Red Dead Redemption Meets The Legend Of Zelda In Open-World Game You Can Play Free Now

Published Oct 14, 2026, 11:00 PM EDT

Tom Wilson is a Gaming Features Writer at Screen Rant. Over the past five years, Tom has worked as the Editor-in-Chief at The Game Crater, as a Staff Writer for GamingIntel, a List Writer at TheGamer, and, of course, as a Senior Writer at ScreenRant. Tom has experience writing reviews, guides, news, and features, and has been responsible for teams of writers, training them and editing their work.

Tom graduated with a Masters in Multimedia Journalism, and has since gone on to build up his portfolio of games journalism work.

Two of the greatest open-world games of all time are Red Dead Redemption 2 and Breath of the Wild. This is a near-undisputed fact, Nintendo's reinvention of the genre and Rockstar's dogmatic devotion to detail providing unprecedented experiences that have been hard to follow up. Fortunately, that hasn't stopped developers from trying, resulting in numerous Breath of the Wild copycats and Red Dead Redemption-likes, many of which have gone on to join the pantheon of some of the best open-world games ever made.

Among all of these games like Breath of the Wild and RDR2 is a smaller, lesser-known release that dropped only a few months ago. The game is an open-world epic, one that borrows the best elements from both titles and a number of other inspirations to deliver an experience that feels completely fresh. If you're a fan of either or both Breath of the Wild and Red Dead Redemption 2, then there's every possibility that this new open-world game is for you.

This Open-World Game Blends Breath Of The Wild With Mongolian History

One of the core tenets of The Legend of Khiimori's gameplay is freedom. It is something that will absolutely resonate with fans of Breath of the Wild, as will the rolling hills of striking nature, the mysterious corruption blighting the land, and the focus on adventure above all else. For those who don't know, The Legend of Khiimori is an open-world game set in 13th-century Mongolia in which players assume the role of a courier (not unlike Death Stranding) who must deliver packages across the harsh and tumultuous natural landscape.

The Legend of Khiimori is a very systems-based experience, one that delights in the player plotting routes, preparing their horse, managing their weight, their assorted survival meters, and more. It's also one that delights in the quiet moments that make Red Dead Redemption 2 so great, the times when you're simply fishing as the sun sets across the sweeping plains of Mongolia or riding your horse through the snow-smothered peaks of a mountain top. It is this blend of engaging, complex systems and soothing gameplay that makes The Legend of Khiimori one of the most underrated games of 2026.

Each trek across the vast expanse of The Legend of Khiimori's map is unpredictable, a story in its own right, one that comes with moments of impressive beauty, of genuine danger, and mystery. While The Legend of Khiimori very much sticks to the grounded, naturalistic open-world setting akin to Red Dead Redemption 2, it also weaves in elements of the spiritual and supernatural, with players contending with the aforementioned corruption taking over the land. It's a great balance, one that very much evokes the feeling of exploring the uncharted and untamed land of Hyrule in Breath of the Wild.

The Legend Of Khiimori Is Perfect For RDR2 Fans

The Legend of Khiimori is available in Early Access via Steam. The developers, Aesir Interactive and NightinGames, have stated that the project is set to be in Early Access for around 12 months, although it doesn't have a specific release date for 1.0 just yet. Since it launched back in March, it has had a number of substantial updates that have greatly fleshed out the available content, but it is clear that much of it needs tweaking and more needs to be added.

Of course, that isn't to say that you won't have a good time if you decide to jump in and support The Legend of Khiimori now, as what is available is incredible. Additionally, if the game does appeal to you, then now is the best time to buy it, as the developers plan to increase the price from its already rather high $30 when it launches into 1.0 (not that it should incentivise buying the game impulsively).

Fortunately, if you're not sure, The Legend of Khiimori has a free system check that tests to see whether your PC can handle its expansive world. It's a nice touch, one that means players won't have to waste their money on a game that may not even run, or go through the relatively easy hassle of refunding the title. Regardless, if you're a fan of Red Dead Redemption 2's naturalistic setting and Breath of the Wild's sense of scope and freedom, The Legend of Khiimori is definitely a game worth checking out.

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