The Top Games If You Enjoy Skyrim – Part 1

Here are the Top Games must tries for those who love The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Bethesda’s ambitious 2011 RPG.

It’s difficult to believe that The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim was launched more than ten years ago. Bethesda’s game, a masterwork in every way, takes place in a place called Skyrim 200 years after its predecessor. It centers on a Dragonborn on a mission to slay Alduin The World-Eater, a dragon with the power to end the world.

Many people found the game to be entertaining, both those hoping for a solid plot and a large, engaging open world as well as those who were only interested in appealing visuals and light-hearted encounters with monsters and other fantastical animals. The top Skyrim-like games are listed below.

Updated September 18, 2023, by Mark Sammut: In September 2023, Bethesda released a game that should satisfy anyone’s craving for an RPG like Skyrim.

1. Baldur’s Gate 3

• Platform(s): PC, Stadia, macOS, PS5
• Released: August 3, 2023
• Developer(s): Larian Studios
• Genre(s): RPG

This is a difficult question because there isn’t much gameplay overlap between Baldur’s Gate 3 and Skyrim. The former makes use of a turn-based combat system that emphasizes teamwork, foresight, and strategy. The difficulty of battles increases as the game progresses, and players who don’t understand the basic fundamentals will suffer the consequences. Even though it doesn’t have a continuous open world and is depicted from an isometric viewpoint, Larian’s RPG encourages and rewards players for exploring the map they have access to and for veering off the main plot’s course.

Baldur’s Gate 3 may or may not include the resources necessary to satisfy a person’s desire for Skyrim, depending on what they are looking for. Nonetheless, this 2023 edition is the best option available if a player wants outstanding storytelling, extensive customizability, and a world that can change depending on the player’s choices. Baldur’s Gate 3 has achieved the same feat as Skyrim did for RPGs, albeit in the tactical subgenre.

2. Hogwarts Legacy

• Platform(s): PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
• Released: February 10, 2023
• Developer(s): Avalanche Software
• Genre(s): Action, RPG

Hogwarts Legacy will appeal greatly to those who frequently dabble in Skyrim’s wide variety of magical skill trees and spells. With this most recent edition, players can finally enroll in the prestigious Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, fulfilling their childhood fantasies of playing as Harry Potter. Despite the fact that they will spend a lot of time in the school’s halls, players must venture outside if they want to experience everything the game has to offer.

There is a ton of stuff to dig through for both open-world and magic enthusiasts, with a variety of spells to learn, customization options, and side quests to complete.

3. Ghost Of Tsushima

• Platform(s): PS4, PS5
• Released: July 17, 2020
• Developer(s): Sucker Punch
• Genre(s): Action, Adventure

Although many players are drawn to Skyrim’s freedom and open-world exploration, there is a larger narrative that, once it gets going, can be rather captivating. At its foundation, Skyrim has a rather complex plot that gradually comes to light as players accomplish side quests and story missions all throughout Northern Tamriel. Ghost of Tsushima is a game that should be played by anyone looking for another intriguing story to keep them interested while navigating an expansive area.

In this amazing narrative-driven action film, Jin Sakai explores the island of Tsushima in an effort to save it from an invading Mongol horde. For lovers of Skyrim who want to immerse themselves in yet another epic adventure, Ghost of Tsushima is the ideal release. It features outstanding voice acting, stunning graphics, and an exciting story.

4. Genshin Impact

• Platform(s): Mobile, iOS, Android, PC, PS4, PS5
• Released: September 28, 2020
• Developer(s): HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
• Genre(s): RPG, Action, Adventure

For fans of Skyrim who are itching for another major release, there are a number of fantastic open-world games available. Some of them, like the well-liked Genshin Impact, are even free to play. The lands of Teyvat should feel familiar to those who enjoyed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Genshin Impact offers players access to a large open world with a variety of biomes that may be freely explored, similar to Breath of the Wild and Skyrim. They can employ a number of tools to aid in their exploration, but they can also use the climbing mechanism to climb mountains by hand.

