The Best 7 Games Like Skyrim You Need To Try

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, released in 2011 by Bethesda Game Studios, remains one of the most iconic and beloved open-world RPGs of all time. 

Its vast, immersive world, rich lore, and the freedom it offers players to explore, quest, and live out their fantasy adventures have set a high standard for the genre. 

However, the gaming landscape is rich with titles that offer similar depth, narrative complexity, and engaging gameplay mechanics. 

In this article, we explore a selection of games that stand out as comparable experiences to Skyrim in various ways, whether through their expansive open worlds, deep narrative storytelling, or innovative gameplay mechanics.

In this article...

1. Dragon Age: Inquisition
2. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
4. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
5. Ghost of Tsushima
6. Middle Earth: Shadow of War
7. Cyberpunk 2077

Dragon Age: Inquisition

• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
• Release Date: November 18, 2014
• Developer: BioWare

Background Comparison

Both Dragon Age: Inquisition and Skyrim immerse players in vast, lore-rich fantasy worlds fraught with conflict and magic.

Skyrim offers a seamless open-world experience across the Nordic province of Tamriel, focusing on a civil war and the return of dragons. 

In contrast, Inquisition divides its exploration across various large regions of Thedas, tackling a cataclysmic breach in the sky. 

While Skyrim emphasises unbounded exploration, Inquisition provides a more structured journey through its segmented yet deeply engaging environments, each teeming with quests and lore.

Mechanics & Gameplay 

Skyrim and Dragon Age: Inquisition both prioritise character customization and engaging combat but differ in execution. 

Skyrim's real-time, action-based combat and skill levelling cater to players seeking a direct, immersive experience.

In contrast, Inquisition offers a tactical combat system with a pause-and-plan feature, appealing to those who prefer strategic battles. 

While Skyrim allows for an open-ended narrative shaped by player choices and actions, Inquisition delivers a more structured story with significant decisions affecting the game's world, reflecting its focus on narrative depth within a diverse, exploratory framework.

Reasons to Try Dragon Age: Inquisition

Expansive World: 

The game offers a massive and beautifully rendered world, filled with diverse environments, quests, and secrets to uncover, providing players with dozens of hours of exploration.

Rich Storytelling and Character Development:

BioWare is known for its narrative depth, and Dragon Age: Inquisition is no exception.

The game features a compelling main storyline, intricate side quests, and well-developed characters, each with their own backgrounds, motivations, and potential for relationships with the player.

Tactical Combat:

The strategic layer added to combat appeals to players who enjoy planning and executing battle strategies, making fights both challenging and rewarding.

Customization and Choice

With extensive customization options for the player character and the impact of choices on the game's world and story, players can truly feel like they are shaping the course of their adventure.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
• Release Date: March 20, 2006
• Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

Background Comparison

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the predecessor to Skyrim, offers players a similarly rich and immersive experience in the continent of Tamriel, specifically in the province of Cyrodiil. 

Like Skyrim, Oblivion features a central storyline—this time focusing on stopping a demonic invasion from the realm of Oblivion—as well as countless side quests that allow for deep exploration of its world.

Both games excel in creating a living, breathing universe where players can lose themselves for hundreds of hours. 

The main narrative of Oblivion, involving the mysterious and esoteric order known as the Mythic Dawn and the player's quest to prevent Tamriel's destruction, shares thematic elements with Skyrim's dragon crisis, emphasising heroism against apocalyptic threats.

Mechanics Comparison

Oblivion shares many gameplay mechanics with Skyrim, including a vast open world, first-person combat, and the freedom to develop your character in any direction without class restrictions. 

However, Oblivion incorporates more traditional RPG elements, such as attribute points and a more complex levelling system that requires players to improve specific skills to advance.

Combat in Oblivion is less refined than in Skyrim, with more emphasis on RPG mechanics than action, though it remains real-time and requires strategic thinking, especially at higher difficulties. 

Magic, stealth, and combat systems are similar but less polished in Oblivion, reflecting its earlier place in the series. 

The game also places a greater emphasis on faction quests, with detailed stories for groups like the Fighters Guild and the Thieves Guild, offering a rich tapestry of narratives that complement the main quest and side activities, akin to Skyrim's approach but with its unique flavour and mechanics.

Reasons to Try The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Engaging Quest Design

Oblivion is renowned for its creative and diverse quests that often surpass simple fetch or combat challenges, incorporating puzzles, unique scenarios, and moral choices that can affect outcomes and how players interact with the world.

Rich Faction Stories

The game offers deeply developed faction questlines, providing players with a sense of progression and belonging within the game's various guilds and societies, each with its own storyline, characters, and rewards.

