15 Best Open World Multiplayer Games Like Skyrim & Fallout

When people look for games similar to Skyrim and Fallout they mostly look for games with a similar setting and sandbox qualities. In today’s post, we’re going to focus on both of those qualities in games and they’re gonna be multiplayer. From high-fantasy open-world masterpieces to ruthless survival games, we bring you the list of the best open-world multiplayer games like Skyrim & Fallout. 

1. Elder Scrolls Online (2014)

You’re probably not surprised that I’ve put ESO on this list. It’s literally Skyrim but MMORPG. Elder Scrolls Online follows events that happened nearly a thousand years before the events of Skyrim, during Interregnum, with the Ruby Throne being empty and Tamriel in chaos. Skyrim and ESO share the same setting, the same fully explorable open world.

Of course, since they are set in the same fictional world they share the same lore and characters as well. At the start of the game, you will be prompted to choose a race and faction. You can improve your character by leveling familiar skills and collecting powerful and legendary artifacts mentioned in the previous games. This is as close as you can get when it comes to Skyrim but multiplayer. 

2. Valheim (2021) 

Valheim managed to gain popularity pretty quickly, even though the game is still in early access it has seen a massive rise in popularity. Valheim is on this list primarily because it has a similar setting to Skyrim. A fantasy obviously inspired by Vikings and nordic mythology in general. An added bonus is the fact that it’s a sandbox game.

Valheim’s main focus is on survival as you need to gather resources, craft gear, build shelter, and eventually improve yourself enough to conquer enemies. It has a co-op mode that supports 10 people at the same time, and it also supports PVP. If you love the Skyrim setting and the freedom its world allows you, you’re going to love Valheim as well.

3. Conan Exiles (2018)

Conan Exiles is next up on our list of best open-world games like Skyrim. Conan Exiles, developed and published by Funcom, is set in a vast open world with gameplay elements focusing on survival and overcoming various enemies. The game has elaborate character creation options that allow you to choose between several fictional races.

Your choice of religion will greatly affect your abilities later on. It’s a highly detailed game with great emphasis on survival and roleplaying. If you’re interested in that kind of thing, especially in a high-fantasy setting I recommend you give Conan Exiles a try. 

4. Black Desert Online (2015) 

Black Dessert Online checks everything on our list. It’s an open-world game, it’s fantasy, and it’s an action role-playing game. Obviously, more similar to Skyrim than Fallout, Black Dessert Online is set in a huge world that you are free to explore however you like. The game features systems such as crafting, fishing, hunting, farming, housing, and breeding mounts. Another added bonus to the overall immersion of the game is the advanced weather system and character customization. 

5. Fallout 76 (2018) 

Fallout 76 is an open-world online game set in the Fallout universe. Obviously, just like Elder Scrolls Online, it was bound to show up on this list due to being very similar to Fallout. Fallout 76 is set in an open world of Appalachia, it features identical SPECIAL skills systems that we’ve seen in the previous games, and it places great emphasis on the settlements that the players can build throughout the world.

Even though the game was mostly criticized on release due to poor design, it was eventually somewhat improved with the consequent items and NPCs being added to the world. 

6. Outward (2019) 

In Outward, you start off like a regular commoner, and in order to acquire any kind of power you truly need to work for it. It’s set in an open world and fantasy setting. It has an elaborate system of dying, and the game puts great emphasis on survival in a harsh setting. Your choices matter as well, as the outcome of the quests can be different. The game can be played in single-player as well as in multiplayer mode.

7. Dying Light 2 Stay Human (2022) 

Dying Light is an open-world multiplayer game more similar to Fallout than Skyrim due to the fact that it’s a survival game set in a world overrun with zombies. The exploration aspect of Dying Light is incredibly rewarding, it’s not just a giant world filled with nothing but visuals. You are able to join different factions, and your weapons are subjected to a degrading system.

The choices you make likewise, greatly affect how NPCs and the world around you will develop just like in Fallout. It’s overall a great game if you’re looking for something zombie and survival-oriented. 

8. Divinity: Original Sin (2014)

Divinity found itself on the various “games like Skyrim” lists over the years. And there’s a reason for that. It’s set in a large open world that you can explore fully. It has a high-fantasy setting and skills inspired by classic RPG archetypes. What makes it different than Skyrim though is its turn-based action combat. Nevertheless, if you’re a fan of RPG you cannot miss out on Divinity: Original Sin, I would have put the sequel on the list as well but it’s much more linear and hence doesn’t meet some of our criteria.

