The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

Skyrim is THE open world RPG. It kinda defines the genre along side the Fallout Series.

I've played Skyrim for years and own it on many different platforms. This is my absolute favorite game and I reccommend it to everyone!

Love the game and with recent QoL updates makes the game easier to mod.,

ko niist tounge rok dovahkiin, dovahkiin, Fus Ro Dah 70 omaar ahrk pah kurahivend drehlaan ahrk zu'u nunon ofaal daar kred hen sul vod.

The best in my opinion open world game. Skyrim has an amazing story, dragons and epic monsters, if you love playing fantasy games I would 100% say buy skyrim.

Honestly can't count how many new games I've started of this over the years. Just started another one. Feels like coming home!

epic game for the RPG lover with hundreds of quests, dialogue options, customizable weapons and gear and magic spells to choose from!

1) start a new game
2) get face blasted by a dragon
3) escaped Helgen
4) Arrived to Whiterun
5) Dragon attacks again
6) I die mulipe times trying to kill it.
10/10 game

sometimes i forget just how old this game is. who cares- it holds a special place in my heart.

Things i dislike about Skyrim:
• The game is shit
• The melee combat is dogshit
• The magic combat is dogshit
• People get drawn to bows and illusion magic because it can skip combat with instant kills
• The Quest are Dogshit
• The Story doesnt really makes sense if you think for longer than 10 seconds
• The NPC dialogue is dogshit

Things i like about Skyrim:
• Exploring the world on horseback

While it is an older game, It's still very fun to play and very immersive. Has probably the largest modding community out there as to take it the next level

I enjoyed playing a conjurer build on a expert difficulty play through, despite the various bugs weather its quests or what, they are easily solved by the console commands. there's so much to do in this game!. i suggested the game to my ex- girlfriend & right away she developed a meth addiction after having 925 hours of play time!

the amount of mods and the modding community have truly made this a game with limitless direction and potential. want to be a lich? go for it. want to own your own fiefdom? sure. want to collect everything like a goblin and store it with a specified display? absolutely

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is more than just a game; it’s an unforgettable journey into a vast, living world where every mountain peak and shadowed valley holds a story waiting to be discovered. Bethesda’s masterpiece captures the essence of open-world RPGs, offering players an unparalleled sense of freedom and immersion.

From the moment you step into the snowy tundras of Skyrim, you’re met with breathtaking landscapes that shift from rugged mountains to dense forests and ancient ruins. Each region feels distinct, brimming with lore and history that beckon exploration. The game’s dynamic weather and ambient soundtrack perfectly complement the setting, creating a world that feels alive and ever-changing.

What truly sets Skyrim apart is its ability to make you the architect of your own story. Whether you choose to be a noble hero, a cunning thief, or a reclusive mage, the world adapts to your decisions. Factions like the Companions, Thieves Guild, and Dark Brotherhood offer deep, branching storylines that make every choice feel impactful. Even seemingly minor side quests often reveal rich narratives that rival the main storyline.

The combat system, while not revolutionary, is diverse and satisfying, allowing players to wield swords, bows, magic, or a combination of all three. The introduction of dragon shouts adds a layer of power and strategy, making each encounter with the fearsome dragons exhilarating. However, it's not just about combat—Skyrim’s true magic lies in its quiet moments: watching the aurora borealis dance across the night sky, listening to a bard’s song in a cozy inn, or uncovering ancient secrets in forgotten tombs.

Despite its occasional technical quirks, Skyrim remains a monumental achievement in gaming. It’s a world that feels as if it exists beyond your presence, where every NPC, creature, and landscape has a purpose. Skyrim isn’t just a game you play; it’s a world you live in. Its legacy endures because it offers something rare: the chance to lose yourself in a world of endless possibilities. For many, it’s not just a game—it’s a second home.

the latest and greatest game in the elder scrolls series. I don't even think that I'll play the TES6 game. You can't just make a game 15 years, it's not going to be worth it.

