Best Games Like Skyrim

It’s hard to imagine that it has been more than 13 years since The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim was released. A masterpiece in every aspect, Bethesda’s game is set 200 years after its predecessor and follows a Dragonborn on a quest to defeat a dragon called Alduin The World-Eater who is destined to destroy the world.

The game entertained many, both the ones hungry for a rich open-world and a good story and those just looking for pleasing graphics and casual battles with monsters and other creatures in the fantasy world. Available on seemingly every console on the market, the RPG’s shine has barely dulled over the last decade, and Skyrim‘s modding community is fantastic. If anyone is craving a change of pace that is still cut from the same cloth, here are the best games like Skyrim.

Updated on November 8, 2024 by Mark Sammut: October 2024 concluded with one of the biggest RPG releases of 2024, which also happened to be one of the most divisive. While not a one-to-one alternative to Skyrim, this BioWare release warrants a temporary spotlight.

25 Dragon Age: The Veilguard

A Polarizing RPG In One Of The All-Time Beloved Franchises

Dragon Age has come far since Origins, a statement that has nothing to do with the quality of the subsequent games. Simply put, The Veilguard is an entirely different type of RPG than BioWare’s original 2008 release, to the point of somewhat seeming like it belongs to a separate franchise. Now, to be fair, the real-time combat system feels like an evolution of some of the ideas found in 2014’s Inquisition, and The Veilguard works better as a follow-up to that entry rather than a continuation of the entire series. Still, expectations should be kept in check for anyone interested in trying the 2024 release – do not go in expecting Origins, DA2, or even Inquisition.

The Veilguard has inspired quite a lot of discourse since its debut, ranging from wild praise to harsh condemnation. Suffice it to say that the game is polarizing. That said, let’s focus on some of the more agreed-upon positives. While the enemy variety leaves something to be desired, the combat is flashy, well-animated, and quite fun.

The class system provides quite a bit of customization options, particularly once players get access to specializations and start to unlock a wide range of skills. Companions are useful in battle too, and they have their moments as characters. The world is gorgeous, and the graphics are arguably among the best in the RPG genre. However, it should be noted that The Veilguard is not open-world but rather consists of segmented regions, so Skyrim fans should take that into account.

A new Dragon Age should be a cause for celebration, and The Veilguard has enough positives to warrant a mention, even if not an unabashed recommendation.

24 Throne and Liberty

A Free-To-Play MMORPG With Depth & Ambition

Throne and Liberty is, obviously, a wildly different experience from Skyrim. NCSoft’s project is an MMORPG, and a fairly ambitious one at that. While garnering a somewhat mixed critical reception, the game’s Western release was met with fairly high praise from players, especially ones who were craving an MMO inspired by classics like Lineage (Throne and Liberty started as a Lineage game after all). So, anyone looking to dive into this beast will need to be prepared for a lot of grinding, a focus on social content, and a fair amount of boilerplate side quests. Just to be clear, all of those statements are neutral, and their enjoyment will depend on the player.

Despite very different fundamentals, Throne and Liberty can still scratch some itches that Skyrim reaches. The world is expansive, diverse, and frequently gorgeous. While not quite as unrestricted as a Bethesda RPG, the map is nevertheless open and encourages exploration. The combat takes some practice but can be quite enjoyable. More importantly, Throne and Liberty has a clever progression system that revolves around weapon types, offering a flexible class system that allows players to mix-and-match skills from different weapons. The MMO had dungeons, loot, robust skills, and guilds.

23 Baldur’s Gate 3

Deep Customization & Fluid Quests

This is a tricky one as Baldur’s Gate 3 and Skyrim‘s minute-to-minute gameplay share little in common. The former utilizes a turn-based combat system that prioritizes party synergy, forward-thinking, and strategy. Battles are difficult right out of the gate, and players will be punished if they have a poor grasp of the core mechanics. Larian’s RPG is also portrayed from an isometric perspective and is not set in a continuous open-world, although players are encouraged and incentivized to explore the available map and to make detours from the main story’s path.

Depending on what someone is searching for, Baldur’s Gate 3 might not have the tools to scratch their Skyrim itch. However, if a player is looking for brilliant storytelling, deep customization, and a flexible world shaped by the player’s decisions, they cannot do much better than this 2023 release. Similar to how Skyrim set a new standard for RPGs, Baldur’s Gate 3 has done the same, albeit for the tactical subgenre.

Divinity: Original Sin 2
is also by Larian and is equally incredible.

22 Ghost Of Tsushima

Third-Person Combat & Stunning Historical Open-World

Although many players find themselves enamored by Skyrim‘s freedom and open-world exploration, there is an overarching storyline that can be rather engrossing once it gets going. At its core, Skyrim features a rather robust story that slowly unravels as players complete story missions and side quests throughout the lands of Northern Tamriel. Those looking for another tale of intrigue to keep them engaged as they make their way through an open world should consider picking up Ghost of Tsushima.