Players can spend several hours progressing through this free-to-play game because there are numerous characters to unlock using a Gacha system and a complex tale accompanied by sidequests.

5. Cyberpunk 2077

• Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox One S, Stadia, PS4, PS5
• Released: December 10, 2020
• Developer(s): CD Projekt Red
• Genre(s): RPG, Action

After releasing The Witcher 3, one of the few RPGs that approaches Skyrim in terms of critical acclaim, CD Projekt Red was riding high and appeared poised to dominate the sci-fi genre with the launch of Cyberpunk 2077. But, the PC and next-gen versions are currently more than playable. Interestingly, the game launched in a less-than-stellar form, and the PS4 and Xbox One editions are still nearly impossible to recommend. Even though it may be argued that Cyberpunk 2077 fell short of all of its goals or expectations, it is still a bold and occasionally excellent game.

The game’s setting is obviously completely different from Skyrim’s, but both works excel in the same area: their worlds. Even more than its excellent plot and passable gameplay, Night City is Cyberpunk 2077’s pinnacle achievement. The information, intricacies, and mythology touches on the map are abundant, making even basic exploring enjoyable.

6. Elden Ring

• Platform(s): PS5, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
• Released: February 25, 2022
• Developer(s): From Software
• Genre(s): RPG, Action

The most recent installment of the “Souls series” from FromSoftware is maybe their most ambitious to date. Elden Ring’s enormous open landscape and player-driven freedom contribute to an experience that seems as expansive as Skyrim. Elden Ring, like many other Souls games, is significantly harder than Skyrim, yet figuring out how to survive in the harsh environment is just as satisfying as it is in The Elder Scrolls.

Elden Ring feels like a truly expansive open-world adventure with a strong character creator, a ton of weaponry to choose from, and a wide variety of playstyles.

7. Dragon Age: Inquisition

• Platform(s): PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC
• Released: November 18, 2014
• Developer(s): BioWare
• Genre(s): Action RPG

Check out Dragon Age: Inquisition if you want to play in a rich, lifelike universe. Inquisition, the third game in the Dragon Age series, follows players as they struggle to survive a flood of demons that is flooding into the planet. Players take on the role of a “chosen one,” similar to the Dragonborn, since their character is endowed with the power to shut rifts, enabling them to plug up dimensional gaps and prevent demons from invading Thedas.

Players in Dragon Age: Inquisition can select from a variety of races and backgrounds, similar to Skyrim. Players should have a wide selection of playstyles to choose from due to the amount of skills that may be unlocked.

8. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild & Tears Of The Kingdom

• Platform(s): Switch
• Released: May 12, 2023
• Developer(s): Nintendo
• Genre(s): Adventure

Nintendo’s efforts to revitalize The Legend of Zelda series resulted in the publication of a game that many people sincerely consider to be the best video game ever created. Most fans of open-world action-adventure games should absolutely give Breath of the Wild a try because it is nothing less than a masterpiece.

Breath of the Wild is one of the best games like Skyrim because of its endless gaming possibilities and fantastic gameplay loop. Fans of Skyrim will enjoy the fact that it will take hundreds of hours to finish the game.

Tears of the Kingdom, the follow-up to Breath of the Wild, largely follows the same format as its predecessor, making it a solid choice for fans of open-world games. Although there are numerous parallels between the two, TOTK still includes enough fresh concepts to feel like a legitimate sequel rather than a simple rehash. This time around, Hyrule is also far more active because its residents are engaged in the reconstruction process.

9. Kingdom Come: Deliverance

• Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC
• Released: February 13, 2018
• Developer(s): Warhorse Studios
• Genre(s): RPG

The fact that Warhorse Studios decided to go all-out and create one of the largest open-world games of all time with literally a ton of material across the board speaks volumes about their ambition. Anybody looking for games that are comparable to Skyrim can consider playing Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

One of the game’s more distinctive features is the combat system, which can be difficult to master. Yet once they do, gamers will appreciate a fantastic game with a compelling plot, challenging gameplay, and endearing characters.

