13 Games to Play If You Loved Skyrim

There's nothing quite like the first time you explore Skyrim. From the moment you narrowly escape your grisly execution in Helgen and step into the vast wilderness of this legendary RPG, you're thrust into an adventure filled with limitless possibilities. It's this unparalleled sense of freedom that has kept millions of players returning to its cold, untamed landscapes for over a decade.

After years of exploring the various iterations of Skyrim, many of us are eager for new games to satisfy our fantasy adventuring cravings. While we await the highly anticipated Elder Scrolls 6, we've curated a list of the best games that echo the spirit of Skyrim, available to play right now.

1. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion

Starting with an obvious choice, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion offers an experience closely aligned with Skyrim in style and scope. As the fourth installment in Bethesda's renowned RPG series, Oblivion is Skyrim's predecessor but still packs the core elements that made its sequel a blockbuster.

You begin as a prisoner thrust into a world of demonic gods, fiery portals to a hellish realm, and the assassination of Tamriel's emperor. Your journey takes you across Cyrodil, where you're free to explore at your leisure, engage in quests, ally with factions, and develop your character with an array of skills, weapons, armor sets, and spells.

Oblivion is a quintessential Elder Scrolls experience, perfect for continuing your adventure in Tamriel while you wait for Elder Scrolls 6. It's available on PC and can be enjoyed on Xbox Series X | S and Xbox One through backwards compatibility.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild stands as the flagship title for the Nintendo Switch and one of the finest fantasy RPGs ever created. This acclaimed reinvention of the classic series offers a richly detailed open world, physics-based gameplay for battling enemies and navigating challenging terrains, compelling quests, a stunning art style, and much more.

Breath of the Wild embraces a hands-off approach, setting you loose in a fully explorable Hyrule with essential tools at your disposal. From there, you're free to explore, whether you're scouring the land for lore, scaling the highest peaks, or daring to face the final boss right away.

If you seek the freedom and unguided exploration that makes Skyrim so captivating, Breath of the Wild is an excellent alternative. It's exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, offers a similar experience.

3. Dragon's Dogma 2

A recent addition to our list, Dragon's Dogma 2 is a sprawling RPG that places exploration at its core. Set across the realms of Vermund and Battahl, you play as The Arisen, a warrior whose heart was stolen by an ancient dragon. Your mission is to hunt down and slay this beast, leading you on a quest through a vast, untamed world.

Much like Skyrim, Dragon's Dogma 2 emphasizes exploration, filled with secrets to uncover and dangerous monsters to battle. It offers a deep RPG experience with various classes to master, a range of weapons and armor, and a unique party system where you can recruit allies created by other players.

If you're craving a massive fantasy RPG akin to Skyrim, Dragon's Dogma 2 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a standout in the realm of 100-plus hour RPGs. Set in a dark, Slavic-mythology-inspired world filled with monsters, magic, and political intrigue, this game is often hailed as one of the best RPGs ever made. It features a vast open world with challenging battles, morally complex choices that impact the story, and an engrossing narrative.

You play as Geralt, a seasoned mercenary searching for his adopted daughter, Ciri, while facing off against the spectral warriors known as the Wild Hunt. The game allows you to explore a richly detailed world at your own pace, whether you're taking on monster contracts or following the main storyline.

After conquering Skyrim, The Witcher 3 and its expansive DLCs offer a worthy follow-up. It's available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC.

5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Moving into a more grounded medieval setting, Kingdom Come: Deliverance captures the sense of freedom found in Skyrim. This cult hit follows Henry, a blacksmith's son seeking revenge in 15th-century Bohemia. After his parents are murdered during a Cuman invasion, Henry flees and joins Lord Hanush of Leipa to pursue justice.

The game unfolds in a vast open world filled with authentic medieval locations, open-ended quests that respond to your decisions, and a detailed combat system. Kingdom Come: Deliverance focuses on immersion, with survival mechanics that require you to manage food, sleep, hygiene, and armor degradation.

For a more involved RPG experience with a realistic setting, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC. Its sequel, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, released in February 2025, is an even better follow-up, so it's definitely worth exploring.

