14 Games with a fantasy setting like Yoku's Island Express that you should try

Games like Yoku's Island Express · Find similar →

We filtered the 42 games similar to Yoku's Island Express down to the 14 that fit the “Fantasy” category. Raider Kid and the Ruby Chest, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap and Shantae: Half-Genie Hero top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Yoku's Island Express.

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GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

The best games with a fantasy setting like Yoku's Island Express

14 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Yoku's Island Express. Each one has been evaluated across 10 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Raider Kid and the Ruby Chest

iRank78

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloFantasyExploration2DMelee

RAWG👍 78%· 27

Year 2003Dev Jupiter · NintendoOn Nintendo

✓ Both are Metroidvanias — sharing adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Its own twist: melee combat, while skipping puzzle design

Details →

Nintendo

#2Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap

iRank83

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloCozyFantasyExploration2D

Steam👍 85%· 2.6KIGDB82· 13OC79· 82

Year 2017Dev Lizardcube · DotEmuOn PS4 · Linux · Android

✓ Both are Metroidvanias — sharing adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Stands apart with punishing difficulty and melee combat, while skipping puzzle design

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#3Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

iRank85

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloCozyFantasyExploration2D

Steam👍 90%· 2.4KIGDB81· 16OC81· 71

Year 2016Dev WayForward · XSEED GamesOn PS4 · PC · PS5

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Stands apart with melee combat and setting anime, while skipping puzzle design

Details →

Steam Xbox Nintendo

#4Owlboy

iRank84

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloCozyFantasyExploration2D

Steam👍 84%· 6.1KRAWG👍 74%· 307MC88IGDB89· 13OC88· 98

Year 2016Dev D-Pad StudioPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the Metroidvanias cluster, with adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus, melee combat and setting scifi, while skipping open world exploration

Details →

Steam GOG Xbox

#5Ori and the Blind Forest

iRank92

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloCozyOpen WorldFantasyExploration2D

Steam👍 94%· 60KIGDB88· 14OC90· 97

Year 2015Dev Moon Studios · Microsoft StudiosOn PC · Xbox · Switch

✓ Fits the Metroidvanias cluster, with adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and puzzle design

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, dark, oppressive atmosphere and punishing difficulty

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloOpen WorldFantasyExploration2D

Steam👍 80%· 2.6KRAWG👍 64%· 70MC80OC80· 11

Year 2012Dev NIGORO · AGM PLAYISMPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings punishing difficulty, melee combat and visual pixel, while skipping cozy, relaxing feel

Details →

Steam GOG Xbox

#7Ato

iRank97

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloOpen WorldFantasyExploration2D

Steam👍 97%· 466

Year 2019Dev WolfWoot · Tiny Warrior GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Both are Metroidvanias — sharing adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings fighting mechanics, strong narrative focus and punishing difficulty, while skipping cozy, relaxing feel

Details →

Steam itch.io

#8FEZ

iRank88

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloOpen WorldFantasyExploration2D

Steam👍 93%· 16KRAWG👍 80%· 1.2KMC91IGDB86· 12OC88· 50

Year 2012Dev POLYTRON · Microsoft StudiosPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and puzzle design

≠ Its own twist: vibe casual, strong narrative focus and vibe relaxing, while skipping cozy, relaxing feel

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#9Hollow Knight: Silksong

iRank90

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloFantasyExploration2DMelee

Steam👍 89%· 407KIGDB90· 4OC91· 121

Year 2025Dev Team CherryOn Xbox · PS4 · Linux

✓ Both are Metroidvanias — sharing adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus and melee combat, while skipping puzzle design

Details →

Steam GOG Xbox

#10Aquaria

iRank77

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloFantasyExploration2DMagic

Steam👍 88%· 1.5KRAWG👍 59%· 77MC82IGDB75· 2

Year 2007Dev FinjiPlaytime ~1hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, combat magic and melee combat, while skipping puzzle design

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloOpen WorldFantasyExplorationMagic

Steam👍 97%· 18K

Year 2023Dev rittzlerPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Both are Metroidvanias — sharing adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, deep RPG systems and punishing difficulty, while skipping puzzle design

Details →

Steam

#12Castlevania II: Simon's Quest

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloFantasyExploration2DDark

Year 1987Dev Konami

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting, while skipping puzzle design

Details →

Nintendo

#13STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™

iRank84

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloOpen WorldFantasyExplorationMelee

Steam👍 88%· 172KRAWG👍 85%· 2.3KMC80IGDB83· 13OC82· 176

Year 2019Dev Respawn Entertainment · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~8hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of Metroidvanias: adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and precision platforming

≠ Stands apart with action RPG combat, deep RPG systems and fighting mechanics, while skipping cozy, relaxing feel

Details →

Steam Epic Xbox

#14Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

iRank80

GenreAdventureSubgenreMetroidvania

SoloFantasyExplorationMeleeNarrative

Steam👍 74%· 1.9KRAWG👍 82%· 243MC91

Year 1999Dev Sony Interactive Entertainment · Square EnixPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS · SEGA

✓ Fits the Metroidvanias cluster, with adventure storytelling, Metroidvania exploration and puzzle design

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, strong narrative focus and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping precision platforming

Details →

Steam GOG PS

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