Are you looking for games like Skyrim? Well, who could blame you? There's a reason it's been released on ten different platforms (so far). It's one of the best open-world games there is, crammed full of stories and secrets. Perhaps you've finally squeezed every last drop of adventure out of it, or maybe you're just enjoying it so much that you're hungry to discover similar games. Regardless of the reason, if your quest for games like Skyrim has taken an arrow to the knee, we're here to help.
You'll find some of the best RPGs and even some of the best action games in this list, each a fantastic adventure in its own right while offering a sprinkle of Skyrim somewhere. Romance, turn-based fights, robot dinosaurs… there's something for everyone here. So, sit back and relax (or perch on the edge of your seat, ready for action if you prefer) while we introduce the best games like Skyrim to play ahead of the Elder Scrolls 6.
The best games like Skyrim to play right now
10. Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Available on: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
If you want to take a break from being the Dragonborn but you're still eager for more adventures in the same world, Skyrim's predecessor is the obvious choice. Originally released in 2006, Oblivion was groundbreaking for its time and still holds up very well today. You start off as a prisoner who gets visited by Emperor Uriel Septim (voiced by Patrick Stewart). Suddenly, you find yourself thrown into an epic adventure to find Septim's heir.
Oh, and there's the small matter of shutting the Oblivion gates, which are causing chaos by allowing all sorts of nasty creatures to enter the lands of Tamriel. With similar - albeit slightly more complex - combat, a fantastic main storyline, and endless quests and locations to explore, this is a must for anyone who might have missed out on this one before they dived into Skyrim. And since many references to the events and characters of Oblivion can be found throughout your Dragonborn adventures, it'll also help you brush up on your Elder Scrolls lore.
Read our The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion review
9. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Developer: CDPR
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch
As one of the best fantasy RPGs in recent memory, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an absolute must. In the shoes of monster-slayer Geralt of Rivia, you're tasked with finding Ciri, who happens to be the heir to the Cintra throne. In the race to find her before the Wild Hunt, you'll be thrown into monster fights, political unrest, and so much more besides. Much like Skyrim, you can decide how you play out your adventure in its rich world, fit to bursting with story-driven quests and areas to explore.
The scope and depth of The Witcher 3 make for one unforgettable experience, with fantastical beast battles and gorgeous vistas to soak up. Honestly, there's so much to do and discover that you can easily wind up spending hours exploring the vast landscapes without touching the main storyline. Sound familiar? If you've been sitting on this one, the Game of the Year Edition includes the excellent Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone DLCs, which give you oodles of additional gameplay. There are endless hours of adventuring to be had.
Read our The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt review
8. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Developer: Capcom
Available on: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch
Capcom's open-world action-adventure has one very obvious thing in common with Skyrim: dragons. You take on the role of the Arisen, a character whose heart is stolen by a dragon and gets resurrected to defeat the very same beast. In its fantastical setting of Gransys Island, you'll traverse through dangerous dungeons and face many different monsters of all shapes and sizes - so if you're already missing the dragon fights, Dragon's Dogma can fill that need.
And if you're someone who loves spending hours crafting your character, you’ll be glad to know there are lots of character creation customization options to help you nail the look of your Arisen. The combat is not unlike Skyrim's, with specializations to choose from and skillsets to advance. How you fight is entirely up to you. It has plenty of intrigue and mystery, and the variety of foes you face keeps it exciting and fresh.
7. The Elder Scrolls Online
Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
You can't get much closer to Skyrim than The Elder Scrolls Online without, well, going back to Skyrim. That said, you sort of can go back via Bethesda's MMO; the 2020 expansion Greymoor added Western Skyrim as a new region. While it's set 1,000 years earlier, the snowy mountains will surely trigger a bit of fantasy nostalgia. If it's dragons you miss, then it's the Elsweyr expansion you want, with a storyline that introduces them in the homeland of the Khajiit.
All those hours you've put into Skyrim will ease you into the experience here, as many of the controls and mechanics are the same while introducing many new activities and, of course, a series of brand-new quests. As an MMO, almost everything can be played with others, but The Elder Scrolls Online also works perfectly as a solo experience if that's what you want to recreate.
Read our The Elder Scrolls Online review
6. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Developer: BioWare
Available on: PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS3
Enjoy saving the day and fighting dragons? Well, BioWare's third entry in the Dragon Age series will make you feel right at home. In the world of Thedas, a giant breach in the sky has opened up a passage to the fade, and demons are leaking out. Oh no! Thankfully, you're quite literally on hand to help, thanks to accidentally gaining the power to close rifts. After being captured and questioned by the Inquisition, you join their efforts to put the world to rights and restore order.
