Baldur’s Gate 3, Dragon’s Dogma & more

The Elder Scrolls V is widely coveted as one of the world’s favourite RPGs, but did you know that there are plenty of other games like Skyrim that you can play in 2023? Whether you’re looking for an action-based game to play, or something more slow in the turn-based category, we’ve got you covered.

Despite releasing over a decade ago, Skyrim is still played by thousands of people around the world every day. However, no amount of the best mods can keep a game ticking over forever. There are parts of Skyrim that are most certainly starting to show their age.

With The Elder Scrolls VI seemingly years away from release, it looks like players will have to settle for other games like Skyrim to play during the wait. So, it’s a good job that there’s a vast pool of games that all harken back to the good old days of exploring Tamriel.

So, keep reading to learn about our full list of best games like Skyrim to play in 2023, from Baldur’s Gate 3 to Dragon’s Dogma.

What are the best games like Skyrim?

14 – Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

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Image via Ubisoft

It might not seem like the most obvious of picks, especially since the Assassin’s Creed franchise was radically different when Skyrim was first released, but Valhalla is the culmination of the franchise’s transition into a full-blown RPG.

While Origins or Odyssey could easily tap in for Valhalla, the 9th-century English setting fuses Viking expansion with Roman ruins to create a world that’s easy to get lost in. And with a surreal amount of upgrades and looting to get through, Elder Scrolls VI could be out before you’ve even come close to being done with Valhalla.

• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal 
• Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Microsoft Windows

13 – Elden Ring

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Image via Fromsoftware

FromSoftware games have always nailed fantasy, and have always done a great job of providing the player with plenty of wonder. With the release of Elden Ring in 2022, it has also provided a near-perfect open world for players to explore.

Elden Ring is one of the few games that captured freedom in games in a way that Skyrim first exposed us to back in 2011. The scale of its open world is a far cry from the hardware limitations Skyrim was released on, and one can only imagine how big the Elder Scrolls series will go next.

• Publisher: Bandai Namco 
• Developer: FromSoftware
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Microsoft Windows

12 – Dragon Age Inquisition

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Image via EA

While Bioware doesn’t quite hold the same reverence among its fanbase after the releases of Anthem and Mass Effect Andromeda, Dragon Age Inquisition is the Bioware you know and love.

This medieval fantasy RPG will have you exploring the vast regions of Thedas as you try to close a cataclysmic “breach” that is unleashing demons across the land. There is plenty to explore, relationships to dig into and characters to craft in this sweeping epic, and it looks damn good too. 

• Publisher: EA 
• Developer: BioWare 
• Platforms: PS3, PS4, PS5 (Backwards compatible), Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series (Backwards compatible) 

11 – Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

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Image via Bandai Namco

While Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is a little dated these days, it still offers one of the best fantasy stories and gameplay mechanics of the last few decades. Set in a fantasy world filled with dragons and other monsters, you’re tasked with keeping a town safe and ultimately preventing the end of the world – no pressure, huh?

With both ranged and melee combat, you’ll take down monsters of unbelievable size. Dragon’s Dogma even borrows slightly from Shadow of the Colossus, letting you cling onto enemies and climb up them to reach weak spots.

If this older title isn’t quite your speed, you can also look forward to the new title in the series, Dragon’s Dogma 2. Taking the foundations of the original game to the next level, it’s all set to be another excellent game like Skyrim that you can play soon. However, there is currently no release date for the sequel just yet.

• Publisher: Capcom
• Developer: Capcom
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360

10 – Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 

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Image via Nintendo

The reinvention of the Zelda series was a welcome surprise and took the world by storm. What makes Breath of the Wild so special is the freedom the game gifts you from the moment you are exposed to the world. Once you embark on your journey you can go anywhere, and do anything, the only limitation is your imagination. 

You start with nothing in Breath of the Wild, and as you progress you will find new items to help you on your journey as well as meet a few colourful characters along the way. Unlike Skyrim, Breath of the Wild is not much of an RPG, yet few games offer as much to discover as Skyrim did, and Breath of the Wild is one of them.

• Publisher: Nintendo 
• Developer: Nintendo
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Wii U  

9 – Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

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Image via Owlcat Games

Mixing things up a little, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous isn’t your typical Skyrim comparison, but there is plenty here that Skyrim fans will eagerly sink their teeth into. This top-down fantasy CRPG from Owlcat Games features addictive turn-based combat, and a stunning collective of companion characters, in an experience that might not be for everyone but will consume those that do embrace it whole.

This might ditch the far more traditional fantasy setting of its predecessor, Kingmaker, but with its greater focus on characters, this is the pick for players that love to invest themselves in a new world.

• Publisher: Owlcat Games 
• Developer: Owlcat Games 
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 (backwards compatible), Xbox One, Xbox Series (backwards compatible), Microsoft Windows, macOS

8 – Elder Scrolls Online

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Images via Bethesda

While the world of Skyrim is an enchanting setting to explore, it can get a little lonely. That’s where Elder Scrolls Online comes in, as it keeps you in the world while allowing you to explore it with friends. ESO is an MMO of preposterous scale and one that has only continued to grow since its launch in 2014.

This brings online to the franchise for the first time, with epic raids to fight through with friends, expansive realms to explore, and even a bit of PvP for those that fancy it. It might be different in style – marked namely by its third-person perspective – but this is a sure hit with Elder Scrolls fans. 

