“I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took an arrow in the knee.”
Aah, remember those sweet days of the ‘Dragonborn,’ Guardian Stones, Bleak Falls Barrows, and intensive gameplay. For all of those fellow Elder Scrolls veterans, you already know where I’m going with this. Yes, I’m talking about the one-and-only Action RPG game – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. But, for the newbies over here, let me take you through the world of Skyrim and what makes it so unique.
There’s a vast difference between open-world games with lots of content, which many have, and those with a lot of creatively designed content, which you’ll find in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The fifth version of Bethesda Game Studios’ long-running series is an incredible game with numerous roleplaying elements. It consists of a colossal fictional world that constantly surprises the player.
From the massive glaciers of the North to the deep forests of the South, there is adventure around every corner in the Land of the Nords and something for just about everyone. Skyrim is said to be one of the popular roleplaying games ever made.
What is so special about Skyrim?
I understand that for some of you, the idea of playing the same game over and over again may seem incredibly boring. But that’s the best part about Skyrim! You are never playing the same game again. Every time you start a new game, you can choose a new character from over ten different races! Whether you choose to be a Nord, Khajiit, High Elf, or anything else for that matter, the race you choose during character creation can influence your experience to a great extent.
This is only the beginning of many, many, many choices that are still yet to come as you progress through the game. The players are free to choose their quests, kingdoms, adventures, storylines, and many more.
So, you could either complete the main quest first: Figure out why the dragons have returned and how your fate is intertwined with theirs. Or, if you are the infamous type, then you could visit the Dark Brotherhood. Or you could even attend the College of Winterhood for magical training. Or wander around for the fun of it.
Even after 250 hours of gameplay, you can still uncover an array of quests, items, and characters that will lead to undiscovered territory and unexpected results. And if you add the power of mods to this beautiful world of adventure and chaos, your experiences as a player will be doubly enhanced. It is no surprise that the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim offers the best mods out of all the other RPG games.
Overall, Skyrim is a dramatic improvement over the previous Elder Scrolls games. Not every story told in Skyrim manages to impress. Still, given the vast amount of content contained within and that so much of it is interesting, it is a remarkable achievement in itself. It also doesn’t hurt that you’re treated to an achingly melodious soundtrack and graphics throughout the game. Bethesda Game Studios was genuinely able to instill a compelling sense of adventure and effects in the game: Skyrim.
So, for the gamers who have already tried and loved Skyrim and are looking for something new with the same genre and style, we have curated a list of popular games for the same. Who knows, maybe your next gaming love is present in this very list. 😉
So, here are some Games like Skyrim that you might enjoy
1. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Are you craving the need to fulfill another heroic destiny and save the world from demons and dragons? Well, no need to look any further because Dragon Age: Inquisition is just the game for you. It is a classic game and one of the most expansive RPGs made, and one that has successfully filled its gorgeous massive world with actually meaningful things to do and quests to complete.
Dragon Age: Inquisitions follows the journey of an ‘Inquisitor’ (You) to settle the Civil war and political strife, which has torn the lands apart and close a mysterious tear in the sky that unleashes terrifying monsters to save the world. So yeah, you’re the only hope for humankind here. Both in combat and out, Inquisition has all the RPG depths of Dragon Age: Origins, plus the added thrill of exploring a fantastic open-world, experiencing romance, fighting epic battles, and teaming up with your friends to destroy demons together!
The main difference that sets apart Skyrim and Inquisition is that the latter has more in-depth story arcs. In contrast, Skyrim. In comparison, Skyrim is more open and accessible and free to explore narrative and gameplay. So, if you feel like you’re born to fulfill this mighty fate, then go right ahead, my brave Inquisitor.
