10 Open-World RPGs to Play Like Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy is an incredibly immersive and fulfilling experience for fans of the Harry Potter franchise. The Wizarding World RPG boasts an intuitive magic combat system and a vast world for you to explore as you soar the skies by broomstick or Hippogriff. With plenty of satisfying role-playing elements, you may be wondering what to play after hanging up your Hogwarts uniform. This list is here to help you find your next favorite open-world fantasy RPG.

Before we begin, it’s worth pointing out that there are plenty of other games you may be interested in after playing Hogwarts, but those may not show up on this list. Here, we’re focused on truly open-world RPGs, which means games like Fable or other Harry Potter games. 

Best Open-World Fantasy Games Like Hogwarts Legacy

The Witcher 3

Image via CD Projekt Red

The Witcher 3 puts you in the role of Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer available for hire who is on a quest to find a prophetic child. The expansive world is filled with monsters for you to defeat with your sword or magical spells. In true open-world fashion, you’ll explore caves, ancient ruins, and more, trading with various merchants along the way. The Witcher 3 has won over 800 awards and is considered a must-play if you enjoy open-world RPGs.

It’s currently available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. You can even get it on the Switch, where we particularly enjoyed it, despite the decreased graphical quality. There are also two expansions available that further flesh out the storyline and add end-game content.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Image via Bethesda

A modern open-world classic, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has won over 200 Game of the Year Awards because of its incredible ability to make an epic fantasy experience a reality. In Skyrim, you’ll create your own character with various fantasy races available for customization and take on the role of the Dragonborn. You’re on a quest to defeat a dragon, Alduin the World-Eater, and save the world from destruction.

While the story is a reason to play, Skyrim is most notable for its open-world elements that allow you to interact with the massive world around you. One can easily lose themselves to hundreds of hours roleplaying everything from a warrior to a farmer and everything in between.

Skyrim is available on every platform now, with several editions to choose from, the most recent of which is the definitive Anniversary Edition. But depending on which platform you play, there are plenty of mods to tinker with, too, including many for magic casters.

Forspoken

Image via Square Enix

Forspoken follows protagonist Frey Holland as she’s transported from her troubling New York City life to a magical and chaos-stricken realm named Athia. Frey learns that she is able to harness magic with the help of a sentient golden cuff that attaches itself to her arm.

With power comes responsibility, and Frey soon begins a quest to save Athia with her new extraordinary abilities. You’ll come across zombie-like creatures in Athia and traverse the landscape with an incredibly fun magical parkour ability. Forspoken is a game where magical abilities are the highlight. It’s available on PC and PlayStation 5.

Middle-earth: Shadow Of War

Image via WB Games

Middle-earth: Shadow Of War is an epic open-world J.R.R. Tolkien story-based adventure. You’ll forge a new Ring of Power and dominate Mordor from behind enemy lines. You’ll sneak and fight your way to victory in large-scale combat on massive battlefields. For fans of fantasy RPGs, anything Tolkien-related like Shadow Of War is going to feel like a fulfilling experience.

It’s available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, though it can be played via backward compatibility on PS5 and Series X|S. For more fun in the Tolkienverse, you may want to play its predecessor, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Both games feature gameplay similar to Forspoken and the Assassin’s Creed games, though with bloodier battles and Orcs. 

Genshin Impact

Image via MiHoYo

Genshin Impact is a free, open-world RPG that is continuously expanding from updates by the publisher, HoYoverse. The cross-save capabilities of the game allow you to bring your experience from your console or PC to your mobile device, letting you explore, fight, and level up on the go.

You’ll fly across the open world with a glider and discover hidden locations with puzzles and powerful enemies to battle. There are many playable characters available for free and as paid DLC; there’s cooking; and the developers often have plenty of events to take part in. There’s even a trading card game (TCG) in-game for those interested in the genre. 

Genshin Impact is available on PC, PlayStation platforms, and iOS and Android mobile devices. 

