Published Mar 14, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT
Bruno Yonezawa is a Gaming Senior Writer for Screen Rant. He's been practicing professional journalism for over 10 years, and is also a communications specialist. He's played games all his life and turned that passionate hobby into a passionate career, in an industry where he's worked as a writer, editor, analyst, and more.
A new game that mixes The Legend of Zelda with aspects of Pokémon is set to arrive soon, but you can already try the game for free on Steam ahead of its release. There are plenty of new titles being released this year, a lot of which are smaller than the better-known AAA productions. In late February, Steam Next Fest offered hundreds of free demos on Steam, allowing players to check out upcoming games before they officially arrived.
One new game arriving later this year is called Wildaria, and you can currently check it out for free. Even though the indie title developed by SpaceFudge is planned to arrive in early access during the third quarter of 2026, the pre-alpha version of the game is currently available on Steam. You can download and play the pre-alpha version for free on the gaming platform right now, and as you do so, you can witness how it expands over time.
If You Love Zelda And Pokémon, Take Wildaria For A Spin
Wildaria Is Said To Have An Infinite World
Wildaria is an action-adventure RPG that is seemingly inspired by The Legend of Zelda, while also mixing in elements pertaining to Pokémon. The game allows you to create a custom character and explore what can be considered an infinite world thanks to its procedural generation. The game also offers a variety of different weapons to wield, as well as magic to use against your enemies to complete quests.
One of the main features in Wildaria is the ability to tame animals that you encounter in the world and use them to your advantage. This is where the indie game seems to draw some inspiration from Pokémon; you’ll be able to ride these creatures, level them up, and use them in battle. Furthermore, the pets you tame have elemental powers, and this could be decisive as you face opponents in the world.
Pokémon And Zelda Are Celebrating Big Anniversaries This Year
Fans Expect Huge Things From Both Franchises
If you want to celebrate both Pokémon and Zelda’s anniversaries this year, you should keep Wildaria on your radar. Surely, the game does have its own unique formula, but the way it is inspired by both series could keep you satisfied. Pokémon is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, and while the release of Pokémon Winds and Waves is scheduled for next year, celebrations have been happening.
Meanwhile, Zelda’s 40th anniversary this year hasn’t come with any specific reveals, which has led to some outrage, as fans were expecting big things for the series on such a meaningful milestone. There may be more announcements in the future, but for those who don’t want to wait around, I do encourage checking out Wildaria on Steam, especially in its free form right now.
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