person perspective. This creates different reactions and options when it comes to overcoming challenges. Throw in a bunch of different robots with the ability to change traits, and you’ve got a satisfying logic-based environmental puzzle game.
Mechanically, Ctrl Alt Ego has more in common with games like Deus Ex and Prey than Tears of The Kingdom, but the level of creativity that can be used in each of these titles is comparable, and that’s what makes Link’s Last Adventure so fresh. in the modern gaming landscape.
1 Grow Home
Instead of focusing on experimental puzzle design, the final game on this list focuses on considering the logistics of climbing and sliding, two of Zelda’s biggest modern staples. Lin – I mean, Bud the Robot, traversing multiple sky islands by climbing a series of interconnected vines that are seamlessly controlled by swinging in any direction.
Its emphasis on environmental manipulation adds a level of creative forethought to any climbing challenge. The movement and puzzle environment design is surprisingly similar to Breath of The Wild, which is pretty impressive considering it was released a year earlier.