The Elder Scrolls: Blades

 Switch
User Score
2.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 69 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 69
  3. Negative: 51 out of 69

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  1. LasseVK
    May 30, 2020
    0
    This is what you get when corporate decides they need a mobile game.
    This is not an Elder Scrolls game, far from it. Even downloading the first Elder Scrolls game and setting up your computer so that you can play it good without any problems is far more worth it than playing this heap of garbage.
    The fighting is god damnit so pitiful it's frightening. You have to wait until the enemy    This is what you get when corporate decides they need a mobile game.
    This is not an Elder Scrolls game, far from it. Even downloading the first Elder Scrolls game and setting up your computer so that you can play it good without any problems is far more worth it than playing this heap of garbage.
    The fighting is god damnit so pitiful it's frightening. You have to wait until the enemy actually acknowledges you before you can start fighting. That means that all the tactics you've ever learned in an Elder Scrolls game about stealth and similar is out. Right out.

    Then, all you have left is 2 things. Do you attack from the left? Or do you do attack from the right? Serious questions, I know, but perhaps not what you want to base a game around. Well, Bethesda did as those are your options. Take them or ... well, die. In the game that is.

    Elder Scrolls Blades is the game you get when you have developers and producers that doesn't even know what kind of legacy they're portraying. "Elder Scrolls", I don't know what that means but let's trundle on no matter what...

    Stay clear of this game. There's no chance you can do any worse.    … Expand
  2. AlexTheAwesome
    May 26, 2020
    2
    Despite its $0 price tag and it being a port of a mobile game, I still did have some hope that The Elder Scrolls: Blades would at least make a decently smooth transition to Switch. I was wrong, so SO wrong. It started out okay, visually it doesn't transition very well but the game was working just fine. Then after the short tutorial and character creator, it brought up an error screen butDespite its $0 price tag and it being a port of a mobile game, I still did have some hope that The Elder Scrolls: Blades would at least make a decently smooth transition to Switch. I was wrong, so SO wrong. It started out okay, visually it doesn't transition very well but the game was working just fine. Then after the short tutorial and character creator, it brought up an error screen but still let me continue. After a bit of dialogue after the painfully long loading screens, the game just crashed. Heck, even when I left the character creator, there was still a white box covering part of the UI which is pretty much my first impressions of this awful port in a nutshell. I'm not going to say that this is a **** port that was turned out in a week, there was nearly a year building up to this thing. All I'm saying is, they could've done a hell of a lot better than what has come out of this waste of 1.7GB on my 128GB microSD Card. I'd just say avoid this one.… Expand
  3. ConnorM
    Jun 17, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Made metacritic account just to write this. Blades quests are terrible, just had to leave from my 7th uncompleted questline because the final quest item was out of bounds. Latest bad quest: Dye Galore, unable to finish!!! Almost completed game. Now not going near it… Expand
  4. elijahlape
    Jun 3, 2022
    5
    For what it's worth, Blades is a rather boring, yet smooth and simple dungeon crawler game. Microtransactions are absurd, and endgame is not interesting at all. Since it's a free-to-play game, it's a fun game for a day or two, but nothing more.
  5. belikejunkie
    May 22, 2020
    1
    Total garbage. Dungeon crawler with repetative annoying gameplay. Also Blades is scrapyard with pay to win mechanics.
  6. Sobriquet
    May 19, 2020
    2
    The idea of a dungeon crawler mixed with a town-building sim is wonderful, throw on an Elder Scrolls skin and it's even better. Unfortunately, TES: Blades fails execution of this in every regard. Bad graphics, repetitive gameplay, and the same tired music on a loop are the high points, throw in predatory microtransactions and you might as well call this game what it is: garbage.
  7. Kwar
    May 16, 2020
    3
    I agree with other users. Bethesda should not have released something like this. They can do so much better and it makes me wonder who is in charge?
  8. cagan
    May 22, 2020
    1
    so first what kind of fighting system is this it is so annoying there is no good design there is no open world is doesnt like a rpg game its not like a elder scrolls a **** game that have a bad loot system is too
  9. Dre286286
    May 23, 2020
    1
    It was terrible and boring. I hate not being able to do anything but square up on every opponent. This is just Punch Out, wait a crappy remake of Punch Out.
  10. Schwing007
    May 16, 2020
    7
    A lot of people complain that this isn’t the next Skyrim, and they’re right. What they don’t realize is that it’s not supposed to be, it’s a very good free mobile ES game, turned into a ‘ok-at-best’ Switch game. It’s not open world, it’s free, and it’s designed to take your money with in-game purchases. It’s it mind blowing? No. Is it even close? No. Is it a free Elder Scrolls game? Yes.A lot of people complain that this isn’t the next Skyrim, and they’re right. What they don’t realize is that it’s not supposed to be, it’s a very good free mobile ES game, turned into a ‘ok-at-best’ Switch game. It’s not open world, it’s free, and it’s designed to take your money with in-game purchases. It’s it mind blowing? No. Is it even close? No. Is it a free Elder Scrolls game? Yes.
    The controls are simple, so anyone can pick this up, they are boiled down to the basics. In this case they seem to be TOO simple, why can’t we swing our weapons unless in battle? Why can’t we crouch? Why can’t we jump? It’s because none of those things are necessary here, it’s a bristling world, filled with almost nothing, it has a linear design, with no deviation needed. You go, you do, then you go and do again. And again. And again. Is it fun? Sure, for a bit. It’s a shadow of a full-on ES game, and boy does it feel like it. I find myself stepping away frequently, and returning some time later. Flat, one-dimensional NPC interactions don’t help it’s cause. For a free game, it’s damn good. For and Elder Scrolls game, it’s less so. Take it for what it is, and enjoy it until you get tired of it, then move on.    … Expand
  11. Risingdawn
    May 14, 2020
    0
    Bethesda have created an abomination. Truly, it would be more pleasant to lacerate ones nut-sack and teabag a bath of salty lemon juice. Laughably terrible and deeply insulting.
  12. xgamrx365
    May 15, 2020
    0
    The game is absolutely terrible and Bethesda should be ashamed to deploy a lackluster game that pales in comparison to Skyrim. Please release Skyrim 6 in the near future and reclaim your greatness as a designer and publisher of games.
  13. ArtistM
    May 16, 2020
    7
    For a free to play game it's actually quite addicting. If this wasn't a Bethesda game and an extension to such a popular franchise I think it would actually be well received.

