The Great Zelda Clones list

[Rydon]

Crystalis for NES comes to mind.

[J T]

Is it fair to say the Ys games? They have a faster pace and fewer puzzles, but there is still some similar overhead hack/slash gameplay.

The Binding of Isaac is also clearly Zelda influenced, but is more rogue-like in structure, rather than a carefully crafted world.

[alienjesus]

Ax Battler (Master System)

Ax Battler|: The Legend of Golden Axe is actually a Game Gear game that plays a bit like Zelda 2. You might have been thinking of Golden Axe Warrior, which plays like Zelda 1 and is a Master System game.

How strict do you want to be with this definition btw? For The Frog The Bell Tolls is a bit like a Zelda game, but not quite. They reused the engine for Link's Awakening.

[samsonlonghair]

Ahem...

Beyond Good and Evil

Beyond Good and Evil is a 3D zelda-style game with slightly more grown up themes. The main character, Jade, is a Hylian (or Hillyan) who dresses in green, goes on an adventure, uncovers secrets, escapes from dungeons, and defeats evil.

[Jagosaurus]

Crusader of Centy on Genesis.

Definitely inspired by Zelda. Reminds me of LttP.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Is it fair to say the Ys games?

Maybe. Though the first two games in the series were likely already in development when the original Zelda was released. If anything Ys is most influenced by Hydlide and Falcom's own Dragon Slayer.

Amusingly there are way more "Ys clones" than "Zelda clones." Most stayed in Japan, obviously.

Rolan's Curse and Rolan's Curse II (Game Boy) are a couple of decent games with a clear Zelda influence.

Oh, and marurun, it's Golden Axe Warrior that's on Master System. Ax Battler is on Game Gear and takes more after Zelda II..... A game which had it's own set of imitators including The Battle of Olympus and, uh, Rambo.

Reaching into the depths now, but I played a couple of FDS games earlier this year that followed the distinct Zelda formula. Dandy: Zeuon no Fukkatsu was pretty fun, if not a bit short and simplistic, while Seiken Psycho Caliber: Majū no Mori Densetsu was an absolute nightmare and one of the worst video games I've ever laid eyes upon.

[Sarge]

I haven't played much of it, but Oceanhorn is a pretty brazen Zelda knockoff.

Also, I think Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom counts in the 3D category.

[BogusMeatFactory]

Beyond Oasis on the sega genesis. Top down puzzle adventure game. Lots of hidden secrets, somewhat open ended gameplay. Tons of fun!

[Sarge]

Sylvan Tale is pretty great, actually.

[pierrot]

The criteria for this is so limited that I have to move for LoZ, and all the games mentioned here, to be called what they really are: Dragon Slayer clones.