This fantastic story-driven action release follows Jin Sakai as he adventures across the island of Tsushima in hopes of liberating it from an attacking Mongol force. With amazing voice acting, beautiful graphics, and an edge-of-your-seat story, Ghost of Tsushima is the perfect release for Skyrim fans who want to wrap themselves up in another epic adventure.

21 Cyberpunk 2077

Immersive Sci-Fi Metropolis

Riding high after the release of The Witcher 3, one of the few RPGs that challenges Skyrim in terms of critical success, CD Projekt Red seemed set to take the sci-fi genre by storm through the release of Cyberpunk 2077. Infamously, the game launched in a not-so-great state, and the PS4 and Xbox One versions are still almost impossible to recommend; however, the PC and next-gen iterations are more than playable nowadays. While an argument could be made that the title failed to meet all of its potential or promises, Cyberpunk 2077 is nevertheless ambitious and periodically brilliant.

Obviously, the game’s setting is the direct opposite of Skyrim‘s, but both projects shine in the same department: their worlds. Night City is Cyberpunk 2077‘s crowning achievement, even more so than its very good story and decent gameplay. The map is dense with content, details, and lore touches that make the simple act of exploration fun.

20 Elden Ring

Soulslike Open-World

FromSoftware’s latest entry into the “Souls series” is perhaps their most ambitious yet. The massive open world and freedom of choice that Elden Ring gives to its players help to create an experience that feels as large as Skyrim. It’s important to note that Elden Ring, like many Souls games, is a lot more difficult than Bethesda’s typical project, but learning how to survive in the punishing world is just as rewarding as it is in The Elder Scrolls.

With a robust character creator, tons of weapons to choose from, and a wide array of playstyles, Elden Ring feels like a truly massive open-world adventure that offers endless replayability thanks to NG+ and build customization. Now, the combat is nothing like Skyrim‘s, and if someone is not really into Soulslikes, they might struggle to get into FromSoftware’s masterpiece; however, for its genre, Elden Ring‘s gameplay is top-notch. While they approach their worlds fairly differently, both games allow players to explore freely, delivering sandboxes that are mostly open except for a few late-campaign sections.

19 Goat Simulator 3

An Open-World Parody

OK, this recommendation comes with a few disclaimers. Most importantly, Goat Simulator 3 does not take itself remotely seriously, and that extends beyond its premise and obvious references. Even though the main missions provide some structure, the game is really meant to be played like a wacky sandbox, with the goal being to cause as much mayhem as possible. The story is there to provide a bit of direction, but it is not the focus nor particularly memorable. Like Skyrim, Goat Simulator 3 has a world that is simply fun to mess around in and break, with the latter being particularly awesome.

Also, the game is packed with references, specifically open-world projects. There is even a (obvious) Skyrim reference, and it happens very early in a playthrough. While not a primary reason to pick up this release, Goat Simulator 3‘s Easter Eggs are pretty charming.

18 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild & Tears Of The Kingdom

Explore Hyrule Freely

Nintendo’s attempts to breathe new life into The Legend of Zelda series led to the release of a title that most people genuinely believe to be the greatest video game ever made. Breath of the Wild is nothing short of a masterpiece and is a title that most fans of open-world action-adventure titles should definitely try out.

The open-ended gameplay of Breath of the Wild coupled with an excellent gameplay loop made for one of the best games like Skyrim. It’s a game that will take hundreds of hours to complete — a fact that Skyrim fans would absolutely adore.

Breath of the Wild‘s sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, sticks fairly close to its predecessor’s formula, making it an easy recommendation for any open-world fan. Despite many similarities, TOTK still incorporates enough new ideas to feel like a worthy successor rather than just a retread. This time around, Hyrule is also way more active since its citizens are in the process of rebuilding.

17 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

A Realistic Late-Medieval Open-World

It’s a testament to the ambition of Warhorse Studios that they decided to go all-out and develop one of the biggest open-world games of all time that is absolutely jam-packed with content across the board. Kingdom Come: Deliverance is an easy recommendation for any player who wants to play games similar to Skyrim.

The combat system is easily one of the more unique aspects of the game, and mastering it can take quite some time. However, players who finally invest in their character will enjoy an excellent game that features a great story, tough combat, and memorable characters.

16 Horizon Zero Dawn & Horizon Forbidden West

Massive & Gorgeous Worlds, Fun Combat

Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, are two of Sony’s standout open-world games, and they are both fantastic on their own. Set in a distant future where Earth has become a post-apocalyptic mix of prehistoric architecture and robotic monstrosities, Guerilla’s series follows Aloy, an outcast who is dragged into a conflict that exposes the world’s history.