Where to purchase: Xbox, PlayStation
Available on: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Windows
2. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
I know that fulfilling the ‘Dragonborn’ destiny can get exhausting at times, which may lead you to take a break from Skyrim. But that does not mean that you have to leave The Elder Scrolls world altogether. You can still explore their fantastical world in the Skyrim predecessor, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
The fourth edition of the Elder Scrolls series brings you the storyline of a prisoner who gets caught in the whirlwind of an epic adventure that involves closing the gates to a demonic realm known as “Oblivion.” If you want drama, then this game is it. Diplomacy, warfare, magic, combat, and endless quests, this game has it all. Oblivion even uses Artificial Intelligence which gives life to non-playing characters, making them have a story and purpose. This game can suck you into its world, given how realistic it feels.
Of course, it may not come off as polished as Skyrim, but many reviews have admitted that they have enjoyed playing and going along the storyline of Oblivion immensely. It is a fairly obvious observation that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion would be the Skyrim experience’s closest hit. You can even find a few offhand references of this predecessor in Skyrim. All in all, it is a must-try for all Skyrim lovers.
Where to purchase: Xbox, PlayStation, Steam
Available on: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation, Windows
3. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
A little old school this one, but a must-play. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen can be considered a distant relative of Skyrim’s, and maybe that’s why everyone loves it. Filled with various quests, characters, side stories, and more, you will never run out of doing stuff here.
You can choose between 9 different vocations, such as be a Wizard, Warrior, Sorcerer, etc., And here’s where it gets interesting: Every faction has a different combat system making the entire experience of choosing and experimenting unique. The game allows you to play with Artificial Intelligence assisted comrades who will help you in your quests and battles.
Dragon’s Dogma wasn’t a huge success when it was released in 2012. The Capcom developed RPG had unique combat and boss fights that weren’t like anything else on the market, but it failed to be the Skyrim killer, which the publisher was hoping for. Nonetheless, it developed a cult following the new release of the PC game that has proven itself well-deserved.
Where to purchase: Xbox, PlayStation, Steam
Available on: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows
4. Dark Souls III
If your taste for the dark and criminal has not been satisfied by Skyrim, I suggest you try Dark Souls III. It is a fierce and punishing behemoth of a game that dares you to take a step forward before knocking you back again and again. And what’s better is that even after your fall, you will feel eager to come back to its epic scales, aggressive obstacles, and rich lore.
Playing from the third-person perspective of the main character – The Ashen One, whose sole mission is to save the world from apocalypse by saving the First Flame from dying out. And since the game is already set in the medieval ages, the fear of the inevitable Dark Ages hits differently. The game offers you various armor, magic, weapons, and consumables to fight your enemies. You could spend hours investigating a single area and be rewarded with an interesting side story, new gear, and even secret spaces. The Kingdom of Lothric and the lands beyond offer you the most striking landscapes developed by FromSoftware.
With a better combat style and an equally mesmerizing storyline, Dark Souls III offers to be the perfect dark replacement of Skyrim.
Where to purchase:Â Xbox, PlayStation, Steam
Available on: Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
5. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
It would be a crime not to include one of the newest and most thrilling RPGs – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, in this list. The moment you set foot in this RPG world to blaze your trail, it will turn into a wild, open, exhilarating fantasy roleplaying experience with many opportunities of making use of its excellent combat style. The Witcher 3 is dense in terms of RPG mechanics, and considering how vast this world is, this RPG style seems intimidating at first and wildly entertaining throughout the game. It gives you the most authentic of the feels any open-world can provide.
The tale starts with the monster-slayer Geralt of Rivia, searching for his long-lost lover Yennifer and his surrogate daughter Ciri, who also happens to be on the Cintra throne. And in the quest to find them, Geralt (You) gets thrown into fantastical combats, social and political unrests, and many other juicy disasters.
Just like Skyrim, you have the complete freedom to explore this expansive open world as much as you want. And honestly, you will not regret it. You can have 100 hours’ worth of gameplay without even touching the main storyline. This game has also received numerous awards for its immersive gameplay and fantastic storyline. Just go for this one, and you’ll never regret it.