    Having said that, for this to be released with such enthusiasm when everyone is waiting for the next Skyim...well...it's a choice. Hopefully they can gain customer confidence back but what a misstep.
  14. DocXxer
    May 15, 2020
    0
    What the f... Is this?I wait so long for this and I'm f...... Disappointed fps like Nokia 3310 and even bout what is this game?
  15. Gunter56
    May 21, 2020
    0
    Trash, like everything Bethesda does now a days. 75 words needed to post!!!
  16. Thethinker912
    Feb 3, 2021
    10
    I am an FTP player and cannot stop loving this game. I chose an Argonian and opt to never show the helmet. The weapon drops scale really well, it’s easy to gather the materials I need, and the enemy AI gets more and more challenging as my own combat skill and armor ratings increase. I love the setting of the elder scrolls games and the various ways to decorate the town. The townI am an FTP player and cannot stop loving this game. I chose an Argonian and opt to never show the helmet. The weapon drops scale really well, it’s easy to gather the materials I need, and the enemy AI gets more and more challenging as my own combat skill and armor ratings increase. I love the setting of the elder scrolls games and the various ways to decorate the town. The town improvements remind me of Assasins Creed Brotherhood. The game is highly repetitive and the camera movement is a bit harsh to the senses and can induce nausea. Even with those critiques my satisfaction with this game as a nice escape and something that really feels like I can see my progress in is perfect. My town of Winterfell grows more beautiful by the day.… Expand
  17. doodlerman
    May 20, 2020
    5
    It's mediocre, but I find myself coming back to it to pass time, so I guess that says something. I doubt I'll ever see everything due to paywalls/wait periods - or maybe I have? In the few hours I've played, I've seen the same map layouts multiple times. Lots of bugs.
  18. Coonaros
    May 29, 2020
    8
    A year ago i download the game for my phone and it was a little annoying with all these timers for chest .After this game game out for switch they fix lot of issues and its not that much pay to win for me as a f2p player with 1) nice graphics 2)city management (casual simcity) 3)loots with upgrade system and enchants... BUT its not an Elder scroll experience as bethesda said to us . ButA year ago i download the game for my phone and it was a little annoying with all these timers for chest .After this game game out for switch they fix lot of issues and its not that much pay to win for me as a f2p player with 1) nice graphics 2)city management (casual simcity) 3)loots with upgrade system and enchants... BUT its not an Elder scroll experience as bethesda said to us . But free game i cant understand all these hate ... Its not 10/10 game its a low 8 for me...But there is a plethora of improvement there and if bethesda help it like fallout shelters its gonna be more than than these 8.… Expand
  19. Aluk
    Feb 8, 2022
    7
    Good game to be free. Certain Missions are too difficult.
    Buen juego para ser gratis. Ciertas Misiones son demasiado difíciles.
  20. thatguywhoshere
    Mar 18, 2021
    4
    This is a game designed for touchscreens ported to a platform with a touchscreen that has no touchscreen features in the port, with everything instead being relegated to your analog sticks.

