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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
The open world that a generation of players got lost in. Pick a direction, find a cave, forget the main quest.
01The territory
Dragons have returned to the cold northern province of Skyrim. You can follow the main story or ignore it completely and join guilds, explore ruins, build a house and make your own way.
02Who should travel here
Players who like freedom above polish and enjoy making up their own character's story.
ADiscovery by walking
Skyrim's map fills up with markers as you notice places on the horizon. Walking instead of fast travelling is the best way to find its countless side stories.
BThe compass
A compass at the top of the screen shows quest targets and nearby locations. Some players turn it off with settings or mods to make exploration more natural.
CMods
On PC and consoles, free mods change almost everything. Start without them; add a few quality-of-life ones later.
Worth the trip
- Enormous freedom
- Endless side content
- Huge mod community
Rough ground
- Dated combat
- Bugs are part of its charm, mostly
Surveyor's verdict
Still the definitive "go anywhere" fantasy world, more than a decade later.
Sheets at the same scale
Surveyed on 29 October 2026. Updates can change features and prices; the official page has the latest.