13 Must-Play Games for Skyrim Fans
- By Thomas
- Apr 28,2025
There's nothing quite like the first time you explored Skyrim. From the moment you narrowly escape your grisly execution in Helgen and emerge into the legendary RPG's vast wilderness, it's an adventure that allows you to go anywhere and everywhere with no limitations. It's this sense of sheer freedom that's kept millions of players returning to its cold, untamed landscape for over a decade.
After spending years exploring the many different versions of Skyrim that have been released, it's safe to say we're all looking for new games to scratch that fantasy adventuring itch. So, to ease the wait until we get an official follow-up in the long-anticipated Elder Scrolls 6, we've compiled a list of some of the best games in the same vein as Skyrim that you can play right now.
1. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
An obvious choice to start our list, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion offers an experience that's similar in style and scope to Skyrim. As the fourth game in Bethesda's landmark RPG series, Oblivion may be Skyrim's predecessor, but it still encapsulates all the elements that made its younger sibling so popular.
You step into the shoes of a prisoner thrust into a conflict involving demonic gods, fiery portals to a hellish plane, and the assassination of Tamriel's emperor. Your journey takes you across the land of Cyrodil, where you're free to explore at your own pace, complete quests, align with factions, and develop your character through new skills, weapons, armor sets, and spells.
In essence, it's more Elder Scrolls, providing a great way to continue your journey through Tamriel while you wait for Elder Scrolls 6. Oblivion is available on PC and can be played on Xbox Series X | S and Xbox One through backwards compatibility.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
As the poster child of the Nintendo Switch and one of the finest fantasy RPGs ever crafted, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an unmissable gem. Nintendo's acclaimed reinvention of its seminal series offers everything you could want: a secret-filled open world, physics-based systems for battling enemies and navigating challenging terrains, captivating quests, a stunning art style, and more.
Breath of the Wild doesn't hold your hand; instead, it sets you free in a fully explorable Hyrule with essential tools and the freedom to do as you please. Whether you're scouring the land for lore, climbing the highest peaks, or charging straight into the final boss's lair, the choice is yours from the moment you descend from the Great Plateau.
If you're seeking a game that mirrors the freedom and unguided exploration of Skyrim, Breath of the Wild is the perfect substitute. It's available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch, and you can also dive into its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, for a similar experience.
3. Dragon's Dogma 2
One of the more recent additions to our list, Dragon's Dogma 2 is a sprawling RPG that places exploration at its core. Set across two realms, Vermund and Battahl, you step into the boots of The Arisen, a player-created warrior whose heart was stolen by an ancient dragon.
Your quest to find and slay this dragon takes you across a vast, untamed world. Much like Skyrim, the allure of Dragon's Dogma 2 lies in its deep focus on exploration. The world is brimming with secrets, and with monsters roaming every corner, you'll create organic stories as you battle colossal foes and survive by the skin of your teeth.
It's a rich RPG experience, with various classes to master, a wide array 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 on the scale of Skyrim, Dragon's Dogma 2 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Among the pantheon of RPGs that demand over 100 hours of your time, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt stands out. Set in a grim, Slavic-mythology-inspired world filled with monsters, magic, and political intrigue, it's often hailed as one of the greatest RPGs ever made. The game features a vast open world packed with challenging battles, morally complex choices that affect quest outcomes, and a compelling narrative.
You play as Geralt, a gruff, white-haired, yellow-eyed mercenary on a quest to find his surrogate daughter, Ciri. His journey takes him through perilous landscapes, where he faces mythical creatures and the spectral warriors known as the Wild Hunt.
Like Skyrim, The Witcher 3 gives you the basics and then sets you free in a rich fantasy world. Whether you choose to live as a bounty hunter, taking on monster contracts while ignoring the main quest, or confront the Wild Hunt head-on by following its intricately written story, the choice is yours. The base game and its expansive DLCs are well worth exploring after you've conquered Skyrim. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC.
5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Moving away from high fantasy to a more grounded medieval epic, Kingdom Come: Deliverance captures the sense of freedom that Skyrim offers. This cult hit from 2018 tells the tale of Henry, a blacksmith's son on a quest for revenge.
Set in 15th-century Bohemia, the story follows Henry, who, after his parents are brutally murdered during a Cuman invasion, flees his village and joins the service of Lord Hanush of Leipa. The game then lets you loose in a vast open world filled with authentic medieval settings, open-ended quests that respond to your decisions, and an intricate combat system.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance emphasizes immersion, from its intense battles to its survival mechanics, which require you to manage everything from food and sleep to hygiene and armor condition. If you're looking for a more involved RPG experience with a realistic setting, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, released in February 2025, is even better than its predecessor, making it well worth checking out too.
