8 Indie PC RPGs with Better Exploration Than Skyrim

Despite releasing in 2011, Skyrim remains one of the best RPGs to date, playing a significant role in setting the standard for the genre and exploration as a whole. Due to the creativity shown by indie developers and the rise of mod support specifically on PC, both solo developers and smaller studios have been able to capture the memorable atmosphere of Skyrim to produce new worlds that are a joy to explore.

As new takes on Skyrim continue to be born out of the precedent the title set, there are more worlds waiting to be explored, brought to you by indie developers, that are likely to appeal to fans of Bethesda’s game.

8

Tales of Maj’Eyal

A Lore-rich Roguelike

A classic roguelike RPG, Tales of Maj’Eyal has you engaging in randomly generated turn-based combat. It features varied races and classes to choose from, and the ability to use your own combination of abilities and powers.

The story will see you explore the history of the world, which is slowly revealed as you progress. Exploration in Tales of Maj’Eyal comes in the form of a world map, containing dungeons to navigate, towns, and interesting biomes. If your goal is strictly exploration, the game has an Exploration mode that removes the roguelike permadeath mechanics and grants you infinite lives to experiment freely with builds and find your footing.

7

Stoneshard

Mistakes Matter

Stoneshard is an RPG where you play as a medieval mercenary in a pixel environment, with gameplay that is designed to be difficult. In the beginning, it’s just you and your trusty caravan that you will use to travel. Along the way, expect to recruit followers with unique skills that will help you through the war-torn surroundings.

The turn-based combat is engaging due to the varied enemies you’ll face, while other systems will work against you, such as managing health, morale, and the risks that come with permadeath. Exploration is important in Stoneshard because it’s how you will earn your fortune; completing contracts, hunting for treasure, and trading.

6

The Quest

Taking it Back to the Old-School

A throwback to open world RPGs with grid-based movement, The Quest is a love letter to old-school dungeon crawlers. The world is made up of four cities, along with a wilderness of forests, mountains, and caves to explore. The optional side quests and characters you meet, each of which have a different opinion about your character, provide excuses to explore your surroundings more than once.

Taking your place in this hand-drawn world means choosing from five customizable classes, with skills, weapons, enchantments, and armor. The Quest has a day and night cycle, weather, locks to pick, card games, and more aspects that I consider to make exploration interactive and rewarding.

5

Enshrouded

The Last Hope for the Flameborns

For some fantasy flair, Enshrouded is an action RPG combined with base building that tests your survival skills. Since you can have eight bases at once, traversing the land is important for finding the best areas to settle in. There’s hours worth of exploration to be had that is mainly useful for finding materials or fighting enemies, but the world is eye-catching enough to make simply taking in your surroundings worthwhile, especially when aided by your trusty glider.

Exploration in Enshrouded goes beyond the diverse biomes on the surface. In fact, you can swim underwater to discover loot and materials, and there are underground temples that contain puzzles and bosses to defeat for an extra layer of challenge.

4

Project: Gorgon

Buckets Full of Discovery

A fantasy MMORPG, Project: Gorgon focuses on immersion and allowing you to write your own path through exploration and the need for discovery. The world truly feels alive, with each NPC having their own interests, and you can make choices for your character that have lasting consequences. You can even write books and leave messages on items and as notes for other players to see, and shop for items sold by others on the server.

Most importantly for an MMORPG, Project: Gorgon continues to be supported with regular updates. This includes new dungeons and revamps to existing ones, new skills to learn, and fresh quests to take on, continuously providing further ways to explore.

3

Drova – Forsaken Kin

Secrets Hidden in History

Inspired by Celtic mythology, a society sets out with the goal of capturing dead spirits to rule over them, resulting in you navigating dangerous landscapes in a broken world. Drova – Forsaken Kin poses more of a challenge compared to some other games on this list, but the way you must use clues in the world around you to uncover mysteries and increase your strength makes exploration a key part of your journey.

Unlike Skyrim, the open world of Drova – Forsaken Kin is delivered through some of the best pixel art you’ll see from an RPG. It still manages to be immersive because of the challenges it contains as you discover the power of nature, and go from zero to hero by learning what it takes to survive the unforgiving terrain.

2

Kenshi

Endless Possibilities

For exploration without limitation, Kenshi is a sandbox world that allows you to play exactly how you’d like with fewer limitations than that of Skyrim. This squad-based RPG focuses on you writing your own story, either as a trader, a rebel, an adventurer or a farmer, among other roles you need to survive.

The game is seamless, spanning 870 square kilometers, there’s more than enough room to build your base and put your name on the radar in this dynamic world. With almost endless exploration in surroundings you can shape in any way you wish, I would consider Kenshi a top choice when it comes to exploration without barriers.

1

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

The Most Skyrim-like Indie Game

Sharing a multitude of similarities with Skyrim, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon feels right at home for those who have played Bethesda’s title. Stuck in an everlasting autumn, the world and branching story adopt a grim tone that encourages exploration at your own pace.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is made up of three zones, all containing quests, NPCs, items, and more packed into every corner. My favorite region to explore is Cuanacht Village because it’s dense with discoveries, including 80 NPCs, a whole lot of quests, collectibles, and the like. The world is as dark and mysterious as it is beautiful, but that’s what makes exploration in indie games like Skyrim so captivating.