Armed with melee and ranged weapons, Aloy has to take down massive mechas using bows and a stick, although she does have a couple of neat items at her disposal. Similar to Skyrim, these games are often at their best when they encourage players to explore their vast and gorgeous environments.

15 Hogwarts Legacy

Full Immersion In A Magical World

This recommendation was on the cusp of being excluded from this discussion due to being fundamentally very different from Skyrim. Ultimately, Hogwarts Legacy made the grade; however, Elder Scrolls fans should be aware that they would be picking up a very distinct project that shares little in common with the 2011 RPG masterpiece. For one, Hogwarts Legacy‘s magic-based combat is stylish but simple, with players essentially utilizing a loadout of spells. It is fun, though. The map consists of Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and a few more “general” regions, the latter of which contain most of the open-world busy work and side quests. The areas outside the school are not that interesting and tend to be polarizing with players. While an RPG, Hogwarts Legacy does not have conventional character classes, with customization mostly coming in the form of brooms, spells, and gear.

So, if it is so far removed from Skyrim, why is Avalanche’s game highlighted? Well, it almost entirely comes down to Hogwarts. The school is not only gorgeous and faithful to the source material, but also an absolute joy to explore. As long as someone is, at least, somewhat fond of Harry Potter, they could get swept away by Hogwarts Legacy‘s setting, which is pretty darn immersive. While the main story is fine, the game is at its best when allowing players to just exist as students who are training to become wizards. Skyrim‘s longevity comes down to its immersion, and the same can be said for Hogwarts Legacy‘s popularity.

14 Grim Dawn

Isometric Hack And Slash Action In A Dark Fantasy World

Grim Dawn is quite far removed from Skyrim, and it is primarily for fans who also enjoy releases like Titan Quest and Diablo 2. Crate’s isometric hack and slash game lives up to its title by bringing to life a depressing world defined by war and death.

While the story generally takes a backseat to combat and loot, Grim Dawn‘s lore gives the setting enough personality to allow it to morph beyond just a generic dark fantasy hellscape. Still, the gameplay is the main thing that will keep players coming back for more. With a solid selection of classes, factions, and skills, Grim Dawn presents players with plenty of customization options, including a pretty impressive crafting system.

13 Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines

A Role-Playing Masterpiece

While more of a cult classic than a mainstream juggernaut, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is nevertheless a huge name in the RPG sphere. Troika Games’ 2004 release was groundbreaking for its era, particularly its flexible quests, character customization, and storytelling. The base version is rough around the edges and loses momentum during its second half, making for a great but uneven overall experience. However, Bloodlines has a dedicated modding community that has worked tirelessly to fix many of the game’s cracks, and some mods are basically required in this day and age.

Now, Bloodlines has a wildly different setting than Skyrim, and the same can be said for its gameplay. The former takes place in an alternate version of LA that has an expansive vampire society beneath its surface, and players find themselves joining this community right at the start of the story. Bloodlines prioritizes player choice through its progression, stat systems, quest completion, and clan association. The RPG also has an unbeatable sense of atmosphere that has aged extremely well.

12 Conan Exiles

Surviving In A Dark Fantasy World

Funcom’s Conan Exiles garnered a decidedly mixed response at launch, but the survival game is still around all these years later. This project tries to cater to a few audiences by providing a package that can work as a single-player survival RPG or an online experience, and they are quite different. For this discussion, Conan Exiles‘ single-player option is the better pick since it provides a fairly deep sandbox that prioritizes exploration and crafting over everything else. While there is something resembling a main story, Conan Exiles is not designed around a quest system, and the game generally leaves players to their own devices. This creative decision is not that far removed from Skyrim‘s structure, especially since Bethesda’s RPG is arguably at its best when players are not shackled to a specific storyline.

Now, Conan Exiles is quite a difficult survival game, and a playthrough’s first 10 hours or so will be spent trying to make ends meet to avoid death. Consequently, the overall experience is not especially similar to Skyrim, especially initially. However, once players have a decent base and are no longer struggling to meet their basic needs, they will be able to venture out more aggressively into the unknown. Conan Exiles is a pretty attractive game as well, and its setting is similar to Skyrim while also very much having its own identity.

11 Dragon’s Dogma 2 (Or Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen)

Slay The Ultimate Dragon

Capcom’s action RPG series is a borderline recommendation due to having fairly different mechanics than Skyrim; however, they share just enough thrills to be worth a mention. Also, while the focus will be on the 2024 sequel as it mostly fine-tunes its predecessor, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen holds up pretty well all things considered.

