15 Awesome Games Like Skyrim You Don't Want To Miss Out On
Way back in 2011, Bethesda Softworks treated us all to the widely-popular and insanely addictive TES V: Skyrim. Many of us have spent countless hours among Skyrim's frigid peaks and lush woodlands slaying dragons for their souls, battling soldiers and bandits, gleefully blasting rude peasants off of ledges, and maniacally hoarding mundane objects like cheese wheels.
Even though Skyrim recently received a facelift with the recent release of the Special Edition (forcing many of us back into that Helgen-bound wagon), nearly six years have passed and that's far more than enough time to exhaust a title, even one so large as our beloved Skyrim. Fortunately, here is a combination of newer as well as a few older games that can appeal to even the most die-hard Dragonborn. Let's start with something familiar...
15) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion full gameplay walkthrough
Released back in 2006, Oblivion takes place in Skyrim's neighboring southern province of Cyrodiil some two centuries before the events of Skyrim. You find yourself incarcerated within the dungeons of the Imperial City and after witnessing Tamriel's emperor cut down by assassins you become entrusted with the task of delivering The Amulet of Kings to the emperor's illegitimate heir, who is the only one capable of thwarting the demonic hordes of Daedra now appearing all over Cyrodiil.
Players can choose from the same list of ten races present in Skyrim with a wide range of weaponry, armor, spells, and skills while following the main questline or free-roaming Cyrodiil's open landscape. Oblivion is a great choice for newer Elder Scrolls fans who maybe want to familiarize themselves more with the world of Tamriel.
Stop right there, Daedric scum!
We've never met an undead demonic sorcerer-king we couldn't handle.
14) Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
13 Minutes of Caribbean Open-World Gameplay | Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag
Set during the early eighteenth century during what was known as the "Golden Age of Piracy", this installment of the franchise has players take on the fictitious role of Edward Kenney, an ambitious pirate captain who unwittingly stumbles into the conflict between the Templars and Assassins. Players get the opportunity to visit and explore places throughout the Caribbean like Havana and Nassau, as well as meet and interact with some of the most infamous real-world pirate captains like Edward "Blackbeard" Thatch and Calico Jack among others.
Fans of Skyrim's open-world exploration and melee combat, as well as pirate enthusiasts and history buffs, will appreciate what Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag has to offer in that regard.
These cutlasses are made for cutting, and that's just what they'll do...
Take to the open seas in an upgradable ship and loot, pillage, and burn the Caribbean until your greedy little heart is content.
13) Black Desert Online
Black Desert Online gameplay
A strange Black Spirit is bound to you and is possibly a link to the mysterious Black Stones, a dangerous source of power that caused the collapse of an ancient civilization in a place called the Black Desert by some, or by others the Red Desert, because of the blood spilt in its lands over time. The first MMORPG on the list, Black Desert Online showcases many features Skyrim veterans will probably immediately recognize: sandbox-style open world, mounted combat, and in-depth customization of your player character, all centering around a clash between two rival factions known as the Republic of Calpheon and the Kingdom of Valencia.
In doing away with the traditional MMO control style and focusing on manual, third-person combat and dodging, players of Skyrim and other action-oriented RPG's should feel right at home with Black Desert Online.
There's nothing like going up against a few skeletal minions to get the blood pumping.
If you could just hover in place for one, more, second...
12) Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning gameplay
Avid readers of fantasy literature should know the name R.A. Salvatore by heart, and Elder Scrolls enthusiasts might recognize the name of designer Ken Rolston, both of which were part of the team behind Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Set in what's known as the Faelands, with nearly 10,000 years of history and lore written by Salvatore, the player is brought back from the dead as the "Fateless One" and is thrust into a conflict with the followers of an upstart god while simultaneously piecing together the circumstances of their previous death.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning utilizes "destiny", which serves as the character class system and focuses on three branches of Might, Finesse, and Sorcery, similar to the three general types of skillsets featured in Skyrim.
Often times a large sword is required...
...to solve large problems.
11) Lord of the Rings Online
Lord Of The Rings Online gameplay
Many will consider J.R.R. Tolkien to be the godfather and progenitor of what we have come to know as "high fantasy", and many of the settings and universes we see in games draw inspiration directly or indirectly from his work. While Tolkien gave us a detailed look at Middle-Earth through The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, much of the world he created remains a mystery and games like the Lord of the Rings Online expand upon and flesh out some Middle-Earth's unknown elements.
