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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

"For the RPG fan it's a can't miss, for those that aren't fans yet, you soon will be."
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Game Cover
87%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
stability, grinding
94% User Score Based on 209,954 reviews
Critic Score 79%Based on 49 reviews

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Game Cover

About

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a single player open world role playing shooter game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by Bethesda Game Studios and was released on November 9, 2011. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an open-world RPG set in the fictional province of Skyrim. Players assume the role of the Dragonborn, a prophesized hero with the ability to harness the power of dragons. With a vast world to explore, numerous quests to complete, and a variety of character development options, Skyrim offers a rich and immersive gameplay experience.

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim screenshot
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim screenshot
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94%
Audience ScoreBased on 209,954 reviews
story5.4k positive mentions
stability3.4k negative mentions
  • story
    16,313 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" is a mix of engaging main quests and a plethora of side quests that often overshadow the primary narrative. While the main storyline, centered around the dragonborn's quest to defeat Alduin, is considered somewhat simplistic and linear, many players find the side quests—especially those from factions like the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild—to be more compelling and richly developed. Despite its age, the game remains captivating due to its vast open world, rich lore, and the freedom it offers players to shape their own adventures, often enhanced by a vibrant modding community that adds new content and storylines. However, technical issues such as bugs and quest glitches can detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about the game's storytelling quality.

    • “The elder scrolls V: Skyrim impresses with its massive number of quests and branching storylines, a remarkable achievement by the developers.”
    • “The game's storytelling is masterful, pulling me into the lives of its characters, making me care about their fates as if they were my own comrades in arms.”
    • “The main quest has one of the worst final boss fights in the series.”
    • “The main storyline, revolving around the return of dragons, is epic and filled with twists, but it’s the myriad side quests and faction stories—such as the Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood, and Companions—that truly shine.”
    • “The main story is boring, the characters are flat, the RPG elements are nonexistent.”
  • graphics
    6,911 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals were impressive at the time of its original release in 2011, they now show their age, especially when compared to modern titles. The Special Edition offers some enhancements, such as improved lighting and textures, but many players feel that significant graphical improvements can be achieved through mods, which are highly recommended for a more visually appealing experience. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge by today's standards, they still hold a certain charm and can be significantly upgraded with community-created content.

    • “Featuring the same kind of thrilling freedom of choice the Elder Scrolls series is known for, along with beautiful visuals and a stirring soundtrack.”
    • “With its stunning graphics, comprehensive content, and mod support, this edition invites both new players and long-time fans to dive back into the rich and expansive world of Tamriel.”
    • “From the moment you step into the frozen landscape of Skyrim, you’re greeted by breathtaking visuals and a sense of scale that is truly awe-inspiring.”
    • “Dated graphics don't bother me much, I'm literally playing the original 2000 release of Deus Ex and 1997 Thief, but the art style here is just generic and kinda bad.”
    • “But in 2024 it's really outdated with old mechanics and visuals.”
    • “I know this is a remastered version of a 2011 game, but the graphics are so bad compared to Elden Ring.”
  • gameplay
    5,138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Skyrim* is characterized by its expansive open-world design, allowing for a variety of playstyles and character builds, which many players find engaging and immersive. However, criticisms highlight the game's outdated mechanics, repetitive combat, and reliance on mods to enhance the experience, as the vanilla gameplay can feel shallow and buggy. Despite these issues, the modding community significantly extends the game's longevity, offering countless hours of additional content and customization options.

    • “Mods allow for endless customization—whether it’s gameplay tweaks, stunning visual upgrades, or entire new questlines, there’s always something fresh to explore.”
    • “The game offers a deep and immersive experience, combining engaging storytelling with intricate gameplay mechanics.”
    • “With countless mods available, you can enhance graphics, tweak gameplay mechanics, or even introduce entirely new storylines, making this game feel fresh and tailored to your preferences.”
    • “But in 2024 it's really outdated with old mechanics and visuals.”
    • “If you can stomach quite superficial RPG systems paired with myriad bugs and some less-than-creative gameplay components, there's a sizable game to enjoy.”
    • “The gameplay just wasn't satisfying and felt shallow to play.”
  • stability
    3,570 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of Skyrim remains a significant concern among players, with many noting that the game is still plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, even after multiple updates and re-releases. While some players find the glitches to be part of the game's charm and enjoy the comedic moments they create, others express frustration over game-breaking issues that can hinder progress. Overall, the consensus is that while the game can be enjoyable, it often requires mods or workarounds to mitigate its instability.

    • “A stable game, as we all know, no bugs, no crashes, no freezes.”
    • “Completely bug free and flawless.”
    • “No glitches, no bugs, no exploits, and certainly nothing that ever stops the gameplay.”
    • “However, with such a large amount of content, technical issues arise: bugs, glitches, and quest progression problems.”
    • “This game has made me so fucking mad, it's so goddamn buggy even with the unofficial patch and I can't even complete the main story because Delphine and Esbern are bugged.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess and you need mods to make it any good.”
  • music
    1,878 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in Skyrim, composed by Jeremy Soule, is widely praised as one of the best soundtracks in gaming history, enhancing the immersive experience with its hauntingly beautiful orchestral scores. Players often highlight how the music complements various gameplay moments, from peaceful exploration to intense battles, creating a rich atmosphere that evokes nostalgia and emotional responses. While some note that certain tracks can become repetitive over time, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack significantly elevates the game's appeal and remains a standout feature even years after its release.

