2011 was the year to end all years with so many great game releases, including Portal 2, Minecraft’s 1.0 version, Batman: Arkham City, and of course, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Skyrim swept many game award shows for a number of reasons, as it blew everyone away with it’s open-world design and immersive gameplay.
If someone hasn’t played the game yet, then they must not be born. Video games have certainly evolved since Skyrim’s release, but that does not diminish how important it was at the time or how influential it’s been. Let’s go through all the things that RPGs, open-world games, and video games in general owe to Skyrim and Bethesda, the studio who created it.
Bethesda Knows How To Market
Keeping The Dream Alive
If every company marketed its games as much as Bethesda does, then they would have a better chance of remaining popular topics for over a decade. Skyrim is only as big as it is because Bethesda hasn’t stopped putting the game out.
While it’s become a bit of a joke now whenever a new port is announced, the sales speak for themselves. Old players still want updated versions, and even now, there are always new players who want to see what all the fuss is about. Also, among these many updated versions is one with VR support. It actually works well, albeit a bit nauseating, which is a problem with VR more than it is with Skyrim.
The Setting Is Still Unique
Going Beyond Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion was an important RPG too, with a big open world to explore. That said, the Oblivion gates could grow tiring as they were all the same, and the realm of Cyrodiil looked like many fantasy settings in RPGs. Skyrim didn’t have gates to worry about, and the realm that is literally called Skyrim is unlike most that were seen in gaming back in 2011.
The region of Skyrim, is based on the Nordic lands of cold, snowy mountains, which is what helped the game stand out from other RPGs at the time. Strangely, not many games have copied this snowy idea, even though open-world games and RPGs alike borrowed plenty from Skyrim.
See That Mountain?
Todd Howard’s Promise Was True
Todd Howard, the game’s director, is a well-known figure within Bethesda and one beloved by fans for introducing his games with an air of whimsy. When demoing Skyrim, Howard mentioned that mountains in the distance could be scaled.
It’s become a bit of a meme now, but as funny as this idea became, developers have made strides for their games to be as open as Skyrim even over a decade later. Even the most impressive modern open-world games have boundaries that prevent every surface area from being explored. The freeing sensation players feel was, and still is, incredible.
The Danger In Exploration
Giants Will Destroy You In The Funniest Ways Possible
After a lengthy setup, players will eventually get the freedom they are seeking in Skyrim. However, there are technically areas where players shouldn’t go right away, and the game teaches these boundaries rather well through context.
Everyone will remember their first encounter with a giant who literally shakes the ground while chasing players. A single swing will kill lower-level players instantly, sending their bodies flying high like a baseball player hitting a home run. Skirting danger in an open-world game can be an incredibly addictive feeling that perhaps some Soulslike developers took note of from Skyrim.
Everything Levels Up
From Attacking Enemies To Using Spells
The best feeling in an RPG is leveling up. It gives the player a sense of accomplishment, and the nice thing about Skyrim is that nearly everything players do will help them progress. Attacking enemies will earn the most EXP, but players can level up individual skills by using things like magic or crafting skills.
With so many paths to follow, Skyrim created a reason to replay the game. One playthrough could have them explore life as a weaponized warrior, while another could have them play as a spell-slinging mage. The possibilities are near limitless, with so many more options available if players put their minds to the test.
The Randomized Quests
It Goes On Forever
Skyrim is not only a big open world with a seemingly endless realm to explore, but it also has a randomized quest system. The best quests in the game are the story missions and the various guild undertakings that players can only complete once.
However, for those who want to level up quickly through fetch quests, they can find an endless supply of them depending on progression. They won’t pique player curiosity through compelling stories, unlike The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which is a shame. But still, the randomized quest system was a novel idea from Bethesda that should be applauded.
The Power Of Dragons
Fus Ro Dah!
Finally, the other big gimmick beyond the snowy realm of Skyrim was the dragons. Players, no matter their customized character’s origins, are a Dragonborn. This meant they can talk to dragons and learn their spells to perform special abilities.
Dragons are inherently cool in video games, and Skyrim makes them feel unique because of their connection to the player. Also, their danger levels are never lost, as when a random one appears, a mix of terror and excitement often fills the hearts of players.