5 Open World Hidden Gems
On March 25th, 1994, without knowing it, a relatively lesser-known video game studio, known as Bethesda Softworks, changed the future of video games. No, really, that’s not an exaggeration! It was on this exact date, that they released the very first game in their globally successful Elder Scrolls Series, The Elder Scrolls: Arena, on CD-ROM and Floppy Disk for MS-DOS, which went on to be an award-winning game, and succeeded in setting brand new standards for the RPG with their introduction of never-before-used mechanics such as a day/night cycle that NPCs reacted to as well as receiving quests by asking NPCs about “Rumors”. However, despite accumulating over 1 million copies distributed at this time of writing, it certainly didn’t seem like a success, at least, not initially.
In fact, some might find it hard to believe that, upon initial release, the very beginnings of what we now can arguably consider a household name in gaming received a lot of criticism, and only distributed around 3,000 copies.
Unfortunately, TES: Arena had a lot going against it at the time. One of the biggest problems was the fact that, despite missing their Christmas 1993 planned release by several months, the game was riddled with bugs, which made the main quest near impossible, if not just completely impossible, to complete. That being said, Bethesda Softworks did release a series of patches that fixed a lot of the issues players were encountering, making the game playable.
Another giant problem that set them up for failure was the decision to change the main direction of game, itself. Originally, TES: Arena was planned to be a gladiator-style combat game, where your character would travel to different arenas to compete, with the sole purpose of becoming the best gladiator of them all. I think we can all agree that it very obviously didn’t end up anywhere near that concept. Instead, as the developers added more and more side-quests, and those side-quests increased in importance, which resulted in the studio making the important decision to drop the original concept, and to instead turn it into a full-fledged RPG. However, after this, they ran into a problem that might or might not have been anticipated, but I was unable to find a reliable source to answer if it was or was not without a doubt seen coming.
Arguably, one of the coolest things about having to buy physical copies of your video games, is the love and attention dedicated to the box art. If you’re lucky, you might even get a little booklet included in the box, alongside your copy of the game. This author is of the opinion that we need to bring this concept back to the mainstream, ASAP. Anyways. Although Bethesda Softworks had completely changed the concept of this game, they did it after everything was ordered or printed. This means that the name, “Arena”, as well as the art presented on the packaging, were originally intended for that “gladiator-style” fighting game. With this being misleading, especially in an age where the packaging usually was the biggest clue the average consumer could find in reference to what the game was about or what to expect from it, It caused a lot of frustration among gamers, who thought they were buying a completely different game, and retailers, who understandably wanted to avoid upsetting customers, were also hesitant to put the game on their shelves, contributing to that very low distribution number that was mentioned earlier.
Despite all of these challenges they had to overcome, and even some I didn’t mention, because this article is rapidly starting to remind me of a recipe blog post with a complete auto-biography that no one actually reads, the game slowly grew in popularity, earning itself an increasing number of fans over time. Eventually, between the game becoming playable, the introduction of ground-breaking RPG mechanics, and a seemingly endless amount of content with NPCs to interact with, Side-Quests to discover, the start of a brand new world and its lore to experience, alongside randomly generated locations, using their own proprietary engine, it’s not surprising to hear that this underdog success story ended up as Computer Gaming World’s 1994 Computer Game of the Year and the much more successful The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall began development.
I feel that, at this point, I can confidently say, “And the rest is history.” After all, TESII: Daggerfall captured players in 1996, TESIII: Morrowind was released in 2002, we fell in love with TESIV: Oblivion for the first time in 2006, and TESV: Skyrim sent the gaming world into an uproar in November, 2011. TESV: Skyrim Legendary Edition also turned heads when it was released in June 2013. And again, with release of TESV: Skyrim Special Edition. And once more with Bethesda sharing TESV: Skyrim with Nintendo Switch Players, as well as VR enthusiasts as of November, 2017. Are we stuck in a time-loop here? Because, we were graced with the really unique (weird) release of TESV: Skyrim Very Special Edition (for the Amazon Alexa) in a June that’s comparable to a fever-dream within 2018. Finally coming to the conclusion that Todd Howard has somehow insulted a witch at some point between March 2006 and November 2011, and was consequently cursed to find a way to re-release Skyrim until some complicated riddle is solved, we last received TESV: Skyrim Anniversary Edition on the 10th anniversary of TESV:Skyrim’s original release, in November, 2021.
Well, while we leave poor Todd in his quest to break his curse, what are we supposed to play when we have that Open-World Fantasy RPG craving? What is the solution when we’re burnt out on Skyrim, even with the most interesting of mods installed. Well, let’s take a look!
