The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

 PC
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12985 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10,547 out of 12985
  2. Mixed: 1,375 out of 12985
  3. Negative: 1,063 out of 12985
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  1. Muuvinki
    Mar 31, 2013
    7
    This game is for casuals who like to play game without worrying about mistakes affecting your game.
    Quests cannot be failed, quest marker automatically shows where you need to go, Important NPC's cannot be killed, ridiculously overpowered spells/shouts, dumb enemy AI. If you are even playing this game below Master difficulty you deserve to be kicked to the crotch.
  2. njkk
    Feb 7, 2013
    7
    The game is amazing just like oblivion was the main issue i had was with the game crashing all the time. I eventually fixed it through updates and lowering resolution but by that time, it had kind of ruined the experience for me. Also the lack of multiplayer or pvp is kind of disappointing.
  3. Srhike
    Nov 16, 2012
    7
    I can´t believe I spend 150+ hours playing this game! Must be my new record. After such a time I can tell my honest opinion of this game. Let´s start with downsides. The game world could be better. I feel the map is way too small for this game. Larger map would greatly enhance the immersiveness and creators could have put more variation on terrain. Plot ain´t that great,I can´t believe I spend 150+ hours playing this game! Must be my new record. After such a time I can tell my honest opinion of this game. Let´s start with downsides. The game world could be better. I feel the map is way too small for this game. Larger map would greatly enhance the immersiveness and creators could have put more variation on terrain. Plot ain´t that great, some side quests have good stories( for example, Thieves guild), but mainstory is just...dull. You can finish it in few hours and generally I didn´t care about it at all. Dialog is the best I´ve seen in Scrolls game. It´s still terrible though. Bethesda probably tried to make the world feel more "alive", but they failed. Dialog sounds akward, is tedious sometimes and ain´t serving a purpose all the time. NPCs are way too eager to tell useless opinions and what the f**k they did last evening! Players choices don´t really matter. You can butcher every man and woman in a village and afterwards citizen of Skyrim and guards still think of you as a hero, you can serve every damn god without fear of divine punishment. Skill trees are either underpowered, overpowered, dull or useless. Combat is fun when you play the game for the first time, but it gets dull quickly, you don´t feel like you are hitting things, it´s unsatisfactory. And AI is outstandingly dumb. Those are the weak points of the game, but they don´t break the game completely. This game is damn immersive at times, I can spend hours walking around and won´t even notice it. And there´s a lot of background for the world. And on PC you have mods! With mods you can fix several major problems and make this game gorgeus looking. If you aren´t as fussy as I am then you´ll have even more fun than I did. I say buy this game! Do it! Now!… Expand
  4. DeltaBlackWater
    Aug 9, 2013
    7
    Great game, but found that I had to fix a lot of things with mods making it feel incomplete. For some reason as well, I dont find myself replaying it as much as if it was Oblivion. For one there's a war or battle going on but it doesn't feel like that in this game, where as in Oblivion, u were fighting those gates and demonic creatures. Though its still a good game, just wish there wasGreat game, but found that I had to fix a lot of things with mods making it feel incomplete. For some reason as well, I dont find myself replaying it as much as if it was Oblivion. For one there's a war or battle going on but it doesn't feel like that in this game, where as in Oblivion, u were fighting those gates and demonic creatures. Though its still a good game, just wish there was more to it story wise!… Expand
  5. Moozaam
    Apr 12, 2013
    7
    An overrated game for sure. I've played it for more than 600 hours but I still don't find this game satisfying. A lot of bugs and the main story sucked a goats scrotum, yummie. It is surely an improvement from Oblivion but this game still isn't enough to reach the crown of RPG's. Skyrim would be better of without without the boring landscape. Yeah, I know it's a part of the Elder ScrollsAn overrated game for sure. I've played it for more than 600 hours but I still don't find this game satisfying. A lot of bugs and the main story sucked a goats scrotum, yummie. It is surely an improvement from Oblivion but this game still isn't enough to reach the crown of RPG's. Skyrim would be better of without without the boring landscape. Yeah, I know it's a part of the Elder Scrolls lore but come on. Sure, it's beautiful in the beginning but the game lacks creative design. A lot of potential but if the game would have had a better story, the game would improve enough for being called a RPG. Now it is a action free roaming sorta game. Bethesda's biggest mistake was the DLC's, the biggest money stealing DLC's ever. Dawnguard and Hearthfire should have been a part of the original Skyrim and Dragonborn was unfinished. Good game but still overrated.… Expand
  6. Duskspark
    Jul 12, 2013
    7
    The world of Skyrim is beautiful and filled with detail, yet an uninterresting story with evenly boring characters, dated physics and textures, and frustrating combat make this game a bit of a missed chance, overrated as never before, and simply a copy of everything Bethesda already did before.
  7. Saratosa75
    Mar 25, 2013
    7
    The game gets a 7, because while it's a great free roaming action rpg, the missions are basically can be summed up as "go here kill something" or "go here, kill something and bring me (insert an item)". While the world is full of monsters and dragons and bandits..it feels static. Nothing changes, no matter how many crypts and dungeons you clear, it seems like they weren't really botheringThe game gets a 7, because while it's a great free roaming action rpg, the missions are basically can be summed up as "go here kill something" or "go here, kill something and bring me (insert an item)". While the world is full of monsters and dragons and bandits..it feels static. Nothing changes, no matter how many crypts and dungeons you clear, it seems like they weren't really bothering anyone, and it won't make anything different, since you cleared many bunch of them. People say the same things, act the same way, doing the same exact things, like nothing has happened. Not even the threat of the dragons really bothered them at all, nevermind the fact, that dragons seem to be rather occupied by killing the wildlife anyway. The magic is very hampered and uninspiring, while the close combat feels like just whacking around. Graphics is great, although there are plenty of low resolution textures, that makes it look like a game from 2006. The real score the game should deserve would be around 5 or 6, but because of the thousands of mods and the time I have put into it, it gets a 7. All the so called pro-reviewers giving 9 and10 are smoking something, that they should share. There is no way this game is perfect.… Expand
  8. Seryin
    Mar 10, 2013
    7
    Every TES game from Bethesda SHOULD have been a 10. However the size of the game is NOT an excuse. These game are LOADED with bugs and glitches. It is inexcusable by Bethesda. If you have the manpower to make the large games you do, than you have the manpower to clean it up right before you release it. It is a shame that TES has the potential to be a legend among games but can never seemEvery TES game from Bethesda SHOULD have been a 10. However the size of the game is NOT an excuse. These game are LOADED with bugs and glitches. It is inexcusable by Bethesda. If you have the manpower to make the large games you do, than you have the manpower to clean it up right before you release it. It is a shame that TES has the potential to be a legend among games but can never seem to do anything but scratch the surface because of its bugs. Bethesda should be embarrassed that they can't properly polish up the games they push so much praise into.
    The game could have been a 10, but the army of bugs and glitches always seem to bring your character to his knees before any Dragon can.    … Expand
  9. CaptainCupboard
    Mar 21, 2013
    7
    For me, Skyrim lasted quite a while. I put about 70 hours into it on PC and half as much on Xbox 360. At first it was all so familiar, you start off as a prisoner. While this irritated me I still carried on. The character creation I didn't like, nowhere as much freedom as its predecessor, Oblivion. I escaped the prison, got out. Just walked around a bit. Explored, I suppose I enjoyed itFor me, Skyrim lasted quite a while. I put about 70 hours into it on PC and half as much on Xbox 360. At first it was all so familiar, you start off as a prisoner. While this irritated me I still carried on. The character creation I didn't like, nowhere as much freedom as its predecessor, Oblivion. I escaped the prison, got out. Just walked around a bit. Explored, I suppose I enjoyed it moderately. I did the main quest which was...to be honest...a bit rubbish. You basically have to kill a dragon, a dragon thats slightly bigger than all the other ones. I love the combat, its so simple and easy to use and is much more enjoyable than having to constantly press buttons. Although combat was simplified it felt...so..dumbed down, the magic you use was visually impressive yet boring. While there were significant improvements from the two previous games there were also let-downs. I felt as though the quests were errands "go and deliver this to my wife." "Could you take this spiced meat for the Jarls dogs" They....bored me to death.

