Zelda: Wind Waker Meets Dark Souls In New RPG You Can Play Free Now

Despite being one of the most beloved Zelda games and the title fans would love to see remastered or remade for the Nintendo Switch 2 the most, there are surprisingly few games like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker available. That's not to say that it hasn't inspired other games; its unique, cartoonish aesthetic, scale, and sense of adventure all appear in a handful of indie titles that have been released since. However, for the most part, you'd be hard-pressed to find a game like Wind Waker.

That is especially true if you want said game to also be a soulslike. There are a handful of games that combine the general notion of The Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls, and even a fan-made mod that puts Dark Souls into Twilight Princess, but very few high-profile soulslikes that utilize Wind Waker's unique traits. Fortunately, that's about to change with the release of a brand-new RPG that dares to do the impossible.

This Soulslike Is Perfect For Wind Waker Fans

Mouseward is a brand-new, retro-inspired, soulslike that pulls inspiration from all manner of sources, ranging from Redwall to classic N64 titles, including Zelda. Its low-poly aesthetic, coupled with its simplistic yet charming character designs and environments, instills in the player a delightful sense of nostalgia and whimsy as you explore. However, that's not to say that Mouseward feels old, as its frenetic, stamina-based, soulslike combat is perfectly refined to offer a very modern-feeling, action-packed experience.

Naturally, its dodge rolls, parry mechanics, dark and brooding world, and focus on ARPG mechanics all play into the Dark Souls comparison. Where Mouseward begins to resemble a game like Wind Waker is in its visuals; the titular playable mouse, dwarfed by their surroundings and enemies, feels reminiscent of Toon Link as he clambers across mountainous islands and contends with fearsome foes. Additionally, the aforementioned retro aesthetic may have the low-poly look of an N64 game, but there are clear Wind Waker inspirations in its cutesy character designs and overly cartoonish appearance.

Mouseward also features a variety of collectibles scattered across its interconnected world that feel very reminiscent of Wind Waker's (and The Legend of Zelda in general) assorted Heart pieces and the like. Simply put, there's more than enough here for fans of Wind Waker to latch onto, but also plenty of differentiation to make Mouseward stand out as its own unique product. The best part about it is that you can try Mouseward for free right now.

Mouseward Is Free Right Now

Mouseward's release date has yet to be announced by its developer, Finite Reflection Studios, but that doesn't mean that players can't get a taste of what the full product will be like. Back in May 2026, a free demo for the game was released on Steam, offering players a slice of the overall experience. In the Mouseward demo, players can explore an introductory area of the game packed full of secrets to collect, enemies to fight, quests to complete, and more.

Its demo is frankly one of the best free Steam games like Zelda, despite not being a full release, simply due to how expansive its offering is. If you're in any way tantalized by Mouseward and its Wind Waker-esque appeal, then you should absolutely try out the demo. It isn't a part of any event, such as Steam Next Fest, so the demo should stick around for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, if you've been wishing there was a soulslike akin to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, then Mouseward is the game for you.