What is there to say. This one is a classic and sometimes it's a great one to get back to. I can go years without playing this and feel like i'm playing a brand new game every time I get the need for some nostalgia. The gameplay and open world allow you to make a tremendous amount of choices. All of which alter the way your game will be played. The skill tree in my opinion is top tier, and with the ability to reset your skills on the tree as legendary skills, giving you the ability to level up until you have maxed each skill tree out, it gives you something more to work toward than just the end game.

If you're a fan of other elder scroll games like Morrowind or Oblivion.... You probably won't like this game.
you cannot make distinct characters, all characters are the same, they just simply get different perks as you level up.

Many abilities/skills are removed from this game.
There is no fantasy setting (admittedly like Oblivion), just "medieval nord"

The gaming equivalent of a warm blanket. Come back for a few hours every winter. Thousands of hours over multiple consoles and PC.

Todd Howard is a beautiful man, and has created a perfect game with ZERO bugs, ZERO glitches, and SOME OF THE BEST ragdolls I've seen, there is absolutely no way that this game is flawed.

Love to spend hours in a beautiful world that even now to this day in 2024 this game is still more than great!

Last time I played was on the Xbox 360. Loading times don't even exist. I don't really notice the remastered graphics, but still the best RPG to ever exist.

it's skryim, what are you reading reviews for? what rock did you crawl out from under to need to check reviews of one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time. sure it's bugged to all hell but it's still a wonderful timeless experience, play this game if you haven't you big silly gamer

I put NO to recommended because the evil people at Bethesda don't like it when you mod their OLD games. So, they shove NEW updates on an OLD game down your throat to make your mods unusable. This is EVIL! I have a high-end PC that can handle the mods in game. So, why do they keep updating an OLD game? There are a lot of mods out there that make the game more user friendly, MUCH better looking, and even better character enhancements. Their low-end vanilla version is UGLY, crashes all the time and has no character enhancements. This is so they can sell their OLD garbage game to low-end users that generally don't play much and really don't care about the game at all. But what does this matter to them? The got the $$ they were looking for and really don't care one bit what you think about it. It's always about the money (Die Hard).

---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☑ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☑ Potato
☐ Decent
☐ Fast (if you put ultra settings)
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☑ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☑ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second live for grinding

---{ Story / Mission }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☐ Good
☑ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☐ Average
☐ Long
☑ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☐ Never heard of
☑ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☐ 9
☑ 10

Hands down one of the best games of all time. 10+ years of gameplay, countless hours, and infinite fun. You'll never get bored if you know what you're doing. Skyrim is an absolute GEM of a game

Classic RPG. Outstanding open world. Fascinating story and quests

This game is truly one of the best experiences you’ll ever have. With its expansive open world, hundreds of quests, complete character customization, and captivating storylines, it’s hard to put the controller down. Every session feels exciting thanks to the game's vastness—each playthrough introduces new adventures, characters, locations, stories, and rewards. You could explore for months and still discover things you hadn’t noticed before and plus for the modding community. The stunning graphics, immersive gameplay, challenging boss fights, witty dialogue, and a breathtaking soundtrack make Skyrim stand out among other games. For fans of RPGs and sandbox games, this is a must-have title that fully justifies its price. In short, if you’re looking for a game that truly delivers, you need Skyrim in your life! Fus Ro Dah!

Creation Club sucks. Took away key free mods that improved the gameplay. It's sad because it's like this for FO4 as well. I don't care that they added some free mods to the anniversary edition, destroying something the community built is not okay. I kinda hate Bethesda

hands down one of the best games ever. at least top 10. good modding community.

One of the best if not the best game I have ever experienced, endless posibilities

I have spent way to much time on this game but no matter what I always come back to it as my comfort game.

Greatest game of all time, what I grew up playing and has so much nostalgia. Some of the best memes of all time.

idk it ok i've played it once or twice and for its age its like wine.

Elder Scrolls V— What Was, What Is, and What Could Be in Future
(My Most Comprehensive Review Yet: Apologies in advance if it’s a little long!)

