Islands of the Jinn and Azaran: The Demon Bottle Bring Zelda-Inspired Adventures to PC

Solo Developer Benji Channels Classic Zelda for Islands of the Jinn and Azaran: The Demon Bottle on PC In the indie gaming landscape, few genres evoke nostalgia quite like the classic action-adventure games pioneered by Nintendo.

Now, solo developer Benji is capturing that very essence with two upcoming PC titles: Islands of the Jinn and Azaran: The Demon Bottle.

These projects pay homage to the iconic Legend of Zelda series, aiming to deliver both the atmospheric puzzle dungeons and inventive retro gameplay that defined the golden era of adventure gaming. Islands of the Jinn, which has generated interest on social media platforms like BlueSky and Twitter/X, is a third-person adventure inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

The game is set to launch on PC via Steam, with its Steam page highlighting "traditional puzzle dungeons packed with eerie atmosphere" and gameplay that blends the unique flair of “90's adventure games” with narrative elements drawn from Arabian Nights.

With a targeted release window of late 2026, Benji’s project has been steadily gaining traction as he shares regular development updates, growing anticipation for a new Zelda-like experience tailored for both returning and new fans. In parallel, Benji is expanding the Azaran universe with a companion title, Azaran: The Demon Bottle.

Inspired by the 1987 original The Legend of Zelda for NES, this spin-off is crafted in a distinct pixel-art style that captures the charm of early console adventures.

Developed within only three weeks, Azaran: The Demon Bottle is described by Benji as a "short dungeon crawler packed with monsters, traps, and cryptic puzzles." The game is expected to launch for PC before mid-August and serves as a tribute to the retro mechanics that have influenced a generation of developers. Discussing his creative motivations with Time Extension, Benji explained that choosing a NES-era aesthetic was both a practical and artistic decision.

"I wanted Demon Bottle to be a short project, only a few weeks of development, and NES-style games are just much simpler to put together in terms of pixel art, music, sfx, etc.," he shared.

This approach also allowed Benji to explore a hypothetical history for the Azaran series, envisioning how the franchise might have evolved if it mirrored the Zelda series’ progression from the NES to more advanced consoles.

He further hinted at the possibility of future Azaran projects inspired by SNES classics like Link to the Past or Link’s Awakening. While Islands of the Jinn is still in active development, players eager for a taste of Benji’s vision can check out the playable demo, which was prominently featured during the Steam Next Fest in June.

As Benji’s dedication to capturing the spirit of Nintendo’s most beloved adventures continues to draw the attention of retro and modern gamers alike, both Islands of the Jinn and Azaran: The Demon Bottle stand poised to enrich the indie scene with their unique blend of heritage and innovation. Stay tuned for further updates on the release of Azaran: The Demon Bottle and the continued development of Islands of the Jinn, as indie creativity keeps classic action-adventure gaming alive for new generations.

Zelda Nintendo PC indie developer Islands of the Jinn Azaran: The Demon Bottle Benji Azaran The Demon Bottle Steam Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Steam Next Fest