The best game like Skyrim is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — a vast fantasy open world with the same sense of freedom and hundreds of hours of quests, wrapped in a far stronger story. If you want the modern game that feels most like Skyrim, 2025’s Avowed is the easiest recommendation, while Elden Ring and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II scratch the exploration itch in different ways.
Here are the best games like Skyrim — open-world RPGs full of exploration, choice and adventure — and which one to pick depending on what you loved about Bethesda’s classic.
Best games like Skyrim
Eight open-world RPGs that capture what makes Skyrim special — exploration, freedom and a world that reacts to you.
| Game | Platforms | Why it’s like Skyrim |
|---|---|---|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch | Enormous fantasy open world with deep quests and choice |
| Avowed | PC, Xbox | First-person fantasy RPG with skill-based builds (2025) |
| Elden Ring | PC, PS, Xbox | Open-world exploration with FromSoftware’s tough combat |
| Kingdom Come: Deliverance II | PC, PS, Xbox | A grounded, historical take on the immersive open world (2025) |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | PC, PS, Xbox | Deep, reactive RPG where your choices reshape the story |
| Dragon’s Dogma 2 | PC, PS, Xbox | Freeform fantasy adventuring and emergent combat (2024) |
| Starfield | PC, Xbox | Bethesda’s own formula — essentially “Skyrim in space” |
| Dragon Age: Inquisition | PC, PS, Xbox | Rich lore and colourful open zones packed with side quests |
How we picked them
Skyrim’s magic comes from a few things: a huge open world you can wander freely, a build-your-own-hero levelling system, and the constant pull of “just one more” discovery over the next hill. We weighted games that deliver at least two of those. The Witcher 3 tops the list for sheer open-world scale and quest quality; Avowed and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II are the strongest recent picks; and Elden Ring is here for anyone who wants that exploration high with a much steeper combat challenge. If it’s specifically Bethesda’s sandbox you miss, Starfield is the closest thing to Skyrim’s DNA.
The top picks explained
Four games that best fill the Skyrim-shaped hole.
#1
Best modern
Most immersive
Best exploration
More RPGs and open worlds? See our best Elder Scrolls games, best RPG games and best open-world games guides.
Which one to play
Pick based on what you loved most about Skyrim.
| You loved… | Play |
|---|---|
| The story and quests | The Witcher 3 or Baldur’s Gate 3 |
| First-person fantasy exploration | Avowed |
| Getting lost in a huge world | Elden Ring or Starfield |
| Immersive, believable systems | Kingdom Come: Deliverance II |