Where to purchase: Xbox, PlayStation, Steam,Â
Available on: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows
6. Divinity Original Sin 2
If the world of Skyrim has only increased your craving for magic and sorcery, then Divinity Original Sin 2 is the game to go for.
The brilliant story of Original Sin 2 in itself is fascinating as it is centered on a cast of so-called sorcerers who are forced to wear magic inhibiting collars to protect the population around them. It tackles the themes of dispossession and the pursuit of divinity, all while allowing room for romance and flashes of humor.
Original Sin 2 packs many side quests that are as cool as the main story and, thus, worth pursuing. The Divinity universe is not the open world in its true nature, but it still allows room for many choices. You are free to build a character from scratch or choose one of the many-given options and customize them as you like. Also, each of these characters has its own story and origin, thus having different fates. It’s honestly like the Harry Potter version of Skyrim.
It is a masterwork that towers over many of its peers with powerful storytelling, strong character progression and choice, and a rewarding turn-based fluid combat system. Like Skyrim, Divinity Original Sin 2 comes with various skillsets, dialogue options, and more, making the entire experience truly worthwhile.
Where to purchase: Xbox, Steam
Available on: Xbox 360, Windows
7. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
For all the Elder Scrolls fans out there who are ready to step into a new world and not entirely, Kingdoms of Amalur would be the best bet for you.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a fantastic Open world RPG that has managed to make a dent in the world of Fallout and Elder scrolls and has easily outclassed them in what matters the most: Gameplay style. Reckoning’s world is dense and well-thought-out, and everything is well is intimately connected. That means the morals you show in this game are going to matter, lol.
You start as a character resurrected back to life to save the world being torn apart by war. Every true hero bears a burden. I won’t ruin the plot for you but let’s say that your character is fateless in a world where everything is determined by destiny, which means you’ve got special powers.
Amalur offers a lot when it comes to variety. With 22 abilities in each class and the fact that you can enhance these skills, you can create your dream warrior. The best bit being you can customize these options again and again to your mind’s satisfaction. This is a world begging to be explored and experimented with, making it an RPG with one of the best gameplays. The creation of Amalur brought together the creme da la creme of the game developers. Even Oblivion’s Ken Rolston used his magic on this one. All in all, it would be a true reckoning if you miss out on this one.
Where to purchase:Â Xbox, PlayStation, Steam
Available on: Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Windows
8. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
While dragons, magic, and witchcraft are all well and good, sometimes even escaping to a fantasy world can get a little monotonous for your brain. After all, you don’t want to start seeing dragons in your real-life! Introducing an age-old classic of open-world gaming is set in real-life historical events: Assassin’s Creed.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag has a fantastic storyline that shows the Golden Age of Piracy and follows the escapades of a notorious Welsh pirate, Edward Kenway, a money-minded scum. The plot mainly revolves around the attempted establishment of a Republic of Pirates utopia. Sailing across the massive expanse of the Caribbean, exploring the gorgeous and unique island, and getting yourself into all sorts of nautical trouble provides some of the most rewarding and memorable stretches of gameplay experienced. And the fact that the game can make jokes at its own expense will never fail to crack me up.
However, Black Flag is at its best when you ignore the primary mission promptly and set out in search of your own (Just like in Skyrim!). It treats you like an adult and allows you to explore its beautiful and activity filed world to your heart’s content. You are also free to choose your character and tell your own story. Thus, taking you on unforgettable adventures.
In terms of graphics, Blackflag has much more pleasing graphics to look at. It also has a much better interface than Skyrim, meaning that you don’t have to deal with in-combat sluggishness.
Where to purchase: Ubisoft Store
Available on: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
So, my dear fellow adventurers, the time has come for you to explore new realms and fulfill your destiny as a hero in each one of them. The games mentioned above will enhance your combat skills and knowledge about the different RPG worlds and refresh your mind ‘Dragonborn’ fate. If you come across any other games like Skyrim that seem worth adding to this list, please mention the comments below. Till then, happy adventuring! 🙂