The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind® Game of the Year Edition

About

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind® Game of the Year Edition is an open-world, epic RPG that allows you to create your own unique character and embark on various quests. This edition includes the main game and both expansions, Tribunal and Bloodmoon, offering new locations, quests, and challenges. With its immersive 3D graphics and detailed gameplay, Morrowind provides a rich and engaging gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Role Playing

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind® Game of the Year Edition screenshot

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 20,260 reviews

story1.7k positive mentions

stability232 negative mentions

Morrowind offers a richly detailed world with extensive character customization and deep RPG mechanics, providing players with a rewarding sense of exploration and freedom.
The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack enhances the immersive atmosphere of the game, resonating with themes of exploration and mystery.
The depth of the story and character development is unparalleled, allowing for significant player agency and a non-linear narrative that captivates players.

The gameplay mechanics are often considered outdated and can be frustrating for newcomers, with clunky combat and tedious quest tracking.
The graphics have aged poorly, appearing blocky and primitive compared to modern standards, which can be jarring for players transitioning from newer titles.
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and stability issues, requiring players to rely on mods for a more polished experience.

story
5,611 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
4%
The story of "Morrowind" is widely praised for its depth, complexity, and rich lore, often regarded as the best in the Elder Scrolls series. Players appreciate the non-linear narrative that allows for significant player agency, with the main quest revolving around the protagonist's journey to fulfill the Nerevarine prophecy and confront the dark god Dagoth Ur. The absence of quest markers enhances immersion, requiring players to engage with the world and its characters to uncover the story, although this can lead to frustration for those accustomed to more modern RPG mechanics.
- “The story is amazing and honestly has so many layers to it.”
- “I really enjoy the main story, as I believe it's one of the best in the Elder Scrolls series, and the near-infinite amounts of side quests make it so you can never truly complete everything in the game in one playthrough.”
- “The depth of this game is unparalleled; the story is magnificent, the world is rich, and every character has its own charm.”
- “The quests are horrendously uninspired and cookie-cutter, save for a few more creative ones later on in the game.”
- “The quest log is a nightmare to navigate, and doesn't separate side quests from the main quest, and neither does it tell you the name of a quest you just picked up, or if you picked one up at all, so if you want to do it, you have to scroll through the journal, guessing what the name of your quest is, and clicking through the quest log one at a time.”
- “The main quest is very complex, but it feels like you have no agency, there's only one way to complete anything, and all the hard earned respect you've earned from single-handedly fixing vvardenfell is irrelevant.”
graphics
3,208 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The graphics of "Morrowind" have aged significantly since its 2002 release, often described as blocky and outdated compared to modern standards. Many players recommend using mods, such as the Morrowind Graphics Extender and various texture packs, to enhance the visual experience and improve performance. Despite its graphical limitations, the game's rich lore, expansive world, and deep RPG mechanics continue to captivate players, making it a beloved classic in the Elder Scrolls series.
- “Despite its age, Morrowind's visuals hold up remarkably well, especially considering the era it was released in.”
- “The graphics are dated, but the world is still beautiful and full of character.”
- “The graphics may be old and dated, but there are plenty of graphics mods for the game that can put it up to today's standards.”
- “The graphics and combat have aged poorly, but the story, music, and world have aged like wine.”
- “Going from 2020+ graphics to 2002 graphics can be extremely jarring and hard to get used to.”
- “The graphics are very dated, and the mechanics are outright intimidating to those unfamiliar with 90s/early 2000s RPG game mechanics, but I assure you that this game is worth it.”
gameplay
2,408 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
71%
9%
The gameplay of "Morrowind" is characterized by its complex mechanics and deep RPG elements, which can be both rewarding and frustrating for players, especially those accustomed to modern titles. While the game features a unique dice-roll combat system and lacks conveniences like fast travel and quest markers, it offers extensive character customization and a richly detailed world to explore. Many players appreciate the depth and freedom it provides, though newcomers may find the dated graphics and mechanics challenging without the aid of mods to enhance the experience.
