The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind® Game of the Year Edition
- June 16, 2009
- Bethesda Game Studios
- 68h median play time
Get on SteamThe 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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- story4,282 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
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 quests that require careful attention to dialogue and journal entries instead of relying on quest markers. While some quests can feel repetitive or vague, the immersive world and intricate storytelling create a compelling experience that encourages exploration and engagement with the game's lore.
“Morrowind is an amazing game, with the richest story in the entire elder scrolls saga.”
“The story is captivating, the music beautiful and the variety in settings and environment breathtaking.”
“The story is deep, the combat mechanics retain that old school crpg style that I personally prefer over the modern 'action orientated' approach, then there's the setting.”
“Morrowind may carry the deepest lore of the Elder Scrolls saga, but its quest design feels as shallow as a puddle.”
“However, the majority of quests I completed featured little to no alternate paths to completion, and some lacked a proper conclusion entirely.”
“The quests are also very old-fashioned: 'go to x and kill y / get z' has been every one of my tasks so far.”
- graphics2,484 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Morrowind" are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 2002 release, but many players find that the game's unique art style and immersive world compensate for this shortcoming. While some reviews express frustration with the visuals, particularly when transitioning from more modern titles like "Skyrim," a robust modding community offers numerous enhancements, such as the Morrowind Graphics Extender, which can significantly improve the game's appearance. Overall, while the graphics may not meet contemporary standards, the depth of gameplay and storytelling remains a strong draw for fans of the RPG genre.
“That being said, the lore, the characters, the graphics, and the environments remain unmatched even in 2024.”
“While the graphics are certainly a product of their time, they add to the atmosphere.”
“The graphics may be dated, but the world-building and the great characters still manage to draw in players.”
“The game is showing its age; the graphics are just totally outdated.”
“The graphics are dated, but the game mechanics are top notch and what started the whole open world franchise for the Elder Scrolls games.”
“The graphics are archaic, and the combat system is outdated, but it still holds its charm.”
- gameplay1,836 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Morrowind" is often described as a mix of deep RPG mechanics and dated systems, with many players noting the clunky combat and chance-to-hit mechanics that can frustrate newcomers. While the graphics and some gameplay elements have not aged well, the game's rich lore, expansive world, and intricate character customization options provide a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time in understanding its mechanics. Overall, it remains a beloved classic for its immersive storytelling and unique gameplay, despite its challenges.
“The gameplay still holds up today and it stands as one of the best RPGs ever made.”
“It has evocative exploration, storytelling, and quests, with in-depth spellcrafting and combat mechanics.”
“The immersion and world-building more than make up for the dated visuals and gameplay.”
“Its age is its greatest limitation, and the run from A to B formula for questing that plagues this game dries out the gameplay really fast with little uniqueness to the questing, although that is more to do with Morrowind's age and the games it comes from versus the lack of developer effort.”
“The hit-chance mechanic, in a first-person game that often feels like an FPS, just doesn’t work.”
“The gameplay is terrible; the game engine is simply not made with engaging gameplay in mind.”
- music641 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Morrowind" is widely praised for its exceptional quality and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting Jeremy Soule's composition as a standout feature that enhances the game's atmosphere. While some players note the soundtrack's repetitiveness due to a limited number of tracks, the overall sentiment is that the music is beautiful, nostalgic, and integral to the gaming experience, often evoking strong emotional responses. Despite its age, the soundtrack remains a beloved aspect of the game, contributing significantly to its status as a classic in the RPG genre.
“The music is phenomenal, and really sets the tone of the world.”
“The soundtrack is a master class, there is so much to explore and discover, and the fewer fast travel options and lack of waypoints forces you to really feel the scale of the world.”
“The music is truly soothing when it needs to be, and while the combat music isn't quite as good, can certainly pump you up when it needs to.”
“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 music will get repetitive very quickly.”
“Regrettably, Bethesda had little experience in handling game soundtracks at this point, so the OST was treated as a short list of randomized tracks on repeat.”
- atmosphere318 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Morrowind" is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, characterized by rich lore, haunting music, and a distinct alien landscape that captivates players. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a sense of exploration and discovery, with environments that feel alive and filled with history, despite its dated graphics. While some critiques mention inconsistencies in atmospheric engagement across quests, the overall consensus is that "Morrowind" offers one of the most compelling and atmospheric experiences in the RPG genre.
“The atmosphere is incredible; it's like exploring an alien planet.”
“The art style, coupled with a hauntingly beautiful musical score, contributes significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere, mechanics, and story are unmatched to this day.”
“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.”
“The atmosphere just doesn't resonate anymore.”
- stability191 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that can significantly disrupt gameplay. While some players find the experience enjoyable despite these issues, many recommend using mods and patches to mitigate the problems, as the game is often described as a "buggy mess" typical of Bethesda titles. Overall, while the game offers a rich world and engaging mechanics, its stability remains a major concern for players.
“I mean again, this sets the bar. I don't even need to write a review; it runs great, it's tons of fun, it's a classic. If you like this sort of game, you can't go wrong.”
“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.”
“This game runs great, especially on the Steam Deck!”
“I have installed countless patches, mods, ran the game on multiple different computers but no matter what I do, after around 15 seconds - 2 minutes after loading my save, the game freezes to a halt without any warnings or errors, locking my PC and forcing me to sign out or restart.”
“This game is super buggy, game mechanic heavy, and extremely broken in many ways, but that's what makes this game so good.”
“The game isn't just buggy; it presents a different kind of ethical gameplay system in interpreting its bugs.”