- Read full review with Pics at:
https://medium.com/@mr.j.blueden/skyrim-a-love-lost-loved-and-lost-once-more-122fc100a85b

As a note: I am not here to talk about the game in all its glory, but more to share how I would love to see the series grow! This is in no way a dig at Skyrim, but rather a personal reflection of my experience and a wish list for future Elder Scrolls games.

Introduction: A Game That Stands the Test of Time

It’s no secret that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an outstanding game. Thanks to its “MANY” re-releases, it has remained alive and kicking over the years. The continued support for mods has also breathed new life into the game, even though the Anniversary update rendered many great mods unusable due to a lack of updates.

Part 1: The Initial Highs

When Skyrim first launched in 2011, I was 17 years old, just a wee lad! I remember sitting down with my TV right next to my best friend and his TV (hey Dan!), cracking open the game, and starting our adventure. I was immediately blown away. Emerging from that starting cave into the vast, open world was breathtaking. This moment of freedom reminded me of the unforgettable exits in previous Bethesda games — stepping onto the docks in Morrowind, out of the Vault in Fallout, or out of the sewers in Oblivion.

What struck me most as I made my way to Riverwood were the flowers along the path. I stopped countless times just to crouch next to them and take a closer look. The graphical leap from Oblivion and the sheer detail of the world were astounding. “In a way” (we’ll get back to this later), the visuals were a huge step forward.

From raiding dungeons and amassing gold to filling my house with loot and forging connections, my first adventure in Skyrim was magical. However, over time, cracks in the armor began to show.

Part 2: The Downhill Journey

After a while, I noticed something. Unlike Oblivion or Morrowind, I didn’t feel a strong desire to revisit many locations or replay the game. (More on this later — it boiled down to the lack of unique architecture, dungeons, and variety in people.) It wasn’t immediately clear why. A few years later, I replayed Skyrim on PC with all the DLC. Unfortunately, I still felt uninspired. So, I started analysing what was missing compared to its predecessors.

Repetition in Design

Many places in Skyrim felt… cold… and I don’t just mean the actual climate setting! While the initial tavern in Riverwood felt cosy and unique, I quickly realised that almost every other tavern used the same or similar design. I’m aware there are exceptions, but there’s still a noticeable amount of repetition.

For example, when I reached the area near the College of Winterhold and was looking for an inn to rest and get back my fatigue, I expected a nearby inn to reflect its magical surroundings — perhaps with glowing crystals to light the room, enchanted flames, or wizards gathering in conversation. Instead, it was just another generic tavern, indistinguishable from those in Riverwood. This lack of differentiation made the world feel less alive and distinct.

What’s more, Skyrim’s interiors seemed to lack the vibrant life I remembered from Oblivion. Buildings rarely featured paintings or decorative art on the walls. I understand this choice: the historical context between the two games justifies it. After the Oblivion Crisis, the world descended into chaos, followed by the Great War. This left Skyrim as a harsher, less opulent province, with people focusing on survival over artistic expression.

However, while this makes sense narratively, it took away something that made Oblivion feel so alive for me. Paintings and other touches of art (Angelikatosh has an amazing video on this) weren’t just decorations; they reflected a world where people had the time, energy, and resources to focus on the frugal joys of life. Their absence in Skyrim made the world feel less rich and lived-in.

In Oblivion, you could walk into an inn and see a painting that gave a glimpse of Cyrodiil’s beauty or its history. These details added depth, making even the simplest locations feel more immersive. In Skyrim, the stark walls (I know not all of them) and lack of personal touches made many buildings feel utilitarian and cold.

The Magic System

Fittingly, let’s move from Winterhold to talking about magic. While Skyrim introduced dual-wielding spells and stunning effects for its magic system — which was such a great experience — it still lacked the depth and creativity of Oblivion.

In Oblivion, I could craft my own spells, experiment with different effects, and create powerful, quirky combinations. This sense of discovery and personalization added immense replay value.