- “The gameplay, although simple, allows the player to approach battles and quests in so many different ways and to always think outside the box.”
- “Morrowind might look dated and the tabletop-styled mechanics might be tricky to adjust to, yet this game honestly feels like a breath of fresh air in a sea of newer video games where everything is way too easy and player creativity is actively discouraged.”
- “The gameplay is very unforgiving towards newcomers, but once you level up it feels a lot more balanced.”
- “The gameplay is simply exhausting, and even after dozens of hours of playing, there’s still the feeling that you’re in some sort of demo with tutorial elements and that the real game hasn’t started yet.”
- “The gameplay is very bare-bones and basic but somehow manages to be extremely rewarding through a leveling system that truly makes you appreciate every little level-up.”
- “The gameplay is outdated but is still definitely charming in its own way.”
music
826 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
49%
2%
The music in *Morrowind* is widely praised as one of its standout features, with many reviewers highlighting the exceptional work of composer Jeremy Soule. The soundtrack is described as hauntingly beautiful, immersive, and perfectly suited to the game's alien atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience of exploration and adventure. While some players note the repetitiveness of the tracks due to a limited selection, the emotional impact and nostalgia associated with the music remain strong, making it a defining element of the game.
- “The soundtrack is absolutely stellar and I adore the music of Morrowind.”
- “The music resonates with the themes of exploration, mystery, and the unknown, becoming as much a part of the game’s identity as the world itself.”
- “The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack perfectly complements the atmosphere, enhancing every moment of your journey.”
- “The rng based combat, tedious quest tracking, monotonous soundtrack, and the empty, gloomy map turn me off heavily.”
- “The music score to this game is quite poor as it does not enhance, but rather dissipates the experience, yet it did introduce an important theme in video game music.”
- “The soundtrack is tiny, the graphics primitive for its 2002 release date, its underlying mechanics convoluted and archaic.”
atmosphere
424 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
48%
1%
The atmosphere of "Morrowind" is widely praised for its unique, immersive quality, characterized by an alien landscape, rich lore, and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to draw them into its intricately crafted world, filled with mystery and intrigue, despite its dated graphics and clunky mechanics. While some critiques mention blandness in certain areas, the overall consensus is that "Morrowind" offers an unparalleled atmospheric experience that remains captivating even decades after its release.
- “Morrowind has such a unique alien-like atmosphere that you get sucked into exploring the vast and wonderfully weird world.”
- “The atmosphere is thick with intrigue and mystery, drawing players into the unique world of Morrowind.”
- “The world-building is timeless, the music is timeless, the atmosphere is timeless, the dialog is timeless.”
- “The atmosphere just doesn't resonate anymore.”
- “The atmosphere is very barren, and it really makes you feel like an outcast in an unknown land, as you have to explore around to discover the map.”
- “The final nail in the coffin of its presentation is the music, which in itself is great but unfortunately drones on and on in an endless inappropriate loop that sometimes kills the whole atmosphere with unfitting musical background.”
stability
243 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
1%
95%
The stability of Morrowind is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that can significantly impact gameplay. Many recommend using mods, such as the Morrowind Code Patch, to enhance stability and fix issues, as the game is often described as a "buggy mess" typical of Bethesda titles. While some players find the glitches amusing and part of the game's charm, others note that they can be frustrating and detract from the overall experience.
- “One of the greatest of all time... played it as a launch title on the Xbox and have been playing ever since... they don't make them like this anymore, runs great on Steam...”
- “With the additions of modern mod support to keep the game up-to-date, bug free, stable, and looking better than ever, now is a great time to pick up Morrowind and immerse yourself in one of the best fantasy games of its time... and maybe even today!”
- “This game runs great, especially on the Steam Deck!”
- “It's a buggy mess that heavily impacts stealth-based characters.”
- “The game is buggy, dated, clunky, and doesn't explain anything.”
