Best Bethesda-Style Games of 2025: Alternatives to Starfield & ES6
The allure of a vast, uncharted world is a powerful one. For years, Bethesda Game Studios mastered this formula, giving players the freedom to step out of a vault or escape a prison cart and into a sprawling landscape brimming with discovery. Games like *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim* and *Fallout 3* defined a generation of open-world role-playing games. However, with the wait for *The Elder Scrolls 6* stretching into the horizon and *Starfield* leaving some players eager for a different kind of adventure, a void has appeared for fans of that specific brand of immersive exploration.
Fortunately, the spirit of the Bethesda-style RPG is alive and well. Other talented studios are stepping up to deliver massive worlds, deep player choice, and that incredible feeling of "see that mountain? You can go there." If you're searching for your next great adventure to get lost in, these are the best upcoming Bethesda-style games to keep on your radar for 2025 and beyond.
Avowed: A Return to Classic Fantasy
From the legendary RPG developers at Obsidian Entertainment, the minds behind *Fallout: New Vegas* and *Pillars of Eternity*, comes *Avowed*. This first-person fantasy RPG is arguably the most direct spiritual successor to *The Elder Scrolls* on this list. Set in the vibrant and strange Living Lands, a region within the established *Pillars of Eternity* universe, *Avowed* promises a world begging to be explored.
What makes it feel so familiar yet fresh is its focus on player freedom and combat variety. You’ll be able to seamlessly switch between dual-wielding pistols, powerful magic spells, and classic sword-and-shield gameplay. Obsidian is known for its exceptional writing and meaningful choices, suggesting that the quests and character interactions in *Avowed* will be a major highlight. If you crave a rich new fantasy world with deep lore and reactive first-person combat, *Avowed* should be at the very top of your list.
Key Features:
- First-person fantasy combat with a flexible classless system.
- Set in the Living Lands, a wild and colorful new region.
- Deep, branching narrative and companion relationships.
- Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, acclaimed for its RPG mastery.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: History is Your Playground
While it contains no dragons or magic, the original *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* delivered one of the most immersive open-world experiences ever created. Its sequel aims to be even bigger and more ambitious. *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2* once again puts you in the boots of Henry of Skalitz in a brutally realistic recreation of 15th-century Bohemia.
This is the ultimate RPG for players who love the environmental storytelling and emergent gameplay of a Bethesda title but crave a grounded, historical setting. The world is a living, breathing simulation where your reputation matters and every NPC has a daily routine. The sequel promises a map twice the size of the original, featuring the bustling city of Kuttenberg and stunning countryside. The combat is weighty and tactical, and every quest can be solved in multiple ways, from silver-tongued diplomacy to stealthy infiltration. It’s a testament to how the core principles of exploration and freedom can thrive even without supernatural elements.
Clockwork Revolution: A Steampunk Time-Bender
From inXile Entertainment, another studio with a rich RPG history, comes a fascinating new title that blends familiar mechanics with a truly unique concept. *Clockwork Revolution* is a first-person RPG set in the vibrant, steampunk metropolis of Avalon. The city is a marvel of technology, with clockwork servants, flying vehicles, and towering brass structures—all thanks to the ruthless Lady Ironwood, who has used time travel to alter key moments in the city's past to secure her power.
Your role? To use a device called the Chronometer to travel back in time yourself, make different choices, and see the consequences ripple forward into the present. This core mechanic opens up incredible possibilities for world-building and quest design, echoing the “cause and effect” gameplay that makes Bethesda worlds feel so alive. The potential for seeing a city district transform based on your actions is immensely exciting and could be a major evolution of the choice-driven RPG.
The Outer Worlds 2: A Solar System of Sarcasm
Obsidian Entertainment makes the list again with the highly anticipated sequel to its hit sci-fi RPG. While the first *The Outer Worlds* was a more contained, hub-based experience, it perfectly captured the satirical tone and player agency of the *Fallout* series. *The Outer Worlds 2* promises to expand this formula into a brand new, unexplored solar system with a new crew.
Details are still light, but we can expect the same sharp, humorous writing and deep RPG systems that made the original a success. Players will once again navigate a universe dominated by absurd mega-corporations, making difficult choices that shape the fate of entire colonies. If you enjoy the sci-fi setting, quirky characters, and flexible quest design of the *Fallout* series, this is the sequel you’ve been waiting for.
GreedFall 2: The Dying World: An Age of Discovery
While played from a third-person perspective, the *GreedFall* series from developer Spiders embodies the soul of a classic Bethesda-style RPG. The first game was praised for its intricate world-building, compelling faction politics, and quests with far-reaching consequences. *GreedFall 2: The Dying World* is a prequel that promises to refine and expand upon that foundation.
You play as a native of the island Teer Fradee who is forcibly taken to the continent of Gacane, the homeland of the colonists. This reversal of perspective provides a fresh narrative lens through which to explore a world ravaged by war and political intrigue. The emphasis is on diplomacy, exploration, and strategic combat. For players who love getting lost in the lore and politics of a new world and seeing their decisions impact the balance of power, *GreedFall 2* is shaping up to be a must-play RPG.
## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What makes a game "Bethesda-style"?
A: Generally, a "Bethesda-style" RPG is defined by a few key characteristics: a large and detailed open world that encourages exploration, a first-person perspective (though not always required), a high degree of player freedom in both character building and decision-making, and a focus on environmental storytelling where the world itself tells a story.
Q: Is The Elder Scrolls 6 coming out in 2025?
A: There is currently no official release date for *The Elder Scrolls 6*. Based on the development timeline of past projects, a release in 2025 is considered highly unlikely. The game is confirmed to be in development but is expected to be several years away.
Q: Are there any other good indie games like Skyrim?
A: Yes, the indie scene is full of ambitious open-world RPGs. While not covered in this list, games in early access or recent releases often experiment with the formula, offering unique worlds and mechanics for players who are willing to explore beyond major studio titles.