Is Skyrim Still Worth Playing? (Full Review)

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In this video I review The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in detail in order to answer the question 'is it still worth playing today?'. The review covers ever major aspect of the game, including character creation, graphics, audio, combat, core systems and much more.
Links mentioned in video:
Is Oblivion Still Worth Playing? - • Is Oblivion Still Wort...
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[@VressGames]

As some of you have asked I have now setup a 'Buy Me a Coffee' page for those who enjoyed this video or wish to support the channel in general - buymeacoffee.com/vressgames To be clear: No content will become pay-walled and this is purely to support the content I already create.

[@ChrisOfTheDead]

Steam achievements might not be a good indicator if, like me, some folks own Skyrim and immediately installed mods and have sunk some play time without achievements enabled. I already 100%'d the achievements on Xbox 360 and Xbox One. I didn't want to do it all over again. I just wanted to play with mods at this point.

[@VressGames]

That’s a really good point to be fair. For my purposes here I’m just using it as a broad indicator to back up my notion that there are still plenty of people yet to enjoy what the game has to offer, but yeah the stats will be skewed by mods for sure.

[@Xnvasxve]

Achievments are only disabled on steam when using mods dir3ctly from thw Bethesda mod loader. If you use vortex or something it doesn't disable achievments. I personally think most people who mod Skyrim are using vortex bc the mod Downloader in Skyrim kinda sucks

[@aestheticdemon3802]

@@Xnvasxve One of the reported issues with the .1130 and .1170 builds, (Bethseda paid mods nonsense) was that achievements could be disabled due to a fubar in the updates. Also, using some console commands nuke achievements too, even if you are just consoling your way past some quest glitch.

[@vanyadolly]

Or like me did the main quest on LE and now spend their hundreds of hours in-game on various ridiculous RP pursuits, like potato farmer and wandering potion seller.

[@MaffyTaffyHaffy]

MmmmmmMm ME THINKS M’Lady! *tips fedora* Thank you SO much for this ❤️

[@jadamattson134]

Been playing since it came out, and I start a new play through about once a year! I love it regardless of noteworthy criticisms:)

[@ISO8Legionaire]

Arguably the best game ever made taking into account all of the hard work done by modders. Endless replayability.

[@ISO8Legionaire]

The ability to roleplay with infinite customizations thanks to the modding community is really something special

[@GoalOrientedLifting]

And thats for me is kinda an issue. As modded skyrim has so much content(basegame already have more than most games with all the small stories, hidden lore and artifacts) And modded it has such an insane variety of gameplay, you can cater the combat to nearly however you want it, the extra areas mods bring. Or like "Legacy of the dragonborn" mod that alone brings hundreds of hours of content. And im left with struggling getting into games in somewhat similar genre cause of it. I do play other very different games though. Shout to stardew valley.

[@sk8legendz]

I think this game's always gonna be worth playing.I always end up coming back to it.Usually as a result of getting frustrated with other games. I don't even play with mods. I just play vanilla.But the freedom of choice for build customization and role playing even in vanilla version makes this one of the most immersive experience in my opinion

[@CheapskateSale]

I have a confession.. Played the game since 2011, but NEVER explored more then 0,5% of Dragonborne DLC. Dawnguard completed twice :P Yeah! Playing it now, entering Solstheim soon!

[@adamseay216]

100% same here

[@VressGames]

Dawnguard is my favourite but I don’t think you will regret playing dragonborn!

[@CheapskateSale]

@@VressGames I loved Dawnguard as well, that's why it was completed twice :D

[@Ugo415]

The golden years for gaming…

[@VressGames]

Feels that way!

[@brosettastone7520]

If you’re gonna mention the music, you gotta mention the legend himself, Jeremy Soule! Incredible composer

[@Bless-the-Name]

I, literally, have Skyrim on pause to watch this video 😂

[@VressGames]

Then you have peaked my friend

[@howtohuman99]

The fact that Skyrim is the first to have the NPC's be powered by ChatGPT in a mod should tell you enough.

[@pascalviens927]

Thanks!

