For those who are on the search for new games that capture the magic of The Legend of Zelda, then Winds of Viridia may catch your attention. Revealed during Nintendo’s latest Indie World Showcase, this upcoming Switch 2 adventure looks like a Studio Ghibli film brought to life. It’s a handcrafted fantasy world that’s full of ancient ruins and strange creatures of the towering Grantree. Playing as a child awakened from a seed, players can explore a vast wilderness, battle enormous bosses, collect powerful relics, and even team up with a Mothbug companion. Winds of Viridia launches in early 2027, but its free demo is already available, and it definitely gives players an early taste of an adventure that could scratch that Zelda itch in a different way.
Winds of Viridia‘s seems to combine two things that I love about fantasy adventures: the freedom to explore a world like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and the whimsical charm of a Studio Ghibli film. Its lush landscapes and storybook aesthetic bring to mind the wonder of exploring Hyrule, but it’s not just the visuals that caught my eye. Like Link’s adventures, Winds of Viridia promises ancient ruins to uncover, powerful monsters to face, and a world that rewards curiosity. I think that the difference is that its whimsical creatures and fairy-tale atmosphere seem closer My Neighbour Totoro or Princess Mononoke than Hyrule’s familiar fantasy setting, which gives the game a personality of its own.
Winds of Viridia Combines Zelda-Like Exploration With Studio Ghibli’s Whimsical World-Building
Winds of Viridia‘s similarities to The Legend of Zelda goes beyond its colorful fantasy setting. Developed by Shark Jump Studios and Matt Trobbiani, this upcoming action-adventure game wraps free-flowing movement, exploration, real-time combat, and mysterious ancient ruins into a vibrant, animated bow. I can see why it caught attention as a potential Zelda-like adventure, especially as exploration looks set to be one of the game’s biggest draws.
Guess the games from the emojis.
However, getting round the valley of the towering Grantree doesn’t seem to just be a matter of walking from one landmark to another. Winds of Viridia lets players roll, slide, flip, and grapple through its world, which is anywhere from mountain glades to hidden grottos. There are strange plants that give you a way to jump higher, launch further, and reach previously inaccessible areas. There’s clearly an emphasis on movement here, and I think this makes its world feel even more like the wilderness.
Winds of Viridia is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and PC via Steam in early 2027, with a free demo already available on both platforms.
From Frenzied Beasts to Mothbug Companions, Winds of Viridia Has Ghibli Charm
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Image via Shark Jump -
Image via Shark Jump -
Image via Shark Jump
Combat also appears to play a significant role: there are dozens of unique creatures affected by a mysterious frenzy between players and the secrets of the valley. The game promises encounters with plenty of gigantic monsters, living statues, and ancient guardians, too. I’m really interested in how the game’s fluid movement might factor into these encounters, as it may prove that agility and positioning could be just as important as landing attacks.
I can see why it caught attention as a potential Zelda-like adventure, especially as exploration looks set to be one of the game’s biggest draws.
Players won’t have to face the wilderness alone, because the Mothbug companion is one of the game’s more distinctive features. Alongside befriending this curious creature, players can meet the residents of the Sanctuary, and even share meals with them. I feel like these smaller interactions capture that warmth associated with Studio Ghibli films, emulating those unusual creatures and people that inhabit a fantastical world can be just as memorable as the larger conflicts.
Winds of Viridia’s Relics and Exploration Make It a Zelda-Like Adventure Worth Watching
There’s also some room to tailor the experience to my preferred play style, which is pretty exciting. Throughout my adventure, I can find lost relics and treasures that can be quipped as totems, combining them to customize how I play. If you’re also the kind of player who loves exploration to have an additional purpose, these hidden treasures also help shape your approach to combat. Between these customization options, the Mothbug companion, and the emphasis on uncovering the valleys’ mad creatures, there is a neat crossover in the game. For me, that’s where the Zelda comparisons become the most appealing.
Winds of Viridia appears to share Zelda‘s interest in rewarding curiosity, making the surroundings feel worth exploring. Its combination of fluid traversal and relic-based customization gives the adventure game a promising identity, and its colorful presentation adds that Studio Ghibli-esque charm, too. Though the full game isn’t due until 2027, a free demo is already available on Steam and Nintendo Switch 2, so there’s an opportunity to already experience some of that promise before launch.
- Released
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2027
- Developer(s)
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Shark Jump, Matt Trobbiani
- Publisher(s)
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Shark Jump
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
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Unknown