    But really...I enjoyed it while it lasted. Although I really have NO urge to go back to it I have some good memories of exciting battles, interesting places, hilarious glitches and those funny gamer poops. The graphics is ABSOLUTELY fine, it sickens me when people complain about its...texture glitches....I mean I really didn't notice it much and I didn't really care. Its truly a shame that I'm bored of it now, but hey, I liked it. I would recommend it but I wouldn't say "GET THE GAME NOW!!!!"    … Expand
  10. Meshinator
    Mar 31, 2013
    7
    After playing Oblivion, I can definitely say that Skyrim, although improved in some areas, still has major flaws. First off, it stinks of console gaming. It was designed for the consoles, with the PC gamer being held as a second class citizen. The graphics are no where near where they should be, the quests are uninteresting/ridiculous and the menu is terrible. I feel like everything wasAfter playing Oblivion, I can definitely say that Skyrim, although improved in some areas, still has major flaws. First off, it stinks of console gaming. It was designed for the consoles, with the PC gamer being held as a second class citizen. The graphics are no where near where they should be, the quests are uninteresting/ridiculous and the menu is terrible. I feel like everything was "dumbed down" for those that can't really *get* into a good, deep RPG. Instead, it was directed at the COD players out there (yes, you know who you are) that want INTENSE, ACTION PACKED AWESOME, but without the mystical backing. I'm sorry, but when I become the leader of a guild, I want to feel like I earned it. The quest lines were shallow, rewards for exploration were weak, and the world didn't really come together like it should have, Overall, it wasn't a *bad* experience, but I was definitely disappointed. I would have rated it higher, had it not been the next game in the TES series, but Bethesda I expected better.… Expand
  11. BudSpencer
    May 15, 2013
    7
    The problem here is not that it´s bad, it´s just that the game isn´t a true RPG. The story is boring and uninteresting, the characters too, the graphics are ugly but they set the landscapes and mountains in a magic scene so the graphics can be described as: weak graphics that let the world look beautiful. The combat gets repetitive, the merchants are useless because all stuff and weaponryThe problem here is not that it´s bad, it´s just that the game isn´t a true RPG. The story is boring and uninteresting, the characters too, the graphics are ugly but they set the landscapes and mountains in a magic scene so the graphics can be described as: weak graphics that let the world look beautiful. The combat gets repetitive, the merchants are useless because all stuff and weaponry you get from chests. The only real good thing in this game is the world and epic feeling. That´s it. Buy Skyrim get blown away by the setting and world and have fun, yeah it´s fun even if it´s a bad RPG. I can recommend the game to everyone who never played RPG´s before and which want an easy to play one, but don´t expect too much. You will see how bad it is, but then you will also love it and play it 100 hrs. Try it out and build your own opinion! The PC Version is superior but unstable. Many people have problems with lags, the system requirements are a lie. You can´t be sure if it´s running or not. Get it for console if you are a casual.… Expand
  12. Isengrim
    May 9, 2013
    7
    TES V: Skryim open world fantasy RPG that suck You in more than anything and anyone before.
    Let's talk about the main story of this game... Em... Oh, right, dragons and stuff... yeah. Main story is hardly a strong point of this game. It's all about the exploring and side-quests... and with this Skyrim is damn good. Forget about sleep, forget about food, forget about girlfriend/boyfriend    TES V: Skryim open world fantasy RPG that suck You in more than anything and anyone before.
    Let's talk about the main story of this game... Em... Oh, right, dragons and stuff... yeah. Main story is hardly a strong point of this game. It's all about the exploring and side-quests... and with this Skyrim is damn good. Forget about sleep, forget about food, forget about girlfriend/boyfriend there is another cave to explore!

