7 Games Like Skyrim

Witcher 2 is perhaps one of the games most similar to Skyrim in terms of game play and design. Even more so than Skyrim, Witcher 2 is a game of power, politics, and revolution. As the player, you play a kingmaker of sorts, taking part in an epic narrative of chaos vs order as a mercenary for hire. 

The game features first rate visual design, brimming with lush natural landscapes and gruesome personal combat sequences. Everything from the majestic mountains to the rip in a fellow mercenary's trousers is etched in precise detail. On the whole, the game is a visual treat.

When it comes to game play, Witcher 2 is subtly different than Skyrim. Although equally expansive, the central story is more directed. Yet, the game still has an open world feel. It achieves this by leaving much up to the player's own intelligence and intuition. Choices you make have an impact on the story and there are multiple outcomes, ensuring that these choices are not merely artificial. A choice early on in the game can radically alter the end game. In this way, Witcher 2 pioneers a new kind of open world RPG. 

This game is well worth the money, a must have for fans of the Elder Scrolls series. 

Dark Souls is a considerably darker, but no less popular open world game similar to Skyrim. Few games manage to deliver a truly frightening experience. Dark Souls is part open world fantasy RPG and part mystery  adventure, mixing terrifying demons with challenging (but rewarding) game play. 

At its core, Dark Souls is a traditional dungeon crawler played in the third person. Like Skyrim, players select their class and enter into a harsh and uncompromising world. Where in Skyrim players could often get away with doddering rookie mistakes, Dark Souls is all about learning from your mistakes. Nothing about this game is easy, but that doesn't mean it isn't wildly fun to play.

Combat is the emphasis of this highly acclaimed role playing game. It is far more complex than Skyrim when it comes to engaging opponents, executing combined attacks, and unique kills. While Skyrim was an enjoyable "hack and slash" experience, Dark Souls focuses on strategic combat on a level rarely seen for open world RPGs. Dark Souls should definitely be played after Skyrim, as it is a step up in difficulty and strategy. 

Dragon Age 2 was the second in BioWare's critically acclaimed fantasy RPG series. It is an enjoyable mix of complexity (which is appropriate for this type of RPG), political intrigue, and a large game environment to explore. While not revolutionary, Dragon Age 2 is a game that checks all the boxes of what a good game should be. 

During this relatively lengthy adventure, you will encounter the full gambit of fantasy RPG characters from dragons, dark magi, and bosses of varying abilities. While the story line has well defined plots and sub plots, much of the game is spent making a name for yourself in various ways. There is no grand climax or obvious difficulty progression which is in many ways like Skyrim.

This iteration of Dragon Age has also cut back on the complex inventory management to focus more on the action and game play. Some players will appreciate this, but it is a step away from Skyrim (which boasts an incredible complex inventory scheme). Perhaps the most innovate feature of Dragon Age 2 is the heavy emphasis placed on character choice. The player gets the distinct feeling that every in game decision feeds into the story, a feeling that is quite rewarding at times. 

Fallout: New Vegas looks, feels, and plays like Skyrim, just in a very different game universe. Both the Elder Scrolls and the Fallout series are made by the same developer, Bethesda so it is not surprising that they share similar design features. Bottom line: if you loved the open world feel and endless choices (customization, etc...) in Skyrim then you will definitely enjoy Fallout: New Vegas.

Like in Skyrim, the sheer number of choices, options, things to build, places to explore, side quests to go on, and people to meet is overwhelming. The point of the game is not at all linear. You must survive. At times the world of Fallout: New Vegas is a challenging place to survive in. Bottle Caps, which function as in game currency, are extremely scarce. You will have to learn to craft unique items, scavenge the terrain for usable parts, and be prepared to fix items that break. 

While the initial release contained a number of annoying bugs and glitches, most of these problems have since been corrected in subsequent patches. The Ultimate Edition also contains all the expansion packs, fixes, and unique items for a small extra price (highly recommended: see below video). All together, Fallout: New Vegas is another fun, absorbing, and unique gaming experience from Bethesda. It is one of the games like Skryim that truly feels the same while being in a completely different setting. 

Kingdoms of Amular: Reckoning is another well made open world RPG, this time from the folks at EA Games. At first I was skeptical that EA Games could make a decent RPG, but this game hit all the marks in terms of quality and entertainment. This is a game that is incredibly expansive. It is definitely different than Skyrim in terms of appearances (think more like Dark Souls), it still features an overall open world focus. 

While the voice acting at times is annoying, the large map features endless possibility. The main "quest" can be finished in about 20 hours, by the myriad side quests and surprises waiting around every corner mean you will have to spend upwards of 100 hours to fully "beat" the game. Like Skyrim, the most fun is had by wandering the map, exploring dungeons, scaling high peaks, and crafting your character into a unique fighting machine.

I would recommend Kingdoms of Amular to anyone looking for a game like Skyrim with a very different feel and appearance. It is a fantasy RPG in every sense of the word so some gamers might be initially put off by the fantasy environment (think less Skyrim, less Medieval), but it is an enthralling experience. It is a hard game to put down once you get going. 

Assassins Creed III is the much anticipated game in the Assassins Creed series. After Skyrim, it is likely one of the most played games in the RPG niche. It is an entirely unique game that has virtually created its own special genre. The marriage of high tempo action, deft acrobatic climbing, and stealthy assassin kills define the brand of the game. 

While AC3 is set in a historically realistic New World environment, it deals with fantasy elements (time travel, assuming different characters personalities, etc..). On the whole, it plays like a historical RPG. From the bustling city streets of Boston and New York, to the wild untamed early American frontier (and little hamlets in between), AC3 delivers an historically accurate environment full of locations to explore and exploit. The frontier homestead trading management functionality is also an interesting addition, if you are more commercially minded. 

If for no other reasons than to experience a groundbreaking RPG, Assassins Creed III is well worth a play. The Assassins Creed series is fast becoming as successful and critically acclaimed as the Elder Scrolls series. 

This game has largely flown under the radar. It was not as hyped as many of the other leading titles, but the developer Southpeak managed to deliver an incredibly rich gaming experience with Two Worlds 2. 

Two Worlds 2 represents the best of what we have come to expect from open world medieval fantasy RPGs. While the controls can be a bit clunky at times (like Skyrim at times), the well put together game world makes this game worthwhile. If you enjoyed the complex inventory and crafting management in Skyrim, you will love what Two Worlds 2 has to offer. The game even features sailing, with the ability to purchase a ship and sail to different locations on the map.

The game is not nearly as polished as Skyrim, but it is still fun to play and has some unique features. The game was released in 2011, so it is a bit dated, but the graphics are similar to Skyrim. At less than $10 (for both Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles) this game is a steal for how much game play you get out of it. This is one of the games like Skryim that is worth checking out. 

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