This is another story-driven adventure that lets you decide how to face your adventures. With some of the best characters in any BioWare game (hello Dorian), lots of epic battles, dragon fights, skills to enhance, and areas to explore, it has so much potential for replayability. And if you enjoyed getting married in Skyrim but yearned for some more in-depth romance, Dragon Age: Inquisition's got you covered. After you're done with this one, you can also pick up the new game in the series, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, as well!
Read our Dragon Age: Inquisition review
5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Developer: Warhorse Studios
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
The Kingdom Come: Deliverance games are often compared to Skyrim and other Elder Scrolls titles and with good reason. You can think of them as Skyrim without the fantasy elements but with a generous dollop of realism. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II sees the return of Henry of Skalitz, who finds that the demands of medieval life provide just as much of a challenge as the enemies that want him dead.
As in Skyrim, you have a large and intricately detailed world to explore, full of small settlements that won't take kindly to any randomly aggressive behavior. The medieval setting, first-person perspective, and huge script will help fans of Bethesda's legendary adventure feel at home. That said, survival elements such as hunger and the need to rest periodically ensure that there's still a unique identity here and a new kind of challenge for those looking for games like Skyrim with a new, challenging twist.
Read our Kingdom Come: Deliverance II review
4. Fallout: New Vegas
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Platform(s): PC, Xbox 360, PS3
One of the best things about Skyrim is its massive map and the ability to fully explore the world without even having to engage in the main quest line. In fact, you have the option never to become the Dragonborn if you really want to, instead focusing on faction quest lines and building up your wealth without having to worry about any pesky dragons. Fallout: New Vegas gives you that same freedom since you don’t have to really go to New Vegas until you are good and ready. The wasteland is full of things for you to explore and quest lines to pick up.
If you haven't played New Vegas yet, not only does it offer a true RPG experience like Skyrim, but it's also the best Fallout game ever made. You play as a courier who, after being shot in the head, must make their way to New Vegas. Along the way you learn of a war brewing, meet various factions, and have a ton of exploration to do. It's a marvelous post-apocalyptic world and gives you the Skyrim experience only with a desolate sci-fi lens.
Read our Fallout: New Vegas review
3. Horizon Zero Dawn
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Available on: PC, PS4
OK, so maybe there aren't any dragons in this one either, but there are robotic dinosaurs. Horizon Zero Dawn's gorgeous snowy mountainous landscapes and rolling grassy hillsides set the scene for one of the most refreshing and interesting stories in an open-world RPG to date. You play as Aloy, a hunter in a post-apocalyptic world populated by mysterious robotic creatures.
Treated as an outcast by nearby tribes, Aloy sets out to discover her true origin story. Aloy can take on the robotic creatures with craftable bows, spears, and traps with various different powers and effects. There's so much to explore and discover, with engaging side quests, diverse characters, and many, many collectibles to find. It'll certainly keep you busy. If you fall in love with Aloy's adventure, it can also be worth checking out the sequel Horizon Forbidden West.
Read our Horizon Zero Dawn review
2. Baldur's Gate 3
Developer: Larian Studios
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Any excuse to recommend Baldur's Gate 3 is a good excuse. Everything about the game - the writing, the acting, the costumes, the art design - comes together to create a fascinating world that begs you to explore and save/destroy/dominate it, depending on your mood. Like Skyrim, there are plenty of optional quests and hidden areas to find. It's no exaggeration to say you could miss out on dozens of hours of content depending on the choices you make.
Choice is a big part of the experience in fact, and if you wished for more of that in Skyrim, this is the perfect next step for you. Many fights can be avoided via stealth or silver-tongued chatter, and companions can be befriended, romanced, killed, or never encountered at all, according to the path you take. If you want a deep open-world game that's as enjoyable as it is unpredictable, you want Baldur's Gate 3.
Read our Baldur's Gate 3 review
1. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Developer: 38 Studios
Available on: PC, PS3, Xbox One (backwards compatible)
A fantasy RPG with some MMO elements, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning has plenty of similarities that might appeal to fans of Elder Scrolls. As the Fateless One who is resurrected back to life to a world torn apart by war, you set out to change fate itself. Heavy stuff. Kingdoms of Amalur's open-world setting gives you a lot of room to explore.
Complete with four playable classes to choose from and a generous helping of customization options, you're free to decide how you play. Oblivion's lead designer, Ken Rolston, even had a hand in its creation. As one of the only games released by 38 studios before it went under, it's a very solid RPG with a lot to offer. (You could also go after the remaster Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning, but honestly, we might recommend the original, warts and all.)
Read our Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review
If you're after more recommendations, check out our list of the best adventure games. Or look towards the future with our guide to all the new games heading our way.
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