6 indie developers Nintendo should hire to make their next Legend of Zelda spin-off

The Legend of Zelda series has had its share of great spin-offs: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Link’s Crossbow Training, and Tingle’s Rosy Rupee Land, to name the heaviest of hitters. But there’s one more that’s especially significant: Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda (hereafter to be referred to as Cadence of Hyrule, for obvious reasons). This roguelike-inspired action rhythm game is special because it was one of the first times Nintendo willingly let a small, independent developer handle their arguably most highly regarded IP, and it worked! We ended up with a wonderfully unique spin-off that honors Zelda’s 2D games with gameplay that you can’t quite find anywhere else (not to mention an absolutely killer soundtrack).

With the news that Nintendo is seeking out new studios and third parties to work with on their existing franchises, the possibility that another indie developer could make a Zelda title or spin-off game are exciting to say the least! Here are six indie developers that could make an incredible new Zelda title or spin-off:

1. Yacht Club Games

Considered by many to be the symbol of indie games entirely, Yacht Club Games are the developers behind the critically acclaimed Shovel Knight series. These nostalgic retro throwbacks take elements from several notable NES games (including Zelda II!) and present them with a few modern touches. Recently we’ve experienced a severe lack of new, 2D top-down Zelda titles, which are arguably as important as the big 3D mainline ones. With such a great track record of making “old-fashioned” games with today’s video game standards in mind, YCG could easily take the helm, so to speak, and develop a new one for Nintendo!

To go even further, YCG could try and emulate a specific era of 2D top-down Zelda game. Take their newest title they’re currently working on: Mina the Hollower. This game specifically emulates the Gameboy Color, you wouldn’t be at fault for looking at a screenshot from it and mistaking it as being from Link’s Awakening or the Oracle titles. Those handheld games are so well beloved by fans — why not have Yacht Club Games do what they do best and develop a Gameboy-era style Zelda as well?

2. Ember Lab

A recent but notable indie developer, Ember Lab excels in visual presentation. Their debut title, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, is arguably one of the prettiest and well-animated games to ever come out. Someone of their caliber doing a new Zelda game would be just as spectacular as Pixar doing an animated Zelda movie. If that’s hard to imagine, you should consider looking at this incredible Majora’s Mask short film, also created by Ember Lab. And once you have, picture an entire Zelda game looking like that. Yeah, this needs to have happened yesterday.

But it doesn’t just stop there — Kena: Bridge of Spirits fits the classic 3D Zelda formula like a glove. The game is an action-adventure that follows a linear structure with pockets of exploration along the way, much like Ocarina of Time. If Nintendo isn’t interested in revisiting the classic formula and wants to forge ahead with new, open titles that break conventions, this could be their compromise: have Ember Lab produce a more structured, linear Zelda title that appeases fans looking for a more classic 3D experience. It would be the best of both worlds!

3. Adam Robinson-Yu 

The first solo game developer on this list, Adam Robinson-Yu is the man behind the incredibly charming and cozy game A Short Hike. In it, you play as a bird named Claire who is trying to reach the top of a mountain by exploring the surrounding island and collecting golden feathers to increase your stamina and gliding ability. A Short Hike takes several major cues from Breath of the Wild, specifically in its open, nonlinear design, as well as its climbing and gliding systems. Despite not having any combat, one could argue that A Short Hike is an incredible “Zelda-like” all on its own.

If Adam were hired by Nintendo to produce a Zelda game, I think he should do what Cadence of Hyrule‘s developers did: create a game that stays within his wheelhouse. He could create a cozy, lighthearted exploration game that takes place within the Zelda universe. Maybe one where a chibi version of Link explorers a more peaceful, mini-Hyrule? Or better yet, a Tears of the Kingdom spin-off where Penn the Rito glides around and delivers mail to its inhabitants? Please enjoy an artist’s rendition of such an idea:

Art Commission by Betsy Richardson

4. Image & Form

Image & Form are the main developers behind the well-known SteamWorld franchise. While all of their games share a similar aesthetic, they cover a wide range of genres: a tactical 2D shooter, a card-based deckbuilding RPG, and even a tower defense game on the DSi. But the crown jewels of I&F’s games are SteamWorld Dig 1 and 2. In these pseudo-Metroidvanias, you mine downwards, collecting treasure and trying not to get crushed so that you can return to the surface, cash in what you found, and upgrade your gear so that you can mine even deeper. There are also hidden power-ups and collectibles that make this already addicting loop impossible to put down, and that is why they are a perfect template for a Legend of Zelda spinoff starring… Gorons!

One could argue that there is no race in the Legend of Zelda series more iconic than the Gorons. They feature in so many games, and have cute, round faces that make them so lovable despite their rough, rocky exteriors. Majora’s Mask was the first game to prove that playing as a Goron is ludicrously fun, and we are long past due for a full-on game featuring a Goron protagonist. Whether it’s a named one from one of the mainline games or a brand new character, it would be a delight to crush your way through mines and caves, gobbling up rock roast and mining for treasure. If anyone can make a good Goron game, Image & Form should be at the top of the list. 

5. Moon Studios

Between their two Ori games and the upcoming No Rest for the Wicked, the central hallmark of Moon Studios is their impressive painterly art style. One of the co-founders of the company expressed how, to him, paintings that are 500 years old still look amazing today. So despite many publishers pushing for realism in their games, Moon Studios hopes to create games that have a timeless feel as well. The Legend of Zelda series already boasts lovely visuals that prioritize their art direction over their graphical fidelity, and that shared vision makes Moon Studios an apt candidate to add to the franchise. 

As for what type of game they could make, there’s a lot of great potential when looking at No Rest for the Wicked. While it definitely boasts more punishing, Souls-like combat than typical Zelda fare, it also shares a lot of the key tenets of the franchise: exploration, secrets to discover, and bombastic boss fights. After finishing development on Wicked, Moon could easily produce a top-down 3D action game as a fresh new take on the mainline series of games. We’ve had some recent top-down Zelda games with 3D graphics such as A Link Between Worlds and the Link’s Awakening remake, but those games specifically try to adapt older sprite-based games with simple updated visuals. Imagine a colorful but detailed Hyrule from an isometric perspective, teeming with monsters and discoveries around every corner! Whether it goes full-on Souls-like or not, Moon is capable of producing a deep, engaging Zelda experience. 

6. Toby Fox

Zelda has not had an RPG yet, but it really should. It has a fantastical setting, weird and wacky characters/races, and exceptional storytelling. Nintendo could quite easily justify an RPG spinoff for the series, and if they were to outsource it, they should hire an RPG game developer revered both in the US and Japan: Toby Fox. Toby took the internet by storm and gained widespread fame in 2015 with his hit game Undertale, to the point where he is now composing music for the Pokémon series and playing Smash Bros. at Masahiro Sakurai’s house. As far as indie developers go, Toby may be most well-known and best candidate for helping the Zelda series diversify itself and try something new.

And if Toby is going to make an official Nintendo game, you can guarantee it’s going to be weird in the best way possible. Dare we say it, Toby could make an excellent spin-off title starring Tingle. Some people say Tingle is the worst character in the series, but we here at Zelda Universe unanimously agree that he’s the best. And if someone can make Tingle popular, it’s going to be Toby Fox.

The indie game industry is bursting with talent, with teams both big and small creating unique, innovative experiences and making up where triple-A publishers often fall short. After careful consideration, Nintendo should harness this potential and lend out their best IP to these developers to create fun and memorable games. After all, what’s the worst case scenario? Another CD-i title?