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LIKE SKYRIM · RANKEDUPDATED JUN 12, 202610 min read

Best Games Like Skyrim

Skyrim is still one of the most-modded games ever made for a reason — it nailed the fantasy open world formula. These are the games that come closest to that feeling: rich worlds to get lost in, choices that matter, and hundreds of hours of content. All scores verified on Metacritic.

01OUR #1
TheWitcher3:
NSP
★BUY★NEXT SAVE POINT
Open World Fantasy RPG · PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch · 100h+ · MC: 92

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

“92 on Metacritic — Universal Acclaim. The best open world RPG ever made that isn't Bethesda. Geralt's world is staggeringly dense: every quest has weight, every region feels lived-in, and the writing embarrasses most games with ten times the budget. The Complete Edition with both expansions is essential.”

FOR · Skyrim players who want a deeper story and more reactive world — this is the answerNOT FOR · Players who want to build their own character — Geralt has a fixed personality and backstory
BUY9.2/10A+WORTH IT? YES

How we picked

  • Open world exploration weighted heavily — Skyrim is about wandering and discovering
  • Fantasy or RPG-adjacent settings prioritized — genre-adjacent picks clearly flagged
  • Metacritic scores verified for all main picks
  • Platform availability noted — Skyrim's console audience is massive
  • Dated games flagged — age is a factor when recommending to new players

The full list

02
KingdomCome:Deliverance
NSP
Historical Open World RPG · PC · PS5 · Xbox · 80h+ · MC: 89
PCPS5XSX

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

“89 on Metacritic, released February 2025. The most immersive medieval RPG ever made — no magic, no dragons, just 15th-century Bohemia rendered in stunning detail. The first-person perspective and realistic systems feel more like Skyrim than almost anything else on this list. One of 2025's best games.”

FOR · Players who want Skyrim's immersion and scale in a grounded realistic settingNOT FOR · Fantasy purists — there is no magic, no elves, no chosen one narrative
BUY8.9/10AWORTH IT? YES
03
Dragon'sDogma2
NSP
Action Fantasy RPG · PC · PS5 · Xbox · 60h+ · MC: 86
PCPS5XSX

Dragon's Dogma 2

“86 on Metacritic. GamingBolt called it 'a landmark release for open world action RPGs.' The pawn system — AI companions that learn and are shared between players — is unlike anything else in the genre. Combat against massive monsters is spectacular. The open world rewards exploration more than almost any other game.”

FOR · Skyrim players who want better action combat and more creative encountersNOT FOR · Players who want a deep narrative — Dragon's Dogma 2 prioritises systems over story
BUY8.6/10AWORTH IT? YES
04
DragonAge:Inquisition
NSP
Fantasy RPG · PC · PS5 · Xbox · 80h+ · MC: 85
PCPS5XSX

Dragon Age: Inquisition

“85 on Metacritic. BioWare's fantasy RPG epic — massive world, strong companion writing, and a political story that treats you like an adult. More party-focused than Skyrim, but the scale and world-building scratch the same itch. The Trespasser DLC ending is one of gaming's best.”

FOR · Players who want Skyrim's scale with better companion writing and political storytellingNOT FOR · Players who want solo action — Inquisition's party system and slower combat take adjustment
BUY8.5/10A-WORTH IT? YES
05
DragonAge:Origins
NSP
Fantasy RPG · PC · PS5 · Xbox · 60h · MC: ~91 (2009)
PCPS5XSX

Dragon Age: Origins

“One of the greatest fantasy RPGs ever made — BioWare at their absolute peak. Six origin stories, deep tactical combat, and a world that respects player intelligence. The 2009 age shows in presentation but the bones are extraordinary. Play if you can stomach dated visuals; skip to Inquisition if not.”

FOR · RPG veterans who don't mind dated presentation — the writing and systems hold up perfectlyNOT FOR · New players who need modern UI and graphics — start with Inquisition instead
WAIT9.1/10A+WORTH IT? KINDA
06
Assassin'sCreed:Odyssey
NSP
Open World Action RPG · PC · PS5 · Xbox · 60h+ · MC: ~85
PCPS5XSX

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

“Ancient Greece rendered in enormous detail, with full RPG character builds, dialogue choices, and a story with real branching. The closest thing to Skyrim in terms of 'giant open world, explore everything.' The bloat is real — the content list is overwhelming — but the core loop is extremely satisfying.”

FOR · Players who want Skyrim's exploration and scale in an ancient historical settingNOT FOR · Players who want focused, tight experiences — Odyssey is deliberately massive and sometimes padded
WAIT8.5/10A-WORTH IT? KINDA
07
TheOuterWorlds
NSP
Sci-Fi RPG · PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch · 25h · MC: 85
PCPS5XSXSwitch

The Outer Worlds

“85 on Metacritic. Obsidian making the Bethesda RPG Bethesda couldn't. First-person, stats-driven, open world-adjacent — all the DNA of Skyrim but in a corporate sci-fi satire. Shorter and more focused than Skyrim, which is either a bug or a feature depending on who's playing.”

