10 Open World RPGs Better Than Skyrim

Open world RPGs are one of the most popular genres of game available on both the console and the PC, and it’s easy to see why. The games usually combine a variety of elements, from combat to characterization, meaning that they often have something for everyone. Their main goal, however, should be to provide an immersive world to get lost in for hours.

Skyrim did an awesome job of that. But there are games that are actually better, or at least have elements better than Skyrim. Looking for your next open world to sink a hundred hours into? These are probably your best bet.

10 10. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher games are based on the Polish book series of the same name. CD Projekt Red do an amazing job of capturing the characters’ world and bringing it to the screen, setting the games after the books and continuing their story.

The scenery is stunning, the quests are fun as heck, and the characters are better than any game you’ll ever play. Even characters only featured for one quest have an impressive amount of depth, as three dimensional as real people. You can argue about the graphics and gameplay all day, but the characters are a hundred times more compelling than Skyrim.

9 9. Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

The Zelda games have been around forever, back when Nintendo 64 was still a thing. These days, the latest console is the Nintendo Switch, and many people bought it specifically to play Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. The expectations were high and Nintendo lived up to them, with a truly breathtaking Zelda game somehow both updated and faithful to the original franchise.

It’s good for any age, it’s fun, and it can be taken on the go thanks to the system it’s been brought out on. Whether you’re a faithful Zelda fan from the old days or looking for something new to get into, this is a good pick.

8 8. Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn appears to be a medieval world when you first start out, purely on scenery alone - but quickly, you find out that the objective is to hunt machines, and Aloy finds an instrument to help her on her quests that far surpasses any technology we have today.

Hm. Maybe not so medieval.

No. This game is set in an apocalyptic world in the far future, that has gone backwards as much as it has forwards. A science fiction story more than anything else, Aloy must found out who she is and where she came from, and wow is her story compelling. With story twists and turns just as good as the combat system, you want to play this one.

7 7. Dragon Age: Origins

There have been three Dragon Age games and as each one has been released, most things have improved: the immersion of the world and how vast it is, the character customization, etc. But in terms of story, nothing was good as Dragon Age: Origins.

Although it can’t be played on the latest consoles, it’s worth going back in time for a shot at this. Your character’s race and class depends on where the story starts and from there, you venture through, picking your friends, enemies, allies, and romance potentials. It’s a very personal game with different endings, and the world is truly breath-taking in terms of the story-telling.

6 6. Red Dead Redemption 2

Described as a Western Skyrim by more than one person, this is slightly more of an action-adventure game than an RPG, but it makes the list because the open world is incredible. The story of Red Dead Redemption 2 centers on an outlaw who makes his way through the world, with a million things to do available. If you’re looking for a game to sink hours and hours into and completely lose track of your days, this is probably the way to go.

There’s also a bounty system similar to Grand Theft Auto, which is pretty cool considering it means you need to actually be careful about what you’re doing.

5 5. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

The Assassin’s Creed series has had a pretty shaky life. It’s been up and down, with some games being raved about and some being hated, but Odyssey is a pretty solid addition.

Living as a Greek hero, the world is far more open than the previous games. It has branching quests, different endings depending on choices, and you can pick between playing as Alexios or Kassandra. The crimes that the player commits are also kept track of, much like in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Whether you’re already a fan of AC or looking to be introduced, this is a solid start and you don’t need to remember or have played any of the previous games.

4 4. Fallout 4

Another post-apocalyptic game, but very different from Horizon Zero Dawn, Fallout 4 is an action roleplaying game. It takes place in Boston after nuclear devastation has ruined the world.

The character is called the Sole Survivor and is in search of their child. Along with having created a fairly compelling storyline to start you off, the main goal is to level up and increase the abilities of the character so that the game can be completed. The main criticisms the game gets come from the graphics, but don’t let those put you off - it’s absolutely worth playing for the story and world alone.

3 3. Far Cry 5

A first-person shooter to make the list! Far Cry 5 has a unique plot, revolving around a cult under a creepily charismatic leader. Your character is a junior deputy sheriff who becomes trapped in the same county as this cult and ends up having to try to free them.

What’s particularly cool about this game is the competitive and co-operative multiplayer modes, so you can play either with friends or against them. It’s not quite as much of an RPG as the games listed above, but it has branching quests and an open world, so it definitely counts as having some elements and makes for a super fun play.

2 2. Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2 is the other first person shooter on this list, and has many more RPG elements than Far Cry 5. There are four playable characters and It’s set on the planet of Pandora, five years after the original game.

The game revolves around completing missions and finding loot for the most part and, like Far Cry 5, is a popular choice for those who want to play multi-player since you can play co-op with friends and trade with them. There’s also some pretty decent character customization, if that’s what you’re into.

A solid choice, combining the best of first-person shooters and RPGs!

1 1. Monster Hunter: World

Monster Hunter: World was only just released in 2018 and is a solid roleplaying game. The player creates a character who goes to the “New World” which is populated with monsters and must kill and capture monsters both to protect the people and to study them.

Another game with a decent cooperative mode, but it’s not necessary to play co-op at all. The main things that have to be watched in the game are health and weapons, since a quest can fail if there’s too much fainting and how the player takes down the monster depends entirely on the weapon they’re carrying.

It’s been received pretty well, and for good reason! It’s stunning.