[@VressGames]

Thank you :-)

[@Seraphim.of.the.desert]

Ive always loved Skyrim and always will! I even play the soundtrack to my son when he was still in the womb and now that hes 5 months old. He will grow up with this music

[@danegordonpodcast3293]

Its definately worth it if people are still making reviews about it

[@VressGames]

Haha good point

[@joeblow3905]

I have hundreds of hours into Skyrim and you summarize this game perfectly, it's the feeling of playing this game that is loaded with Soul❤

[@VressGames]

Thanks dude - this is a new kind of video for me so really nice to hear that someone vibes with it

[@House_of_Schmidt]

I think it would be very tough to get into Skyrim if you weren't playing these games when they were released. Without mods, skyrim visually hasn't aged very well, and outside of serana, the companions you get are very 2 dimensional. The main story is also extremely short when compared to newer games. Skyrim is a good game for 2011, but it's been made legendary over the years by highly detailed fan theories, fan videos, background lore written by people long gone from Bethesda, mods, and lack of competition. Idk if 2024 Bethesda can ever stumble into the moment they did with Skyrim. Maybe but well see.

[@katelynthewhitewerewolf6376]

Skyrim is my favorite Elder Scrolls game in The Elder Scrolls Series and it's the first one I played. I like Dragonborn and Dawnguard DLC too.

[@bigzay42055]

I’ve had Skyrim for 4/5 years(I mostly play sports/shooters/Rockstar rpgs)and I just started playing 2 days ago and I’ve been completely lost in the lore/gameplay. I was discouraged with playing a game that was so old, but it has not disappointed one bit!

[@VressGames]

It’s an epic journey - I’m jealous that you’re getting to experience it for the first time!

[@bigzay42055]

@ Yes it has been so far, can’t wait to see what all is in store . Gonna checkout some of your other content for tips, appreciate the vids!

[@VressGames]

You are very welcome - I hope they are helpful!

[@CargoShorts7]

As someone who just debated this very question and is currently playing Skyrim, I have found THE ANSWER!! Mod packs. Specifically, Nordic Souls. It adds a little bit more that makes more than just vanilla+, but it helps make Skyrim feel more like a modern game, while staying true to the core of the game and what makes it special. Never thought I’d be 70 hours deep into yet another Skyrim play through in 2024 lol Mod packs are super simple, and make the game feel fresh for both vets and new comers. Cant recommend Nordic Souls enough

[@pfrischknecht]

I had played for hundreds (thousands? ) of hours on the XBox. Loved it. A year ago I picked it up on the PC... Loved it again. Then I bought the AE upgrade (some steam sale). AWESOME again. THEN... on an innocent search to improve immersion to the married life of the Dragonborne and Ysolda I discovered FG/Sexlab/Ostim. A few mods and tweaks later and this is a very different game now... I am enjoying it immensely... "save the damsel...and she rewards you...for real" One aspect of the game that STILL amazes me is the music. After all these years, and so many mods, I have done almost nothing to the music. It is incredibly well written. Now that I have gone through all these mods, I am going to try one of the game overhaul mods. (thus far I have only really modded relationship; new maps, and "good guys" quest expansions) Time to try some overhaul mod list... maybe Lorerim? I would favor stability over the newest features.

[@adamdavis1737]

Never get tired of it. Modded or not there's always a new way for jt to keep me engaged. It might be smaller in scope than Oblivion was in regards to population and size of cities as well as that bizarrely complex NPC routine that you can find in Oblivion sometimes. To the point where shopkeepers just go wandering out in the world and can't be found at their shops lol But it still is just one of those games that I feel like you can just exist in. You don't necessarily even have to always be taking on some major questline or even minor side quest. You could just go hunt and cook and blacksmith. Create potions and sell them. Mechanically it is less in depth as an RPG, but actual ways that you can role play in the world still feel endless. The game might be simpler but the options it gives you to experience it are still better than so many other RPGs

[@jamesstrickland517]

I was and still am a big fan of Diablo and Diablo II, and started my elder scrolls ventures with Oblivion. At this time I now have over 5,600 hrs in Skyrim through all editions( unmodded and modded).

[@VressGames]

Damn… that might be the highest number of hours I’ve seen so far!

[@jamesstrickland517]

@@VressGames I just checked on steam and it is 5,642 hrs on special edition only 😂 😂

[@lynbateman1994]

73 and a total Skyrim junkie ! Been playing for years . Your instruction videos are so good , I m still learning new stuff so thank you so much for excellent information!

