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 March 2, 2025 by Mark Sammut: February 2025 was pretty good for RPGs and open-world games. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a must-play for anyone craving an immersive historical RPG, while Monster Hunter Wilds is another solid entry in a franchise that rarely misses the mark. However, the month included one game similar to Skyrim that deserves a special mention. Click below to jump to this recent release.
28 Gothic Series
Two Great Immersive RPGs And An Ambitious Open-World
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Gothic Gothic 2 Gothic 3 Platform(s) Switch, PC PC PC Released 2001-11-23 2003-10-28 2006-11-20 Developer(s) Piranha Bytes Piranha Bytes Piranha Bytes Genre(s) RPG Action RPG Action RPG How Long To Beat 23 Hours 35 Hours 45 Hours
Piranha Bytes is associated with Eurojank, which generally refers to ambitious projects that come with a few rough edges. The Risen and Elex series both have their fans, but the developer's crowning achievement is Gothic, particularly the first two entries. Now, before saying anything else, it needs to be noted that all three games debuted in the early 2000s, and they were not exactly high-end releases for their era. Consequently, anyone looking to jump into this series will need to have some appreciation for old-school RPGs. Let's highlight all three games as they each have something to offer.
Every Game By Piranha Bytes, Ranked
Piranha Bytes has experienced a mixed bag of success, to say the least. Here's how every game stacks up.
- Gothic – Arguably the most original game in the series, Gothic emphasizes immersion above nearly everything else, creating a living and breathing community that still impresses all these years later. Players will find themselves in a colony that is effectively a prison, and they will have to interact with three factions. The game does an incredible job of making NPCs feel, for the lack of a better word, "real." They interact with each other rather than just the protagonist, and they exist within a clear hierarchy that impacts gameplay. Players are extremely weak at the start, and they will die if they venture into areas they should not touch. More importantly, NPCs know that the player is vulnerable and treat them as such.
- Gothic 2 – Probably the best game in the trilogy, the sequel mostly improves upon its predecessor's ideas. While the story is not quite as memorable as the first entry, Gothic 2 presents a bigger world, more interesting quests, and improved gameplay. That said, newcomers should still start with the original game since its ending leads directly into the sequel.
- Gothic 3 – The most polarizing entry, Gothic 3 is arguably the closest to The Elder Scrolls. While the previous games have pseudo-open-worlds, the 2006 release goes fully in that direction, resulting in a fairly uneven and unfocused overall experience. Gothic 3 was and still is ambitious, but it arguably was a step too far for Piranha Bytes at the time. Risen and Elex are both "traditional" open-world games.
27 Path Of Exile 2
An Early Access Action RPG That Could Become The Best In Class
Path of Exile II
- Released
- December 6, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Grinding Gear Games
- Early Access Release
- December 6, 2024
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash, MMORPG
Path of Exile 2 is too good to not, at the very least, be suggested to action RPG fans; that said, the game is wildly different from Skyrim, so expectations should be kept realistic. Played from an isometric angle and focusing heavily on loot and build customization, Grinding Gear's game is undeniably inspired by the likes of Diablo rather than Elder Scrolls, specifically the earlier entries in Blizzard's franchise.
Path of Exile 2: Hardest Classes To Master
Path of Exile 2's early access version has six classes that come with their own strengths and weaknesses. Some PoE2 classes are harder than others.
Players spend the vast majority of their time killing mobs of enemies, collecting loot, and tweaking their loadouts with new weapons, armor, gems, and passive perks. The early access version offers a three-act story, which is roughly half the length that will be available in the final version. Players need to play through this content twice to access the endgame, which is fairly robust despite the RPG's currently unfinished state. Even if someone decides to just play the campaign, they will be kept busy for a good 50 hours.
PoE2 does not have too many direct similarities with Skyrim, except for the fact they both represent the RPG genre at its best. Still, Grinding Gear's game offers an impressive selection of base classes that feel unique, along with a massive (and overwhelming) range of options to tweak a build to suit somebody's fancy. These systems are not particularly close to Skyrim's progression, but they can scratch the same general itch.
Path of Exile 2's early access version comes with a price, but the full release will be free.
26 Dragon Age: The Veilguard
A Polarizing RPG In One Of The All-Time Beloved Franchises
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Released
- October 31, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- RPG
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.
Dragon Age The Veilguard: 10 Things You Should Do In The First 10 Hours
Veilguard will take players on a journey that lasts about 50-100 hours. Here are some things that players should focus on in the first section.
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.
25 Throne and Liberty
A Free-To-Play MMORPG With Depth & Ambition
Throne and Liberty
- Released
- October 1, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- NCSoft
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
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.
Throne And Liberty: 5 Best Builds For Clearing Dungeons
Clearing dungeons is a large part of Throne and Liberty’s grind, and these are some of the best PvE builds for players to make use of.
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.
24 Baldur's Gate 3
Deep Customization & Fluid Quests
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
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.
23 Ghost Of Tsushima
Third-Person Combat & Stunning Historical Open-World
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
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.
22 Cyberpunk 2077
Immersive Sci-Fi Metropolis
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
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.
21 Elden Ring
Soulslike Open-World
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
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.
Elden Ring: Hardest Areas, Ranked
Some areas in Elden Ring are nearly as challenging as the game's bosses; here are the hardest ones players can visit.
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.
20 Goat Simulator 3
An Open-World Parody
Goat Simulator 3
- Released
- November 17, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Coffee Stain North
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Adventure
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.
19 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild & Tears Of The Kingdom
Explore Hyrule Freely
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
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.