The first time you ventured into the vast world of Skyrim is an experience that's hard to forget. From your dramatic escape during the execution at Helgen to stepping into the sprawling wilderness of this legendary RPG, the game offers unparalleled freedom that has drawn millions back to its icy landscapes for over a decade. After exploring the numerous iterations of Skyrim, many of us are eager for new adventures that can satisfy our cravings for fantasy exploration. To help bridge the gap until the much-anticipated Elder Scrolls 6 arrives, we've curated a list of the best games that echo the essence of Skyrim and are available to play right now.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
A natural starting point, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion provides a similar experience to Skyrim in both style and scope. As the predecessor to Skyrim, Oblivion retains the core elements that made its successor so beloved. You start as a prisoner caught in a conflict involving demonic gods, fiery portals to a hellish realm, and the assassination of Tamriel's emperor. Your journey unfolds across the expansive land of Cyrodil, where you can explore freely, complete quests, join factions, and customize your character with new skills, weapons, armor, spells, and more. It's a quintessential Elder Scrolls experience, perfect for continuing your Tamriel adventure while awaiting Elder Scrolls 6. Oblivion is playable on PC and can be enjoyed via backwards compatibility on Xbox Series X | S and Xbox One.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild stands out as a flagship title for the Nintendo Switch and one of the finest fantasy RPGs ever created. This reinvention of the Zelda series offers everything a Skyrim fan could want: a vast open world brimming with secrets, innovative physics-based gameplay for battling enemies and navigating challenging terrains, captivating quests, and a breathtaking art style.
Breath of the Wild throws you into the expansive world of Hyrule with minimal guidance, equipping you with essential tools and then letting you chart your own course. Whether you're scouring the landscape for lore, scaling towering peaks, or daring to confront the final boss immediately, the game grants you complete freedom. If you're seeking the same sense of exploration and autonomy that makes Skyrim so engaging, Breath of the Wild is an ideal choice. It's exclusively available on the Nintendo Switch, and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, offers a similar experience.
3. Dragon's Dogma 2
Dragon's Dogma 2, a recent addition to our list, is perfect for those craving a vast, exploration-focused RPG. Set across the realms of Vermund and Battahl, you assume the role of The Arisen, a warrior whose heart was stolen by an ancient dragon. Your mission is to track down and slay the beast, leading you on a thrilling journey through an untamed world.
Much like Skyrim, the allure of Dragon's Dogma 2 lies in its emphasis on exploration. The game is teeming with hidden secrets and formidable monsters, creating organic stories as you engage in epic battles and survive by the skin of your teeth. With a deep RPG system, diverse classes, a variety of weapons and armor, and a unique party system where you can recruit other players' characters, Dragon's Dogma 2 offers a satisfying experience for Skyrim enthusiasts. It's available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a monumental RPG, often hailed as one of the greatest in the genre. Set in a dark, Slavic-inspired world of monsters, magic, and political intrigue, this game offers a vast open world filled with challenging combat, morally complex decisions that shape the story, and an engrossing narrative.
As Geralt, a seasoned monster hunter with a quest to find his surrogate daughter, Ciri, you'll navigate a perilous world while evading the spectral warriors of the Wild Hunt. Similar to Skyrim, The Witcher 3 gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace, whether you choose to pursue the main storyline or engage in the myriad side quests and monster contracts. The base game, along with its substantial DLCs, is a must-play for those who have conquered Skyrim. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
For a more grounded experience, Kingdom Come: Deliverance captures the sense of freedom found in Skyrim. Set in 15th-century Bohemia, you play as Henry, a blacksmith's apprentice seeking revenge after his parents are killed during a Cuman invasion. The game offers a vast open world filled with historically accurate locations, open-ended quests influenced by your choices, and a complex combat system.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance emphasizes immersion through its high-stakes battles and survival mechanics, where you manage food, sleep, hygiene, and armor degradation. If you're looking for a more realistic medieval RPG experience, this game is a compelling option. It's available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC. For an even better experience, check out Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, released in February 2025.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a challenging yet rewarding RPG that masterfully blends exploration with intense combat. FromSoftware's latest offering is set in a bleak, dying world that rewards your curiosity and perseverance. Every area is significant, and every detour can lead to valuable discoveries, making exploration a thrilling endeavor.