    Graphics are good but nothing over the top... but who cares, really? This game is clearly not about graphics.

    Soundtrack is good and climatic, gameplay is very enjoyable. This game is damn good.

    Of course is has some minuses: the main storyline is short and it will never be the factor that keeps you playing. Characters are forgettable. There are some bugs here and there but patches are made short work from most of them.

    And also... Mods support will make You play this game more... and more... and more.
    TES V: Skyrim certainly worth having.    … Expand
  13. MooMooMilkCrava
    Nov 23, 2013
    7
    For a game, it certainly has a lot of content. The downside of this, is that most of it is actually pretty boring after some hours into it. The only way I managed to even get to over 100 hours clocked on this game was to install a bunch of mods for it. But these mods people make for this game are amazingly good. This game probably has some of the best mods I've seen in a game yet, andFor a game, it certainly has a lot of content. The downside of this, is that most of it is actually pretty boring after some hours into it. The only way I managed to even get to over 100 hours clocked on this game was to install a bunch of mods for it. But these mods people make for this game are amazingly good. This game probably has some of the best mods I've seen in a game yet, and that's basically why I was able to play so much of this game. The story is pretty average at best, the could of done a few things to make that better. It does do one thing good that The Elder Scrolls series has always excelled at; allowing you to play the game the way you want to. It does have a couple of bugs here and there, but that's to be expected in a big game like this.