- “Despite being old and buggy, Morrowind is a very deep and interesting action RPG with an open world and great replayability value.”
grinding
238 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
7%
92%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the depth and immersion that comes from skill leveling and exploration, the slow-paced nature of quests, lack of fast travel, and clunky combat mechanics often lead to frustration. Overall, the game appeals primarily to hardcore RPG fans who are willing to endure the grind for the sake of rich lore and world-building.
- “It feels like a realistic world wherein many of the quests are mundane, but not grindy.”
- “Morrowind is a game to remember, not because it was good or not tedious and not rage inducing, yet because there hasn't been a game since like it.”
- “The RNG-based combat, tedious quest tracking, monotonous soundtrack, and the empty, gloomy map turn me off heavily.”
- “Having to manually commute to 95% of your desired destinations eats up most of the 'play' time and is tremendously tedious at best, but becomes obnoxious at worst when you're assaulted again and again by wildlife mobs when trying to orient yourself.”
- “The interesting and strange world of Morrowind and the rewarding sense of exploration with static hand-placed and interestingly designed loot all over the game are the main draw of The Elder Scrolls III, but to enjoy it you have to climb over a steep hill of tedious main quest design and somewhat clunky combat that has aged less than gracefully.”
replayability
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
59%
2%
The replayability of Morrowind is frequently described as "infinitely" high, largely due to its intricate mechanics, expansive world, and the extensive modding community that enhances the experience. Players appreciate the ability to create diverse characters and explore various factions and questlines, which significantly contributes to the game's longevity and replay value. Despite its age, many reviewers find that Morrowind remains a compelling choice for repeated playthroughs, often citing its depth and customization options as key factors in its enduring appeal.
- “Apostates to Oblivion, the underground, doom door, better bodies, gothic attire complete, daedric sorcery, moon's dawn, and literally tens of thousands of other mods give Morrowind nigh-infinite replayability.”
- “Above all else, the game has tremendous replayability, thanks to its intricate mechanics and its large world to explore.”
- “Morrowind has incredible depth and replay value.”
- “While the graphics and gameplay mechanics may feel dated, the depth and replay value of the game more than make up for it.”
- “Once you know how the game mechanics work, there really isn't any replayability since you can power level through the game.”
- “Its replayability is enough to leave me returning to it and slogging through its dreadfully slow combat even after sinking several thousands of hours into more satisfying combat experiences like Skyrim.”
humor
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Morrowind" is often described as quirky and charming, with players highlighting the game's funny mechanics, absurd character interactions, and humorous dialogue. Many reviews mention the comedic potential of glitches and broken game mechanics, as well as the amusing nature of certain quests and NPCs, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere despite the game's darker themes. Overall, the humor serves as a significant draw, enhancing the immersive experience and making the game memorable.
- “The always hilarious, and limited, scrolls of Icarian flight can also provide quick transportation... and death, if you're careless.”
- “The games dice roll hit system while it does lack proper animations to convey what is happening, it does encourage you to stick to what your class is good at; the meme of a barbarian failing to hit a mudcrab with a dagger will never not be funny.”
- “The atmosphere of Morrowind is fantastic, with funny and strange characters, like the man who is in a river with no pants, the Nord who's clothes were stolen by a witch and the Hlaalu councilor who wants you to take off your clothes, no matter your race or gender.”
- “The humor is often insignificant or relies on humorous glitches.”
- “Character creation is a downside as there aren't many looks to choose from, but the variations can lead to characters that look different, if not funny at times.”
emotional
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Morrowind" resonates deeply with players, evoking nostalgia and a profound sense of immersion in its rich, alien world. Many reviewers express how the game's intricate lore, memorable characters, and evocative soundtrack create heartfelt experiences that linger long after gameplay, often leading to tears of joy or nostalgia. Overall, "Morrowind" is celebrated not just as a game, but as a transformative emotional journey that has left a lasting impact on its community.
- “It made me feel so immersed in its world full of alien and fantastical cultures; I could get lost in it and it makes me feel like I want to live there.”