- grinding172 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and time-consuming, with many players expressing frustration over the slow leveling process and repetitive tasks required to improve skills. While some appreciate the depth and immersion that comes from this grind, others find it overwhelming and unfulfilling, particularly in the early game. Overall, the experience can feel rewarding for those who persevere, but it often demands a significant investment of time and patience.
“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 start is painfully slow and tedious, due to the fact that your skills get stronger 'exponentially'.”
“My biggest critique would probably be that the leveling process for many skills has not been thought through very well, which makes it incredibly tedious for some, and trivial for others.”
“Morrowind is deep, but very flawed: it is massive in scale, but technically limited to be visually and perceptually believable; its game systems are ambitiously designed, but its gameplay is not implemented well, which makes playing the game for dozens of hours tedious, repetitive and unrewarding.”
- replayability120 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, largely due to its intricate mechanics, diverse character creation options, and expansive world filled with multiple factions and questlines. Players appreciate the depth of role-playing elements and the active modding community, which further enhances the experience. Despite its age, the game remains a timeless classic with near-infinite replay value, making it a standout in the RPG genre.
“Above all else, the game has tremendous replayability, thanks to its intricate mechanics and its large world to explore.”
“Morrowind has high replay value due to its open-world sandbox gameplay and the ability to create multiple characters with different races and classes.”
“The modding community is still very active and makes replayability even higher, and that's saying something for a game that's already extremely replayable on its own.”
“Once you know how the game mechanics work, there really isn't any replayability since you can power level through the game.”
“Even after playing the game in its entirety when it came out, the replay value is still high years later with a very enjoyable storyline.”
“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.”
- humor114 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players noting its charming dialogue, quirky character interactions, and amusing glitches that enhance the experience. Many find the game's absurdities, such as the clumsy animations and unexpected quest outcomes, to be genuinely funny, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere despite some darker themes. Overall, the blend of humor and serious storytelling creates memorable moments that resonate with players.
“The always hilarious, and limited, scrolls of Icarian flight can also provide quick transportation... and death, if you're careless.”
“Bursting with charm, and masterfully balancing humor and serious storytelling.”
“The quests of Morrowind are often fun and humorous with the personalities of the characters you encounter being an added bonus.”
“The humor in the game feels insignificant or is often just a collection of humorous glitches.”
“Character creation is a downside as there aren't many looks to choose from, but the limited options can lead to some characters looking funny in unexpected ways.”
- emotional54 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to Morrowind, often citing nostalgia and the game's rich storytelling as key factors in their experiences. Many describe moments of joy, sadness, and fulfillment, highlighting the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through its music, character arcs, and immersive world. Overall, Morrowind is seen as a heartfelt masterpiece that resonates with players long after their initial playthroughs.
“It was genuinely a greatly emotionally pregnant experience.”
“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.”
- optimization39 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is a mixed bag; while it struggles with performance on modern systems, many users recommend using the OpenMW engine for improved stability and graphics. Players have noted that the original engine is prone to crashes and requires various mods to enhance performance, especially for those with low-end computers. Overall, while the game can run smoothly with the right adjustments, it still shows its age and may require significant tinkering to achieve an optimal experience.
“I recommend that if it's your first time playing Morrowind, you play as close to vanilla as possible, use OpenMW to get better performance and stability. I've played for 5-6 hours straight without a crash, and I'm sure I could play for way longer without one.”
“OpenMW is a fan-made engine that has better performance and graphics and is more reliable than the original.”
“The graphics show their age, and the community developed many mods for this particular case and many other performance fixes in the form of patches that I'd really recommend downloading.”
“Even if Bethesda's performance falls short, there will be modders who will adapt to their shortcomings.”
“Game good but, can someone help me on how I stop it from crashing constantly? I did download some performance mods but they have only partially helped.”
“Morrowind is, by no means, optimized for the modern computer.”
- character development37 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, allowing players to create unique heroes tailored to their playstyle, though some criticize the limited character designs and racial options. The system is described as foundational, with significant consequences for early decisions, and is often considered superior to more modern RPGs, offering a satisfying blend of freedom and experimentation. Overall, the character development mechanics, combined with rich storytelling and world-building, contribute to an immersive and engaging gameplay experience.
“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.”
“Great storytelling, very deep character development (chrikey, there's a skill to determine how high you jump), and just a fun game overall.”
“The character designs and racial options are limited, with a lack of diverse ethnicities and body types.”
“"Character development" and "meaningful choices" are phrases that have become a common throwaway for the RPG genre.”
“Even your beginning healing spell and basic fireball spell both only have between 10-20 for characters not built for it from the start, or up to 50-60 for a character designed to use them, which also suffers from non-regenerating magicka, making magic very annoying to try to build.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of Bethesda has drawn criticism for prioritizing cash grabs, particularly with titles like Fallout 76 and TES: Blades, which some players feel detracts from the quality of their games. In contrast, expansions like Tribunal and Bloodmoon are praised for genuinely enhancing the game experience rather than serving as mere profit-driven add-ons. Overall, there is a call for a return to quality content over monetization tactics that resemble those of other criticized companies in the industry.
“If Bethesda weren't focusing on dumbing content down for modern-day RPG fans and god-awful cash grabs like Fallout 76 and TES Blades, they would make a game of this caliber but with next-gen graphics and controls.”
“Does this game use real money for in-game purchases?”
“See, you don't need the cash grab; you can win by getting good press, which in the long run would do better for you to show you are not like EA and others.”
