There's nothing quite like the first time you explored Skyrim. From the moment you narrowly escape your grisly execution in Helgen and step into the vast, untamed wilderness of this legendary RPG, you're greeted with an adventure that offers unparalleled freedom. This sense of limitless exploration has captivated millions of players, drawing them back to Skyrim's cold, beautiful landscape for over a decade.
After years of immersing ourselves in the various iterations of Skyrim, many of us are now seeking new adventures to satisfy our craving for fantasy exploration. As we eagerly await the long-anticipated Elder Scrolls 6, we've curated a list of the best games that offer a similar experience to Skyrim, which you can dive into right now.
Starting with an obvious choice, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion provides an experience remarkably akin to Skyrim in style and scope. As Skyrim's predecessor, Oblivion retains all the elements that made its successor a phenomenon. You begin as a prisoner thrust into a conflict involving demonic gods, fiery portals to hellish realms, and the assassination of Tamriel's emperor. Your journey takes you across the expansive land of Cyrodil, where you're free to explore, complete quests, forge alliances with factions, and develop your character with a vast array of skills, weapons, armor, and spells. Available on PC and through Xbox Series X | S and Xbox One's backwards compatibility feature, Oblivion is a perfect bridge to keep your Elder Scrolls adventure alive while awaiting Elder Scrolls 6.
A flagship title for the Nintendo Switch and one of the finest fantasy RPGs ever crafted, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a must-play for fans of Skyrim. This acclaimed reinvention of the Zelda series offers a sprawling open world filled with secrets, physics-based systems for combat and exploration, engaging quests, and a stunning visual style. Breath of the Wild embraces the same freedom and unguided exploration that makes Skyrim so enthralling. From the moment you descend from the Great Plateau, you have the liberty to explore Hyrule, tackle challenges, or head straight to the final boss. Exclusively available on the Nintendo Switch, it's a perfect substitute for Skyrim's sense of adventure. You can also dive into its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, for a similar experience.
For those craving a modern, expansive RPG with a focus on exploration, Dragon's Dogma 2 is an excellent choice. Set in the realms of Vermund and Battahl, you assume the role of The Arisen, a player-created hero whose heart has been stolen by an ancient dragon. Your quest to reclaim it takes you across a vast, untamed world teeming with secrets and monsters. Like Skyrim, Dragon's Dogma 2's allure lies in its emphasis on exploration and the organic stories that unfold as you battle colossal foes and survive perilous encounters. Featuring a deep RPG system with various classes, weapons, armor, and a unique party system, it's available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, offering a satisfying fantasy RPG experience on the scale of Skyrim.
Among RPGs that offer over 100 hours of gameplay, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt stands out. Set in a dark, Slavic-mythology-inspired world of monsters and magic, it's often hailed as one of the best RPGs ever made. As Geralt, a white-haired, yellow-eyed mercenary, you search for your surrogate daughter, Ciri, while confronting mythical monsters and the spectral warriors of the Wild Hunt. The Witcher 3, like Skyrim, offers a vast open world where you can pursue the main story or live the life of a bounty hunter, tackling side quests and contracts. With its base game and two expansive DLCs, The Witcher 3 is a must-play for Skyrim fans, available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC.
Shifting gears from high fantasy to a more grounded medieval setting, Kingdom Come: Deliverance captures the essence of Skyrim's freedom. Set in 15th-century Bohemia, you play as Henry, a blacksmith's son seeking revenge after his parents are killed during a Cuman invasion. The game offers a vast open world filled with authentic medieval locations, open-ended quests, and a complex combat system. Its focus on immersion, from survival mechanics to high-stakes battles, makes it an excellent choice for those seeking a more realistic RPG experience. Available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC, Kingdom Come: Deliverance offers a fresh take on the genre, and its sequel, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, released in February 2025, promises an even richer experience.
