I started playing Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon. It's like a slightly less polished (now, not at launch) Skyrim. Not quite as open world, since things are sectioned into 3 areas/acts but you can sequence break if you really wanna.

Its got very cool lore and vibes because its a dark Arthurian setting which I don't think I've seen too much in video games. The game boots up with a Danish and Old Norse chant and a background of King Arthur on top of a pile of corpses.

Very unexpected but its got a lot of interesting tension between Kamelot, the prosperous kingdom, and the other lesser subjugated regions and indigenous tribes who had their lands stolen. Picts and other made up tribes of people get a lot of screen time and importance in the story so far.

There's also an ongoing plague and wyrd myst that turns people into creatures.

The gameplay is not really that complex but its a lot more intense than something like Skyrim with parries and dodges.

Its also automatically a GOTY conteder because its one of like 5 games that let's you dual wield shields and it isnt a meme. Theres talents that support it.