6. Elden Ring

Elden Ring is a challenging RPG that rewards perseverance. FromSoftware's latest offering combines dark fantasy with an unparalleled sense of exploration. The game masterfully hides new areas and rewards off the beaten path, ensuring that every exploration is meaningful.

Set in a dying world that tests your limits, Elden Ring's expansive landscapes and punishing combat make it a gratifying experience. With the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and the upcoming standalone adventure Elden Ring Nightreign in May, it's an ideal time to dive into The Lands Between.

If you've finished Skyrim and crave a new world to conquer, Elden Ring is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

7. Fallout 4

Though not a fantasy RPG, Fallout 4 shares many design philosophies with Skyrim. This open-world RPG allows you to craft a unique character, explore vast environments, and undertake quests, but in a post-apocalyptic setting.

As the Sole Survivor, you emerge from a vault to search for your kidnapped son in the ruins of Boston, facing off against mutant creatures and various factions. Like Skyrim, Fallout 4 lets you explore freely, offering a rich experience that echoes the Elder Scrolls series.

Fallout 4 is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC and remains one of Bethesda's top offerings.

8. Dragon Age: Inquisition

Dragon Age: Inquisition offers a sprawling fantasy RPG experience with over 80 hours of gameplay. You lead The Inquisition to save Thedas from mysterious rifts, exploring massive open-world maps, defeating monsters, and uncovering the story.

Similar to Skyrim, you can customize your character, choose their class and race, and embark on your adventure. As you progress, you'll recruit party members, complete quests, and make choices that shape the narrative and Thedas itself.

After Skyrim, Dragon Age: Inquisition is another meaty RPG to dive into, especially with Dragon Age: The Veilguard releasing in 2024. It's available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

9. Baldur's Gate 3

While Baldur's Gate 3 differs from Skyrim in gameplay, it shares the spirit of an expansive fantasy RPG. This top-down CRPG focuses on strategic combat, party management, and quest completion based on your party's abilities.

Baldur's Gate 3 is an excellent introduction to CRPGs, offering a vast world with tactical combat, compelling storylines, and quests that evolve with your choices. It encourages experimentation and offers immense freedom in character creation and quest approaches.

If you enjoyed Skyrim's freedom, Baldur's Gate 3 will resonate with you. It's available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

10. Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

A cult classic revived through its 2020 remaster, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is ideal for those looking for a new fantasy RPG post-Skyrim. You play as the Fateless One, resurrected by the Well of Souls, on a quest to save the world of Amalur from a destructive fate.

Exploring the Faelands, you can build your character, choose a class, and freely complete quests and battle formidable foes. It's available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.

11. The Forgotten City

Originally a Skyrim mod, The Forgotten City was expanded into a full game due to its compelling narrative. The story begins in modern-day Italy, where you're transported back to Ancient Rome trapped in a time loop governed by the "Golden Rule."

The Forgotten City is a detective game that uses Skyrim's fundamentals to create a unique experience. It focuses on exploration, dialogue, and uncovering mysteries rather than combat, offering a fresh take on the genre.

If you're looking for something akin to Skyrim but with a twist, The Forgotten City is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.

12. Outward: Definitive Edition

Outward is a hardcore RPG that casts you as an everyday person tasked with paying off a debt. This quickly evolves into a large-scale open-world adventure across Aurai, where you must survive harsh environments and face challenging threats.

The game emphasizes realism and consequence, with survival mechanics like hunger and sleep, and quests that can fail if not managed properly. Without fast travel, you must navigate the world carefully, and instead of respawning, random events move you around the map.

For a unique twist on Skyrim's exploration, Outward is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC.

13. The Elder Scrolls Online

The Elder Scrolls Online offers an MMO experience in the beloved Elder Scrolls universe. You can explore various realms of Tamriel, including Skyrim, Cyrodil, Morrowind, and more, completing new quests and joining other players in your adventures.

With numerous DLCs enhancing the game over the years, The Elder Scrolls Online provides a vast, evolving world for fans to continue their Elder Scrolls journey. It's available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.