6. Elden Ring
For those who enjoy a challenge, Elden Ring is a punishing yet incredibly rewarding RPG. FromSoftware's latest offering is a masterclass in exploration, with hidden paths leading to new areas and valuable rewards tucked away in every corner. No area is meaningless, and every detour is potentially fruitful, making you feel like you're charting your own course through a living, breathing world—a world that, while harsh, richly rewards your curiosity.
With the game's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion now available and the standalone adventure Elden Ring Nightreign coming in May, there's never been a better time to dive in. If you've finished Skyrim and are looking for a new world to explore without minding the occasional battle with a giant lobster, The Lands Between await. Elden Ring is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
7. Fallout 4
While it's far from a fantasy RPG, Fallout 4 shares many design philosophies with Skyrim. This massive open-world RPG from Bethesda lets you craft a unique character, explore vast environments, and complete a variety of quests. The difference? Instead of casting spells at mud crabs, you'll be shooting mutant abominations while listening to alternate-history corporate propaganda.
Set in Boston, Fallout 4 follows the Sole Survivor, a vault dweller on a mission to rescue their kidnapped son from a mysterious faction known as The Institute. Like Skyrim, this mission is just one of many objectives scattered across the Wasteland, allowing you to explore freely without guidance. If you're looking for a game with Skyrim's DNA but with a post-apocalyptic twist, Fallout 4 is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, and remains one of Bethesda's best titles.
8. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Another sprawling fantasy RPG, Dragon Age: Inquisition offers over 80 hours of gameplay. You're tasked with saving the realm of Thedas from mysterious rifts in the sky, leading a faction called The Inquisition. As you explore massive open-world maps, defeat monsters, and uncover the story, you'll build your character, choose their class and race, and embark on your adventure.
Like Skyrim, Inquisition lets you add new party members, complete a variety of quests, and make choices that impact the story, your keep, and Thedas itself. It's a meaty fantasy RPG to dive into after Skyrim, and now is a great time to start, as you can move on to Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2024. Dragon Age: Inquisition is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
9. Baldur's Gate 3
While Baldur's Gate 3 and Skyrim differ in gameplay, with Baldur's Gate being a top-down CRPG focused on strategic combat and party management, it's a must-play for fans of expansive fantasy RPGs. Its world is a meticulously crafted expanse of tactical combat, engrossing stories, and quests that react to your choices, creating a personalized experience.
Baldur's Gate 3 allows you to mix and match a vast array of classes, races, and backstories during character creation and gives you the freedom to approach and complete quests as you see fit. If you enjoyed Skyrim's unguided exploration, Baldur's Gate 3 will feel right at home. 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 who've finished Skyrim and are looking for another fantasy RPG with engaging combat, a vast world, and numerous quests. You play as the Fateless One, a corpse resurrected by the Well of Souls, free from the constraints of fate.
Your journey takes you through the Faelands, where you'll build your character, choose a class, and freely explore, completing quests, delving into dungeons, and defeating formidable foes. Kingdoms of Amalur is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
11. The Forgotten City
The Forgotten City is unique on this list as it began life as a Skyrim mod. Its compelling narrative starts in modern-day Italy, where you awaken on an island after being rescued by a mysterious woman. After exploring a strange ruin, you're transported back to Ancient Rome, trapped in an eternal time loop triggered by a mysterious "Golden Rule."
While it retains Skyrim's fundamental elements, The Forgotten City is primarily a detective game, focusing on talking to citizens, uncovering clues, and solving the underlying mystery with minimal combat. If you're after a Skyrim-like experience that innovates on the formula, The Forgotten City is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
12. Outward: Definitive Edition
For fans of hardcore adventures, Outward casts you as an ordinary person trying to pay off a debt within five days. However, your journey quickly escalates into a large-scale open-world epic across the land of Aurai, facing tough threats and battling the elements to survive.
Outward stands out with its focus on realism and consequences, including survival systems that require you to manage hunger, sleep, and environmental challenges. Quests can fail if not completed in time, and there's no fast travel; instead, you trigger random events upon "death." If you're seeking Skyrim's open-world exploration with unique twists, Outward is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC.
13. The Elder Scrolls Online
If you're ready to move on from Skyrim, why not continue your Elder Scrolls journey with friends? The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMO set in various realms across Tamriel, featuring a plethora of new quests.
From Skyrim and Cyrodil to Morrowind and Highrock, you'll revisit familiar locations and explore new ones like the Khajit homeland of Elsweyr and the High Elves' Summerset. Along the way, you can team up with other players to defeat enemies, complete missions, and develop unique characters.
If you've exhausted Skyrim's content and crave more Elder Scrolls, The Elder Scrolls Online, updated with numerous DLCs over the years, is a surefire choice. It's available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
And that's our pick of games Skyrim fans will love! Do you agree with our list, or are some of your top picks missing? You can share your own top games like Skyrim lists with us via IGN Playlist, our tool that allows you to keep track of your gaming library, create lists, and even rank them, discover what some of your favorite creators are playing, and more. Head over to IGN Playlist to find out more and start creating your own lists to share with us!
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