Looking to play some games like Skyrim? After Bethesda released its hit 2011 RPG on countless systems over the years, it feels like pretty much everybody has played through the Dragonborn's adventure at one point or another. It's a modern classic for a reason, but few games quite match up to its standards.
Luckily, we've compiled a list of a few games you can play right now that more than fill the gap left after you roll credits on Skyrim. From other Bethesda titles to huge online MMOs, there's bound to be something on our list that grabs your attention and doesn't let go until you've dedicated hundreds of hours to it.
Games like Skyrim
- Fallout 4
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- Elden Ring
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Fallout 4
The first entry on our list won't come as a surprise to anyone familiar with Bethesda and their dense RPG output. Four years after Skyrim hit shelves, we were treated to Fallout 4, the newest entry in the dystopian sci-fi series that blossomed from RTS-style RPG to bona fide first-person action. Released in 2015 with a slew of content expansions following, it's the best way to experience the Fallout series on modern consoles.
If you loved Skyrim for its deep world-building and quests ranging from the action-packed to the outright creepy, then Fallout 4 perfectly translates that formula to a post-apocalyptic future. You'll help track down crab-like monsters in caves for a wizened old man, and fall victim to a Hollywood cult in the desert, but you'll be having fun the whole time.
That's what makes Fallout 4 such an easy sell to fans of Skyrim. It may not be an Elder Scrolls game repackaged with guns and a new setting, but it retains Bethesda's DNA of crafting deep RPGs that suck you in and only let go hundreds of hours later.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
If it was the semi-medieval setting and range of carnivorous beasts that drew you to Skyrim, The Witcher 3 will no doubt fill that gap left after you finish your time in Tamriel. Set in a very similar world where fantastical beasts linger and an evil empire rules supreme, you play as a rogue bounty hunter named Geralt in a quest to stop the eponymous Wild Hunt from wreaking havoc.
While they may be slightly different when it comes to gameplay, Skyrim and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt share a lot of DNA. Both are fantasy RPGs packed with side quests to complete, long story missions, and plenty of extra content to sink your teeth into. While you may find yourself focusing on armour improvements and crafting in Skyrim, it's the card game Gwent that'll keep you busy here.
The Witcher 3 is more focused on action, with a third-person perspective that's far less clunky than that seen in Skyrim. Combined with gruesome gore effects, upgradeable magic powers and a slew of weapons, and you've got yourself a fantasy RPG to remember.
The Elder Scrolls Online
If you've finished up playing Skyrim but wish it had some sort of multiplayer, your prayers have been answered. While hardcore modders have spent years building a co-op version of the game, Bethesda has instead dedicated its time to a full-fledged Elder Scrolls MMO.
Since its release in 2014, The Elder Scrolls Online has been continually updated with new expansions, regions, and items to unlock. There tends to be a new expansion every year, with 2022's High Isle delving into the seas of Tamriel with two island regions to explore, High Isle and Amenos.
In terms of gameplay, it'll feels very familiar to anyone who has spent quality time with Skyrim. Look out for the same melee-focused first person action, with a graphical upgrade to reflect the newer hardware it's made for. The Elder Scrolls Online is a Skyrim-style adventure that never ends, making it a very easy recommendation.
Elden Ring
For some, Skyrim might just be too easy. Breezing through Draugr using your ice breath or slashing at a dragon can at times feel less than challenging. If you often find yourself looking for that extra level of challenge, then Elden Ring will give it to you and then some.
The latest release from legendary soulslike developer FromSoftware, Elden Ring comes from the mind of Game of Thrones scribe George R. R. Martin and studio veteran Hidetaka Miyazaki. As such, it's a fantasy world brimming with darkness and horrendous, toe-curling bosses to tackle.
If you've ever played the Dark Souls series or other FromSoft games like Bloodborne, you'll know what to expect from Elden Ring: brutal difficulty. The game hides objectives and holds nothing back when it comes to its enemies, meaning every single attack needs to be timed and planned to perfection. It isn't for everyone, but Elden Ring is the perfect game for hardcore RPG fanatics.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
For something slightly less brutal in its difficulty, the latest Assassin's Creed game more than fits the bill. Ubisoft's marquee time-hopping franchise may not be as renowned as it was during the days of protagonist Ezio, but many deem this 2020 release as a sharp return to form.
You play as Eivor, a viking making their way through ninth-century England. Amid fights against the Templar order seeking to colonise and rule these fledgling lands, you also deal with a modern-day story as a brand-new assassin trying to hold off world-changing disaster.
Moving away from out-and-out action, Assassin's Creed Valhalla is more of an RPG thanks to its extensive world-building game mechanics. From new romance options to expanding bases across rural England, you truly get to determine every aspect of Eivor's assassin career. If you loved how in-depth Skyrim was, Valhalla will certainly fit the bill.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Last on our list for now is a, ahem, legendary Nintendo Switch title. Launching alongside the console back in 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is often considered one of the best video games of all time, regardless of platform or era. Once again taking the reigns of franchise mainstay Link, you're given more freedom to roam, explore, and craft than in any franchise entry prior.
The expansive open world of Hyrule is huge, and constantly brimming with things to do. Whether you're free-running through caves or climbing up mountains, battling bosses or crafting new weapons, it's a miraculous display of how powerful Nintendo's then-new hybrid console is. Coupled with a story that pushes the Zelda series to its chronological limits, and Breath of the Wild becomes a genuine must-play.
With a sequel slated to release in 2023 - if it isn't delayed once more - this game has become one of the most notorious Switch releases of all time. If you've never played a Zelda game before, it's more than an adequate introduction.
For even more recommendations, feel free to check out our picks of games like The Last of Us, as well as games like Horizon Forbidden West on Xbox. If you don't want to spend any cash, then our best free RPG games will give you something to enjoy as well!