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Image via BioWare

Dragon Age: Inquisition is an open-world RPG where you’re an Inquisitor tasked with saving the world. When you start the game, you’ll create and customize your Inquisitor’s race, class, and appearance. Throughout your time in Thedas, you’ll discover treasures, fight dragons, and craft plenty of weapons, items, and gear. 

The game’s real-time with pause combat strikes a balance between fast action and considered tactics, letting you jump right into hordes of enemies or plan out your strategy beforehand. The game features a number of memorable characters and plenty of classes to round out your party, including spellcasters wielding magic that rivals anything in the Wizarding World. 

DA:I is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, though it’s also playable on PS5 and Series X|S. The main campaign comes in at around 50 hours, but there are dozens of more hours for those looking to complete every sidequest and experience all of its DLC. 

Horizon Zero Dawn

Image via Guerilla Games

Horizon Zero Dawn takes place on a futuristic post-apocalyptic Earth taken over by animal-like machines. Aloy, our protagonist who’s grown up rejected by her tribal community, seeks answers about her own mysterious past and the secrets of the Machines. Action RPG through and through, Horizon Zero Dawn combat differentiates itself from other similar titles by adding unique wrinkles, such as removing parts from machines by way of specific weapons and ammo types. There’s a decidedly strategic approach at play. 

Horizon Zero Dawn has been critically acclaimed, and we rated it a 9/10 because of its “immersive world and … smooth gameplay experience.” The game is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and PS5. The Frozen Wild DLC expands on the core story, and the 2022 sequel, Forbidden West, is nearly as good as the original. 

Outward

Image via Nine Dots Studio

Outward is an open-world fantasy RPG with survival mechanics. If you’re looking for an engaging fantasy RPG experience, look no further. Outward takes place in the magical realm of Aurai, where there are mysterious creatures lurking to challenge you on your travels.

There are various class builds that allow you to explore a magical or melee-driven character build. You will have to manage thirst, food, sleep, and resistance to weather elements to keep your journey going. The game includes a city-building mechanic, and you will rebuild the Refugee Camp throughout your time playing.

We enjoyed Outward when it was released back in 2019, focusing on the sense of achievement the game imbues in both its single-player and multiplayer aspects. There are plenty of weapons to wield and a number of armors to find. Of course, there’s also magic. Outward is available for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. 

Elden Ring

Image via FromSoftware

Elden Ring is a dark fantasy RPG that will put you to the test with challenging feats, all in true From Software form. The world of Elden Ring is an expansive place filled with labyrythine dungeons, deep lore, and plenty of very hard bosses. You can customize your character and select from 10 available classes, and the ability to trek off the beaten path means there are plenty of surprises along the way, letting you experience what lies ahead in emergent ways. 

In typical fantasy RPG fashion, you’ll unlock new abilities and tailor them to your preference. Do you want to be a strong brute? A master of the mystic? There are plenty of build options to tinker with, and Ashes of war, alongside the numerous weapons and spell to find and unlock, means there’s something that fits nearly every playstyle. 

We gave Elden Ring a 10/10 for just about everything, with only a few “less than ideal encounter designs” and a few “technical issues” getting in the way. If you decide to pick it up, we have plenty of guides to help you through The Lands Between.

Final Fantasy 15

Image via Square Enix

Final Fantasy 15 is a great game for fans of the expansive Final Fantasy franchise, but it’s also a great starting point for newcomers. As expected, you’ll connect with a varied cast of characters and watch the relationships between them grow across the game’s roughly 28-hours length. You’ll come across impressive beasts while exploring and driving through the world in the Quartz Regalia. The open world of Lucis is huge, with plenty for you to explore and experience.

FF15 is the first game in the series to feature a true real-time combat system, adding a wrinkle to the traditional FF formula fans have come to know. 

We deemed FF15 well worth the wait, and the game continually makes Top 10 and Best Games lists, including some of our own. The game is available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, and the Royal Edition provides a good deal of new content not found in the base game. 

Those are the Top 10 open-world games to play like Hogwarts Legacy, giving you hundreds of hours of play time once you’ve left the Wizarding World. 

Featured image via WB Games.