Naturally, The Elder Scrolls loves its dragons, and these creatures are central in most of Skyrim‘s most memorable battles. As epic as these fights can be, they are at least challenged by Dragon’s Dogma 2‘s eponymous beast, an entity that handpicks the player as their chosen Arisen. Basically, this mighty dragon will end the world if they are not taken down by the Arisen, a journey that requires a lot of work and a little bit of help.

Blending melee, ranged, and magic options, Dragon’s Dogma 2 features a flexible combat system that starts deep and expands considerably as players delve deeper into their vocations (which are essentially classes). While not similar to Skyrim, the progression system presents plenty of room to explore different builds. More importantly, DD2 has Pawns, which are essentially player-created followers who can be designed to complement the Arisen’s weaknesses. Players can even hire Pawns created by other players, and there are some incredible designs out there.

10 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning

Real-Time Action In A Colorful Fantasy World

A great variety of ways to obliterate one’s foes awaits in Kingdoms of Amalur. This is another fantasy world with cool monsters to battle and hot loot to be found. It’s one of those games in which exploring every inch of the map is entertaining. The variety of terrain and gorgeous visuals make adventuring to new areas always feel fresh and exciting.

There are plenty of weapons and spells to choose from; one can be a warrior, rogue, or mage. Possibly a combination of those for something more specialized. The freedom to explore an open-world is liberating, just like gallivanting about the bold, brisk lands of Skyrim.

9 Dark Messiah of Might and Magic

Awesome First-Person Combat With Depth & Variety

While not every release has been a hit, Arkane Studios generally knows how to put together ambitious projects with addictive gameplay that blends supernatural abilities with traditional melee or guns. Even if it is not quite as well-rounded as Dishonored or Prey, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is nevertheless among Arkane’s greatest achievements, and that comes down almost entirely to its combat. Created using the Source Engine, the action RPG encourages players to make full use of the environments to deliver as much pain as possible, and kicking goblins to their doom never gets old.

Along with that trick, Dark Messiah features a robust array of skills tailor-made to accommodate three different playstyles: physical, magic, and stealth. While a player can opt to focus on one category, the combat shines the brightest when all these elements are combined to create a varied and flexible arsenal of options. Beyond the combat, Dark Messiah is mostly just fine. The graphics were above average for the era, and they are still respectable. The story is the definition of forgettable, but it gets the job done of creating scenarios that allow the combat to shine. Also, players can get a succubus as a girlfriend. What’s not to love?

8 Outward Definitive Edition

An RPG About Just Making Do

Ever wondered what the average Joe might be up to while the Dragonborn is out there saving the world? Outward kind of answers that question, as the open-world game follows a rather unspectacular adventurer who is primarily driven by a desire to clear their debt. This motivation subsides relatively quickly, and the protagonist’s goal becomes to simply explore an expansive world just for the sake of it.

Outward is rough around the edges, but its ambition cannot be faulted. While the combat and presentation leave quite a lot to be desired, the game makes up for it by emphasizing player freedom. The RPG encourages players to just head out into the unknown, although they should be well-prepared as death awaits around every corner. Outward is a fantasy RPG with survival elements, and while not perfect, it does a serviceable job for both genres.

7 The Forgotten City

Built On The Ashes Of A Skyrim Mod

Starting life as a highly rated Skyrim mod, this story had such potential that it eventually morphed into The Forgotten City, a standalone package that shows its origins while still very much being a wholly different experience. Rather than taking place in Bethesda’s universe, the game focuses on Ancient Rome, with players finding themselves stuck in a small village that is governed by a strange curse that causes everyone to turn into gold if a single sin is committed. Utilizing a time loop structure that resets whenever the curse is triggered, players must mingle with the townsfolk to figure out how to prevent a golden future.

The Forgotten City is primarily an adventure and story-driven game that focuses on exploration and dialogue. While not completely devoid of action, combat is an optional thing and a very small part of the overall journey. Weaving an impressive tale that takes full advantage of an inspired core premise, Modern Storyteller’s title gently guides players through an engaging 10-hour campaign that barely features any resembling a dull moment.

6 Dragon Age: Origins

Rich World & Stellar Writing

A spiritual successor to the Baldur’s Gate, Dragon Age: Origins was released two years before Skyrim. The two games have many things in common: They are both fantasy-themed RPGs with great stories, have a lot of creatures to kill, countless quests to solve, and a myriad of items to collect. Now, to be fair, those are superficial similarities, and Origins‘ combat, world structure, and main storyline are not particularly similar to Skyrim; in fact, the game has more in common with Baldur’s Gate 3.

Still, BioWare created an ambitious RPG that raised the standard in terms of writing and world-building. Although not a free-flowing sandbox like Skyrim, Origins‘ map is expansive and fairly open, providing plenty of room for players to explore off the beaten path.