• Publisher: Bethesda 
• Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios 
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Microsoft Windows, macOS

7 – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

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Image via CDProjekt Red

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is perfect for players eager to get lost in another lore-filled world.

With a wealth of lore from the popular series of books bursting out the seams of this loving adaptation, The Witcher 3 is beautiful and dense, horrifying yet exhilarating, and an absolute blast to play. Whether you are focusing on some heart-breaking side-quests, getting stuck right into potion mixing, or simply taking in the blood-red sunsets, the world of The Witcher is one you won’t want to leave. 

• Publisher: CD Projekt RED 
• Developer: CD Projekt RED 
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Microsoft Windows

6 – Baldur’s Gate 3

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Image via Larian Studios

Fresh out of the oven, Baldur’s Gate 3 already looks set to be an all-timer in the RPG genre. From Larian Studios, which specialises in crafting some of the best RPGs around, it presents a true playground for fantasy fans to let loose their creative juices.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a slightly different type of RPG from Skyrim. While The Elder Scrolls title is much more action-based and mostly played in first-person, Baldur’s Gate 3 offers an isometric perspective, complete with point-and-click navigation and turn-based combat. However, you can plug in a controller and play the game in a more action-focused way if you prefer.

In addition, Baldur’s Gate 3 is based upon the Dungeons & Dragons ruleset, so you can expect much of the gameplay decisions to involve dice rolling. This adds a unique aspect to the game that Skyrim players won’t have experienced before. It certainly takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s worth sticking with if you’re looking for an excellent game like Skyrim to play in 2023.

• Publisher: Larian Studios
• Developer: Larian Studios
• Platforms: PC via Steam, PS5

5 – Kingdom Come: Deliverance

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Image via Warhorse Studios

If you’ve grown tired of dragons and trolls, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a game that will bring you down to ground level with a brutal and far more realistic take on the medieval ages. Playing as a son of a blacksmith you are expected to traverse and survive a civil war that happened.

With frustrating sword fights and a certain authenticity about it, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a tense and taught RPG experience that might not be quite as endearing but is impressively immersive. 

• Publisher: Deep Silver 
• Developer: Warhorse Studios 
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 (backwards compatible), Xbox One, Xbox Series (backwards compatible), Microsoft Windows 

4 – Divinity: Original Sin 2 

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Image via Larian Studios

Skyrim was the first RPG for a few people partly because of its popularity, but it also helped push the genre forward as well as drag it into the mainstream. So if the RPG elements of Skyrim are what you loved most then Divinity: Original Sin 2 will be for you and it has the bonus of having multiplayer too, so you can play it with a pal. 

Divinity is from an isometric perspective and is one of the games on this list that boasts a character creator, so you can get engrossed in the game. It is a deep, rich fantasy world and maybe one of the more dedicated RPGs on this list, with it taking heavy inspiration from Dungeons and Dragons.

• Publisher: Bandai Namco 
• Developer: Larian Studios 
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 (backwards compatible), Xbox One, Xbox Series (backwards compatible), macOS, Microsoft Windows 

• Be sure to take a look at the next game from Larian Studios, the highly anticipated Baldurs Gate 3

3 – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

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Image via Nintendo

While Skyrim may be the archetype for open-world titles, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom elevates it to the next level… literally. By taking the world of Breath of Wild and expanding it into the skies above Hyrule, as well as all new crafting mechanics, it has quickly become the frontrunner for Game of the Year.

Players have sunk hundreds of hours into Tears of the Kingdom, and that’s just finding new ways to mess with the Koroks around Hyrule. With a story that expands on the world established in Breath of the Wild, it may even rival Skyrim for the best fantasy game. Only time will tell.

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Developer: Nintendo
• Platform: Nintendo Switch

2 – Final Fantasy XVI

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Image via Square Enix

While certainly not as open-world as Skyrim, the high-fantasy adventure that FFXVI has to offer is comparable to the classic Bethesda adventure. Drawing inspiration from the earlier seasons of Game of Thrones, FFVXI has plenty of magic, mystery and blood feuds to keep any fantasy lover on their toes.

Skyrim’s medieval setting, along with its penchant for dragons and giants permeates generations and titles. With FFXVI being a serious contender for Game of the Year, it is a title that any Skyrim fan won’t want to miss.

• Publisher: Square Enix
• Developer: Square Enix
• Platform: PlayStation 5

What is the best game like Skyrim?

1 – The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

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Image via Bethesda

Sometimes when you are looking for a game like Skyrim, it is better to look back instead of forwards. While Skyrim surely perfected the formula, that game doesn’t exist without Oblivion. And with less hand-holding, a finer focus on lore, and a class system you can get lost in, Oblivion is one of the best games to scratch that Skyrim itch.

It might not come with the modding support that Skyrim has enjoyed for years, and elements like combat have understandably aged in comparison, but Oblivion is a fantastic Elder Scrolls experience through and through. Once the Oblivion modded remake Skyblivion releases, there really won’t be much separating the two games.

• Publisher: Bethesda
• Developer: Bethesda 
• Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox Series (via Game Pass), PS4, Microsoft Windows

For more Skyrim guides, keep reading TRAN HUNG DAO School.

Categories: Gaming
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