The games like Skyrim we’ve mentioned below all have their own special brands of grandeur packed into them. What Bethesda’s 2011 release does is that it reels you in with everything that it puts before your eyes. Whether it is with massive and utterly beautiful environments, gargantuan sandbox gameplay, exploration mechanics, its level-up system or gorgeous dragons, the game just has to make a fan out of anyone who plays it.
Like Oblivion – the last game from The Elder Scrolls series – this one too offers players open world gameplay which is enhanced with innovative action RPG mechanics. The titles that have made it to the lineup contain similar attributes that we think should manage to have your minds occupied as effectively as The Elder Scrolls V does. It must be noted that they haven’t been listed in any particular order.
1 – Dragon Age II
If there’s one developer that has constantly managed to rival Bethesda in the never-ending battle of awesome RPGs, it has to be BioWare. With some of the most appreciated role-playing titles under its belt – including the prequel, Dragon Age: Origins – the developer came out with Dragon Age II in March last year, and the game didn’t waste much time in turning into one of the most acclaimed titles of 2011.
It involves the story of a man who arrives in the city of Kirkwall as a humble refugee, but goes on to become its legendary champion owing to a decade of political and social conflict. You can play as one of three classes: human mage, warrior or rogue, and have your story move forward based on the decisions you make throughout the campaign.
2 – Fable III
Available now for the Xbox 360 and PC, the next entry on our catalog of games similar to Skyrim is set on the fictional continent of Albion, which is in its industrial age. You are asked to lead a revolution to dethrone the king for his tyrannical rule.
But the story doesn’t end at that. Once you’ve overthrown the ruler, you are crowned the king, and form there on, you are faced with the choice of becoming either an oppressive or a just monarch. Its sandbox gameplay has lots of things for you to do, and is known particularly for the humorous scenarios it delivers.
3 – Fallout: New Vegas
Want to see how Las Vegas would look like after an apocalypse? Fallout: New Vegas is your best bet for a game which lets you do that. Set in the year 2281, this title renders a massive pool of activities that you can indulge in, aside from its significantly branching quests.
On your journey across the environments, you get to meet a large number of well modeled characters which justifies the fact that this game currently holds the record for having the most lines of dialogue in a single-player action RPG. Around 65,000 to be exact! It can be purchased for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.
4 – Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
The one thing that sets Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning apart from all the other games in here, is its unique combat. Claimed by its developer to have been modeled around the likes of God of War and Oblivion, the hack and slash combat is a delight to revel in.
You play as a person who has been resurrected from the dead, and one who is faced with the task of saving a world that has been wrecked by war. From time to time, this title will amaze you with its wonderfully created diverse environments.
5 – Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption cannot essentially be called an RPG, but it has made its way to this roster of Skyrim alternatives owing to the similar open world experiences that lie in it. We of course weren’t there to witness the final years of the American Wild West, but playing the game gives us a near perfect idea of what it might have been like back then.
One on one showdowns, bounty hunting, animal hunts and cattle herding are just some of the few activities you can perform in its massive sandbox universe filled with NPCs offering you varied quests. And not to mention is stellar campaign. An element which gives it a slight role-playing tinge is its morality system which rewards you for performing good deeds.
6 – Dark Souls
Deep, dark and difficult is how Dark Souls is described by its maker. These three qualities have helped the game carve its own distinctive identity among other RPGs. Its seamless open world is filled to the brim with dark fantasy elements and punishing gameplay.
The game even contains an online mode which renders abundant dynamic interactions between other players, offering co-op and PvP content. It can be bought now for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.
7 – The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
This sophisticated RPG is a gem of a title which deserves every bit of your attention even if you’re not a fan of the genre. Although it is not an open world game, the lack of this element is never felt, thanks to its awesomely constructed semi-open universe. Its mature story is packed with political scenarios, and its spectacular role-playing mechanics are definitely worth diving into.
The main appeal of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings lies in its realistic depiction of fantasy constituents. However ironic that might sound, it does deliver an impactful and a pleasant experience that is hard to forget. This title is available now for PC and Xbox 360.
8 – Mass Effect 3
If you crave futuristic settings, the next addition to our list of games which are similar to Skyrim must suit your desire. Mass Effect 3 is a combination of action RPG constituents and third-person shooter gameplay. A galactic war is about to break out, and you are faced with gathering enough resources to be able to counter the attacking side. You need to make choices that might affect you friendships, upset others or even turn them against you.
This way, the fate of the entire galaxy lies in your hands. The end to the massive trilogy makes use of saved files from the previous games to tailor the story according to the decisions you made in them.
9 – Dragon’s Dogma
From the makers of Resident Evil 4 and Devil May Cry 4 comes this beauty which doesn’t resemble these games in any way. Dragon’s Dogma is an action RPG with varied combat as its strong point.
Its difficult scenarios echo greatly of Dark Souls, but it still maintains its originality with unique additions like its Pawn system which grants you companion fighters that can be chosen from those of gamers from all over the world. It can be purchased now for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Conclusion:
Those were all the recent entries that we would like to put in our compilation of games like Skyrim. There are hordes of other games that could have made it to the list, but we chose to leave them out to deliver the truly best ones. Feel free to mention your picks in the comment box below.