It sometimes feels as though The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has been around forever. Bethesda's mammoth RPG might have only debuted around 10 years ago, but the continued esteem and presence the game holds within the gaming zeitgeist seems to have remained utterly undiminished. As trends change and challengers seem to come and go with the regularity of the ocean tides, Skyrim remains unmoved, unshaken and unperturbed. Not only does it seem as though it's been here since the beginning of time, it also seems as though it will continue to last for a good while yet.
While it's hard to tie a game's success to any specific factor, it's safe to say that whatever Skyrim has been doing for the past decade, it's worked, as the game has managed to capture and ensnare the hearts of a faithful and ever-growing gaming following. At this point, devotees of Bethesda's seminal release feel an almost spiritual reverence for the game they hold so dear.
The immediate answer to why Skyrim has been so successful is obvious. Few games, before or since, have matched its quite astonishing levels of breadth and depth, and its world-building, lore and general scope are still the benchmark for most open-world and RPG releases today. At around 37 square miles, the world of Skyrim isn't ridiculously huge by modern standards, but its depth continues to astonish players to this day, to the extent that players are still finding new areas, hidden Easter eggs and fresh ways to play.
Though the world of Skyrim may not be vast compared to the current generation of open-world games, its world-building still holds up as exceptional. Many are even happy to play the game merely as an exploration simulator, trekking across the snow-capped mountains or sun-dappled copses as Jeremy Soule's majestic score envelops the whole experience.
Skyrim, in that sense, is not merely a game to play, but a game to fall in love with. Granted, it has plenty of flaws, but for those who find themselves enthralled by its extensive lore, the effect is hard to resist. There's never a sense of the game taking itself too seriously, and it's little wonder that the game has spawned numerous memes that have become common currency across internet culture. Liked the best flawed giants, Skyrim gives players enough of what they love that its flaws and glitches only add to the experience rather than detract from it.
This continued affection has only fueled and been fueled by one of the most active and devoted modding communities in gaming today. While most comparative titles eventually see a drop-off in community interest, Skyrim's conduciveness to mods has ensured that it never runs the risk of going stale. Even in 2022, active modders are creating patches that do everything from tweaking lip-syncing inconsistencies to completely transforming fundamental aspects of gameplay. With nearly 70,000 Skyrim mods available to download from NexusMods, it's hardly a surprise that the game remains as fresh and alive as when it was first released. Coupled with The Elder Scrolls Online, which continues to keep the lore of The Elder Scrolls universe alive, it's little wonder the game continues to hold a steady place in the gaming zeitgeist.
This, arguably, is what remains at the heart of Skyrim, a game that continues to be enjoyable, fun and a source of comfort gaming for legions of fans. Recent titles such as Elden Ring are often infused with a grimmer, more severe tone that can sometimes feel suffocating. In contrast, the sense of joy and wonder that infuses the land of the Dragonborn makes it a game as fit for casual tourists as seasoned adventurers. While Elden Ring has built a reputation for its punishing difficulty, Skyrim is a game that players can happily take at their own pace.
Bethesda's lofty epic is a game whose failings are as integral to its identity as its many strengths. In fact, Skyrim has been riddled with issues even from the time of its release, from strangely behaving NPCs and enemies, glitches, bugs, and rendering and texture issues, to shallow combat and some questionable voice acting. For a game of such size and scope, especially at the time of its release, a few rough edges were inevitable, but Skyrim boasts more than its fair share of wonky graphical glitches or peculiar NPCs.
This, however, only contributes to the charm of the game -- in general, its flaws and foibles add to the affection and esteem fans hold for it. Skyrim's scope and ambition make it an experience that is as immersive and all-encompassing as any AAA title on the market today. Bethesda never chased perfection -- rather, it created a gaming experience that would last in the minds and hearts of an entire generation of gamers and fantasy fans. If Skyrim's continued popularity is anything to go by, it has been a resounding and remarkable success.