- “I haven't played Morrowind in 4 years and I've returned to this game and started a new game, and I cried when I went to the city of Balmora because of how nostalgic it looked. I started playing this since I was 16 and had no friends; back then, I dedicated a good portion of that year to this game since I didn't have anything worthwhile in my life. This game is something else; it's very calming.”
- “This game was an eye opener to me; I learned that video games can be more than just games; they can be heartfelt experiences, a part of your life.”
optimization
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
71%
12%
The game's optimization is generally considered lacking for modern hardware, leading many players to recommend using mods, particularly the "openmw" engine, to enhance performance and stability. While some users report smooth gameplay even on low-end systems, others experience crashes and performance drops, especially in densely populated areas. Overall, modding is essential for a more polished experience, as the base game shows its age and requires significant adjustments to run optimally.
- “With a little bit of modding for optimization and visuals, the game is still a very wonderful experience and possibly my favorite Elder Scrolls game.”
- “Play it with 'OpenMW', a free open-source engine that you can set up in under 2 minutes for modern performance and 10/10 stability that works with 95% of the mods found online!”
- “Even if Bethesda's performance falls short, there will be modders who will adapt to their shortcomings.”
- “Sure, it's not optimized for modern hardware, and you need to fix it through modding.”
- “However, in its base form, it's rather unpolished and unoptimized for the modern playing experience, so I highly suggest taking the time to install the OpenMW engine, a fan project which recreates the game to be a lot more stable, featuring bug fixes, quality of life improvements, and the same modding support as the base game, if you decide to go down that route later on in your playtime.”
- “You should get like 500+ fps at all times if it was optimized for modern hardware but because of excessive draw calls compared to what modern games have it runs at 25 fps at the worst times (but usually much higher) for even while being a 2001/2002 game.”
character development
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
64%
6%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and customization, allowing players to create unique heroes tailored to their playstyle, which enhances the overall RPG experience. However, some critiques highlight limitations in character design diversity and dated visuals. Despite these drawbacks, the game's rich lore, engaging storytelling, and meaningful player choices contribute to a compelling character development system that stands out in the genre.
- “The deep character development system allows you to create a unique hero, tailoring them to fit your playstyle.”
- “Morrowind features depth in character development, lore, dialog, and faction stories that is unparalleled, even by modern standards.”
- “One of the things that makes Morrowind shine is the character development.”
- “The character designs and racial options are limited, with a lack of diverse ethnicities and body types.”
- “Negatives of it include that there is a lot of reading as it is not spoken, the ability to hit an enemy is semi-random, and there is not much to the character design.”
- “"Character development" and "meaningful choices" are phrases that have become a common throwaway for the RPG genre.”
monetization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
38%
54%
The reviews express strong discontent with the monetization practices of modern games, particularly criticizing Bethesda for incorporating microtransactions and cash grabs in their titles, contrasting them with the more authentic expansions of Morrowind. Players lament the shift towards monetization strategies that detract from gameplay quality, wishing for a return to the depth and integrity of earlier RPGs without the burden of in-game purchases. Overall, there is a clear desire for a gaming experience free from aggressive monetization tactics.
- “It's fresh air from Skyrim dumbing systems down and there's no microtransactions.”
- “It's a shame Bethesda will never make another game as good as this and, even if they did, they would add some barbaric monetization to it.”
- “Hopefully that would show Bethesda that to take Elder Scrolls to the next step, they should look at all the things that made Morrowind one of the best RPGs ever made, rather than focusing all their attention on microtransactions and radiant quests.”
- “Does this game use real money for in-game purchases?”

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The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind® Game of the Year Edition
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75h Median play time

218h Average play time

13-200h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 115 analyzed playthroughs

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