The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,594 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR Game Cover
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"The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR" is a virtual reality role-playing game where players explore the vast world of Skyrim in an immersive first-person perspective. With the ability to freely roam and complete quests, players can customize their characters, battle creatures, and become a part of the game's lore. This version of Skyrim offers a new level of interaction and immersion, taking full advantage of VR technology.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,594 reviews
graphics153 positive mentions
stability195 negative mentions
  • graphics703 mentions

    The graphics in Skyrim VR are widely criticized for being outdated and subpar, often described as reminiscent of a game from 2011. Many players emphasize the necessity of installing numerous mods to enhance the visual quality, as the base game lacks the graphical fidelity expected from a modern VR experience. While some users report that with the right setup and mods, the visuals can become stunning, the general consensus is that the game requires significant modding to achieve an enjoyable graphical experience.

    • “When you get the right setup, something just sorta clicks and the combination of updated graphics in a virtual space, immersion, and sheer fun makes it an incredibly enjoyable experience.”
    • “With proper IK support, proper body generation, the ability to sheathe weapons with real gestures, and all the brilliant visuals of the special edition and then some, this game is amazing, and one of the best VR experiences you can get.”
    • “The visuals are incredible, mostly the scale, and then mods take it to the next level.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely horrible.”
    • “The graphics were horrible and require a stupid amount of mods to fix it, not worth the headache.”
    • “Without mods, the graphics are very blurry, and textures and meshes look terrible.”
  • gameplay408 mentions

    The gameplay of Skyrim VR has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the game retains its classic charm and expansive world, the mechanics feel outdated and clunky, particularly in combat. Users emphasize that the experience is significantly improved with mods, which enhance graphics and gameplay mechanics, but criticize the need for extensive modding to achieve a satisfactory experience. Overall, while the game offers hours of exploration and engaging storytelling, its VR implementation lacks the polish and immersive mechanics found in more recent titles, leading to frustration for some players.

    • “The gameplay is also exceptional, with a range of skills and abilities to customize and upgrade, as well as a deep and engaging combat system that rewards strategy and skill.”
    • “The game's captivating storyline, stunning graphics, and engaging combat mechanics make it an enjoyable experience for players.”
    • “With the proper mods, the gameplay, visual and story makes this game an awesome experience.”
    • “The ugly textures, the floating hands, the janky bow and arrow gameplay, odd aiming, and the lack of an immersive melee combat system - especially when looked at through the scope of what has been achieved in other VR combat games - turns what used to be a fun nostalgic experience into a frustrating and at times downright unplayable one instead.”
    • “Without mods, the game is a total trainwreck of missing features and broken gameplay.”
    • “The vanilla gameplay experience for this price tag is borderline malicious.”
  • story341 mentions

    The story in Skyrim VR remains largely unchanged from the original game, offering a rich and immersive narrative filled with memorable characters and quests. Players appreciate the emotional depth and engagement that VR brings to the storytelling experience, although some express frustration with bugs and control issues that can hinder progression. Overall, while the core story is familiar, the VR format enhances the sense of presence and exploration, making it a compelling experience for fans of the genre.

    • “The game also offers a deep and engaging story, with a range of memorable characters and choices that affect the game's narrative and outcome.”
    • “The game's storytelling is further enhanced by its excellent writing and voice acting, making it a truly immersive experience.”
    • “The story is engaging and the sense of place and presence is great.”
    • “Turns out Bethesda's story designer is a grade-school psychopath.”
    • “The story is fairly generic, but it does have a large variety of options because it is an open world RPG, and there are not definite good guys or bad guys, which is great, because that is actually more realistic in terms of how humans and sentient races actually function.”
    • “To all the people who hated the Skyrim story, well yeah that didn't change, and in that case I'd recommend against buying this game because nothing has changed.”
  • stability225 mentions

    The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, especially during the initial scenes. Many players find the game nearly unplayable without extensive modding and troubleshooting, often spending hours to fix issues. While some users note that the game can run smoothly with the right modifications, the overall consensus is that it remains a buggy and unstable experience, characteristic of Bethesda's previous titles.

