After The Witcher adaptation came out on Netflix last year, sales of the games, especially The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, spiked. People, even non-gamers, could not get enough Geralt action. It’s a long game, but eventually one will finish the adventure.
That’s where these ten recommendations come in. All of them are action RPGs with either big or semi open-worlds and branching dialogue paths. Some are a bit of a stretch but should appeal to those looking for a different take while having the same flavor if that makes sense. They are all also all available on current-gen systems and most are also pretty cheap by this point.
10 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Let’s begin with the most obvious recommendation. Skyrim debuted in 2011 and has been blasted onto every major console since. It is widely available and still supported to this day via the mod community on the PC side of things.
Due to its age, the graphics, no matter which version one plays, can look dated. That said, Skyrim is still a fun RPG with a fantastic open-world that screams to be explored. It may not have the same quest depth or intuitive combat as The Witcher 3, but Skyrim is still a good time.
9 Dragon Age: Inquisition
A more modern, fantasy RPG is Dragon Age: Inquisition. That’s modern in relative terms as it came out in 2014. Inquisition had a bumpy launch with bugs aplenty, also like Skyrim and The Witcher 3 for that matter.
However, after a few months, the rough patches were smoothed over, resulting in arguably the best entry in the series to date. Also like The Witcher 3, Inquisition is a continuation of the previous two titles while serving as a reboot as well. Basically, Dragon Age: Inquisition is easy to jump into even without playing the previous entries.
8 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
Assassin's Creed: Origins is the first game in the series to really go full blast on the RPG elements. It was a good start, but Odyssey redefined what had come before. This is especially true when it came to the dialogue trees, a must for every big narrative-driven RPG.
While Egypt had some stunning areas, yellow sand can only go so far, and Odyssey's Greece was just a more beautiful landscape to traverse. From slaying enemies to exploring the seas, Odyssey is a great companion to The Witcher 3.
7 Final Fantasy XV
As if it needs to be said, but every Final Fantasy game is its own thing. This may be the fifteenth entry, but one doesn’t have to play the other fourteen, or the literal hundreds of spin-offs to get caught up.
This is the first mainline entry to feature action combat and a fully open-world. Final Fantasy XV is like a more anime version of The Witcher 3. Just substitute Geralt for four hot boys and Roach for big yellow birds and a car and there it is. The monsters could even give the creepiest foes in The Witcher universe a run for their money.
6 NieR: Automata
Another action RPG from Square Enix, NieR: Automata is set in a dystopian future where humans live in space and the Earth is nothing but robots. Developed by PlatinumGames and directed by Drakengard's Yoko Taro, Automata is definitely a thinking gamer's kind of adventure.
There aren’t dialogue trees and the world isn’t as expensive as other open-world games on the market, but Automata is more than deserving of being given a chance by anyone seeking a deeper, more philosophical quest. Plus, there is the option to ride a moose. Take that Roach.
5 Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn is another female-led open-world adventure in a dystopian future, although this time mankind is still on earth but has regressed to a more primitive standing. Technology has all but been lost and tribes of people are scattered and nomadic.
This is because a great cataclysm was brought on by robotic creatures that still roam the world. It’s kind of like The Witcher, although with organic creatures being replaced with robotic ones. Horizon Zero Dawn is light on the RPG elements but quite heavy with meaningful stories complete with dialogue trees.
4 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Now that The Witcher 3 is out on Switch, Breath of the Wild can finally be recommended, even though it lacks a lot of that game’s core elements.
While not traditionally categorized as an RPG, Breath of the Wild's open-world freedom, stat-based weapon system, and many side-quests lend the game to the classification, even if action-adventure might be more accurate of a genre. Even without much of a story to take note of and Link not leveling up traditionally, Breath of the Wild has enough in common with The Witcher 3 to merit a recommendation.
For those who dug the exploration aspect of Geralt’s journey, they should feel right at home in Breath of the Wild's Hyrule. At the end of the day, it is The Legend of Zelda; of course, Breath of the Wild should be played.
3 Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
A bit older than the other entries, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning premiered during the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. However, if one has an Xbox One, then this game is still available. Its ambitions were huge, which were met with praise, although with a few caveats.
That is to say, Reckoning didn’t meet its full potential. Focusing on the positives, the fast-paced and varied combat seems to take a page from hack and slash games, along with having all of the might and magic one would expect from an RPG.
2 Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Ni no Kuni II is a game for those who like the action combat and the open-world aspects of The Witcher 3, but want something more cutesy and colorful. The JRPG's combat is far more accessible than The Witcher 3, although both take place in real-time and feature strategic elements.
Revenant Kingdom is almost the complete opposite in tone to The Witcher 3, with happy-go-lucky characters and a charming world full of imaginative creatures. Despite that, Revenant Kingdom also tackles some real issues that players can relate to, including death and having one’s destiny thrust upon them.
1 Dragon’s Dogma
Dragon’s Dogma might be the hardest pill to swallow on this list, which is why it’s the final recommendation. It takes a steady hand and patience for this game to make sense. Dragon’s Dogma is hard on the level of Dark Souls due to its complex mechanics.
For those that master it, this grim fantasy adventure is worth it. Dragon’s Dogma's dark tone is comparable to The Witcher 3, while both incorporate a diverse roster of powerful monsters that are able to tear through players in an instant.