9. No Man’s Sky (2016)

No Man’s Sky generated quite a lot of hype before it was released, it was called the most ambitious of projects in the history of exploration gaming. And then it fell flat. Much of the promised features were missing from the released game and this generated a lot of negative feedback which consequently buried the game.

However, No Man’s Sky is also one of the success stories when it comes to resurrecting a game after a horrid launch as numerous updates released over the years managed to improve the game significantly. In No Man’s Sky, you’re able to explore procedurally generated worlds, you’re able to scavenge for materials and resources, build bases, and build technology.

There’s combat with various aggressive and previously unknown alien species. Overall, No Man’s Sky promises great freedom and the ability to build your character and orient your gameplay in the way in which you want it to go. This is what makes it similar to Fallout. 

10. Seven Days to Die (2013)

Seven Days to Die has a setting very similar to Fallout. The world was plunged into a nuclear Third World War and much of the world was completely destroyed with the exception of some isolated areas. You take control of a survivor and you need to figure out exactly how to survive while roaming the wasteland. Naturally, systems like crafting, building, looting, questing, farming, and hunting are implemented.

And everything happens in a massive open world. If you’re looking for a highly detailed sandbox survival game, Seven Days to Die is one of the best! 

11. Planetside 2 (2012)

The only reason why Planetside 2 landed on this list is the detailed open world, beside that it has little connection to Fallout and even less with Skyrim. Nevertheless, it’s a great game set in a huge world that allows you to explore the map by using several vehicles. You are required to join one of three factions (with the fourth one being unlocked later).

Each faction is specific and offers access to specific weapons armor and other types of gear. You progress through the game by neutralizing aliens, and enemies and capturing objectives. The game puts great emphasis on territory control and player organization in a specific squad.

12. Crimson Desert (Upcoming Q2 2025) 

This game is not out yet but I’ve still decided to put it on the list due to having great potential at being an extraordinarily good action RPG just like Skyrim was. Originally, Crimson Desert was imagined as a prequel game to Black Desert (also one of the games on this list). It’s going to be set in a huge open world in a medieval setting, and you’re going to be able to take control of Macduff a simple mercenary.

The game will feature plenty of opportunities for immersive combat as you explore the open world and plenty of opportunities to forge alliances with various factions. The game was originally supposed to come out back in 2021 but was delayed several times. The latest news report on the game being delayed until 2023 at least. 

13. Red Dead Online (2019) 

If you’re looking for a highly-immersive open world with a unique setting look no further than Red Dead Online. It deviates slightly from the story of Red Dead Redemption but it still features many mechanics that were implemented in the single-player game. If you get tired of the main campaign you can take part in bounty hunting, fishing, trapping, hunting, trading, PVP, and many other activities in Red Dead Online. You also need to keep track of your choices while doing certain missions because they will affect how the rest of the NPCs view you. 

The game was criticized at launch but since then many problems have been fixed or rather the issues affecting the balance of gameplay have been somewhat alleviated. 

14. DayZ (2018)

I’m not going to comment on DayZ’s troubled development, I’m simply going to focus on its survival aspects that are so far among the most detailed out there. Obviously, DayZ is much more similar to Fallout than it is to Skyrim, it has nothing in common with Skyrim whatsoever. DayZ is set in an open world, during the zombie apocalypse, you need to survive in its harsh world by building a base (or breaking into someone else’s base), you need to find food, and clean water, escape zombies, make sure that you’re food is as clean, healthy and well prepared as possible.

For example, if you’re food is raw you will vomit. If you decide to take a swim through the river and you don’t dry yourself immediately you will die out of exposure. If the gas bomb is dropped you need to find shelter as soon as possible. There are numerous vehicles available for use if you manage to repair them.

Many players are roaming DayZ’s vast world, and the majority of those players will be dangerous so be careful while forming alliances. No quests or NPCs are roaming the wilderness (except for zombies) so DayZ is so far the most non-linear game on this list and I highly recommend you check it out. 

15. Tribes of Midgard (2021)

Tribes of Midgard is the last but not least game on our list. You are placed in a Viking mythology-inspired world. The world is procedurally generated and filled with various resources that you need to utilize in order to strengthen your tribe and defeat various enemies. Tribes of Midgard is a mix of action, roleplaying, and survival.

With the passing of each day, the enemies are becoming stronger and the difficulty is overall higher. For players looking for multiplayer action, you can form a tribe made out of 9 other players in order to defeat enemies. 

Have a game to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!