    • “The storytelling, the atmosphere, the music (omg the music!) - it all comes together to create something special.”
    • “The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly, enhancing the sense of immersion and adventure.”
    • “The music is beautiful, the world is beautiful, and the story is good.”
    • “The only thing I don't like is the lack of enemies and events while traveling; the music gets old (like 5 of the same track). The skill tree is so large I can never decide what to do, so it turns me off.”
    • “The sense of wonder and discovery initially emanated from the music fades quickly when what you keep doing is going in murky caves and hearing the same track again and again... when walking/hopping over mountains à la Bethesda style to get to a destination it queues you that one other track; woot woot.”
    • “There has to be around 2-3 songs used for combat and it became tiresome hearing the same reused song in the same reused fight - you will experience this hundreds and hundreds of times.”
  • replayability
    1,847 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Skyrim is widely regarded as one of the most replayable games ever, with many players citing its near-infinite replay value, largely due to its extensive modding community and diverse character builds. While some reviews mention limited replayability in the base game, the addition of mods significantly enhances the experience, allowing for countless new adventures and play styles. Overall, the game's vast content and flexibility ensure that players can enjoy it for hundreds, if not thousands, of hours.

    • “It might show its age in places, but with a few mods and a little imagination, it transforms into an RPG masterpiece that feels timeless and endlessly replayable.”
    • “This active modding scene means that players can tailor their experience in countless ways, significantly extending the game's replay value.”
    • “With its stunning visuals, rich lore, immersive world, and endless replayability, it's no wonder that Skyrim continues to captivate players around the world more than a decade after its initial release.”
    • “Not much replayability, I'm afraid, except for trying new builds and seeing very, very minor different outcomes in some side quests.”
    • “Totally has no replay value whatsoever.”
    • “Not much replayability though.”
  • humor
    1,274 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Skyrim" is largely derived from its infamous bugs and glitches, which players find both entertaining and endearing. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create absurd and hilarious scenarios, often enhanced by the modding community, leading to countless memorable moments. Overall, the combination of quirky NPC interactions, unexpected physics, and the game's signature jank contributes to a lighthearted and enjoyable experience, making it a beloved classic for those who appreciate its comedic elements.

    • “The actual 'game' lies within all of the possible interactions, exploits or not, and the utterly hilarious scenarios that will be created as a result, and will further demand the player to accept the situation and deal with it.”
    • “Oh yes, Skyrim is infamous for its hilarious bugs and glitches, from NPCs suddenly deciding to take a swim in mid-air to horses moonwalking across the landscape like they're auditioning for a music video.”
    • “If you, like myself, enjoy laughing at the inexplicably humorous bugs that present themselves at times, then this is for you.”
    • “Not funny enough 0/10”
    • “But it's not funny.”
    • “Reason 2: it's not funny like Oblivion”
  • grinding
    638 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling that it requires an excessive investment of time to progress. While some enjoy the grind for leveling and crafting, others find it repetitive and frustrating, often leading to a sense of burnout. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable grinding and tedious tasks, making it a polarizing experience for players.

    • “Best game of all time, I dare anybody to make a game with as much diversity in play style while feeling not grindy at all. I don't think anyone will ever best this game without using it as a blueprint.”
    • “It's not very grindy - I appreciate the flow.”
    • “Being able to just make something you are qualified to craft makes it so much more rewarding and not grindy.”
    • “Only difference is really grinding out larger numbers, which puts you in a single-player MMO-esque skinner box consisting of you doing the same old repetitive activities time and time again until you've simply had enough.”
    • “The worst part of the game, in my opinion, is the skill/levelling system, which only becomes worse as the game goes on and you have less and less to do, which leads to boring, tedious grinding and using techniques to abuse the way certain skills progress.”
    • “There is so much tedious repetition and uninteresting things in this world.”
  • optimization
    537 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of Skyrim's Special Edition has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant improvements in performance and stability compared to the original version. While the game generally runs smoothly, especially on modern hardware, some users report persistent issues such as stuttering and crashes, particularly when using mods. Overall, the Special Edition is considered more optimized for lower-end systems and offers better graphics, but it still requires careful management of mods to achieve the best performance.