Vibrant World

Cyrodiil offers a varied and vibrant landscape, from the imperial city's bustling streets to the eerie realms of Oblivion. The world is rich with detail, life, and opportunities for exploration, making every journey an adventure.

Character Customization

While Oblivion's character development system is more complex than Skyrim's, it offers a depth of customization that will appeal to players who enjoy tinkering with stats and abilities to fine-tune their character's strengths and weaknesses.

Atmospheric Music and Sound Design

Composed by Jeremy Soule, the same as Skyrim, Oblivion's soundtrack beautifully enhances the immersive experience of the game, with memorable themes that set the tone for exploration and adventure.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
• Release Date: May 19, 2015
• Developer: CD Projekt Red

Background Comparison

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, much like Skyrim, immerses players in a vast, open-world fantasy setting but through the lens of Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher (monster hunter) searching for his adopted daughter on the run from the Wild Hunt, a spectral force determined to capture her. 

The game is mainly set in the Continent, a sprawling landmass filled with kingdoms, wilderness, and other realms, each teeming with folklore, political intrigue, and ancient mysteries. 

Unlike Skyrim's player-defined protagonist, Geralt is a well-defined character with a rich backstory, influencing how he interacts with the world. 

The narrative depth, branching storylines, and moral ambiguities in The Witcher 3 offer a complex, mature, and nuanced exploration of its themes, providing a different storytelling approach than Skyrim's more open-ended, player-driven narrative.

Mechanics Comparison

The Witcher 3 shares the action RPG genre with Skyrim but focuses more on narrative depth and character development. 

Combat in The Witcher 3 is dynamic and requires a mix of swordplay, magic (signs), and alchemy to defeat foes, presenting a more complex and varied combat system than Skyrim's direct melee, magic, and ranged combat. 

The game also emphasises preparation, encouraging players to research their enemies and prepare potions, bombs, and oils accordingly. 

While Skyrim allows for a wide range of character customizations through skills and abilities, 

The Witcher 3 focuses on enhancing Geralt's existing skills, with a vast array of upgrades and a mutagen system to tailor his abilities to the player's style. 

Both games offer vast worlds filled with quests, but The Witcher 3's side quests are particularly praised for their depth and how they integrate into the larger narrative, often affecting the game world and main story outcomes.

Reasons to Try The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Narrative Excellence

The Witcher 3 is celebrated for its storytelling, offering a mature, complex narrative filled with morally grey choices that have significant consequences, creating a deeply personal and impactful experience.

Richly Crafted World

The game's world is vast, diverse, and alive, filled with lore and inspired by various cultures' mythologies, offering a rich backdrop for exploration and adventure.

Deep Quest Design

Side quests are as compelling as the main narrative, often with their own extensive stories that can influence the larger world, making every quest feel meaningful.

Dynamic Combat System

Combat is a strategic blend of swordplay, magic, and preparation, offering a challenging and rewarding experience that encourages creativity in approaching battles.

Visuals and Soundtrack

With breathtaking visuals and an immersive soundtrack, The Witcher 3's presentation enhances its storytelling and world-building, creating a memorable experience that complements its gameplay and narrative depth.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Release Date: February 13, 2018
• Developer: Warhorse Studios

Background Comparison

Kingdom Come: Deliverance sets itself apart from Skyrim by offering a highly realistic and historically accurate mediaeval experience set in the Kingdom of Bohemia (part of the modern Czech Republic) during the early 15th century. 

Unlike Skyrim's fantasy setting filled with dragons, magic, and various races, Kingdom Come focuses on a real-world historical setting, emphasising realism and historical accuracy. 

The player takes on the role of Henry, a blacksmith's son, who becomes embroiled in a civil war following the death of his parents, seeking justice and getting involved in a broader conflict. 

While Skyrim allows players to shape their character's destiny in a mythical land, Kingdom Come: Deliverance offers a narrative grounded in historical events, providing a different kind of immersion—one that’s rooted in the trials and tribulations of a common man in a realistically depicted mediaeval society.

Mechanics Comparison

The mechanics of Kingdom Come: Deliverance also emphasise realism and historical accuracy. 

The game features a complex combat system that aims to realistically simulate medieval sword fighting, requiring players to master various strokes, blocks, and movements based on actual techniques. 

This contrasts with Skyrim's more accessible and fantastical combat system. 

Furthermore, Kingdom Come includes survival elements such as hunger, sleep, and injury, making the day-to-day life of Henry an integral part of the gameplay. 

Skills and abilities are improved through practice and learning from trainers, rather than through magical means or inherent talents. 

While Skyrim offers a wide range of fantastical spells, abilities, and the freedom to explore at will, Kingdom Come demands careful attention to the character's physical and mental well-being, adherence to societal norms, and a more methodical approach to exploration and questing.

