“Despite releasing its first trailer seven years ago, The Elder Scrolls 6 still seems a long way off.” The initial announcement had RPG fans excited, but as the years passed, impatience grew. And for good reason: “With leaks regarding the release date of Elder Scrolls 6 pushed back to 2028, it would be better to look elsewhere for the moment.”
Rather than dwelling on this expectation, why not explore other universes? Many free games, often available on Steam or mobile, offer a depth of gameplay, freedom of action and a fantasy atmosphere quite comparable to Bethesda titles. Some focus on exploration, others on character building or storytelling. And they all share one thing in common: they can fill the gap up to TES6.
RPGs that focus on exploration and freedom
If you like to customize your character and choose your path without restriction, Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues is a great place to start. This online RPG offers a system without predefined classes, where experimentation is at the heart of the build. A game which, just like Elder Scrolls, leaves great freedom in approaching the world.
Same philosophy in The 4th Cominga community MMORPG where factions replace the guilds of Tamriel, and where narrative choices shape your adventure. Here too, the absence of rigid classes reinforces immersion.
Dive into the roots and nostalgia of the license
There’s nothing closer to the Elder Scrolls spirit… than the old Elder Scrolls themselves. Daggerfallthe second installment in the series, is free on Steam. Although it is more linear than Morrowind or Skyrim, it retains the basics of the progression system, exploration and dungeons. A relic to rediscover to understand the evolution of the saga.
Another game with a retro aesthetic: Pale Abyss. This first-person RPG is inspired by the very first Elder Scrolls while integrating modern mechanics. Each adventure is unique, with an atmosphere halfway between Daggerfall and Demon’s Souls.
Combat, complex builds and cooperative adventures
If you are looking for a greater challenge, Dark and Dark offers PvPvE dungeons to explore as a team. All in FPS view, with punishing and strategic gameplay that will recall the clashes of Skyrim… only more brutal.
Theorycraft enthusiasts can spend hours on Path of Exile, famous for its sprawling talent tree. With its maps to explore, its missions and its infinite builds, it satisfies all players looking for complexity.
For a more relaxed experience, Soda Dungeon 2 focuses on loot collection and progression by cycles, mini-RPG style, with a lighter atmosphere and automatable gameplay.
Original universes and refreshing mechanics
Want a unique world? Allods Online takes you to a space-fantasy universe where floating islands are connected by magical ships. Exploration, team fights and interstellar battles mix together, in a striking artistic direction.
Another narrative option: Runeflamea top-down RPG in early access that focuses on interactions and puzzles more than combat. Your decisions influence the rest of the story, with several playable races and distinct origins.
Finally, Eternium offers a classic hack’n’slash RPG, designed by old fans of the 90s. Easy to learn, it allows you to immerse yourself in dungeons and quests reminiscent of Baldur’s Gate, with fluid and tactical gameplay.