    That alone should give you an idea of how bad this is.
  21. Kakadu
    May 30, 2020
    0
    It's just bad, there's nothing redeemable about this. This "game" is the worst bull**** I have ever played. It's boring uninspired, has extremely bad graphics, literally zero fun factor, a terrible combat system and loot system, bad voice acting. Everything is bad, it doesn't feel like an Elder Scrolls game at all. Bethesda should be ashamed of themselves. Nobody should be tortured by thisIt's just bad, there's nothing redeemable about this. This "game" is the worst bull**** I have ever played. It's boring uninspired, has extremely bad graphics, literally zero fun factor, a terrible combat system and loot system, bad voice acting. Everything is bad, it doesn't feel like an Elder Scrolls game at all. Bethesda should be ashamed of themselves. Nobody should be tortured by this worthless garbage, full of glitches and paywalls. The quality of Bethesda's products is going down.… Expand
  22. mompkin
    May 19, 2020
    5
    Pretty mediocre even for a freemium game. I've gotten pretty into quite a few freemium games, including some on the switch like gems of war, so the issue isn't that it's not TES 6. The issue is that it's not compelling for what it is - a simplistic old school dungeon crawler crudely taped over a store selling chests and gems. The repetition gets old so incredibly fast and the waiting gamePretty mediocre even for a freemium game. I've gotten pretty into quite a few freemium games, including some on the switch like gems of war, so the issue isn't that it's not TES 6. The issue is that it's not compelling for what it is - a simplistic old school dungeon crawler crudely taped over a store selling chests and gems. The repetition gets old so incredibly fast and the waiting game for upgrades kicks in early. I mean, it's free, so you might as well try it but don't expect much.… Expand
  23. RhaenVox
    Jun 6, 2020
    0
    A pathetic, unfinished, unbalanced "game" with only one goal is to grab all of your money. The concept maybe is not too bad in the first place, but the Bethesda's realization is sickening like never before. It runs poorly, looks ugly and the gameplay is kinda meh.
    Combat consist of glitchy animations and broken mechanics, the progression is extremely tedious and I can't even think of how    A pathetic, unfinished, unbalanced "game" with only one goal is to grab all of your money. The concept maybe is not too bad in the first place, but the Bethesda's realization is sickening like never before. It runs poorly, looks ugly and the gameplay is kinda meh.
    Combat consist of glitchy animations and broken mechanics, the progression is extremely tedious and I can't even think of how little respect for audience you should have to release such a disgraceful product.    … Expand
  24. Bri11ianT
    Jun 28, 2020
    0
    I was waiting for this game since it was announced on E3. When I finally got my hands on the beta test it was a really huge disapointment... After about a hour of gameplay I uninstalled it and will never install it again. Super boring.
  25. gearexod
    Jul 6, 2020
    1
    Solo diré, que es una decepción, pagar pagar, perder perder, morir y conseguir armas y armaduras de bajo nivel. Is a BORING game, just Pay to PLAY...I hate it.
  26. Ryukhan
    Oct 15, 2020
    0
    The game sucks in every way imaginable. The end. .
  27. greentolar
    Jul 28, 2023
    4
    I was so hyped by this to that point I invested some money in this game because Im Skyrim fan. Bad decision. Possitives are great mood and graphics,arena with other players,someway guilds but thats questionable,battle system is weird but I found hitting and cover original and good. Its something like old dungeon crawlers,story is interesting for few levels,some special events challengesI was so hyped by this to that point I invested some money in this game because Im Skyrim fan. Bad decision. Possitives are great mood and graphics,arena with other players,someway guilds but thats questionable,battle system is weird but I found hitting and cover original and good. Its something like old dungeon crawlers,story is interesting for few levels,some special events challenges are little bit interesting and buliding the city,enemies are interesting and Ayleid ruins have pretty cool design but still they are all same. Negatives are no open world(except your city) just fast traveling to locked locations and just because of quest,quests are repetitive and some of them ,pay to win system in arena and main questline and even pay to play system because game getting harder and you need gems for real money especially to buy potions and materials,sometimes you have nearly full health and died of no actual reason because game want milk more money from you for revive scrolls,game by animations and offers of chests and weapons for real money feels like casino slot machines to make you addict on it and especially kids(shame on authors for that),npcs are half dubbed and other half is text so they say one sentence and rest is text on screen wtf,npcs just move but dont do anything else,bulidings are mostly with same design...Better you play Daggerfall for free than this. 4 points are because something is cool in my opinion but dont lift a bad game from dust.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
42

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 13
  3. Negative: 6 out of 13
  1. GameMAG
    Sep 14, 2020
    30
    Bethesda clearly cannot decide on priorities, grabbing everything in a row and rushing from one extreme to the other. As a result, we get a crooked, boring and ugly semi-finished product - The Elder Scrolls: Blades on Switch. Yes, the game is F2P, but spending time in it is physically unpleasant. At the same time, a full-fledged version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is available on the Nintendo Switch, which makes Blades completely unnecessary. Well, unless you want to spoil your impressions of the cult franchise.
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  2. Pure Nintendo
    Jun 1, 2020
    50
    The Elder Scrolls: Blades is a game with good ideas but bad implementation. While this story is scaled-down and has a unique twist to combat, this entry is riddled with bugs, monetization, and timers that can make this game a drag.
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  3. Vandal
    May 29, 2020
    45
    Blades doesn’t live up to the expectations players have for this franchise. It has some interesting features, but its gameplay and an old-fashioned free-to-play design make it very forgettable.
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