10. Gothic

• Platform(s): PC, Switch
• Released: November 23, 2001
• Developer(s): Piranha Bytes
• Genre(s): RPG

Gothic is a classic open-world title that not many players might’ve heard of. However, the old-school charm of this game coupled with refreshing — and rather impressive — open-ended gameplay makes for a unique experience that most people haven’t really heard of.

It’s a shame that Gothic is such an underrated title since a ton of people are missing out on a brilliant game. It might take a while to get used to, but players seeking out games like Skyrim will be more than happy with this title.

11. Horizon Zero Dawn & Horizon Forbidden West

• Platform(s): PS4, PS5
• Released: February 18, 2022
• Developer(s): Guerrilla Games
• Genre(s): Action, RPG

Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, are two of Sony’s standout open-world games, and they are both fantastic on their own. Set in a distant future where Earth has become a post-apocalyptic mix of prehistoric architecture and robotic monstrosities, Guerilla’s series follows Aloy, an outcast who is dragged into a conflict that exposes the world’s history.

Armed with melee and ranged weapons, Aloy has to take down massive mechas using bows and a stick, although she does have a couple of neat items at her disposal. Similar to Skyrim, these games are often at their best when they encourage players to explore their vast and gorgeous environments.

12. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

• Platform(s): PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, PC
• Released: April 23, 2013
• Developer(s): Capcom
• Genre(s): Action RPG

Capcom is a studio known for featuring games with excellent combat systems. Dragon’s Dogma is another one of Capcom’s exciting offers, taking the form of an excellent dark fantasy action RPG that fans would absolutely adore.

The combat is not the only highlight of this series, with the exploration and story also being perfectly serviceable in their own right. Players who want a version of Skyrim with a dark fantasy setting and infinitely better combat needn’t look any further than Dragon’s Dogma.

13. GreedFall

• Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
• Released: September 10, 2019
• Developer(s): Spiders
• Genre(s): RPG

Traveling to a new world across an ocean is a daunting proposition that threatens no return, yet also promises great and untold treasures. In GreedFall, the player sets out as an emissary of their noble house to a distant and little-explored land.

The prevalence of nature magic and the corruption assaulting it weaves a knot of stories like vines that pull one into a grand adventure. The combat feels more like a Dragon Age game, but the lore, enemies, and terrain feel very Nordic; not unlike the northernmost province of Tamriel. There are also a ton of fun and interesting characters with intriguing, branching dialogue.

14. Middle-earth: Shadow Of War

• Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC
• Released: October 10, 2017
• Developer(s): Monolith
• Genre(s): Action RPG

Both this game and Skyrim have orcs, though the two races are radically different for the most part. Besides this superficial comparison, there is a lot that Middle-earth: Shadow of War and the fifth Elder Scrolls game have in common. Both games do a great job of making players feel like they are progressively growing more powerful.

The Dragonborn levels up, getting deadlier with each perk, and steps through the tundra while Talion improves his abilities to dominate and slay the horrors of Mordor, either from the shadows or in open war. On top of this, the writing is fantastic, making the story and characters memorable. In Shadow of War, even the random orcs who have no significance to the main story can be unbelievably charming and star in their own bizarre adventures, which the player can manipulate at will.

15. God Of War & Ragnarok

• Platform(s): PS4, PS5
• Released: November 9, 2022
• Developer(s): Santa Monica Studio
• Genre(s): Action, Adventure

Santa Monica’s God of War started as a linear hack and slash franchise, but the series took a sharp turn for its 2018 entry. While still not a sandbox like Skyrim, the newest entries take place in open areas that reward exploration. Armed with a limited supply of weapons, Kratos viciously hacks his way through a reasonable variety of enemies, and the combat system is quite satisfying.

Ragnarok expands on everything that worked in its predecessor, fine-tuning the gameplay while offering more variety in terms of enemies and locations. It is arguably the best game like Skyrim on the PS5, although newcomers should start with the 2018 release.

See More:

The Top Games If You Enjoy Skyrim – Part 2

Source: Gamerant