Risen
- Developer: Piranha Bytes
- Release Date: October 2, 2009
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre: RPG
Risen was released a full two years before Skyrim, but you can see some inspiration from the previous Elder Scrolls games. It’s a fantasy RPG where your actions have consequences, and you have to navigate a world where you’re consistently being bombarded with choices. The world itself is dark, grimey, and takes place in a fantasy land called Faranga, which is full of castles, forests, mountains, and plenty of secret areas to find and explore. As you might expect from a good RPG, there are dozens of quests to go on and characters to meet throughout the open world as well as a variety of enemies that keep you on your toes wherever you go. Risen’s combat allows you to become a master of melee or magic, and whichever route you take affects how you approach enemy encounters.
Risen is one of the closest Skyrim experiences on this list, as it offers a similar world, gameplay loop, and RPG elements. If you find that you like Risen, you can also play the second and third games in the series, which are also well-regarded by fans.
