With The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim reaching its tenth anniversary in November of 2021, many players have once again dived back into the land of Skyrim with the release of the Anniversary Edition of the game. However, ever since its release all those years ago, this entry in the franchise has always maintained a loyal and active fanbase.

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While the first The Elder Scrolls game was released in 1994, the more recent entries in the franchise have brought them into public view. Yet even with the release of the popular MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, it is the fifth entry in the series that stands out from the rest as a pinnacle of the RPG genre.

10 The Combat Is The Best In The Series

Combat in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

When it comes to combat in The Elder Scrolls series, none of the previous games can match the impact and satisfaction of fighting in Skyrim. Whether the player chooses to smash their enemies with a giant war hammer, snipe them from afar with a bow, or turn them against each other using magic, combat in the game is always a good time.

This is especially noticeable compared to the previous two entries in the franchise, Morrowind and Oblivion, which laid the foundation for the fun and engaging combat that Skyrim perfected.

9 It Has Near Endless Replayability

Skyrim Opening Scene

Somehow, despite coming out over a decade ago, Skyrim still maintains a steady and dedicated fanbase, consistently averaging around twenty thousand concurrent players on Steam for the Special Edition alone. It is a game that keeps bringing people back while still drawing in new players even to this day.

Many factors contribute to this, but the number one reason is content. The land of Skyrim in The Elder Scrolls V is full of places to explore, quests to complete, and adventures to be had, so much so that it's nearly impossible to see it all in one playthrough.

8 The Modding Scene Is Still Going Strong

Skyrim Paraglider mod

One of the greatest ways to improve the longevity of any game is to have excellent modding capabilities and a community dedicated to using those tools. There is no better example of this than Skyrim when it comes to modding. There are literally tens of thousands of mods available, including cosmetic enhancements, gameplay improvements, and even complete overhauls that make entirely new games.

While both Morrowind and Oblivion also had robust modding communities, neither can match the sheer number of quality community-created content available for The Elder Scrolls V. There are still huge projects being worked on by teams of volunteers to create new content for a game over a decade old.

7 The Dungeons Are Detailed And Interesting

Skyrim bleakcoast cave skeleton hanging from cieling

Since the release of The Elder Scrolls: Arena in 1994, dungeons have always been an important part of the series, with the original game having several hundred of them alone. Each game in the franchise has had its own take on the style and design of these levels, and Skyrim continued that tradition by producing some of the best-designed dungeons of them all.

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Whether the player finds themselves delving deep into the Dwemer ruins of Skyrim's north or moving carefully within caves of ice to avoid the blind Falmer, each one of Skyrim's dungeons is designed with a great deal of care. Often, small, hidden details only become apparent if one looks closely, telling stories that aren't simply spelled out through exposition.

6 Exploration Is Always Exciting

Skyrim Solstheim Volcano

Beyond the dungeons, the world The Elder Scrolls V opens players up to is gorgeous and breathtaking in equal measure. Compared to the much more uniform landscapes of Cyrodiil and Morrowind, Skyrim is a land that changes greatly from one Hold to the next, each one with its own unique beauty and charm.

Within the well-crafted world are some fascinating encounters as well. The player will stumble across many settlements, each with their own side-quests and stories, as well as plenty of interesting and mysterious NPCs that really make the world come to life.

5 The Graphics Hold up Even To This Day

The Forgotten Vale in Skyrim

Despite games like The Elder Scrolls Online featuring new visuals on an improved engine, the visuals in Skyrim still hold up, even ten years later. This is helped along by numerous new editions and plenty of graphical mods, but the base game itself was gorgeous looking already.

All the details in the game come together to create a visual masterpiece, whether it be a bubbling creek flowing down from misty, snow-topped mountains or the light flickering through the trees as night turns to day. The lighting is also greatly improved over previous entries, adding a level of ambiance to landscapes, towns, and dungeons that was a step above the other games.

4 Dragon Battles Are Truly Epic

Character in Skyrim battling a dragon

While each of The Elder Scrolls games has a unique variety of creatures and monsters to encounter, few will argue that slaughtering the irritating Cliff Racers in Morrowind can match anywhere near the truly epic levels of fun achieved by the dragon battles in Skyrim.

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Many players will vividly recall their first encounter with the resurrected dragons outside of Whiterun Hold. Each battle brought a unique level of excitement when the shadow of the great winged beasts fell across the land. The rewards for beating these terrible foes were also plentiful, adding to the satisfaction in bringing each one down.

3 The Lore Is As Deep As Ever

Skyrim: Dragon Priest Shrine with masks

The Elder Scrolls is a franchise that thrives on its deep, well-crafted lore. Each entry in the series has added more and more depth to the stories behind the world, and The Elder Scrolls V is no exception. It immerses players in the history of Skyrim, both recent and in the ancient past.

Hundreds of books are available in-game that expand upon the world, giving the player glimpses of the lands outside Skyrim. Many of the quests also revolve around discovering more of the lore surrounding Skyrim and its Holds, the conflict between the Stormcloaks and the Empire, and even the mysterious disappearance of the Dwemer and the origin of the hideous Falmer.

2 The New Editions Made Big Improvements

Skyrim VR

It was only natural that a game that came out as long ago as Skyrim did that eventually, elements of the game would start to become dated. While each subsequent release of the game may not have completely revamped the core gameplay or graphics, they did bring in some new and welcome changes.

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition was certainly the most popular version of the game, including an improved game engine, enhanced graphics, and mod support for the console versions. Skyrim VR was a big moment in gaming, bringing the popular franchise into Virtual Reality. This was all topped off by the recent release of Skyrim - Anniversary Edition, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the game.

1 The Expansions Are Loaded With Great Content

Serana from Skyrim

Expansions can breathe new life into a game, and the expansions for Skyrim did just that. With three official major add-ons for the game, players both new and old had plenty more content to delve into as they explored the already vast world of The Elder Scrolls V.

The first expansion released was Dawnguard, which brought the players into a conflict between a guild of vampire hunters and a clan of the blood-sucking monsters, and introduced one of the most popular NPCs of the entire franchise. Hearthfire added player homes and downtime for players to relax and explore. Dragonborn expanded upon the lore of the Dragonborn and gave players a return to the beloved Solstheim, which first appeared in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.

NEXT: Skyrim: 10 Things You Need To Know About The Anniversary Edition