The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a 2011 action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fifth main installment in The Elder Scrolls series, following The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006), and was released worldwide for Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on November 11, 2011. Skyrim was built using the Creation Engine, which Bethesda developed specifically for this title and later used for Fallout 4 and Starfield. The team aimed for a more diverse and unique open world than Oblivion's Imperial Province of Cyrodiil, which game director Todd Howard considered less interesting.

The game is set 200 years after the events of Oblivion and takes place in Skyrim, the northernmost province of Tamriel on the continent of Nirn. Its main story follows the player character, the Dragonborn, on a quest to defeat Alduin the World-Eater, a dragon prophesied to destroy the world. The player can complete quests and develop skills by using them, a hallmark of the series. The open world allows free travel to discovered locations at any time, and players can ignore or postpone the main storyline indefinitely.

Upon release, Skyrim received critical acclaim for its character advancement, world design, visuals, and dual-wielding combat. Critics pointed out weaknesses in melee combat, dragon battles, and numerous technical issues at launch. The game shipped over seven million units in its first week and had sold over 20 million units by June 2013. It is considered one of the greatest video games ever made and influenced later fantasy and open-world games.

Three downloadable content add-ons were released: Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn. These were bundled with the base game into the Legendary Edition in June 2013. A remastered Special Edition, with graphical upgrades and all DLC, launched in October 2016. A Nintendo Switch port and a separate Skyrim VR version arrived in November 2017. The Anniversary Edition, which added Creation Club content, was released in 2021 and 2022. A sequel, The Elder Scrolls VI, is in development. [edit]

Skyrim offers a vast open world where players can explore mountains, forests, cities, and dungeons at their own pace. Character progression is skill-based: using a skill increases its level, and leveling up grants perks to specialize further. Combat includes melee, archery, and magic, with the ability to dual-wield weapons or spells. A key feature is the Thu'um, or dragon shouts, unlocked by absorbing dragon souls. Players can join factions like the Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood, or College of Winterhold, each with its own questline. The world is filled with dynamic events, radiant quests, and environmental storytelling. [edit]

The game begins with the player character as a prisoner about to be executed, but a dragon attack interrupts the proceedings. This dragon, Alduin, is the World-Eater from Norse-inspired mythology, returning to fulfill a prophecy of destruction. The player discovers they are Dragonborn, a mortal with the soul of a dragon, able to absorb dragon souls and use their power. The main quest involves learning the ancient art of shouting, gathering allies, and ultimately facing Alduin in Sovngarde, the Nordic afterlife. Alongside this, Skyrim is torn by a civil war between the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloak rebels, and the player can choose sides or remain neutral. [edit]