In Skyrim, the magic system felt more static and restricted. So what if I wanted to create a ridiculous spell that both healed and hurt me? That’s what experimenting with magic is about! Without this feature, magic in Skyrim felt less like an arcane art and more like another combat skill.

Even if the system was seen as overpowered? So what? I play the games to craft my own story and become who I wish to be, to roleplay within the world that I have been given. Having more tools and outlets to be creative allows me to really get into that head space.

Character Progression

Another aspect that felt lacking was character progression. In Oblivion, I started as a nobody and built myself into someone powerful. It felt meaningful. In Skyrim, I began the game as the Dragonborn, the chosen hero destined to save the world. While the power fantasy was enjoyable, it didn’t hit me the same way for ME.

What’s more, the removal of features like customizable character sheets or spellcrafting left me missing the sense of control and identity I had in earlier games. The perks system in Skyrim was fun, but it didn’t feel as flexible or satisfying as shaping my character through experimentation in Oblivion, Morrowind, (Honorable mention Fallout 3), OR Daggerfall — that really gives you the character creation to be who you wish to be, perks and negative effects and all. (This game was next level when it came to how much you could do in character creation).

This also impacted replayability. In Skyrim, playing a second character felt too similar to my first playthrough, unlike other Elder Scrolls games, where I could experiment with vastly different builds. (P.s. I did go back in December 2023 and replay the entire Oblivion… and loved every second of it).

The World’s Tone

Finally, Skyrim’s tone felt darker, gloomier, and more grounded than its predecessors. While this worked for the Nordic setting, I missed the quirky, vibrant charm of Oblivion. The world of Cyrodiil felt more like a fantasy realm filled with colourful characters and magical whimsy.

In Skyrim, many characters felt stoic or serious, and the environments, while stunning, felt bleak in comparison. This is a personal preference, but I missed the charm and eccentricity that made Oblivion stand out.

Conclusion

To be clear, I love Skyrim. It’s an amazing game, and I’ve poured countless hours into it over the years. However, compared to earlier games in the series, it feels different. Features like spellcrafting, quirky charm, unique interior designs, and even small details like paintings, level-up systems were sacrificed in favour of a streamlined experience. (As a side note for this, even the menu in Skyrim feels… Menuiii and not themed to the style of the game like Oblivion… I THINK they tried to make it smooth but ended up for me being less intuitive).

While Skyrim is a masterpiece in its own right, Oblivion and Morrowind will always hold a special place in my heart for their depth, variety, and personality.

This is where my review will end and I will quickly run through some things I would love to see (No matter how....

skyrim is the only game that will never die.
i will be honest skyrim is one of the best game in history and one that will never die. and a will be honest here
skyrim is honestly trash,bored 0 of 100000 garbage if you don't play it with mods. skyrim you need to play it with mods if you want a full no end game. but in the moment you install it mods its going to become the best game in the world 10000000000000000000 of 0 a master piece the mods make the game much better.
more weapons,spells,enemys,bosses,worlds,npc anything you want with mods.
i truly recommend you guys to buy skyrim special edition because is the best version for mods (annyversary is good too, but the better version for mods is this one SPECIAL EDITION because it has more mods and that). skyrim is that one game that you cant live without using mods.
SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING? USE THAT 50 DOLLARS YOU HAVE AND BUY THIS MASTER PIECE and go DOWNLOAD 100-2000 mods :D.

Greatest Game Ever. Ive owned it for every thing its ever come out on at least once if not three times. I dont even begin to know how many hours i have on it. i have gotten all the trophies twice. i still come back to it once a year for a couple hours

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

Final Score: 9/10

My vanilla game with zero mods has CTD issues, the game is literally unplayable lol

Skyrim is a game that is once in a lifetime

I have always liked this game since it first came out. This one can be hard to load at times or freezes but otherwise its a great game

fantastic game! I've put in so many hours on xbox, and now with mods, it's a whole new game!

