10 best open world games like Skyrim to play in 2024

Despite being over a decade old, Skyrim is still one of the best open-world games ever made. However, it’s not the only one, there are other games that are just as celebrated and share similar gameplay loops. So, we’ve got ten of the best open-world games for you to try out.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is undoubtedly one of the best open-world games ever made – but it’s not the only one. The journey to Tamriel’s northern province offered an adventure that arguably changed the open-world genre forever. So it’s no wonder so many are excited about Elder Scrolls 6.

However, as iconic as it is, Skyrim isn’t the only fantastic open-world game out in the wilderness. There are plenty of other, similar games out there for Skyrim fans to enjoy. Let’s look at some!

Of course, could simply recommend the Elder Scrolls 1-4, but instead, we’re going to focus on other games like Skyrim outside of the Elder Scross franchise.

The Elder Scrolls Online

The Elder Scrolls Online is a very different experience to Skyrim – it’s an MMO, so the ever-updating gameplay is focused on multiplayer rather than solo adventuring. The basic premise of questing around Tamriel is the same, though, and you can even explore Skyrim over 1000 years before the Dragonborn rose to prominence.

Those looking for more Elder Scrolls before the eventual sixth main entry arrives will be well served. Just remember, this is an MMO first and foremost, so it won’t be suited to every Dovakhin’s tastes, especially with the vast amount of races and classes you can enjoy.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

In our view, The Witcher 3 is a game that finally gave Skyrim a run for its money. Whether it was better than Bethesda’s masterpiece is a matter of individual opinion, but Geralt’s third gaming outing was undoubtedly something special, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our quest in Tamriel’s northernmost province.

Like Bethesda’s games, The Witcher 3 is filled with morally grey, often uncomfortable, choices that allow you to influence the game world in subtle ways and control the narrative. However, the real star of the game is the polished open world that really raised the bar in terms of design and exploration.

The next game in the series is also in development as is a remake of the first adventure.

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Dragon Age Inquisition

Inquisition is the third Dragon Age outing and the first game in the series to be released on PS4 and Xbox One. This meant it was much more visually impressive than earlier games and it still holds up today, especially on PS5 or as part of Xbox Games Pass. A classic Dungeon and Dragons-styled adventure, Dragon Age Inquisition doubles down on the high fantasy, but it also tells a story filled with political intrigue, conspiracy, and betrayal. While it wasn’t as iconic as Skyrim, it’s a must-play for fans of the genre. BUY DRAGON AGE INQUISITION ON AMAZON

Fallout 4

Believe it or not, those looking for more Skyrim would be well served by Fallout 4, despite it being set in a completely different genre. Rather than being a medieval fantasy adventure, Fallout 4 is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, centuries after the world was ravaged by nuclear war. However, as the Fallout series (today) is developed by Bethesda, the gameplay has a lot of similarities. Fallout 4 is even developed using the same engine as Skyrim, and this becomes immediately apparent when the NPCs start talking. BUY FALLOUT 4 ON AMAZON

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the sequel to the original game released almost 10 years ago. Capcom yet again combines elements of Skyrim, Dark Souls, and their own Monster Hunter series to create an open-world fantasy sandbox. The game’s main draw is the Pawn System, a mechanic that lets you summon other players’ characters as NPC companions. While not perfect, Dragon’s Dogma 2 builds upon its predecessor by providing an even bigger open world to explore with a plethora of new and interesting mechanics to interact with.

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Middle-Earth: Shadow of War

Set in Peter Jackson’s interpretation of Tolkien’s Middle Earth, Shadow of War is the sequel to the also impressive Shadow of Mordor. The game is set in between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and sees the Ranger Talion take on Sauron in a bitter war over the Ring of Power. The game is a fantasy adventure like Skyrim, but its main selling point is the Nemesis system. This is a mechanic that lets players create rivalries with NPC enemies based on previous battles. Other games, including some racing simulators, have even adopted similar systems after seeing it work so well. BUY SHADOW OF WAR ON AMAZON

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Kingdom Come strips out the fantasy and instead tells a brutal, grounded tale of medieval life set in fifteenth-century Bohemia. There are no dragons or magic in Kingdom Come: Deliverance, but the game still manages to be compelling. Much of the gameplay resembles Skyrim and The Witcher 3, but Kingdom Come’s more realistic approach raises the stakes for the player. You either learn how to master your bow, sword, and the other elements of medieval life, or risk becoming a footnote in someone else’s story. BUY KINGDOM COME DELIVERANCE ON AMAZON

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Breath of the Wild took the world by storm when it was originally released for the Nintendo Switch. It was hard to imagine how a sequel would surpass a game like that but Tears of the Kingdom is in almost all aspects one of the best sequels to be released. With a larger emphasis on the story this time around, Tears of the Kingdom adds a groundbreaking building mechanic allowing players to build their own vehicles and weapons with the only limit being players’ imagination.

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Elden Ring

Following in the footsteps of Skyrim, Breath of The Wild, and The Witcher 3, Elden Ring represents the next evolution in open-world gameplay. The game took the tried and tested Dark Souls formula and expanded it into an epic sandbox adventure – raising the standard for both dungeon diving and open-world games at the same time. The game is primarily a single-player experience, but it’s possible to summon co-op allies into your world through summoning pools. This is especially useful against tough bosses. With the release of the highly anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC on the horizon, now would be the perfect time to jump into Elden Ring.

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Hogwarts Legacy

While perhaps a step away from the chilly and unforgiving realms of Skyrim, Hogwarts Legacy is a highly rated and popular open-world experience with all the magic, mystery, and madness many love to see in games like Skyrim. Ultimately, Hogwarts Legacy is a thrilling adventure filled with collectibles, exploration, spells, and adorable beasts to find and tame. It may be a little kinder than Skyrim but sometimes that’s an extremely welcome experience.

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