Reasons to Try Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Historical Realism

For those fascinated by history, Kingdom Come: Deliverance offers an unparalleled dive into mediaeval life, meticulously recreating the landscape, architecture, and societal norms of 15th century Bohemia.

Immersive Storytelling

The game delivers a compelling narrative that weaves historical events with the personal story of Henry, engaging players in a deeply human tale of growth, revenge, and survival.

Challenging Combat

The realistic combat system is both challenging and rewarding, requiring players to think tactically, study their opponents, and practice to improve—offering a unique experience unlike most other RPGs.

Living World

Kingdom Come's world operates on a dynamic day-night cycle with NPCs following their own schedules, contributing to the game's realism.

Players must navigate social hierarchies, laws, and the consequences of their actions within a society that feels alive.

Survival Mechanics

The inclusion of survival aspects—such as the need for food, sleep, and dealing with injuries—adds a layer of depth and realism to the gameplay, making the management of Henry’s well-being a crucial part of the adventure.

Ghost of Tsushima

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (Director's Cut)
• Release Date: July 17, 2020
• Developer: Sucker Punch Productions

Background Comparison

Ghost of Tsushima, unlike the high fantasy settings of Skyrim, is set in the realistic backdrop of 13th-century Tsushima Island during the first Mongol invasion of Japan. 

The game follows Jin Sakai, a samurai warrior on a quest to protect Tsushima and repel the Mongol forces.

Where Skyrim offers a fantasy realm filled with dragons, magic, and various races, Ghost of Tsushima grounds itself in historical fiction, focusing on the samurai code of honour, tactical warfare, and the personal journey of its protagonist. 

Both games, however, excel in immersive storytelling, expansive open worlds, and the freedom to explore. 

Ghost of Tsushima's narrative, steeped in historical events and cultural depth, offers a different but equally rich storytelling experience focused on personal honour, sacrifice, and the consequences of war.

Mechanics Comparison

While both games are set in open worlds ripe for exploration, their gameplay mechanics diverge significantly. Skyrim's RPG elements allow for deep customization of the player character, including skills, abilities, and equipment. 

In contrast, Ghost of Tsushima emphasises skillful melee combat, stealth, and the strategic use of a smaller set of weapons and tools reflective of the samurai's arsenal. 

The combat in Ghost of Tsushima is more precise and fluid, focusing on timing, parrying, and switching between different stances to exploit enemy weaknesses, a departure from Skyrim's broader, more varied combat and magic system. 

Exploration in Ghost of Tsushima is encouraged through visual cues and natural landmarks, rather than map markers, offering a more organic exploration experience.

Reasons to Try Ghost of Tsushima

Immersive Historical Setting

The game offers a beautifully crafted depiction of feudal Japan, presenting a unique and compelling historical setting that's meticulously detailed and rich with culture.

Engaging Combat System

With its focus on samurai swordplay and stealth, the combat is both challenging and rewarding, offering a satisfying depth that encourages mastery over brute force.

Aesthetic and Atmosphere

The game is visually stunning, with breathtaking landscapes, dynamic weather, and a beautiful soundtrack that together create a deeply immersive atmosphere.

Storytelling and Character Development

The narrative is both personal and epic, focusing on Jin's internal conflict between his samurai principles and the unconventional tactics needed to save his home, providing a compelling character-driven story.

Exploration and Discovery

The game encourages natural exploration, leading players to discover hidden shrines, quests, and stories through environmental cues, making exploration feel rewarding and engaging.

Middle Earth: Shadow of War

• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Release Date: October 10, 2017
• Developer: Monolith Productions

Background Comparison

Middle Earth: Shadow of War is set in J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy universe, between the events of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings".

The game centres around Talion (a non-canon character in the main Lord of the Rings lore), a ranger who shares his body with the spirit of the elf lord Celebrimbor, as they forge a new Ring of Power to amass an army and fight against Sauron. 

Unlike Skyrim's open-ended exploration of a vast fantasy world with its dragons and Nordic mythology, Shadow of War delves into the rich lore of Middle Earth, combining action RPG elements with strategic army building and fortress sieges. 

The narrative is more linear than Skyrim's, focusing on Talion's quest against a backdrop of familiar locales and characters from Tolkien's works, offering a unique blend of personal revenge and epic warfare.

Mechanics Comparison

Shadow of War expands on its predecessor's innovative Nemesis System, which creates unique enemy characters that remember their encounters with the player, adapting and evolving based on the outcomes of these interactions. 

This system adds a dynamic and personalised layer to the game, affecting the player's strategy in both combat and army building. 