    • “It runs great even on my 2016 PC, and every NPC is taller than me.”
    • “I am also happy to report that it runs great in the Vive Pro, and the increased resolution makes it so much more immersive.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, it runs great even on low-end machines.”
    • “I have the Meta Quest 3 and my computer exceeds the recommended specs, but the game is still randomly buggy and runs poorly at times.”
    • “This game is so buggy that any change anywhere can completely destroy all your hard work, and you'll get none of it back.”
    • “The game is very buggy and slows your gameplay down, but it is a very nice experience and the spells are amazing to use.”
  • optimization224 mentions

    The optimization of Skyrim VR has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that the game is poorly optimized out of the box, leading to significant performance issues such as stuttering and low frame rates. However, users have found that installing various mods can greatly enhance the experience, improving both performance and visual quality, though this often requires considerable time and effort. Overall, while some players report smooth performance with high-end systems and mods, the general consensus is that the game lacks adequate native optimization for VR, making it less accessible for those unwilling to engage in extensive modding.

    • “Skyrim VR has been optimized very well, reducing motion sickness and providing customizable comfort options for players sensitive to locomotion in VR.”
    • “With the right mods for optimization and graphics, this is one of the most nostalgic and beautiful things you can do in VR.”
    • “The performance is great, even in the open world.”
    • “This game's optimization is the worst there is, trying to make it work is spending hours downloading mods and then trying to make them work just to have an acceptable experience.”
    • “Not ready out of the box; Skyrim VR ships not only with an awful control scheme, but with multiple performance issues regarding framerate, physics, and just general stability.”
    • “It's poorly optimized and makes me kinda dizzy while playing it.”
  • music44 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players highlighting the beautiful soundtrack and effective voice acting. While some users recommend turning off the music for a more realistic experience, the combination of the game's atmosphere and music is often described as breathtaking, making it a standout feature. Additionally, the option to use mods to customize the soundtrack further enriches the gameplay for many players.

    • “Great world, great lore, great gameplay, and an amazing soundtrack on top of it all.”
    • “The combination of the VR and music works really well, giving you a feel of amazement even if you have heard the music a thousand times.”
    • “I climbed the tower of Faldar's Tooth and just sat and listened to the ambient music as I looked upon a setting sun nestled in the valley of two mountains, its reflection on the nearby lake.”
    • “You'll likely need subtitles to catch all the dialogue which is unfortunate - and you won't hear much of the award-winning soundtrack either.”
    • “That all said it does have its issues, I'm disappointed with the crossbow gameplay, and the sword combat doesn't always have sound effects; also, the game itself is missing a lot of sounds, from shouts to music, which does take away from the experience a little but hopefully this will be patched soon.”
    • “Turn the music off, get the positional audio mod and just explore.”
  • monetization42 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been overwhelmingly criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing disappointment in Bethesda's approach to releasing what they perceive as a low-effort VR port. Players feel that the game lacks substantial content and innovation, leading to frustration over its full-price tag despite being a minimal upgrade from previous versions. Overall, the sentiment reflects a growing discontent with perceived exploitation of the fanbase and the gaming industry at large.

    • “As an added bonus, there's no Creation Club, which means no updates completely breaking everything in the name of microtransactions.”
    • “I just wish it didn't feel like a low-effort cash grab.”
    • “This was absolutely a minimum viable product release, another cash grab for Bethesda.”
    • “The game is clearly just a cash grab and it's not worth €59.99.”
  • humor39 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous bugs and janky mechanics, which often lead to unexpectedly funny moments, such as NPCs behaving oddly or physics glitches causing hilarious scenarios. Players appreciate the comedic potential of mods and the amusing interactions with quirky characters, while the overall experience is enhanced by the absurdity of the game's technical shortcomings. Despite its flaws, the game manages to deliver a fun and entertaining atmosphere that keeps players laughing throughout their adventures.