    In short, if it wasn't for the large database of mods available for download, I'd probably give this game a 5 or 6. It just likes to keep throwing the same stuff at you a lot and the only way to really avoid this is by either ignoring it or installing mods.    … Expand
  14. lynxx
    Jun 24, 2013
    7
    This is really good game, but it can be boring at any second. If you like to play more like an action or a story based game... Play Oblivion.. That game is far better.
  15. XXDragoNXX
    Jul 20, 2013
    7
    Ah yes, Skyrim. It`s a good RPG game that you will spend a lot of time on (Played 25 hours, about to start a new playthrough with new DLC). Honestly I liked Oblivion much more then I like Skyrim, I don`t know why. It just feels different. But anyway, if you like RPG games, or are a fan of The Elder Scrolls, definitely pick this game up!
    7..
    If you want all the DLC, and you should get it,    Ah yes, Skyrim. It`s a good RPG game that you will spend a lot of time on (Played 25 hours, about to start a new playthrough with new DLC). Honestly I liked Oblivion much more then I like Skyrim, I don`t know why. It just feels different. But anyway, if you like RPG games, or are a fan of The Elder Scrolls, definitely pick this game up!
    7..
    If you want all the DLC, and you should get it, then pick up the Legendary Edition!    … Expand
  16. mariomeetslego
    Jul 17, 2013
    7
    Skyrim is a good game, it's not a masterpiece like some people claim, but it is fun. The game lacks in visuals and the combat isn't that in depth either. But to make up for that it has tons of content and a huge open world to explore. All the quests and side quests will keep you engaged for hours. They're not all just "Kill this and bring me a sample of their blood by pressing the actionSkyrim is a good game, it's not a masterpiece like some people claim, but it is fun. The game lacks in visuals and the combat isn't that in depth either. But to make up for that it has tons of content and a huge open world to explore. All the quests and side quests will keep you engaged for hours. They're not all just "Kill this and bring me a sample of their blood by pressing the action button". Instead they have you exploring dungeons, making decisions, fighting off spirits in towns, solving puzzles, and of course fighting. The music in this game is great too. The best part of Skyrim though, is the MOD support. Making the game great.

    Even though the game has lots of quests and an engaging world, the bad graphics and poor combat system make the game average, while it could have been great, I can only give it a 7.4. Sure it may sound like a lot but for the hype this game is getting it's considered pretty low.    … Expand
  17. yar
    Dec 9, 2013
    7
    Great concept and fun to play. However, don't let the high meta score fool you. The game is not polished enough to deserve such a score. Bad AI that you can take massive advantage of (they get stuck, won't climb up objects, can't jump, etc)... the same environment everywhere you go, the same enemies everywhere you go, and in general the same routine everywhere you go. The inventoryGreat concept and fun to play. However, don't let the high meta score fool you. The game is not polished enough to deserve such a score. Bad AI that you can take massive advantage of (they get stuck, won't climb up objects, can't jump, etc)... the same environment everywhere you go, the same enemies everywhere you go, and in general the same routine everywhere you go. The inventory system is anything but seamless and the game has numerous bugs that can be found starting day 1. It has no profile system on pc, so playing with multiple people becomes a hassle trying to find your last save.