Players can start as one of the classic races (Elves, Dwarves, Men, or Hobbits), form a group of players, or "fellowship" as it's called in-game, battle Sauron's forces, and traverse well-known areas like the Shire, Moria, and Rohan as well as Middle-Earth's more mysterious locations like Angmar and Forochel.
Sometimes, the bad guys are the ones wearing white.
Hopefully no pesky elven archers will come along to ruin your kill count.
10) Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls III gameplay
Concluding the acclaimed series, Dark Souls III pits the player, or "The Ashen One", against an array of horrifying and unforgiving monstrosities in the Kingdom of Lothric with the goal of reviving the Lords of Cinder to stem the rising hordes of undead and to restore the Age of Fire.
Dark Souls III has multiple endings with plenty of the furious hack-and-slash gameplay it's known for, along with the magic system returning from Demon's Souls.
Feeling a noticeable lack of gruesome antagonists in your life? Look no further.
Sweet dreams. Maybe you should leave a light on?
9) Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen gameplay
After getting your heart torn out by a dragon, you come back to life as the "Arisen" to track down and destroy said dragon. You are also accompanied on your mission by "Pawns" AI-controlled characters who aid in battle as can be issued commands. They will also provide hints and will develop alongside your player character. Players also have the ability to grab onto large enemies, climb them, and hack away at various body parts as opposed to being limited to simply stabbing them in the ankles.
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen contains the full version of the original game as well as all of the released DLC, including a huge new continent for players to explore, added items, and stronger enemies to defeat. Plus, there's an antagonistic dragon. Need I say more?
It would have been nice to have a few pawns to carry your bones, scales, and other "burdens".
There are plenty of enemies out there that are as strong as they are ugly.
8) Ryse: Son of Rome
Ryse: Son of Rome gameplay
Take on the role of Roman centurion Marius Titus as he battles barbaric hordes in ancient Britain and uncovers a plot to unravel the Roman Empire. The game emphasizes "flow" in battle allowing players to move smoothly from a recently-slain enemy to engage another as well as quick-time event executions that grant a temporary boon to the player.
For loyal fans of Skyrim's Imperial Legion, the opportunity to bring misery to another group northern ne'er-do-wells can be hard to pass up, particularly since the Imperial Legion draws much of its inspiration and aesthetic from the historical Roman Empire of yore.
Combat is not the only thing that "flows" abundantly it would seem.
Take me out the Ludi!
7) Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord gameplay
As the Calradian Empire collapses, players will control a single soldier in one of several factions competing and fighting over territory, resources, and other spoils through the use of siege engines, large armies, and other tactics. Players will also be able to craft their own gear and weapons, as well as engage in diplomacy and other types of strategic maneuvering.
Although a release date has yet to be confirmed, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is sure to be an attractive prospect for anyone who enjoyed Skyrim's civil war questline, city sieges, and fort skirmishes.
Lay siege with a little help from your friends.
It may not be exactly what they meant by "climbing the ladder to success".
6) Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor gameplay
Another title set within Tolkien's Middle-Earth, Shadow of Mordor puts the player in control of Talion, an undead ranger from Gondor whose soul is bound with the wraith of Celebrimbor (an important though somewhat obscure character) on a bloody mission of revenge against the Dark Lord Sauron. A key feature is the game's reactive way in which the orcs of Mordor respond to the player's actions, often developing an unique and antagonistic relationship with the player over time.
While Tolkien lore purists may grumble a bit at some of Talion's over-the-top and, dare I say it, Dragonborn-like abilities, Shadow of Mordor is sure to satisfy those thirsting open-world roaming and copious amounts of visceral and occasionally cringe-worthy (in the good sense) combat.
Manipulate orc society by putting your mind-controlled allies in key positions for strategic effect, or stand aside and watch them tear each other apart in a Mordor-meets-Jerry-Springer sort of fashion.
Wreaking bloody havoc among Sauron's orc-hordes can be as entertaining as it is cathartic.
5) The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online gameplay
The Elder Scrolls Online can satiate those who really feel like they must return to Tamriel, allowing players to even return to Skyrim itself albeit within the form of an MMORPG. In ESO, players pick a race and join one of three region-specific alliances vying for control of Cyrodiil and the Imperial City (as seen in TES IV: Oblivion) and can eventually travel to and explore each province in Tamriel, including locales that long-time fans of the series may remember from The Elder Scrolls' more pixelated predecessors. The game also features a storyline set a thousand years prior to Skyrim and features many of the series' familiar guilds and factions.
Even if the MMO gameplay doesn't directly appeal, players can still go solo for a more traditional Elder Scrolls type of experience.
