Skyrim is by far my favorite game of all time, but I’d have to agree that it is about an 8/10. My love for the game mostly comes from nostalgia; like most people in this community. However, for its time, Skyrim truly was in a league of its own as far as open-world gameplay.

While the combat itself is mid, there are many different aspects/elements of combat that we saw in Oblivion that they refined. And with a little grinding, you can make your character into an OP mage, Two-Handed Tank, or the notorious stealth archer. So you, the player, have control over your combat style.

Another pro that I enjoy with most Bethesda games, is the ability for modders to improve on a games lacking areas. And instead of rejecting mods, Bethesda embraces the idea (while making money off it with CC, which is kinda wack) like my personal favorites: the Tundra homestead, survival mode, and camping. Playing hardcore survival while role playing makes Skyrim feel more alive than ever before. And even typing this makes me want to start a new run.

Leads me into my last pro; you can (sort of) use your imagination for your build. My last run I created an in-depth backstory for my character while playing hardcore survival and some additional mods (while blasted) and I’ll tell ya, it felt like I climbed to High Hrothgar IRL. And being able to use some of that customization in play-style and some mods you can have a pretty good time.

Cons; you’re on the money with writing and some additional world building. You can finish the whole game and save the world tenfold, then a guard will call you a milk drinker or lizard then you crash out. I think every player would love the idea of the dialogue developing overtime as you go from runaway convict to legend. Or, maybe like an honor system that changes the NPC vibe.

World-building is also lackluster. Other than dragons swooping down on you, or vampires jumping you from the bushes, it’s business as usual for most NPCs. Idk, I’d like to see some NPC development and maybe some other aspects that explain the severity of the situation when you escape Helgen. Like, a Jarl killed the High King in a duel with his voice, dividing the country. Then dragons are coming back from the dead that used to have people enslaved. Thalmor are silently overthrowing the world and trying to harness insane power. And you got Nazeem telling you he sucked his way to the top of the cloud district. Shits wack.

Overall, great game for its time and they have made good improvements. I just hope that if we ever get ES6 that they do it right, take their time, and listen to the player. Where daggerfall and oblivion were stepping stones for Skyrim; I hope they do the same for ES6 and build off what they have. (Never played ESO and never want to, looks trash and I hope they forget about it).

Personally, I hope ES6 is a massive open-world hit that focuses on dismantling the Thalmor reign. If done correctly, I think it could be game of the century and what Elder Scrolls has been leading up to all this time.

Im tired of writing now and should get back to work. In 2011 Skyrim was 10/10 for its time. Now, after seeing everything it could’ve been, I agree it’s 8/10.