    The game is fun though, has a creative leveling system, and constantly urges you on to discover something new. The pace of the game is slow at times and the dialogue scenes can be tedious. despite all of the above, and if it were a bit more polished I would give it a great score. Good Fun Game, worth the money I got it on steam sale at 14.99) but not "all that"    … Expand
  18. Mjoog
    Oct 14, 2013
    7
    Skyrim is great, and from someone who loved (most of) the previous games in the series, I'm absolutely in love. The environments are beautiful, the graphics are excellent even on lower settings.
    But the game has bugs. So many bugs. Animations are off, the AI can act irrational and strange... one of the most common bugs is that the top-billed voice actor (Max von Sydow) can't be heard at    Skyrim is great, and from someone who loved (most of) the previous games in the series, I'm absolutely in love. The environments are beautiful, the graphics are excellent even on lower settings.
    But the game has bugs. So many bugs. Animations are off, the AI can act irrational and strange... one of the most common bugs is that the top-billed voice actor (Max von Sydow) can't be heard at all, and thus has to be hacked for quests to progress! Minor bugs are acceptable and almost expected, especially with games this huge (you can play this game for 100 hours and still have things to discover on the map!), but something as basic as making sure the key elements work?
    I love Bethesda in general, and I will keep playing Skyrim for many more hours, but it's so bug-addled sometimes that the shining light fades slightly and annoyance takes over.    … Expand
  19. turlocs
    Nov 5, 2013
    7
    This game really did dissapoint me i know this is many people's game of the year but i cant help but think this whole game was nothing but a dissapointment half of the people that have played other elderscrolls games knows what im talking about oblivion was alot alot alot alot better in every respect and was ahead of its time my heaps but this is just hack and slash with crysis graphicsThis game really did dissapoint me i know this is many people's game of the year but i cant help but think this whole game was nothing but a dissapointment half of the people that have played other elderscrolls games knows what im talking about oblivion was alot alot alot alot better in every respect and was ahead of its time my heaps but this is just hack and slash with crysis graphics everything about it just made me think why am i playing this its done better in oblivion id honestly say this was my biggest dissapointment of the year i was so hiped up for this game hanging on to every peice of gameplay and trailer bethesda gave us and i was just givin bugs popins hack and slash with no good story or any effect on the world no matter what you do 7/10 good game im not saying its bad its just really not as good as it schould have been… Expand
  20. eymrich
    Nov 27, 2013
    7
    If you come there from morrowind and then oblivion hoping to see a redemption of brethsa... well that's not it. This game feel like a dumbed version of oblivion. It's better, seriously, but it's dumbed down. The rpg aspect is limited to say the least. Gone are the days when you could make your own spells and weapons enchant AS you liked. And gone too are a lot of funny/stupid things thatIf you come there from morrowind and then oblivion hoping to see a redemption of brethsa... well that's not it. This game feel like a dumbed version of oblivion. It's better, seriously, but it's dumbed down. The rpg aspect is limited to say the least. Gone are the days when you could make your own spells and weapons enchant AS you liked. And gone too are a lot of funny/stupid things that you could do with the others TES game.

    But, if you can play it without comparing it with daggerfall and morrowind then you have decent game. The graphic(especially with mods) is great. The animations, sounds and music are quite nice. It's a fully immersive game. I have only one big complain, aiming to full immersion the choice of pause the game every damn time you interact with the quickbar it's silly... I mean you are in front of a HUGE dragon, hit q and... the game pause. It breaks totally the joy for me.
    There are mods yes, but again if you come from morrowind dont expect to see stuff like that. There are mods VERY good, that actually make this game more an rpg than a graphic adventure but still, it's skyrim. And with skyrim i have to say dumb... so yeah, it's a dumb rpg.

    Still, in the end i can't say it's a bad game. Graphic, sound, playability are all greats, it just lacks of difficulty other than "More hp/damage on monster" and there are only a handfull ways to beat it at top difficulty(the old TES had a LOT of "cheaty ways" so they felt easier but it was fun experimenting all of them). In the pletora of useless games around it's still worthless games around it's good to try it out, especially if you will be using mods it's a good investment. If there are any good discount buy it eyes close     … Expand
  21. devenlg
    Dec 10, 2013
    7
    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, is an improvement to the last. But yet it still lacks some things, and is annoying in some aspects. One of them is the dialogue. The voices are recycled quite a bit, as well as the things they say. But the great things counter-act that. Cave and ruin exploring, fighting dragons, tons of side-quests, and so much more. Even better, there are no huge glitches orThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, is an improvement to the last. But yet it still lacks some things, and is annoying in some aspects. One of them is the dialogue. The voices are recycled quite a bit, as well as the things they say. But the great things counter-act that. Cave and ruin exploring, fighting dragons, tons of side-quests, and so much more. Even better, there are no huge glitches or bugs that make the game entirely unplayable. The only major bug I found was about 7-8 hours into the game, and a simple reload could fix it. I indeed suggest this game, but if you do, buy the PC version, as the console version fall a bit short.… Expand
  22. reguire
    Jan 23, 2015
    7
    this game has nothing to do with role playing. it is more like action adventure game. repetitive cave clearing quests, fetch quests MORE THAN dragon age inquisition. but still fun game and I am playing it for hours.
  23. Andante
    Jul 7, 2022
    7
    Skyrim is a good game but it doesn't feel special or unique. Most places and dungeons look the same, NPC's are a big disappointment and it is based on quantity rather than quality. Menus and inventory screens are not practical and as a result navigation is really confusing and time consuming. But it is still a good game with a beautifully designed world, and lots of lore spread throughout it.
  24. Greenvortex11
    May 10, 2015
    7
    Overall Rate: 7/10

    A great, open-world, practically endless RPG with many familiar fantasy elements and Elder Scrolls Lore. Although there are many good points about this game and I would definitely recommend it, there are quite a few flaws that take away from the overall experience and the game just feels like it could have been so much more. Story: rate 6/10. A pretty generic,    Overall Rate: 7/10

    A great, open-world, practically endless RPG with many familiar fantasy elements and Elder Scrolls Lore. Although there are many good points about this game and I would definitely recommend it, there are quite a few flaws that take away from the overall experience and the game just feels like it could have been so much more.

