Games that are already out, I don't expect any of them to be as good as TES but I'll take what I can get.

Some of the 90s Might and Magic are pretty similar

Imho, Gothic games are in some ways a lot better than TES

TES is a Unique series, there aren't any games like it, the way i see it anyway. and most of the game developers out there really don't know how to make a game,
either that or they just screw the game up even more then the first game.
I'm looking at you fable =.=

loved the first fable/TLC game though.

Gothic 1 and Gothic 2 were great for their time. Gothic3 was already dissapointing to me (but still "ok"), 4 is rather boring.

The Lands of Lore series was a bit like TES. They were rather linear (the third was more open, if I remember right), but the gameplay was still very similar.

Risen, Two worlds 1&2?

Most like Oblivion off the top of my head atleast.

Fallout 3. And NV.

none ;D

SimCity. Before Maxis pulled a Wii.

My firedn also told me that.
I must give those games a try.

The third game was actually the one that was most similar to the Elder Scrolls though. It offered the most free-form exploration and player choice out of any of the games in the series. It's actually my favourite Gothic game on those grounds alone. I think the biggest problem with the Gothic games is the crude combat system, which both Risen and Arcania inherited. Hopefully they'll have stripped it out entirely for the new Risen 2 game, and build a new system in its place.

Of note to anyone that's interested: Gothic 3 has had significant patching both from the developers and the modding community, and even some high-rez texture packs lately. Most of the old bugs are squashed and it's actually pretty good now.

The crude combat system remains though. <_<