Eastward is one of the latest indie titles to take the game industry by storm. Although Shanghai-based developer Pixpil is only one out of a great many new indie studios trying to break into the game industry right now, it seems to have found its big break right away thanks to Eastward. This action-adventure title tells the story of a quiet miner named John who finds a child named Sam who has mysterious psychic powers. After teaming up, they go on a journey through the land of Eastward, a near-future land in a state of decay that blends sci-fi and fantasy elements.

In a lot of ways, Eastward shows its roots as a game inspired by The Legend of Zelda. John and Sam's relationship might remind players of Link's relationship with companions like Midna or Navi; since John is largely silent, Sam frequently speaks for him. Eastward is also particularly reminiscent of early Zelda games in a few ways, from its isometric perspective to its hack and slash combat to its puzzles. In spite of all these similarities, though, there are quite a few central ways that Eastward differs from the Zelda series. In fact, Eastward shines in large part because of how the Zelda elements intersect with the original parts.

RELATED: New Zelda-Like Game Eastward Explained

Eastward's Major Differences from Zelda

Combat is a major factor that sets Eastward apart from The Legend of Zelda. John's main weapon is his frying pan, which serves as an excellent sword substitute, but it's far from his only weapon. Players can pick up all kinds of weapons for John to use, from a cog-shooter to a flamethrower, giving him a much wider range of options in dealing with monsters than Link. Sam can make major contributions to combat too. By switching to Sam, players can use her kinetic powers to stun and stymy enemies, giving John and Sam the upper hand in battle or a chance to slip away.

Switching between John and Sam is a central mechanic that further differentiates Eastward from Zelda. Fans of The Wind Waker or Twilight Princess might remember briefly taking control of Link's allies or certain statues to solve puzzles, but Link always remained the central player character. In contrast, Eastward players constantly switch off between John and Sam. Splitting the duo up and using each of their skills at the right time is crucial to solving Eastward's environmental puzzles. While Link is often presented as the sole hero, John and Sam are undeniably a team, and players are encouraged to play them as such.

RELATED: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2's Demise Return Rumors Explained

Eastward's Design Could Be a Blueprint

Beyond these central elements, there are lots of smaller ways that Eastward differs from Zelda, like its RPG elements. Cooking is a big part of Eastward, for instance, whereas The Legend of Zelda didn't put an emphasis on cooking until Breath of the Wild introduced Link's cooking skills. Eastward is also very dialogue-heavy; while Zelda games have plenty of dialogue too, Eastward puts a major emphasis on verbal storytelling and character building. Beyond these RPG elements, Eastward's world is pretty modern, unlike the high fantasy worlds in which Zelda games take place, setting the indie game apart aesthetically.

In spite of all these differences from Zelda, it's interesting that Eastward's Zelda roots shine through so clearly. A lot of games get compared to The Legend of Zelda lately, but Eastward stands out by ultimately being pretty far away from The Legend of Zelda. It could become a goalpost for a new spectrum of Zelda-like action-adventure games, representing the lighter end of Zelda inspiration while hardcore Zelda love letters such as Tunic stand at the other end of the spectrum. Regardless of how Eastward shapes indie games that come after it, the game stands tall in its own right. After all the accolades that Eastward has received, Pixpil has surely earned some loyal fans who are eager to see what the studio does next.

Eastward is available now for PC and Nintendo Switch.

MORE: Fi Could Tie The Master Sword Into Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2's Plot