    Story: rate 6/10. A pretty generic, "player is the only one who can save us", "epic" story. The player can excel in everything he/she tries, even if they have no experience in that area (for example: getting into the College of Winterhold simply by casting a low-level spell and having never used magic before). I won't go into details, so not to reveal spoliers for those that haven't played, but a lot of the courses of action you take seem to have little effect on the world around you. Not to mention, the main questlines are very short and take around maybe 4-6 hours to complete in full, which is very disappointing, especially when you look at previous Elder Scrolls games when questlines could take around 10 or even 20+ hours. Most of the quests are "fetch quests" with small rewards and these never run out. They are fun at first, but after a while, they can get tedious and boring. There's no exploration or a sense of being "lost", as a map marker directly points to a quest objective's exact location. This feature can be turned off in the quest menu, but in a way, the marker is required because there are no instructions given regarding where you need to go for a quest.

    Characters: rate 6/10. There are lots of characters in this game, but only a handful of them are worth mentioning or rememberable. The same backstories get told over and over again, and nothing else. For example, a lot of the dialouge I've heard goes like this, "I'm a fisherman / farmer / laborer of some kind and my family's been here for x generations (and I have nothing else to say)" sort of thing. It gets quite old. Even so, there are still a handfull of characters who are interesting and have more depth to their story than what meets the eye.

    Graphics / Interface: rate 7/10. For the most part, the graphics and interface are aggreeable. The menu was made for consoles, so it can be difficult to work with at first and it doesn't always cooperate. The graphics could be better, but they don't take away from the experience, and the landscape can look quite beautiful in the big picture. The map is not helpful for navigation, as it is supposed to be a "real representation in 3D" map (not sure what's so great about that. It doesn't even fit the theme of the game!).

    Glitches: This game, at first, had many glitches. Most of them have been fixed, but I wouldn't be surprised if it breaks / crashes at random, people get stuck in the floors, quests gone missing, etc. This was one of the biggest problems at release and it shows that the overall production of the game was running short on time.

    The good lies in the gameplay and mechanics. Although the combat is still "click the mouse untill the enemy dies", it can still be fun. I personally think stealth, dual-wielding, and smashing things with two-handed weapons (not necessarily combined) offer a fun combat experience. As stated earlier, this is an open-world RPG and you can pretty much do whatever you please aside from the first quest and work at your own pace - the magic of Elder Scrolls games. If you're into roleplaying, Skyrim is lacking in this area, as the leveling system is mediocre and there's little replayability value because one character could pretty much do anything and everything if you wish it to be so. Once you get up to the higher levels, the game is easy to break and the character can kill almost everything in under 10 seconds and leave unscathed, even on master or legendary (with the Legendary edition or the Dragonborn dlc) difficulty.

    Overall: Despite everything I've said, this game is still enjoyable: there are lots of places to explore, endless things to do, and pretty good character creation. Although this is not the focus of my review and not required to enjoy the game, mods can really add to the experience and some people would even consider them a necessity (which is sad: why should people have to add things that should've been in the original game?). I would try Skyrim out if it sounds like something you'd enjoy.    … Expand
  25. marc5477
    Dec 23, 2014
    7
    Despite my complaints, Skyrim is easily the best game on the shelf until you fast forward 3 years to get Divinity Original Sin. Like previous Elder Scrolls games, the world is gargantuan and the graphics really look great albeit that does not drive my score. Voice acting is good. Story is acceptable and combat is tolerable albeit still not great.

    What I liked: + Exploration. Best    Despite my complaints, Skyrim is easily the best game on the shelf until you fast forward 3 years to get Divinity Original Sin. Like previous Elder Scrolls games, the world is gargantuan and the graphics really look great albeit that does not drive my score. Voice acting is good. Story is acceptable and combat is tolerable albeit still not great.

    What I liked:

    + Exploration. Best open world game since Morrowind and you can do a lot of things from stealing everything to owning most of every town.

    + I love finding unique items and displaying them in my home. They are my trophies.

    + As stated above, voice acting was good. People need to get a perspective and compare it to most games in the genre and previous games. Have you people actually played console jRPGs? They are a travesty in comparison and they are all considered 'ok,' by many reviewers.

