Among Bethesda Softworks’ biggest franchises is “The Elder Scrolls,” which has been an industry staple since 1994. Though Bethesda has kept the saga going with the spin-off title “The Elder Scrolls Online,” the main series has been without a major release since 2011. After a formal announcement confirmed its existence several years ago, there have consistently been plenty of rumors surrounding “The Elder Scrolls VI.” That said, fans are still hungry for a new mainline “Elder Scrolls” game and there’s currently no telling how much longer they’ll have to wait for it.
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some games to help tide fans over until Bethesda finally releases another mainline “Elder Scrolls” title. The games we’re including here are other expansively scoped experiences, with several standing as the best open-world games of all time. Many of these titles are also high fantasy narratives, letting players explore richly rendered realms with classic monsters to vanquish and kingdoms to defend. These are the five best video games to play while waiting for “The Elder Scrolls VI” to finally come out.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Let’s get the most obvious recommendation out of the way first with “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,” which was originally released in 2011. The most recent mainline release in the series, not counting the 2025 remaster of “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,” the game is set in a realm consumed by civil war. In the midst of this conflict, the player character discovers that they have the ability to absorb the souls of slain dragons, augmenting their abilities. While completing quests and joining the various guilds in Skyrim, the player character moves to stop the evil dragon Alduin from destroying the world.
It stands to reason that “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” is playing a vital role in influencing the direction of “The Elder Scrolls VI.” But beyond its obvious connection to its eventual sequel, “Skyrim” is one of the best fantasy games of all time, with a wide level of freedom and a sweeping environment. Players definitely get their money’s worth from the experience too, with “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” taking a considerable amount of time to beat, and that’s before getting into modding. The pinnacle of the series as it currently stands, “Skyrim” provides a strong foundation for “The Elder Scrolls” to build its future on.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Among the best RPGs of all time is “The Witcher” series, based on the fantasy novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The pinnacle of the franchise so far is its latest installment, “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” which was released in 2015. The game’s story has monster hunter Geralt of Rivia reunite with his long-lost lover Yennefer of Vengerberg to protect his adopted daughter Ciri. This narrative has continued on over several DLC expansions detailing Geralt’s subsequent adventures, including a memorable encounter with a coven of vampires.
“The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” provides an incredible boost in scope and scale compared to the prior entries in the series. This extends to a multitude of side quests and player-based choices that carry a palpable sense of consequence and that organically feed into the overarching narrative. The gameplay has been refined as well, particularly the combat mechanics, which feel much smoother with this installment. An incredible achievement in a still comparatively young medium, “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” deserves all the hype it’s received in the decade since its debut.
Fallout 4
Bethesda Softworks’ other major open-world gaming franchise is “Fallout,” though they originally acquired the fan-favorite post-apocalyptic property from Interplay. The latest mainline entry in this series is “Fallout 4,” which was released in 2015 with several gameplay mechanics from “The Elder Scrolls” carried over. The game is set in the wider Boston area, with the player character searching for their missing child in the wasteland. This leads players to working with or against rival factions in the area, with the game adding a mechanic for players to build and customize their settlements.
“Fallout 4” offers some of the most ambitious elements in the series to date, along with a refined combat system compared to past entries. With its New England setting and distinct factions and environments, the game doesn’t feel like a simple retread of “Fallout 3.” Adding the already impressive scope is DLC making the “Fallout 4” experience even better, including an in-game system to purchase custom content. Just as “Skyrim” is the most ambitiously realized “Elder Scrolls” game, “Fallout 4” does the same for “Fallout” and fans of both should check it out if they haven’t already.
Dragon’s Dogma II
12 years after launching the “Dragon’s Dogma” fantasy franchise, Capcom finally released its sequel in 2024. “Dragon’s Dogma II” positions the player character as the chosen one destined to claim the throne of their realm by slaying a mythical dragon — but there’s a lot more existential horror behind the quest to discover. Players are assisted by allies, known in-game as pawns, to complete quests as they track this elusive dragon down and fulfill their fate. The game will receive an expansion in October 2026, adding a new region and dungeons for players to explore, as well as bolstering the amount of customization options available.
Even the base game for “Dragon’s Dogma II” features a significantly wider open-world environment than its 2012 predecessor. This increase in scope is also more densely packed and feature-rich, rewarding players for engaging their surroundings more deeply this time around. The combat mechanics have also noticeably improved, including a revamped vocation system, which functions as this title’s riff on fantasy archetypal classes. Realizing the vision hinted at by its predecessor, “Dragon’s Dogma II” features Capcom firing on all cylinders in developing an awe-inspiring fantasy experience.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
The most grounded title on this list, while still featuring plenty of open-world medieval action, is “Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.” Eschewing the overt fantasy elements from other games we’ve mentioned, the 2025 game instead depicts the historical 15th century conflict for control of Bohemia. The player character is the fictional Henry of Skalitz, a warrior fighting to overthrow King Sigismund of Luxembourg, who has seized the Bohemian throne. Gameplay unfolds from a first-person perspective as players’ reputations based on their actions and choices affects how they’re seen during the civil war.
One of the big changes in “Kingdom Come: Deliverance II,” in contrast to its 2018 predecessor, is a more pronounced sense of consequence and public perception. Player characters can develop a criminal reputation for wanton action and be hunted and punished accordingly for it. This meshes well with the increased amount of freedom that players are given as they navigate this historical open-world. A more grounded medieval action title, “Kingdom Come: Deliverance II” offers players a sweeping saga and richly developed environment to explore.
