The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is one of the best video games ever developed. Although it’s an exceptional game, a good proportion of the gaming community has already poured countless hours into the game across numerous characters, platforms, and both modded and unmodded versions. What other open-world games are worth exploring if Skyrim has no more secrets left to give?
While there’s only one Skyrim, there are other open world games that can scratch the same itch. These titles capture the qualities that make Skyrim great, like its expansive world and layers of lore. From Nintendo classics like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to fantasy games like The Witcher 3, players looking for more games like Skyrim should check these titles out.
10
Fallout 4 Was Also Developed By Bethesda
The Fallout Franchise Takes Place In a Post-Apocalyptic World
Players who love Skyrim but are starting to feel bored by its fantasy setting have a terrific alternative in Fallout, Bethesda’s other open-world RPG series. Fallout 4, the fourth main game in the series, has a vast world filled with interesting companions and deep character customization, but it also has features that Skyrim is lacking, like its excellent gunplay.
One of Fallout 4‘s highlights is its settlement-building mechanics, which encourage players to scavenge for materials to build new structures and bring the wasteland back to life. While other games in the Fallout series, like New Vegas, are also worth checking out, Fallout 4 is the perfect title for Skyrim fans to start with.
- Released
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November 10, 2015
- ESRB
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M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
9
Dragon’s Dogma II Is an Underrated Open-World RPG
Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma Series Deserves a Bigger Audience
Dragon’s Dogma is a fantastic, hidden gem of a series that has quietly produced two brilliantly expansive games. Players step into the literally heartless shoes of an “Arisen,” whose heart is stolen by an ancient dragon, forcing them on a quest across an untamed and varied world to defeat that very same dragon. A great feature of this game is that exploration is at the forefront of every mechanic, with a world spread across the two realms of Battahl and Vermund. Every inch of the land holds secrets and mysteries to uncover, all while contending with enemy and monster patrols.
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10 RPGs to Play While You Wait for Dragon’s Dogma 2
Final Fantasy XVI, Monster Hunter Rise, and Elden Ring are some great RPGs to play while waiting on the anticipated release of Dragon’s Dogma II.
The vastness of location, lore, and exploration is comparable to Skyrim, along with the clear importance of dragons to both the storyline and the world. Both protagonists are linked to an ancient dragon whose return grants them special abilities. However, two areas where Dragon’s Dogma II surpasses Skyrim are its companion/party system and its wide array of weapons, armor, and abilities. The protagonist can travel with three other characters throughout the world, and there are four starting classes, or “vocations,” with six more becoming available as the game progresses.
Dragon’s Dogma II
- Released
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January 1, 2024
- ESRB
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M for Mature
8
Diablo IV Is the Latest Entry In a Series That Defined Action RPGs
Diablo IV Is Jam-Packed With Content and Can Keep Players Busy Forever
The Diablo series is often heralded as the true and original innovator of the action role-playing game genre, with the first game offering a traditional RPG experience but with far faster and more intense combat than was typical at the time. The fourth installment has received huge critical acclaim, featuring dynamic combat, interesting characters, in-depth customization options, and countless hours of content thanks to its online model, which adds updates, DLCs, and time-sensitive missions and quests.
Diablo IV also offers incredibly satisfying, if somewhat basic, combat that relies heavily on special abilities the player can level up throughout the game. While Skyrim‘s combat is built around choosing a specific weapon or playstyle to train up and taking on four or five enemies at a time, Diablo IV throws swarms of enemies at the player, often from all sides. The game is more detached than others, with its isometric camera view reducing the need for the same level of detail as Skyrim, but there are still plenty of secrets to uncover, mysteries to solve, and evil to crush.
Diablo 4 Ultimate Edition
- Released
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June 5, 2023
- ESRB
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Mature (17+)
7
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Is a Near-Perfect Sequel
Tears of the Kingdom Shows Why Zelda Is One of the Most Iconic Game Series of All Time
The Zelda series is filled with incredible titles and consistently evolved since it made its debut in 1986. In recent years, it has undergone something of a genre shift, with both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom cementing their places among the best open world games of all time. TotK lets players experience a sprawling open world that’s reminiscent of a heavily modded Skyrim, with incredibly creative weapon-crafting options and the ability to build contraptions like vehicles.
Tears of the Kingdom builds on everything that Breath of the Wild did and delivers a three-tiered open world where players can explore on land, in the sky, or underground. The visuals are breathtaking, and the level of freedom it provides naturally encourages discovery. Players who love wandering in Skyrim will want to spend hours journeying across Hyrule.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Standard Edition
Puzzle
Action-Adventure
Fighting
- Released
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May 12, 2023
- ESRB
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Everyone (10+)
6
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Has Incredible World-Building and Lore
Wild Hunt Is the Game That Put The Witcher Series On the Map
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt lets players step into the rugged boots of Geralt of Rivia, a skilled monster hunter. Set within one of the most expansive and richly populated open worlds in gaming history, The Witcher 3 offers an immersive experience that can take around 170 hours to fully complete, offering more than enough to keep players occupied after exploring every dungeon and cave in the Nords’ homeland to the north. This is the game that truly propelled The Witcher into pop culture and helped spawn the incredibly successful Netflix series and even a standalone game based on the in-game card game Gwent.
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Before Elden Ring, The Witcher 3 Brought Must-Play Side Quests to Open World Games
The Witcher 3 was praised for its stellar combat and beautiful open world, but fans loved its side quests more than anything else.