With the addition of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and the upcoming standalone adventure Elden Ring Nightreign in May, there's no better time to dive into this game. If you're ready for a new world to explore and don't mind facing tough challenges, Elden Ring is a must-play. It's available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
Fallout 4
While not a fantasy RPG, Fallout 4 shares many of the design philosophies that make Skyrim great. This post-apocalyptic open-world RPG allows you to craft a unique character, explore vast environments, and complete quests. Instead of casting spells, you'll be battling mutant creatures and uncovering corporate conspiracies.
Set in a post-nuclear Boston, you play as the Sole Survivor, searching for your kidnapped son amidst the ruins. Like Skyrim, Fallout 4 lets you explore freely without being railroaded into a linear path. It's a fantastic choice for those who enjoy Skyrim's gameplay style with a twist. Fallout 4 is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, and remains one of Bethesda's standout titles.
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition offers another expansive fantasy RPG experience, with over 80 hours of gameplay. You lead The Inquisition, a faction tasked with saving Thedas from mysterious rifts. The game features large open-world maps, monster battles, and a deep narrative.
Like Skyrim, you can customize your character's class and race, recruit party members, and make choices that impact the story and the world around you. It's an excellent follow-up to Skyrim, especially with the recent release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2024. Dragon Age: Inquisition is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
Baldur's Gate 3
While Baldur's Gate 3 differs from Skyrim in gameplay, it's an exceptional choice for fans of expansive fantasy RPGs. This top-down CRPG emphasizes strategic combat and character customization, allowing you to build a party with complementary skills and tackle quests creatively.
Baldur's Gate 3 offers a meticulously crafted world where your choices shape the narrative and quests, providing a personalized experience. With extensive freedom in character creation and quest approaches, this game resonates with Skyrim's sense of autonomy. It's available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning, a remastered cult classic, is a great option for those looking for a new fantasy RPG. You play as the Fateless One, revived from death and tasked with saving the world of Amalur from a destructive fate. The game offers a vast world to explore, engaging combat, and numerous quests.
With the freedom to build your character, choose your class, and explore the Faelands, Kingdoms of Amalur provides a satisfying experience for Skyrim fans. It's available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
The Forgotten City
Originally a Skyrim mod, The Forgotten City evolved into a standalone game that offers a unique twist on the formula. Starting in modern-day Italy, you find yourself transported back to Ancient Rome, trapped in a time loop governed by the "Golden Rule." This detective-style RPG focuses on solving mysteries through dialogue and investigation, rather than combat.
While it retains some of Skyrim's core elements, The Forgotten City offers a fresh experience. It's available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, making it an excellent choice for those seeking something different yet reminiscent of Skyrim.
Outward: Definitive Edition
Outward is a hardcore RPG that casts you as an ordinary person, tasked with paying off a debt within five days. This quickly escalates into an epic adventure across the land of Aurai, where you must survive harsh environments and confront dangerous threats.
The game's focus on realism and consequence, including survival mechanics and the absence of fast travel, sets it apart. If you're looking for a game that captures Skyrim's sense of open-world exploration with added challenges, Outward is a great pick. It's available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC.
The Elder Scrolls Online
If you're eager for more Elder Scrolls content, The Elder Scrolls Online offers an MMO experience that allows you to explore various realms of Tamriel with friends. From Skyrim and Cyrodil to Morrowind and Highrock, the game features both familiar and new locations, along with a plethora of quests.
You can team up with other players to tackle enemies, complete missions, and customize your characters. With numerous DLCs released over the years, The Elder Scrolls Online is an excellent continuation of your Elder Scrolls journey. It's available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
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!