There has yet to be an update to this game that has actually improved it in any capacity. Every single update has been an inconvenience to playing the game with mods. It is beyond embarrassing to putting payed mods in a single player game that is a decade old to prop up your failing company. Don't buy this game because they screwed up the only reason to play it in the first place

---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☑ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☑ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☑ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☐ Potato
☑ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☐ Old Fashioned
☑ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☑ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☐ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☑ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☑ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☐ Average
☑ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☐ Worth the price
☑ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☐ Never heard of
☐ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☑ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☑ 8
☐ 9
☐ 10

I probably have made 1000 different charecters in my whole time of playing this game and have prolly purchased this game at least 20 times for all different consoles. its safe to say this game is an addiction you cant escape.

Greatest RPG ever made. The Gameplay and the repeat gameplay have yet to be matched by any game.

You never really quit Skyrim, you just take breaks. Yes it's that good, even after all these years.

Have been playing since 2011. I have over 10.000 hours on my ex-account. I beliave I'm qualified enough for a small review. Thank you very much.

Not much to tell about the game actually. Yeah, its good game for 2011. But in 2024 its really outdated with old mechanics and visuals. That said, its a decent game. Old but Gold. If you like open world RPG fantasy games, you will probably have a good time. Maybe even play for a second or third time with different builds. Not much replayability I'm afraid except for trying new builds, and seeing very very minor different outcomes in some side quests. Overhaul good game but not great.

Well... I think I hear some of you say, ''If its not such a great game, how the hell did you played for over 10.000 hours?''

If you really don't know the answer for that question my friend. Consider yourself blessed. You don't want to know the answer. Just go. Play the game a bit, probably get bored after some point and move on. Or better, forget Skyrim there are lots of much better games, go play something else. Thats my advice. Farewell.


Do NOT ever check Skyrim Nexus Mods page. Just play the game normally if you must. Get bored and move on to something else. I repeat. Don't EVER check that website or any other Skyrim modding websites. STAY AWAY YOU FOOL!!! SAVE YOURSELF!! You don't know what you're getting yourself into. GO AWAY!! The addictivity of Skyrim moding... OH HELLS! Those who know knows. JUST GO AWAY YOU FOOL!!!

Despite having enjoyed Skyrim, it is STILL not a completely finished game. For the record, I consider a any game that has to be fixed with 3rd party modifications as an unfinished game. I don't buy games to mod them, I buy them because the story and world created is fun to explore. Bethesda seems to have decided it can get away with lazy writing, poor game animations and near constant glitches, because of this I no longer look forward to Bethesda releases, nor will I purchase them.

A beautifully hand-crafted world and lore, but the way you interact with it is super painful and really uninteresting. It's games like these that a mixed rating should be introduced to Steam, because I don't think it's bad, nor do I think it's good either. One thing's for certain however:

It just works

ITS THE GOAT 🐐

300+ hours and still finding new things. This game is absolutely massive - we're talking hundreds of dungeons, countless quests, and a world so detailed you can spend hours just exploring random caves and ruins. The freedom to play however you want is unmatched - want to be a sneaky archer? Done. Battle mage throwing fireballs while summoning demons? You got it. Heavy armor warrior charging into battle? Hell yeah.

The modding community is INSANE and keeps this game fresh even after 12+ years. The base game is already fantastic, but with mods you can literally transform it into whatever you want. Graphics, gameplay mechanics, new quests, new lands - sky's the limit.

Sure, it has some janky moments (looking at you, occasional physics glitches) and yes, sometimes NPCs still walk into walls. But honestly? That's part of the charm at this point. The storytelling, the atmosphere, the music (omg the music!) - it all comes together to create something special.
Plus, you can punch dragons in the face. While shouting them off a mountain. In VR if you want.
If you somehow haven't played this yet, what are you even doing with your life? Just buy it already. Todd Howard was right all along.

👍 Recommended (300 hours on record)

P.S. I used to be hesitant about recommending games, then I took an arrow in the knee...