There are many similarities between The Witcher 3 and Skyrim, making it a perfect choice for fans to explore. While The Witcher 3 doesn’t have character creation, there’s enough freedom in missions and discussions to allow for countless playthroughs with different outcomes. Its deep lore and well-developed characters stand toe-to-toe with The Elder Scrolls series and blend seamlessly with fast-paced, dynamic combat against both man and beast.
- Released
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May 19, 2015
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
5
Dragon Age: Inquisition Is the High Point of the Series
Inquisition Tells the Tale of the Herald of Andraste
Taking place 12 years after Dragon Age: Origins and 10 years before Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Dragon Age: Inquisition is the largest game in the series, giving players more locations to explore, greater control over world events, and an expansive storyline filled with twists and turns. Players take on the role of the Herald of Andraste, one of the few survivors of a magical attack during peace talks between the mages and Templars of Thedas.
While Dragon Age: Inquisition‘s open world isn’t as freely traversable as Skyrim‘s, it more than makes up for it with the sheer level of detail in each location, as well as its rich story and character arcs. Depending on race and class, certain dialogue choices and even exclusive missions become available, all tied to a ready-made backstory explaining the character’s presence at the peace talks. A human character, for instance, might come from a wealthy family seeking recognition at the event, already know Josephine the diplomat, and have missions involving stopping their family from exploiting their newfound “Herald” status for personal gain.
Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Released
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November 18, 2014
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language
4
Elden Ring Is a Colossal Game With Fascinating Lore
Elden Ring Is Challenging, But Deeply Rewarding
Elden Ring released to immense hype, captivated the entire gaming community and went on to win hundreds of Game of the Year Awards, including the top prize at The Game Awards. The game offers unparalleled customization, non-linear exploration, and some of the most intense and well-crafted boss fights in gaming.
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25 Best Elden Ring Quotes
From Elden Ring’s narrator to infamous bosses like Malenia, Blade Of Miquella, the game’s greatest quotes enrich the game’s mysterious lore.
One thing always missing in games like Demon’s Souls or Bloodborne was the inclusion of mounts, but Elden Ring changes that. Mounts are especially appreciated due to the game’s increased scale. The map is roughly divided into 10 distinct regions, each with its own unique look, missions, and secrets to uncover. No area in the game feels “useless,” as hidden paths and rewards make even minor detours worthwhile.
- Released
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February 25, 2022
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
3
The Forgotten City Is a Skyrim Mod Turned Game
The Forgotten City Feels Like a Skyrim Murder Mystery
The Forgotten City began as a Skyrim mod of the same name but eventually expanded in scope to become a standalone game. Set in an open-world Roman city, it takes some of the best aspects of The Elder Scrolls and uses them to create something entirely new. While it has minimal combat, its gripping narrative and richly developed world are sure to appeal to Skyrim fans.
While The Forgotten City begins in modern-day Rome, players are soon transported back in time to a city trapped in a time loop. Every time a law called “The Golden Rule” is broken, the world resets. It’s up to players to explore the city, play detective, and uncover its mysteries. Skyrim players who enjoy narrative mods won’t want to miss this story-driven game.
The Forgotten City
- Released
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July 28, 2021
- ESRB
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T For Teen due to Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Is One of the Best Games of 2025 So Far
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Is a More Realistic Open-World RPG
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II may not have the same level of fantasy elements in its everyday gameplay as Skyrim, but for those who explore enough, there are some pretty strange occurrences. Hidden Easter eggs include what appear to be small dinosaurs running through a cave system, alien bodies, a creepy post-game encounter with an old woman who seems to be Death, and various interactions with divine beings.
Gamers looking for a Skyrim alternative will appreciate Kingdom Come: Deliverance II‘s realism, deep storytelling, and rewarding exploration. There’s also a certain charm to its weird and wonderful characters, reminiscent of Bethesda titles, along with standout missions that are both unique and humorous. The Devil’s Pack, whom Henry recruits and fights alongside in the Kuttenberg region, is filled with wildly interesting and eccentric personalities.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
RPG
Action-Adventure
Open-World
- Released
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February 4, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
Only an Elder Scrolls Game Can Capture the Skyrim Experience
For another experience like The Elder Scrolls, it makes sense to look within its own catalog. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is the precursor to Skyrim and follows the Hero of Kvatch as they rise from prisoner to savior of the realm. Set in Cyrodiil, the heart of the Empire, the game begins with the assassination of the emperor and his heirs, leading to an invasion by the dark Daedric forces of Mehrunes Dagon. Though part of the same series, Oblivion differs from Skyrim by leaning more toward old-school fantasy-style leveling and progression
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10 Best Elder Scrolls NPCs You Should Always Talk To
From Paarthurnax to Serana, The Elder Scrolls series is filled with fascinating NPCs.
Still regarded as one of the best in the series, Oblivion is a must-play for anyone introduced to The Elder Scrolls after its release. It showcases the dragon-slayer-turned-emperor’s protectors, The Blades, at a high point in their history and arguably features stronger faction questlines than Skyrim. Players navigate betrayals in the Dark Brotherhood, witness the rise of a new Gray Fox, and experience a magical war between the Mages Guild and Necromancers, among other brilliant and bizarre moments. This game easily tops the list, offering enough differences to feel fresh and exciting while remaining comfortably within the familiar Elder Scrolls universe.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
- Released
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March 20, 2006
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