Here are 5 Open-World Fantasy RPGs to Play Instead of TESV: Skyrim (again)
ENDERAL: FORGOTTEN STORIES
Our first entry on this list is also going to be one our most unique. That’s because while Enderal isn’t TESV: Skyrim, when you play Enderal, you’re still technically playing TESV: Skyrim. This is possible, because Enderal is actually a fan-made game/mod that utilizes the TESV: Skyrim engine and assets.
Enderal immerses you in a completely unique story, set in its own world and has its own lore. Developed and published by German game studio, SureAI (the same talented studio behind the similar hit overhaul mod, Nehrim: At Fate’s Edge, made for TESIV: Oblivion), Enderal is free to download and play, either from Steam or from their website, as long as you have a legally owned copy of TESV: Skyrim installed. Because Enderal utilizes its assets and engines, it is mandatory to have it installed, in order for Enderal to function. At this time, SureAI has released a version compatible with the classic version of TESV: Skyrim, as well as one compatible with the Special Edition.
Since its release original release on Steam in February 2019, Enderal has been consistently praised for its well-written story and characters, professional voice-acting, and well-crafted skill and class system, as well as other overhauled game mechanics. Not many fan-made mods can claim to have a merchandise store, or, even more impressively, an official novelization in development.
Enderal promises 30-100 hours of game-play, where you’ll find yourself hooked on the unique, “dark, psychological story line”, trying to predict the complex motivations behind the characters you interact with, and being challenged by the combat. With over 11,000 reviews on Steam and an over-all rating of “Mostly Positive”, not to mention numerous awards and rave reviews by trusted names, such as Eurogamer, I believe it’s safe to say with confidence that they delivered on their promise.
Currently Available on: PC
Current Price: Free (Steam and Developer Website)
Current Steam Deck Support: Not Supported
ELEX/ELEX II
Released in October 2017, ELEX, which blends elements of both SciFi and Fantasy, has been getting a bit more attention recently, with the recent release of ELEX II, in March 2022. Developed by Piranha Bites and published by THQ Nordic, those responsible for this series are the from the same great team behind well-remembered RPG classics such as Risen and Gothic.
In ELEX, you, as the player, are thrust into a unique post-apocalyptic world, as protagonist Jax within which, the developers promise to combine “the most interesting aspects of all genres.” Some of the more unique and appealing selling points of the game include “seamless” exploration with no loading screens, a dynamic and reactive environment, player choices that truly matter, challenging combat that make players think, and, most interestingly, a vertical exploration mechanic.
One of the core concepts that the developers really stressed in this game is the concept of choice, and how choices can affect anything and everything around you, for better or for worse. In this world, the player quickly learns about a drug that gives its users powerful abilities similar to magic, however, it drains all emotion from them and arguably, their humanity. The player, for the most part, is free to decide at any point, to choose to use this drug, giving them some great abilities and lose emotion, or to not use the drug, keeping your emotions, but most likely not being as strong as you could be. The biggest thing you need to know before starting this game? Think long and hard about your choices- you might end up causing things to happen that are not favorable.
With the release of ELEX II, fans got a direct sequel of the original, taking place several years after its ending. This time, the player, as Jax, is primarily working a lot closer with the various factions across the land, attempting to work together to fight a common enemy. Alongside the new story and same great unique Open-World RPG features in the same immersive post-apocalyptic science fantasy environment, the developers also fine-tuned and improved some mechanics to improve player experience.
Despite critic reviews being average at best for both games, the response from the average player community appears to be a bit more positive. ELEX currently has an average rating of “Mostly Positive” out of over 10,000 reviews on Steam, and an average rating of 3.5/5 out of over 900 reviews on the XBOX store. ELEX II has an average rating of “Mostly Positive” out of over 2,000 reviews on Steam, and an average rating of 3.8/5 out of over 200 reviews on the XBOX store. I was unfortunately unable to find any reviews for the PlayStation version of either game directly on the PlayStation store.
ELEX
Currently Available On: PC, PS4, and XBOX One
Current Price: $29.99 USD (Steam), $59.99 USD (XBOX and PlayStation Stores)
Current Steam Deck Support: Playable
Website | Find ELEX on Steam | Find ELEX on XBOX | Find ELEX on PlayStation
ELEX II
Currently Available On: PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX One, XBOX Series S, XBOX Series X
Current Price: $49.99 USD (Steam), $59.99 USD (XBOX and PlayStation Stores)
Current Steam Deck Support: Not Supported
Website | Find ELEX II on Steam | Find ELEX II on XBOX | Find ELEX II on PlayStation
KINGDOMS OF ALAMUR: RE-RECKONING
Kingdoms of Alamur: Re-Reckoning is, in the simplest of terms, a remaster of Kingdoms of Alamur: Reckoning. Fans of the original game were able to get their hands on the remaster in September of 2020, essentially 8 years after the release of the original. Unfortunately, for those of you who want to play the version from 2012, you’ll most likely have to settle for Re-Reckoning, since Steam no longer has it listed due to what they described as “a publisher change surrounding Kingdoms of Amalur.” However, you can definitely argue a strong case as for why it’s worth it to just play Re-Reckoning. By default, it includes all DLC that were released for the original version, and it even has its own, new, DLC, Fatesworn, which is estimated to add around 5 hours of extra game-play. Alongside that, you have improved visuals and user mechanics.