    • “The special edition runs on the creation engine, which offers better stability and optimization.”
    • “The elder scrolls v: skyrim special edition revitalizes a beloved classic with stunning visual enhancements and smooth performance.”
    • “The special edition (skyrim se) comes with more optimized and reworked graphics, runs smoother, and has patches that fix bugs from the original version of the game.”
    • “Graphics and performance: 5 1/2 years later this game is an unoptimized mess, graphically there are little changes, and yet it runs way worse (source: my combined 348 hours of playtime between versions, the fact that there are mods to fix the optimizations including the guide, 'free fps').”
    • “Unfortunately, Skyrim has serious performance issues and bugs that require you to sink hours into mods, unofficial fixes, and graphical settings.”
    • “I hate to say this, but this game is still poorly optimized and not using the available RAM that I have and just crashing.”
  • atmosphere
    524 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of Skyrim is widely praised for its breathtaking landscapes, immersive sound design, and captivating music, which together create a rich and engaging world. Players appreciate the distinctiveness of each location while enjoying a cohesive overall ambiance that enhances exploration and storytelling. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and narrative depth, the game's atmospheric qualities remain a standout feature, drawing players back for years.

    • “The atmosphere of Skyrim is quite exceptional.”
    • “Each town and city is bustling with life, filled with NPCs going about their daily routines, and the ambient sounds—crickets chirping at night, the distant howl of wolves—create an immersive atmosphere that draws you deeper into the game.”
    • “The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly, enhancing the sense of immersion and adventure.”
    • “Despite its age, Skyrim's atmosphere is captivating.”
    • “Every 'dungeon' is so brightly lit it fails to give the atmosphere of actually being in a dungeon.”
    • “Secondly, and this is much more subjective to my experience, but I noticed when compared to past entries, a lack of character to the atmosphere when traveling the world.”
  • monetization
    360 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" due to the introduction of microtransactions and the Creation Club, which charges for mods that were previously free. Players express frustration over how updates often break existing mods, further complicating the gaming experience and diminishing the value of the game they initially purchased. Overall, the sentiment is that the monetization strategies employed by Bethesda detract from the enjoyment of the game and exploit the loyal fanbase.

    • “The monetization of the mods that users made and that were later 'refined' by Bethesda is insulting.”
    • “I can understand it in the free-to-play model, but it leaves a 'sour taste in my mouth' to have to pay for a game and still be hounded for more money via microtransactions.”
    • “Adding microtransactions when you're a single-player developer is unacceptable and should not be supported!”
    • “There was literally no reason to update this game other than money; they broke mods to add more microtransactions instead of fixing their newest game.”
    • “Updates to a 13-year-old game break basically every mod you have, mods being the only reason the game is even fun anymore, and the updates do literally nothing but update their awful greedy 'paid mods' store where you can make microtransactions for terrible mods while the much better free mods get totally destroyed for nothing.”
    • “Not only should you not buy this game, but you should never buy any game from Bethesda Studios again, as not only have they been scamming and falsely advertising and releasing the same content over and over for the past decade without putting out anything new that was actually good, but they are provably not only willing but wanting to damage their good games from more than a decade ago in the name of greed.”
  • emotional
    244 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to provide comfort and immersion, with many players expressing how it helped them cope with loneliness and trauma. The well-developed characters and engaging side quests evoke strong emotional responses, often leading to tears and deep investment in their stories. While some critiques mention a lack of depth in the main narrative, the overall experience is described as heartwarming and nostalgic, making it a significant emotional journey for many players.

    • “It helped me with trauma and made me feel welcome in times of loneliness.”
    • “The writing is sharp, and the characters are well-developed, often leaving me emotionally invested in their fates.”
    • “Skyrim has meant so much to me over the years, I'm honestly struck by the emotional impact moving on from it comes with.”
    • “The gameplay is shallow and uninteresting; there are few RPG mechanics at play here, and the game has the audacity to also have a really boring story.”
    • “Incredibly boring storyline; I wasn't a fan of it one bit. Maybe it's because I played the game 5+ years after its initial release, but it just felt the same throughout my whole whopping 9.7 hours played.”
    • “Boring story.”
  • character development
    130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" is widely praised for its depth and flexibility, allowing players to craft unique characters through a complex system of skills and choices that impact both personal growth and the game world. The open-ended nature of quests and the ability to engage with various factions enhance the narrative experience, although some critiques mention inconsistencies in character design and quest quality. Overall, the game is celebrated for its rich storytelling and immersive environments, making character development a standout feature in the RPG genre.

    • “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a monumental achievement in the world of open-world RPGs, seamlessly blending vast exploration, intricate storytelling, and rich character development into an unforgettable experience.”
    • “The breadth and depth of character development is amazing, as is the size and scope of the world.”
    • “The character development system is both deep and rewarding.”
    • “And as ever, lack of overall player character development, poorly written quest lines, dumb forced decisions, sloppy quality control, and general lack of immersion.”
    • “Horrible control, difficulty is all over the place, character development is a mess.”
    • “Quests are notoriously prone to breaking, dungeons suddenly become trite, little to no character development, and dialogue that feels clunky and forced sometimes.”
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79%Critics’ scoreBased on 49 critic reviews
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115h Median play time
366h Average play time
26h Main story
207h Completionist
22-500h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 980 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a open world role playing shooter game with fantasy and historical themes.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 26 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 207 hours to finish. On average players spend around 366 hours playing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released on November 9, 2011.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was developed by Bethesda Game Studios.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a single player game.

Similar games include The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Fallout 3, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Dragon Age: Origins, Fallout 4 and others.