When people search for the best games like Skyrim in 2025, what they want is that same freedom Skyrim delivered. Skyrim gave players massive worlds to explore, deep roleplay choices, and countless ways to build their character. Even though Skyrim itself is still endlessly replayed, many modern RPGs carry the same DNA with fresh worlds, better systems, and new mechanics.

Here are the best games like Skyrim to play in 2025.

Elder Scrolls Online

Elder Scrolls Online is the most direct continuation of the Elder Scrolls experience. It expands Tamriel far beyond Skyrim, covering regions and cultures never seen in the single-player series.

You can play completely solo, following story arcs at your own pace, or join dungeons and trials for multiplayer depth. With constant expansions, ESO feels alive in a way few RPGs can match, making it the natural Skyrim alternative.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

Tainted Grail is one of the closest games to Skyrim’s tone. It blends Arthurian legends with survival systems in a dark, corrupted world.

Exploration is dangerous, quests are morally gray, and mechanics like farming, alchemy, and crafting keep survival tense. With over 200 quests, branching outcomes, and multiple endings, Tainted Grail feels like a darker, grittier Skyrim for modern players.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 trades action combat for tactical, turn-based fights, but it matches Skyrim’s freedom of choice in quests, exploration, and roleplay. Every decision impacts how the world reacts to you.

Party interactions, branching storylines, and character builds give you total freedom in shaping your adventure. For those who loved Skyrim’s choice-driven quests, Baldur’s Gate 3 is unmatched.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Dragon’s Dogma 2 keeps its pawn system, letting you create AI companions who adapt to your playstyle. Combat is more fluid than Skyrim, with climbing mechanics that let you scale massive enemies.

Its open zones, varied vocations, and fast-paced combat deliver a very different feel while still giving that sandbox RPG freedom. It’s one of the most exciting new RPGs to stand beside Skyrim in 2025.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3 remains a gold standard for open-world RPGs. It focuses more on narrative than Skyrim, but its quests, monster hunting, and open-world exploration hit the same sweet spots.

Its world is alive with detail, and Geralt’s role ensures constant purpose. For anyone who wants Skyrim’s depth with polished storytelling, this is still one of the best options.

Elex II

Elex II mixes sci-fi and fantasy in a way few RPGs attempt. Developed by Piranha Bytes, it keeps their signature style of faction-based storytelling and hardcore exploration.

The freedom of choice, survival mechanics, and branching storylines feel reminiscent of Skyrim. It’s clunky in places, but for fans who love old-school RPG design, it scratches the itch.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Kingdom Come trades dragons for realism. Set in medieval Bohemia, it focuses on skill-based combat, survival, and immersion.

Every choice matters, survival is demanding, and the historical setting adds weight to every quest. For those who loved Skyrim’s immersion but want something harsher and grounded, Kingdom Come is perfect.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Valhalla is not as freeform as Skyrim, but its Viking setting, settlement system, and exploration bring a similar sense of scale.

The massive open map, countless quests, and RPG mechanics make it a good option for players who want Skyrim’s freedom but with modern polish and fast-paced combat.

Outward

Outward puts survival at the center. You’re not the chosen hero but an ordinary adventurer who has to manage hunger, fatigue, and weather just to stay alive.

Its punishing systems make every journey dangerous, and co-op play adds another layer of strategy. For those who wanted Skyrim to be harder and more realistic, Outward delivers.

Gothic Series and Gothic Remake

The Gothic series helped inspire much of modern open-world RPG design. With a remake in development, Gothic is making a comeback.

Its faction systems, open exploration, and survival-driven mechanics feel raw compared to Skyrim, but the DNA is the same. Fans who want a gritty, unforgiving RPG should keep an eye on Gothic’s return.

Final Blurb

The best games like Skyrim in 2025 give players freedom, exploration, and choice. Elder Scrolls Online continues Skyrim’s world directly, while Tainted Grail pushes into darker territory. Baldur’s Gate 3 and The Witcher 3 deliver unmatched roleplay and narrative depth. Kingdom Come and Outward add survival and realism for players who want a challenge. Skyrim’s legacy is alive, but these RPGs offer new ways to keep that spirit going.