    + Spells are still fun despite lack in variety. I like blowing things up.

    There are a few things I do not like about Skyrim:

    - Shameless dumbing down of what used to be awesome (Morrowind)... fewer spells, less enchanting options (and easier to get high level enchants), and fewer types of weapons and armor. Less variety = less fun. Yes it makes the game easier to balance, but who cares in a single player game? I dont. I want to play the way I want. Its an open world game right?

    - I hate the inventory system. Its slow, and cumbersome. Clearly it is a console downgrade for people who use a pad. The lack of respect for the PC platform that popularized the series is really disheartening.

    - AI is still as bad as previous games. Enemies keep getting stuck and you can easily defeat them by hopping onto a rock and then off... hilarious for the 1st hour, very disappointing after that.

    - Combat is still disappointingly shallow. They can really take a lesson from Witcher here, not that it is a work of genius, but it is much better than combat here. This has been an ongoing problem with all ES games.

    - Economy... lol what economy? You basically own the world in this game. Very dull and was also a weakness in previous ES games. It still has not been addressed and I am very disappointed.

    - Claw puzzles... are lame. These are not really puzzles. No brain required.    … Expand
  26. whitepawn
    Jul 1, 2014
    7
    A solid "offline" game, if you have a good audiobook playing or need to catch up on podcasts. In all fairness, I've never finished it, I get bored not enough story or dialogue-ing companions to drive the story (is there a story?) forward. Combat is fine.

    PRO: -graphics -open world -open leveling system -dragons -a cryptic story involving said dragons -MODS, which can save this    A solid "offline" game, if you have a good audiobook playing or need to catch up on podcasts. In all fairness, I've never finished it, I get bored not enough story or dialogue-ing companions to drive the story (is there a story?) forward. Combat is fine.

    PRO:
    -graphics
    -open world
    -open leveling system
    -dragons
    -a cryptic story involving said dragons
    -MODS, which can save this game
    -neat, interactive environment

    CONS:
    -mobs level with you until L35, then they stop...but you keep on going to L88 making for a boring single arrow to the knee killing everything in your path...even the dragons (well, 2 arrows for dragons, but still...)
    -no real story
    -open, quiet, lonely and often boring world, like an MMORPG left empty and offline.
    -sometimes random dragons show up IN TOWN and kill off your questgivers
    -companions are boring, even if you marry them
    -neat interactive environment gets old when you realize you're looting the same shelf with the same iron pot, cheeses, and wheat in the same places over and over again
    -gets old, no motivation to finish.
    -THE INVENTORY INTERFACE IS TERRIBLE...be prepared to scroll through hundreds of items to find anything
    -no ability to hotkey, the favorites menu items don't make up for this...it's the 2010s, get it together already    … Expand
  27. PuppetMazter
    Jul 11, 2014
    7
    A bit overrated in my opinion, but still a solid game that gave me 50 hours of fun. The graphics are impressive, but not as glorious as everyone says they are. They are about the same as the first Assassin's Creed, which came out in 2007, 4 years before Skyrim. The combat system was really disappointing and got old fast. The dungeons also got old quick. They all seemed exactly alike to meA bit overrated in my opinion, but still a solid game that gave me 50 hours of fun. The graphics are impressive, but not as glorious as everyone says they are. They are about the same as the first Assassin's Creed, which came out in 2007, 4 years before Skyrim. The combat system was really disappointing and got old fast. The dungeons also got old quick. They all seemed exactly alike to me and were fun at first but just got boring after doing a few. But the story was great and I enjoyed it very much, and the DLC was great as well. The characters could have used a lot of work, and just seemed bland and boring and made Skyrim a slightly depressing and lonely place because of it. Overall I give it a 7/10… Expand
  28. smilzoboboz
    May 9, 2015
    7
    First let me introduce this review saying that I'm reviewing "The Elder's Scroll V: Skyrim", not its mods nor the game with mods.

    Bethesda continued the Elder's Scroll saga keeping the typical extreme role playing features, graphics are extremely nice and overall audio quality is amazing. I have to say though that progressing through the game there have been many things that made me    First let me introduce this review saying that I'm reviewing "The Elder's Scroll V: Skyrim", not its mods nor the game with mods.

    Bethesda continued the Elder's Scroll saga keeping the typical extreme role playing features, graphics are extremely nice and overall audio quality is amazing.