For those who relish a challenge, Elden Ring delivers a punishing yet rewarding RPG experience. FromSoftware's masterpiece excels in exploration, rewarding curiosity with hidden paths, new areas, and valuable rewards. Navigating the bleak, unforgiving Lands Between, you'll feel like you're charting your own course across a living world. With the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and the standalone adventure Elden Ring Nightreign on the horizon, there's never been a better time to explore this world. Available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, Elden Ring offers a unique and gratifying alternative to Skyrim's exploration.
While not a fantasy RPG, Fallout 4 shares much of Skyrim's DNA, being a product of Bethesda. This post-apocalyptic open-world RPG offers a similar experience with character building, vast environments, and numerous quests. Instead of casting spells at mud crabs, you'll be shooting at mutant abominations in a dystopian Boston. As the Sole Survivor, your quest to find your kidnapped son in the Wasteland mirrors Skyrim's sense of freedom and exploration. Available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, Fallout 4 is a compelling choice for those looking for a new adventure with a familiar feel.
Dragon Age: Inquisition from BioWare offers another expansive fantasy RPG experience. As you lead The Inquisition to save Thedas from mysterious rifts, you'll explore massive open-world maps, defeat monsters, and unravel a gripping story. Like Skyrim, you can craft your character, choose their class and race, and embark on an adventure that's deeply influenced by your choices. With over 80 hours of gameplay and the upcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2024, it's a great time to dive into this world. Available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, Inquisition is a worthy successor to your Skyrim adventures.
Though Baldur's Gate 3 differs from Skyrim in gameplay, being a top-down CRPG focused on strategic combat and party management, it's an essential experience for fans of expansive fantasy RPGs. Its world is rich with tactical combat, engaging narratives, and quests that evolve based on your choices, offering a personalized experience. The game encourages experimentation with its extensive character creation and quest mechanics, much like Skyrim's freedom. Available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, Baldur's Gate 3 is a compelling alternative for those who enjoy Skyrim's open-ended nature.
Revived through its 2020 remaster, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a cult classic that offers a large fantasy world with engaging combat and numerous quests. As the Fateless One, a corpse brought back to life, you journey through the Faelands to thwart a destructive force. The game allows you to build your character, choose a class, and freely explore, making it a solid choice for those seeking a new fantasy RPG after Skyrim. Available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, it's an excellent option for fans of the genre.
Originally a Skyrim mod, The Forgotten City was expanded into a full game due to its compelling narrative. Starting in modern-day Italy, you're transported back to Ancient Rome, trapped in a time loop governed by the "Golden Rule." This detective game, devoid of combat, uses Skyrim's mechanics to create a unique experience focused on solving mysteries through conversations and clues. If you're looking for something different yet reminiscent of Skyrim, The Forgotten City is a fascinating choice, available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
For those who enjoy a hardcore adventure, Outward casts you as an everyday person tasked with paying off a debt. This quickly evolves into an open-world epic across Aurai, where survival mechanics and time-sensitive quests add realism and consequence. Without fast travel and a unique death system, Outward offers a fresh take on open-world exploration. Available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC, it's an intriguing alternative for Skyrim fans seeking a challenge.
If you're ready to transition from Skyrim to another Elder Scrolls adventure, The Elder Scrolls Online is the perfect choice. This MMO allows you to explore various realms of Tamriel, including familiar locations like Skyrim and Cyrodil, as well as new ones like Elsweyr and Summerset. With a plethora of quests and the ability to team up with other players, it's an excellent way to continue your journey through the Elder Scrolls universe. Available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, and with numerous DLCs to enhance your experience, The Elder Scrolls Online is a must-try for fans of the series.
AnswerSee ResultsAnd that's our pick of games Skyrim fans will love! Agree with our list or our some of your top picks missing? You can share your own top games like Skyrim lists with us via IGN Playlist, our tool that allows you to keep track of your gaming library, create lists and even rank them, discover what some of your favorite creators are playing, and more. Head over to IGN Playlist to find out more, and start creating your own lists to share with us!
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