This game can be customized to an incredible extent, with the player able to mix and match skills, armors, weapons, and really anything else one would like, to create a player experience that is truly unique and a playing style that works best for any player.
When the player starts a new game, they follow the alongside journey of their character, which starts when they wake up as the first and only person to be revived from certain death. From there, as you explore a vast land, rich with lore created by award-winning author R.A. Salvatore, you’ll desperately be trying to end a devastating war, and maybe explore some dungeons and take on some side-quests along the way. Lastly, you’ll also be figuring out how destiny works. In a very unique mechanic, your character is able to see and take actions to manipulate their destiny.
Players generally responded positively to the release of the remaster with a current average rating of “Mostly Positive” from over 4,000 reviews on Steam, and a current average rating of 4.2/5 from over 450 reviews on the XBOX Store.
Currently Available On: PC, PS4, XBOX One
Current Price: $39.99 USD (Steam, XBOX and PlayStation Stores)
Current Steam Deck Support: Playable
Website | Find it on Steam | Find it on XBOX | Find it on PlayStation
DRAGON’S DOGMA: DARK ARISEN
Dragon’s Dogma is another example of a game on this list that has been receiving a little more attention than usual, due to the revealing announcement of Dragon’s Dogma 2 on the 10th anniversary of the original release.
When the current version brought to PC via Steam was released by Capcom in January of 2016, it immediately got great reviews from both critics and players, alike. There’s just not much to say about it besides the facts:
Large open world in a fantasy setting, filled with lore
Engaging combat that feels real and not like something I’ve ever played before
This version includes all available content for the game
A unique “Pawn” mechanic, where the player can have up to 3 valuable AI companions with them who will fight alongside them
It’s still considered a great game, years later
It’s a great game that every RPG lover needs to try at some point, because you most likely haven’t played anything like it.
Currently Available On: PC, PS4, XBOX One, Nintendo Switch
Current Price: $29.99 USD (Steam, XBOX and PlayStation Stores)
Current Steam Deck Support: Not Supported
Website | Find it on Steam | Find it on XBOX | Find it on PlayStation
GREEDFALL
Developed by French game studio, Spiders, and published by Focus Entertainment, playing GreedFall feels like.. being the ignored middle child of a wealthy but suffering, family in the 1600s, except there’s also magic and that’s just normal. Apparently this is the winning formula, because both critics and normal players have given GreedFall really generous reviews.
No matter your opinion of the actual main story of the game, there is no denying that the sheer amount of customization and control over your character that you have at your fingertips, is truly in the spirit of the RPG. You can choose exactly how you look, how you fight, and how you want to go about completing missions, because there are always multiple ways of getting the job done.
Once you are finished with the very first part of the game, that is, the tutorial barely disguised as things your character has to take care of before the story really begins, your character goes to an unusual, magic-filled, and chaotic island, in search for a cure of a deadly plague that has been out of control. Things get complicated rather fast, and you find yourself having to decide where your loyalties truly lie, and are forced to make some tough choices.
This game has everything I like: magic, loyalty, romance, and being able to avoid conflict by making sure people don’t see me. Enough said.
Currently Available On: PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX One, XBOX Series S, XBOX Series X
Current Price: $34.99 USD (Steam, XBOX and PlayStation Stores)
Current Steam Desk Support: Playable
Website | Find GreedFall on Steam | Find GreedFall on XBOX | Find GreedFall on PlayStation
As a personal RPG-enthusiest and aspiring lore-encyclopedia, myself, I have played all of these games and, personally, I loved them all. No game is perfect and each of these definitely have things that I liked and disliked over the others, but they were a fun, and for a short while, I was back in another fantasy world, flinging magic at something. Nothing can ever really truly replace the feeling you get when playing TESV: Skyrim, modded to have all of the dragons replaced with the trains from, Thomas the Train, but these are great games, made by talented teams, and definitely worth your time. So, go ahead and give them a play and let us know how you liked them! We might just dig up some more for you to discover in the future. The Elder Scrolls VI probably isn’t going to be in our hands anytime soon.