    I have to say though that progressing through the game there have been many things that made me lose interest or even abruptly stop playing the game.
    The first impact was with the minimalistic UI, for me medieval-themed RPG = parchment.
    Second impact (that made me quit after 15 min playing until I discovered the mod SkyUI) was with the UI layout/commands. You have a whole keyboard, full of keys, and you are restricted to up, down, left, right and 1-8 hotkeys, with no mouse integration whatsoever (well there's mouse integration that makes you click things you didn't click).
    After many, many, mods: new UI, mouse clicking bugfix on dialogues, huge bugfixing packs, etc I discovered computer generated quests... that halved my interest on this game just for them being in the game.
    A mix of all that made me quit after ~80h of playtime, of which I genuinely enjoyed probably only half.

    So, now comes the hard part, would I recommend this game given the above? Probably yes, because even with its bugs, the utterly bad UI or the uninteresting computer generated quests the game still holds a lot of hours of fun and good roleplaying. What makes you quit this game, even with all the bugfixing-mods installed, is repetitiveness, Oblivion had less content so, even if it was repetitive too, you couldn't get bored much, this game not only has really an extreme amount of content but also features computer generated quests...

    Ah, and watch out for amethyst rain: every human, animal and plant in skyrim holds at least on amethyst...    … Expand
  29. gloriouspotato
    Sep 29, 2014
    7
    Despite the nice visuals/environments and the grand sense of scale with Skyrim's large map, I found my enthusiasm for Skyrim dwindling quickly the more I played. It seems that Bethesda have focused more on quantity rather than quality, as there are a large number of quests, but only a handful of them have any actual thought put into them. Most of them are monotonous dungeon raids that getDespite the nice visuals/environments and the grand sense of scale with Skyrim's large map, I found my enthusiasm for Skyrim dwindling quickly the more I played. It seems that Bethesda have focused more on quantity rather than quality, as there are a large number of quests, but only a handful of them have any actual thought put into them. Most of them are monotonous dungeon raids that get old very quickly. A part of this is because of the sheer lack of any depth or creativity to many of the side quest narratives. There are a few exceptions ('Blood on the Ice', 'The Mind of Madness', 'The Forsworn Conspiracy'), but these quests are few and far between.

    Other problems include the sub-par UI (though this can be fixed with mods), repetitive voice actors and some balancing issues. For instance, gold is far too easy to come by, thus in accidentally owning the entire economy of Skyrim, the incentive for gold as a quest reward is no more. There are also numerous glitches and exploits, though fortunately most of them are fairly minor, and sometimes humorous.

    On the plus side, some of the gameplay mechanics have been improved over past TES games, and the game allows for a variety of different playstyles, however there might be a few who dislike the simplification/removal of some elements such as spellmaking and attributes.

    In short, Skyrim is a decent game at best, I just wish the game could've been more engaging in terms of storytelling and variation in quest design.

    Overall rating - 7.4/10    … Expand
  30. eyb0ss
    Sep 14, 2014
    7
    Honestly, this game deserves more than 7/10, but I didn't like it that much. The world is expansive and fun detailed as hell and the missions are varied. Personally, however, I disliked the game for the promise of RPG elements, but instead I received barely differentiated classes, boring skill trees, and little to no weapon diversity. For those who prefer a more action oriented game fromHonestly, this game deserves more than 7/10, but I didn't like it that much. The world is expansive and fun detailed as hell and the missions are varied. Personally, however, I disliked the game for the promise of RPG elements, but instead I received barely differentiated classes, boring skill trees, and little to no weapon diversity. For those who prefer a more action oriented game from elder scrolls, play this game. The "problems" that I mentioned were just nitpicks and personal dislikes.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PC Game of 2011
1
#1 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011
2
#2 Most Shared PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. PC Master (Greece)
    Feb 29, 2012
    90
    Unfortunately, Skyrim trips and falls on its own (most probably, to make the cool-sounding deadline of 11-11-11) and just before it reaches perfection as the ultimate specimen of its genre, it self-destructs in a crucial aspect of game design: the interface and the peripheral components (inventory, journal, map, etc)... but that is not to say that Skyrim is anything but a truly majestic, epic RPG that will suck you right in its cosmos.
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  2. Armchair Empire
    Feb 14, 2012
    100
    Skyrim is definitely one of the best games of 2011, but if the DLC holds out, it might just be one of the best games of 2012 as well.
    Read full review
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 19, 2012
    90
    Skyrim is the best open world RPG you can get. A true evolution of genre is not flawless but still it is the game you love to live in. [Christmas 2011]
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