At this point, Elder Scrolls veterans are probably pretty adept at going head-to-head with hordes of Daedric invaders.
Hold my sujamma for a minute...
4) Dishonored 2
Dishonored 2 gameplay
From cutting a gory swathe of destruction to nimbly sneaking by adversaries unnoticed and everything in between, Dishonored II lets you play as one of two main protagonists, Emily Kaldwin or Corvo Attano, set in an industrialized yet exotic world. Players can also employ a range of supernatural powers or forgo them all together, relying on more conventional and mundane forms of problem solving.
Unlike many of the other games in this list, Dishonored II can be completed with out taking a single life allowing for a more stealthy, pacifist style of play, appealing to players who prefer something a bit more subtle and less bloody.
In Dishonored II, you can use your supernatural abilities to deal with foes or...
...you can handle things in a more direct, straight-forward manner.
3) Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquistion gameplay
A strange rift in the sky above Thedas called the "Breach" is unleashing demonic abominations into the world, and players become the leader of an Inquisition, whose goal is to seal the Breach and also hunt down and destroy a dark being known as Corypheus and the dragon that serves him.
Dragon Age: Inquisition features a larger amount of terrain to explore than both of its predecessors along with appearances of returning characters from throughout the series. Players can take forts and keeps to spread their influence, craft various items, pursue romantic relationships with characters, and make impactful decisions that affect the storyline and the fate of the world.
That moment when you realize that two knives may not be enough...
...so you opt for something with a bit more "firepower".
2) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt gameplay
Anyone claiming to be a fan of open-world, action-oriented RPG's should do themselves a humongous favor and dive headfirst into The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt if they haven't already.
Based off of the series of books Andrzej Sapkowski, the game follows their primary protagonist Geralt of Rivia, a renowned monster hunter for hire as he searches for his adopted daughter Ciri, possessing the ability to handily travel through space and time, who is being hunted by a cavalcade of other-worldly wraiths.
While certainly grittier and darker than Skyrim with more mature content (sensitive parents out there be cautioned), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt offers great storytelling, fast-paced combat, and a multitude of side quests to keep you busy for hundreds of hours. There is absolutely no shame here in trading in your well-worn, horned iron helmet for a snazzy pair of swords on your back for a little while.
The White Wolf goes up against and dispatches all types of monsters, especially those of the human variety.
Even though Ciri can't drink potions or use Signs, she can teleport and summon fire from the sky which balances things out a bit.
1) The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Morrowind gameplay (with Overhaul 3.0 mod for enhanced graphics and sound)
For longtime fans and aficionados of the Elder Scrolls series, TES III: Morrowind would have likely been their first introduction to the expansive world of Tamriel and its denizens, and newer fans who enjoyed the Dragonborn expansion for Skyrim will recognize some of the bizarre creatures, characters, and locales of the island of Solthiem, many of which were first encountered in Morrowind back in 2002.
Starting off as a non-descript prisoner with nothing to your name, you are left to wander Vvardenfell (the large volcanic island within the province of Morrowind) with no map markers and scant information on what to do next. While some players may find this hands-off approach as well as Morrowind's combat and other game mechanics a bit irksome, the game can be mastered with patience and players will be rewarded with an experience within a rich, strange, and unique atmosphere that later installments of the Elder Scrolls franchise never quite seemed to nail down.
Third-party mods available online can update the game's graphics and textures to a point that's passable by today's standards, allowing it to live on with honorable status alongside other classic titles in the genre.
If you're going to play Morrowind, be sure to pick up the Overhaul mod that enhances the game's graphics and sound.
Yes, that is a suspended space rock floating over the city and yes, we're still watching you. Scum.
Using the Morrowind Graphics Extender (MGE) mod greatly improves many of the game's visuals. MGE can be found at the Morrowind Nexus site.
While many of us have been trying to squeeze every last bit of content out of Skyrim that we can, it will likely be a long while before we'll get any solid information on The Elder Scrolls VI and even longer for the game to be released itself. Simply put, we'll have to make do with what we have already or look forward to other upcoming titles in the meantime.
We'll look back fondly on our time spent traipsing around in the steaming hot springs of Eastmarch, the verdant forests near Falkreath, and the frigid peaks of The Pale, but other worlds await with adventures and characters therein. So with that being said, finish up your mead and grab your sword. We have a lot of ground to cover!
You may also be interested in:
10 Movies Every Skyrim Player Should Watch
10 Things That Make an RPG Awesome
10 Adventure RPG Games You'll Love
Five Possible Locations for The Elder Scrolls 6
The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition: 5 Things You Need to Know