FOR · Skyrim players who want the same RPG formula in a sci-fi setting with better writingNOT FOR · Players wanting hundreds of hours of content — The Outer Worlds is intentionally shorter at ~25 hours
WAIT8.5/10A-WORTH IT? KINDA
08
TheElderScrolls
NSP
Fantasy RPG · PC · PS5 · Xbox · 80h+ · MC: 80
PCPS5XSX

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

“80 on Metacritic, released April 2025. Skyrim's older sibling remade in Unreal Engine 5. The same world design, same quest structure, same exploration loop — with a dramatic visual overhaul. Oblivion's quirks (levelled enemies, potato faces) remain, but the bones of an Elder Scrolls game are always solid.”

FOR · Skyrim veterans who want to revisit the franchise's past or those who missed the originalNOT FOR · Players who expect Skyrim's polish — Oblivion is a 2006 game at heart, remaster or not
WAIT8.0/10B+WORTH IT? KINDA
09
Starfield
NSP
Space RPG · PC · Xbox · 60h+ · MC: ~83
PCXSX

Starfield

“Bethesda's space RPG — made by the exact team who built Skyrim, with the exact same systems and DNA, set in space. Divided opinion sharply: the handcrafted content is Bethesda-quality; the procedural planets are empty. If you can accept it on its own terms, there are 60+ hours of genuine Skyrim-quality questing here.”

FOR · Skyrim fans who want to see what Bethesda built next — the formula is identical, the setting is spaceNOT FOR · Players expecting No Man's Sky exploration — the open planets are largely barren
WAIT8.3/10B+WORTH IT? KINDA
10
TheElderScrolls
NSP
Fantasy MMO · PC · PS5 · Xbox · Endless · MC: ~71
PCPS5XSX

The Elder Scrolls Online

“The live MMO version of Skyrim's world — Tamriel fully realised with other players. Mixed at launch (71 MC) but substantially improved since. The base game is now free. If the 'Skyrim but with friends' pitch appeals, ESO delivers it. The MMO trappings remain a barrier for solo players expecting a traditional RPG.”

FOR · Players who want to explore Tamriel with friends or in an ongoing live worldNOT FOR · Solo RPG players — the MMO structure and social requirements fundamentally change the experience
WAIT7.1/10C+WORTH IT? KINDA
11
KingdomsofAmalur:
NSP
Action Fantasy RPG · PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch · 40h · MC: 72
PCPS5XSXSwitch

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

“72 on Metacritic — Mixed or Average. The combat is genuinely fluid and the world is large, but the story is forgettable and the remaster is thin. Plays like Skyrim if Skyrim were designed by committee. Not bad, just easily outclassed by everything above it. Worth it at a deep discount if you've finished the list above.”

FOR · Action RPG fans who've exhausted every better option on this listNOT FOR · Anyone starting their fantasy RPG journey — play Witcher 3 first
SKIP7.2/10C+WORTH IT? NAH
12
GreedFall
NSP
Fantasy Action RPG · PC · PS5 · Xbox · 30h · MC: 72
PCPS5XSX

GreedFall

“72 on Metacritic. Colonial-era fantasy RPG with diplomacy and companion mechanics. The ambition outpaces the budget — shallow combat, uneven writing, and repetitive quest design drag it below the genre's top tier. The story ideas are interesting; the execution isn't.”

FOR · Players hunting for hidden gem RPGs — this one is more 'average' than 'hidden'NOT FOR · New players — the stronger options above offer everything GreedFall attempts but better
SKIP7.2/10C+WORTH IT? NAH
13
Forspoken
NSP
Fantasy Action RPG · PC · PS5 · 20h · MC: ~68
PCPS5

Forspoken

“Around 68 on Metacritic. Square Enix's open world fantasy action game divided critics and angered players. The magical parkour movement is genuinely impressive; the writing and characters failed to land. A game of good ideas packaged in a product that didn't come together. Skip — the rest of this list is substantially better.”

FOR · Nobody specifically — the movement tech is interesting but not worth the full experienceNOT FOR · Everyone — play Dragon's Dogma 2 instead for the action RPG itch
SKIP6.8/10CWORTH IT? NAH
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HONORABLE MENTIONS · CUT FROM THIS LIST
BUY

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

89 on Metacritic (2002). The most atmospheric Elder Scrolls game ever made — alien world, no quest markers, pure exploration. Essential for genre historians. The OpenMW mod makes it playable in 2026.

BUY

Pillars of Eternity

~89 on Metacritic. Obsidian's CRPG revival — deep lore, tactical combat, and writing that rivals any RPG. More BG3 territory than Skyrim, but any fantasy RPG fan should play it.

WAIT

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

The 2024 Dragon Age sequel. Action-focused, more streamlined than Inquisition. Divisive among series veterans but a solid entry point for new fans. Solid option if the whole list above is finished.

WAIT

Gothic / Risen Series

German RPG classics. Rough edges, but the world reactivity and immersion punch above Skyrim in ways. Gothic 1 and 2 are genre landmarks for those willing to fight the controls.

BUY

Divinity: Original Sin 2

93 on OpenCritic. The deepest fantasy RPG outside BG3 — in our BG3 list as the #1 pick, but any Skyrim fan who loves RPG depth should play it regardless of the different turn-based combat.

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