Combat in Shadow of War is action-oriented, with a focus on combo-based swordplay, stealth, and the use of Celebrimbor's powers, differing from Skyrim's more varied approach that includes magic, melee, and ranged combat with extensive customization options.

The game also introduces large-scale battles where players can lead their personally recruited orc armies to siege enemy fortresses, a feature not present in Skyrim, adding a strategic element to the gameplay.

Reasons to Try Middle Earth: Shadow of War

Nemesis System

The Nemesis System offers a unique and personal gaming experience, where your actions directly influence the orc hierarchy, creating personal rivalries and stories.

Engaging Combat and Strategy

The game combines fluid, combo-based combat with strategic elements of army building and fortress sieges, offering a mix of action and tactics.

Rich Tolkien Lore

Fans of The Lord of the Rings will appreciate the deep dive into Middle Earth's lore, exploring new stories and characters intertwined with the familiar events and settings of the books and films.

Expansive Open World

The world is vast, offering varied environments to explore, such as Núrnen, Gorgoroth and Seregost, each filled with quests, secrets, and challenges.

Army Building and Customization

Recruiting and customising your own army of orcs provides a unique layer of strategy, allowing for numerous approaches to conquering fortresses and defeating Sauron's forces.

Cyberpunk 2077

• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia
• Release Date: December 10, 2020
• Developer: CD Projekt Red

Background Comparison

Cyberpunk 2077 offers a stark contrast to the mediaeval fantasy world of Skyrim, transporting players to the dystopian Night City (imagine Blade Runner made playable), a sprawling urban landscape in a future where corporations wield enormous power, and cybernetic enhancements are the norm. 

The game follows V, a mercenary who is involved in a heist gone wrong, involving a revolutionary implant that grants immortality, and yet in V’s case comes at a catastrophic cost. 

Unlike Skyrim’s focus on exploration of ancient ruins and dragon-slaying heroics, Cyberpunk 2077 immerses players in a narrative-driven experience that explores themes of corporate exploitation, technology, and identity within a deeply complex society. 

The setting and narrative are more mature, with a heavier emphasis on player choice affecting story outcomes and world states.

Mechanics Comparison

Gameplay mechanics in Cyberpunk 2077 diverge significantly from Skyrim, focusing on first-person shooting, hacking, and stealth, alongside RPG elements like skill trees and dialogue choices. 

The game offers extensive customization of V’s abilities, cyberware, and playstyle, allowing for a wide range of combat and interaction options not found in Skyrim’s more traditional fantasy RPG setup. 

The urban environment of Night City provides a different kind of open world, dense with buildings, NPCs, and technology, contrasting with Skyrim’s vast wilderness and mediaeval towns. 

While both games offer deep lore and extensive side quests, Cyberpunk 2077’s narrative is more intertwined with the player's choices, leading to multiple endings based on actions throughout the game.

Reasons to Try Cyberpunk 2077

Rich Narrative and World Building

Set in a meticulously crafted dystopian future, the game offers a complex narrative with branching storylines and multiple endings, deeply influenced by player decisions.

Extensive Customization 

From skills, cyberware, appearance and equipment, players can deeply customize their character and playstyle to suit a wide range of approaches, from hacking to combat to diplomacy.

Immersive Urban Environment

Night City is a vibrant, sprawling metropolis teeming with life, quests, and stories, offering an exploration experience that’s vastly different from Skyrim's natural landscapes.

Innovative Gameplay Mechanics

The game introduces a vast range of gameplay elements such as hacking, melee, stealth and typical run and gun, alongside traditional RPG features, creating a fresh and varied experience.

Mature Themes and Complex Characters

Cyberpunk 2077 delves into mature themes and presents a cast of complex characters, each with their own motivations and backstories, enriching the narrative depth.

Conclusion

While Skyrim has etched its place in the hearts of many as one of the best single player games of all time, the titles we've explored each bring their own unique flavors and innovations to the genre. 

From the historical authenticity of Kingdom Come: Deliverance to the strategic depths of Middle Earth: Shadow of War, and the narrative richness of games like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, there's a wealth of worlds waiting to be explored. 

These games not only complement the experience Skyrim offers but also push the boundaries of the genre in their own right. 

Whether you're drawn to the tactical combat of Dragon Age: Inquisition, the moral complexities of The Witcher 3, or the futuristic allure of Cyberpunk 2077, each title promises a journey as memorable and immersive as Skyrim's trek across the Nord homeland. 

In the end, the legacy of Skyrim isn't just in the game itself but in how it has inspired a generation of developers and gamers alike to seek out new adventures, tell new stories, and explore new worlds with the same wonder and enthusiasm.