Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring the Legend of Zelda

This 2019 rhythmic action-adventure game merges The Legend of Zelda setting with Crypt of the NecroDancer mechanics. You play as Link, Zelda, or Cadence, exploring randomly generated overworlds and dungeons where every move, attack, and defense must align precisely with the beat of remixed Zelda music. The core loop involves mastering this rhythm to survive combat and solve puzzles across Hyrule to defeat the villain Octavo. The game features procedurally generated layouts for high replayability and includes post-launch DLC expansions.

This is a rhythmic action-adventure game that blends the core mechanics of a critically acclaimed roguelike with the iconic world, characters, and music of The Legend of Zelda series. Released in 2019 for the Nintendo Switch, this main title transports players to the familiar Kingdom of Hyrule, which has fallen under a mysterious slumber cast by a villain named Octavo using a magical Lute. Players take on the roles of familiar heroes—Link, Princess Zelda, or the rhythm-focused protagonist, Cadence—to explore a land thrown into musical chaos. The atmosphere is defined by the constant, driving beat of remixed Zelda melodies, which dictate every action players can take.

Core Gameplay Mechanics: Moving to the Beat

The central mechanic of this adventure is movement synchronized with music. Every action—moving a tile, attacking an enemy, or using an item—must be executed precisely on the beat of the background music. If a player misses the rhythm, they risk being unable to act or leaving themselves vulnerable to enemy attacks, which also move in time with the music. This creates a unique challenge where spatial awareness must be combined with precise timing.

Exploration involves navigating a world map and dungeons that are procedurally generated upon each playthrough, ensuring a fresh layout every time. Players must defeat enemies and bosses encountered along the way to progress the story and ultimately confront Octavo.

What makes this game unique?

The Fusion of Genres

The game’s distinct appeal lies in its seamless integration of two seemingly disparate genres: the dungeon-crawling, item-based adventure structure of Zelda and the turn-based, rhythm-action requirements of its inspiration. The entire game world, from enemy patterns to environmental puzzles, is built around the musical tempo. Successfully mastering the rhythm allows players to execute complex maneuvers and chain attacks effectively.

Playable Characters and Exploration

Players can choose between Link, Zelda, and Cadence, each offering a slightly different approach to the rhythmic combat due to their unique starting items and abilities. The quest involves traversing the overworld to locate and defeat Octavo's champions, who hold enchanted instruments that must be recovered to break the curse over Hyrule.

What is the story premise?

The narrative begins when the mysterious Octavo uses a magical Lute to put Hyrule's key figures, including Link and Zelda, into a magical sleep, subsequently using the Triforce of Power to enhance his instrument. Cadence is mysteriously brought into Hyrule by the Triforce to awaken the heroes. While Cadence seeks a way home, Link and Zelda journey across the land to defeat Octavo's four champions, each guarding an enchanted instrument. Upon reuniting with Cadence and entering Hyrule Castle, Octavo reveals his true purpose was to prepare Hyrule against a future threat from Ganon. After the heroes defeat Octavo, they confront Ganon in a portal to the future, combining their efforts before attempting to send Cadence back to her own world using the power of the Golden Lute.

Additional Content Available

This title has received additional content post-launch in the form of downloadable content (DLC). There are currently two DLC packs available that expand upon the base game experience, offering new challenges, characters, or musical tracks.