Morrowind built the foundation. Oblivion refined it. Skyrim turned The Elder Scrolls into a global phenomenon.

The Elder Scrolls games have spawned five mainline entries over the years, with one more on the way. Of these, games like Skyrim (2011), Morrowind (2002), and Oblivion (2006) perhaps stand out the most.

Skyrim has its meme culture, brilliant modding community, and true RPG depth. Meanwhile, Oblivion boasts some of the best quests in the entire franchise. The critical reception reflects their impact, with Skyrim holding a 96 Metacritic score, Oblivion a 94, and Morrowind an 87.

Finally, Morrowind could be credited with starting it all. The game had immersion and a bizarre world that felt different, even compared to modern RPGs. Its world-building was unique, but the game had its issues.

The problem with Morrowind is that it's perhaps too old. The game did not entertain players with quest markers or convenient fast travel. If you wanted to get to places quickly, you'd need a boat or a Silt Strider, an arthropod-like creature used for traveling.

Morrowind's quests did not feel particularly special. The real problem, however, was its combat. Accuracy and skill almost didn't matter because of its dice-roll system.

Your sword may hit the opponent, but it may not deal any damage. Overall, the game hasn't aged too well, especially by modern RPG standards.

Oblivion, on the other hand, is a game that refined storytelling. Its quests were meaningful and created with care. The Shivering Isles DLC felt like a breath of fresh air because of its weird yet welcome ideas.

The Dark Brotherhood quest, too, was perhaps one of the most memorable in franchise history. Oblivion is beloved because of its story.

Yet Skyrim transcended these shortcomings. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is still the best game in the franchise, offering an open-world experience with brilliant quests that players can simply ignore to play whatever role they wish in the RPG.

It is unintentionally hilarious, with horses walking backward and character models getting struck by lightning mid-conversation. Skyrim has the greatest modding community, which makes it even more fun to play.

Why Skyrim is the best game in The Elder Scrolls franchise

Skyrim is essentially an RPG that you can play your way. A new character can have an entirely new life. One can be a warrior, a lumberjack, or anything else.

Players can create their own homes and have a family, complete with a spouse and children. They could then have their houses attacked by bandits and their loved ones kidnapped for ransom, creating a new, unexpected quest.

Skyrim broke the RPG mold by combining unparalleled freedom with modern mechanics. The game has fast travel and higher-end graphics, both missing in Morrowind.

It also has meaningful enemies and a respectable system that encourages players to upgrade their characters.

This isn't all. Meme culture has played a huge role in keeping Skyrim alive. Millions still play the game every year, and Reddit overflows with fan content.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim did it best because it cracked the culture code. Not only was it a highly enjoyable game, but it was also relatable, funny, and versatile.

Now, The Elder Scrolls 6 has big shoes to fill. The game was announced in 2018, and Bethesda has not revealed much about it since.

Fans can only expect huge things from such a successful franchise. Until it releases, thousands of Skyrim mods are available for fans to jump into and experiment with the memorable title.

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Written by

Prit Chauhan

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav