15 Best Games Like Skyrim

Skyim is awesome. I think most people wouldn’t dispute that. The environment, the world, the quests, the mobs, the characters and classes, everything is so dynamic and ever changing. Truly, it did set a new standard for RPG games. Of course, Skyrim isn’t the only innovative and awesome RPG out there, so here’s a handy list of some other sweet Skyrim like games to play.

Games Like Skyrim to Look Out For

15. Dragon’s Dogma – (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

Dragon’s Dogma is a very, very underrated games in regards to its quality and mechanics, and isn’t as popular as other titles in the list, but it deserves its own spot. As always, there’s much too much to cover in regards to stories and mechanics, but there are two interesting things we’d like to point out. First is the companion system which allows you to send out members of your parties to do things, and second, is the grab mechanic, which allows you to cling to NPCs and what not.

So if you ever want to ride around a dragon, fighting with it in the air, this is the game to do it!

14. Fable Series – (Multiple Platforms)

Fable comes from the mind of Peter Molyneux, a somewhat strange and enigmatic mind at that. Fortunately, the Fable series are really good, with a deep choice system centered on its moral mechanic. Of course, the gameplay and combat is really great, so if you’d like to play a few games that have some real fun and depth, you need to get your hands on the Fable Games.

13. Dark Souls series – (Multiple Platforms)

The Dark souls series, the spiritual successor of number 15 on the list, is a brutal and intense RPG game. Probably one of the most roguelike games out there, it’s somewhat fairly punishing, where your death is mostly on your shoulders, rather than something like the AI cheating. That being said, the game isn’t for the faint of heart, because you’ll get really frustrated and irritated, really quickly.

So be fairly warned!

12. Risen 3 – (Multiple Platforms)

While a slightly technically flawed game, Risen 3 is still considered an enjoyable entry into the RPG world. The combat is a bit flawed, but otherwise, the story and atmosphere are truly encaptivating, as well as some great exploration and a new guild/faction mechanic. You can also check out some of the earlier entries, but honestly, Risen 3 is probably the best, followed closely by Risen 1 then Risen 2.

11. Ryse: Son of Rome – (Xbox One, PC)

Another game that isn’t necessarily critically acclaimed, Ryse: Son of Rome deserves a spot on this list, if only for the graphics, which are just stunning. In addition to the graphics, the story is equally good, taking you on a romp through a Roman Empire storyline, although there’s argument to be made that it could have been deeper. Other than that, the gameplay is very traditional, and nothing to special, so the main attraction is the story and graphics. If that’s enough for you, then you need to get yourself over to a store and buy yourself a copy.

10. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind – (PC, Xbox)

While this entry is a little bit of a cheat, given that it’s part of the overall Elder Scrolls world, it stands out among other entries in the franchise. Much like Skyrim, Morrowind is considered a seminal entry into the RPG genre, with a wide scope, lots of freedom and pretty visuals. It also popularized the use of mods and modding among PC gamers. All in all, Morrowing is probably one of the most ‘complete’ RPGs out there, so you should get yourself a copy.

We’ll wait.

9. Age of Conan: Unchained – (PC)

Age of Conan is what you get when you take the traditional formula of The Elder Scrolls and apply it to a medieval setting. I should mention that the game is an MMO, so don’t expect the same single-player storyline concept that you would with Skyrim or any other offline game. Admittedly, the game did initially release badly, but the developers put some love and care into it, and brought out the true potential of it.

So really, if you’re looking for a game like Skyrim, and like the medieval genre, then you should head over to their site and check it out. Even better, its free to play, so try it out, and if you like it, you can always purchase a subscription which opens up new areas.

8. Fallout Series – (Multiple Platforms)

Not many newer gamer will know of Fallout 1 and 2, as Fallout 3 was the one that made the franchise popular and excess able to a new generation of gamers. That being said, the first two installments are really good in their own right, even if they might be a decade old. Of course, most people have probably played Fallout 4 by now, and it’s more of the same from the franchise, for good or for worse.

Either way, if you’ve only played Fallout 4, you should go back in time and try out the earlier installments. When it comes to expansive worlds to explore, Fallout 3 and 4 fall right beside Skyrim.

7. Mass Effect – (Multiple Platforms)

Much like Fallout, the Mass Effect franchise isn’t really set in a fantasy or medieval time, so you may wonder why we’d even bring it up. Well, the truth is that the main difference between the two is the title and the setting, otherwise, they are both incredibly deep games, with lots to explore and really compelling stories. Honestly, this is a must-play game as far as RPGs go, and it’s even a shooter, so it’s as accessible as Skyrim is.

6. Dark Messiah of Might and Magic – (PC, Xbox 360­)

Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is a bit of a difficult game to talk about, because the views have been divided between two extremes: Some people say it’s great, other’s say that it’s really bad. The gameplay and combat mechanics are deep, with a good story and some great graphics, but it does have quite a few bugs and technical issues, and the game can get repetitive. So really, this game could either be a hit or miss, but we included for the sake of posterity.

5. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor – (Multiple Platforms)

Lord of the Rings has become really popular in the past decade or so, mostly from the movies were are simply awesome. While there has been LotR games before, they have either been RTS games or an online game, so this is the first entry in the franchise that really aims at single-player RPG. So what do we have?

Well, it’s actually a really good game, which you might not expect from a game adapted from books/films. The gameplays has some interesting elements in the form of a nemesis system which makes you more or less wanted depending on what named enemies you kill. The combat is also very satisfying and the graphics really capture the atmosphere of the franchise.

So if you’re a fan of LotR, this is a Skyrim-like experience that you’ll love.

4. Dragon Age Series – (Multiple Platforms)

A game that we’ve included on our ’10 Best Dungeon Crawling Games’, the Dragon Age series is a die in the wool RPG, that has a lot of innovation and an interesting story. Granted Dragon Age 2 was a bit of a massive, but the other two games rightly stand as pillars of the RPG genre. As for its similarity to Skyrim, well, it’s a big open world to explore and have fun in, so if you’re tired of Skyrim gaming for the time being, this is a really good alternative.

3. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning – (Multiple Platforms)

It’s a shame that the developers of this game went bankrupt, because Kingdoms of Amalur is truly a masterpiece of open-world RPGs. Trying to give a bit of a more casual approach to RPGs, the game is crafted really well, with a compelling story and some really great gameplay. While the game might feel shallow to most seasoned Skyrim players, it’s still an incredibly fun game to play and explore.

2. Diablo Series – (Multiple Platforms)

A game that has its own listicle ‘Top 5 Games Like Diablo’, the Diablo series has actually been featured a lot on our gaming lists, and that’s because it’s a popular, innovative series that has set trends for a decade. While Diablo III’s launch could have been better, the game is still great, and its previous installments are even greater. I’m not going to keep harping on about it, as I’ve done that a lot already, let’s just say you need to play the whole series if you ever want to experience a game that has led to games like Skyrim.

1. The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Edition – (Multiple Platforms)

While this entry might feel like another little cheat, there’s actually no better game like Skyrim than an online game that basically *is* Skyrim. Of course, the MMO had a bad release, but the developers have worked hard and updated the game to bring it within expectations, so you aren’t playing a sub-par game. Not only that, but the game has a free to play option (not a play to win, which is good), and so you can test it out before committing yourself to a subscription which is rare, with the exception of Elder Scrolls Online

So what do you think? Is this list complete or should other games be on here? Let us know in the comments.