    • “I've always wanted to shoot lightning into the sky from my hands while laughing maniacally.”
    • “Enjoyed the funny NPCs, cool music, and exploring the world.”
    • “The game makes you kind of paranoid especially in dungeons but it's hilarious!”
    • “Then I took an unfunny, overly used 'arrow to the knee' joke to the knee.”
    • “The humor felt forced and relied too heavily on outdated memes.”
    • “I expected clever wit, but instead, I was met with cringe-worthy puns.”
  • emotional32 mentions

    Players report a deeply emotional experience in Skyrim VR, highlighting its immersive qualities that evoke nostalgia and a sense of adventure. Many express that the game's detailed world and interactions can lead to genuine emotional responses, such as joy and empathy, although some also mention issues like motion sickness that detract from the experience. Overall, the emotional engagement is a significant aspect of the game, with players feeling more connected to the story and characters than in previous iterations.

    • “This game has made me cry to virtual beauty, explore in virtual wonder, and above all, restored my sense of adventure & mystery.”
    • “As someone who used to play Skyrim as a kid in 2011 all the way through modded playthrough in 2018, the VR experience made me shed a tear of joy.”
    • “Just seeing how big everything is in VR and how immersive the world looks, no other VR game has made me feel quite this way.”
  • atmosphere30 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, featuring stunning vistas, rich lore, and a sense of exploration that captivates players. Despite some technical issues and graphics limitations, the overall ambiance—enhanced by VR capabilities and modding—creates a deeply engaging experience filled with wonder, danger, and emotional depth. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke nostalgia and excitement, making it a standout in atmospheric gaming.

    • “Whether it's vanilla or modded, you can't deny the atmosphere.”
    • “Give it a try if you seek immersion, gee-wow vistas, humblingly huge structures and spaces, atmosphere, occasional creeps and jump scares, elaborate combat, magical spells, a ridiculously complex lore, and quirky NPCs who are only too eager to tell you their life stories.”
    • “The atmosphere and immersion is amazing.”
    • “And the atmosphere of creepy dungeon danger is everything I wished for as a small kid playing D&D on paper years ago!”
    • “From the moment the game started, when I appeared in the cart as a prisoner, the immersion and atmosphere of actually being in that cart made it worth the purchase.”
    • “Despite older graphics, though enhanced using some mods from Skyrim SE, this game is one of the most immersive VR games you could venture into in terms of atmosphere, open world, NPCs, the lot.”
  • replayability17 mentions

    The game is praised for its high replayability, largely attributed to its extensive content and the vibrant modding community that enhances the experience. Players can explore various character types, storylines, and quests, making it infinitely replayable, although some feel that the base game could benefit from more developer support to fully realize its potential. Overall, it remains a top choice for long-term engagement, especially in its VR adaptation.

    • “Additionally, the game's extensive content and replayability factor remain intact in the VR adaptation.”
    • “A classic Elder Scrolls game with limitless replay value thanks to the modding community.”
    • “An enormous open-world exploration game, swords and sorcery, a deep and rich backstory, and virtually unlimited replay value.”
    • “It's a shame that the modding community has to carry the burden of this blasphemy that Bethesda has brought upon this earth, and make it a bit more playable game.”
    • “Mods are needed to make this game replayable.”
    • “Other reviews mention modding the game to make it more playable; however, as I wanted to make sure my saves work for both SE and VR versions, I decided to play vanilla instead.”
  • grinding15 mentions

    Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is overwhelmingly tedious, with basic actions and menu navigation often described as frustrating and time-consuming. Players express that even with mods, the process remains cumbersome, detracting from the overall experience and immersion. The combination of poor controls, lengthy tasks, and lack of intuitive guidance contributes to a sense of monotony and dissatisfaction.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Even the most basic actions are tedious to learn and perform.”
    • “Game is unplayable without mods, and even with mods it kinda sucks because you need to do a lot of tedious configuration.”
    • “The controls for index are beyond tedious (to include mods and tweaks to try and get it resembling something akin to functional), the combat is entirely lackluster due to the lack of weight or physics involved, it's just as buggy as the original now with added VR bugs.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised, with users considering it the best they have ever experienced.

    • “Character development is still the best I've ever played.”
    • “The depth and complexity of the characters make every decision feel impactful.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making them feel real and relatable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

22hMedian play time
177hAverage play time
5-90hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 59 analyzed playthroughs

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