When one talks about some of the greatest video game franchises of all time, it’s only a matter of time beforeThe Elder Scrollscomes into this conversation. From its earliest iteration in the form ofArenatothe genre-defining RPGthat wasSkyrim—The Elder Scrollsfranchise housessome of the most popular RPGs of all time, and could arguably be seen as the series that put Bethesda on track to become one of the biggest and most influential gaming companies of all time.
So, it’s only a given that the hype surroundingThe Elder Scrolls 6series is immense, and fans can’t wait to sink hours upon hours intoanother brilliant titlethat would whisk them away toanother wondrous land of fantasy and magic. However, if the wait is too unbearable, then here are ten story-heavy games that will help gamers pass the time until the nextElder Scrollsfinally rears its much-awaited head.
Updated on July 01, 2025, by Matthew Hill:More years have passed, and news/information about The Elder Scrolls 6 remains a mystery.Though the game is still happening, the wait for the title is likely a fair while away. With so many great games hitting the shelves, and others showing their timelessness, the list has been updated to reflect even more story-heavy titles gamers can sink their teeth into as they continue to wait for the hotly anticipated sequel.
It was only a given that a game that borrows heavily fromThe Elder Scrolls' engine would be featured on this list. While Bethesda themselves might not have developedFallout: New Vegas, there’s no denying the fact that Obsidian did a brilliant job of carrying forward the progress made byFallout 3while simultaneously allowing for endless role-playing opportunities.
The game was heavily criticized on launch for the sheer amount of bugs it had, butmods and patcheshave improved the experience significantly and allowed for a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
Obsidian Entertainment had found themselves in their comfort zone after the tumultuous development period ofFallout: New Vegas, which is what led to the creation ofThe Outer Worlds.
While some may argue that this product is somewhat simplified from a role-playing point of view in comparison toFallout: New Vegas, there’s still no denying the fact thatThe Outer Worldsis a brilliant, story-rich interstellar adventure that creates an exciting world that begs to be explored. Much likeThe Elder Scrolls,The Outer Worldsis also a game filled with great lore that will have eager gamers wanting to learn more about what makes this world tick. Fans of RPGs definitely shouldn’t miss out on it.
Assassin’s Creedis a gaming series that has cemented itself as a staple adventure series. The games have taken players on numerous quests and allowed players to experience a wide variety of historical periods. However, it wasn’t untilAssassin’s Creed: Originsthat the series reset thefloundering seriesto be a more open RPG experience over its traditional action/adventure roots. The game’s revamped combat and interesting landscape means it has tonnes of replayability and will entice the most eagerElder Scrollsfan to venture forth and explore everything on offer.
Thanks to that RPG reset, the series was able to refocus and bring the series back to form. The series' fluid combat has been rebuilt to allow for more tense and challenging battles that complement the new skill tree. On top of that, Ubisoft created a wonderful open-world Egypt that’s full of interesting quests, jaw-dropping sights, and adventure for those players brave enough to seek it.
While most people might considerBreath Of The Wild’s story to be almost nonexistent, players who actually found the memories and read the diaries present in this title were treated to a rich — and somewhat saddening — narrative that was just beautiful in its simplicity.
It certainly helps that, just like most games in theElder Scrollsseries, there’s pretty much something or the other to discover in the world, which makes for a rather personalized experience as well.
While theDeux Exfranchise might not lean heavily towards the role-playing side of things as one might expect, there’s still no denying the fact the gameplay freedom present in these titles is excellent in its own way.
Out of all the titles in the franchise,Mankind Dividedis the only title that allows players to roam around a hub of sorts that constantly evolves as the player goes through the story. It’s a great RPG that champions progression and much likeElder Scrolls, players will eagerly be coming back to return and improve the game’s hero, Adam Jensen into a mighty force to be reckoned with.
Harry Potterfan or not, Avalanche Software’s wizard school adventure is an excellent RPG game that will please newcomers and fans alike. It’s a thrilling RPG adventure, and what fantasy fan wouldn’t want the chance to be a student of magic? Brewing potions, encountering fantastical beasts, and learning new and challenging spells.
Hogwarts Legacydelivers a fantastic fantasy adventure. The magic-based gameplay is sure to please anyElder Scrollsfan, especially with the game encouraging and rewarding venturing off the beaten path. The wizarding combat is fun and reactive, its central story in traditional RPG storytelling through and through, but most importantly, its open world is packed with charm and character that’s just begging to be explored.
Of course, it would be impossible to talk about story-heavy RPGs without mentioning the masterpiece that isThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. CD Projekt Red put itself on the map with the release of this genre-defining title that is still considered by many to be one of the greatest video games ever made.
Much likeThe Elder Scrollsseries,The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis a stupendous fantasy RPG, complete with a story that spans a 100+ hour journey, complete with fantastic creatures and some of the best side quests going. In short, it’s a gaming experience that no fan should miss out on.
Perhaps a bit of a curveball suggestion to some gamers out there, butFar Cry 6has a lot to offer. It’s an open-world riddled with places to explore, someawesome side quests, and a wide range of combat options that make for an addictive gameplay experience.
Set in Yara, a fictional Caribbean island,Far Cry 6thrusts players into the shoes of Dani as they align with the resistance seeking to put an end to the ruthless dictator Antón Castillo (Performed by Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito). It’s a well-told narrative that gives players the freedom to tackle the story as they see fit, but just like mostElder Scrollsgames, the real allure of the game is the open world of Yara. It’s essentially one big playground, littered with great quests, unlockable gear, and solid platforming challenges to tackle. It’s a diverse and inviting world, guaranteeing players that there’ll never be a dull moment.
7Final Fantasy 15
Metascore: 81
The tumultuous development period ofFinal Fantasy 15is quite well-known in today’s gaming circles, which is what makes the eventual success of this title all the more satisfying. It’s a game packed with a vast amount of content that’ll please anyElder Scrollsfan looking to sink some time, but what’ll really grab fans is the game’s flair and scope.Final Fantasy 15has some truly epic battles that match the same feeling and adrenaline of dragon encounters inThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, backed up by excellent combat to keep players coming back.
It’s certainly true thatFinal Fantasy 15is rife with several flaws, but people who choose to look past these problems and heavily invest themselves in the plot of this game will find an experience that is reinvigorating and exhilarating at the same time.
There aren’t many game studios out there that do open-world gaming quite like Rockstar, but if anyone comes close, it’s Bethesda. Whilst many may have expected to see Rockstar’sGrand Theft Autoseries take the spot, it doesn’t quite live up to the great cowboy adventure ofRed Dead Redemption.Who can resist saddling up a horse and experiencing the enticing old West?
Just likeThe Elder Scrollsgames, Rockstar gives the player complete freedom on how players want to tackle the Wild West, whether that be as a lawful hero or lawless cowboy; stealing, killing, and tying helpless damsels to train tracks. It’s the player’s world to tackle as they see fit. Still one of thebest open-world games with third-person shooter gameplayplayers can experience, Rockstar’s masterpiece still stands tall well over 10 years after its initial release. That’s down to its phenomenal story, an abundant open world that’s filled with an overwhelming amount to indulge in, whether that be aiding strangers in some great side quests, hunting down outlaws, or just taking some R&R and playing some dice. The game has something to wet everyone’s appetite. There are hours and hours of content to get lost in, and better yet, it’ll let players fulfill that gunslinging cowboy fantasy.