[@VressGames]

Comments like this make my day! Really pleased to hear that my videos have been useful even for an experienced player :-)

[@ShaneStapler]

for the achievement thing i agree with comments about mods. at the same time, it took at least 300 hours for me to actually finish the main quest. i only recently got all achievements, and I've been playing since 2011. i have 2000 hours on special edition alone. it's just a very unique open world experience that begs for different playthroughs. besides that, great lovely video. Great mic quality, easy listen. godspeed

[@VressGames]

Thanks dude, very kind of you to say that. I’ll keep trying to make each video better than the last :-)

[@ereis_fireboiontwitchandyt]

I'm one of those people that has never played it, my stream talked me into downloading it though, i finally started it today

[@jonathanmartin3767]

Never played any other game of Elder Scrools. I have played Skyrim for a couple hundred hours. I started a new game in survival mode. A fun experience, tedious, but fun

[@KINGDUCKK]

I Picked Skyrim back up after playing it when it originally came out in 2011 then again in 2015. Playing now with mods changes everything. Skyrim is such a great timeless game.

[@JJsiN84]

When this game first released I put hundreds of hours into it until my character was pretty much unkillable. Unfortunately lost its charm and I never got around to beating the main story. Every time I try to go back I get about 10 hours in and never fully commit. I really need to and want to legitimately complete this game. It deserves it.

[@VressGames]

I did the same thing for years before I finally finished it!

[@6StimuL84]

I literally have been playing Oblivion, Fallout 3 and Fallout NV for years and just bought Skyrim and am enjoying it......

[@Bloodlit]

New Vegas was done by Obsidian. But I love TESV, I have nearly 800 hours between Legacy and Special Edition and probably about 100 more between the Xbox 360 and then PS4. And the opening carriage ride was a welcome change to waking up in prison.

[@asboll]

You can play skyrim together reborn in multiplayer with a modlist now. Update 1.7.1 recently

[@andrews6411]

So I had a funny experience. One of the first things I like to do on any new game of skyrim is get the fort frostmoth weapon on solstheim. We'll I used the push shout and this ash spawn got clipped partially into a stone bunk looking thing. I'd get close, let him hit me, retreat a few steps. After a few hours I had heavy armor and block leveled to 100

[@VressGames]

I like the ingenuity!

[@razerburn4216]

One of the best games still I play it got it when it came out and still playing it 10/10 game

[@Jay-kk1ee]

I just got it on the ps5 pro, never played but holy shit that view when you leave the cave at helgen! 😮 so glad I’ve just got to experience this for the first time!

[@ShadowSamba]

I'm playing Skyrim now for the first time, a little late to the party i know, but this game has hooked me in like few games ever have. It's still incredibly fun and addicting to play, even though it's a little bit janky and glitchy for today's standards, the Switch version anyway. The only real complaint i have is that the game feels a bit directionless, what i mean is it doesn't explain any mechanics or gameplay features to the player, some of which i had to Google to figure it out. Other than that, i'd say it still holds up very well today, i'm totally immersed in the world of Tamriel

[@Jay-mx6bg]

I’ve played this game more than 1,000 hours modded and unmodded

[@KittensLeftFoot]

Achievements are a bad metric not only due to mods, something brought up few times in this comment section but also because Skyrim is the sandbox of oyr generation. You quite literally can play the game for hundreds of hours without ever doing a single quest in yhe main story. Depends on your personality you could play the game in ways that wont give you any trophies.

[@VressGames]

Broadly agree with everything you have said. It's just a general indicator that there's still plenty of mileage left in this game for many people, even if the exact percentage is skewed by the two factors that you have mentioned.

[@TheJewell13]

I feel like the reason why the achievements are low because around the time you get to Delphine the game bugs starts to show like cars with 200,000miles so most likely we'll start playing with mods and if you're unfortunate like me, the ps4/5 version doesn't allow you to get the "get achievements with mods" mod

[@MayBeMe88]

Over 2,000 hours on Xbox Can't finish a playthrough

[@VressGames]

The classic Skyrim player!

[@MayBeMe88]

@@VressGames 😅 I'll get past diplomatic immunity... One day Full wipe New list

[@Kappa-G]

Everytime when people ask me what's your favourite game, I answer Skyrim. Until 2018 after I palyed the new god of war. It is a beautiful game and I changed my answer ever since. Now think back on that, I replayed new gow only couple of times, but I replayed skyrim countless time even after 2018.

[@korbensemaganis]

My first time was the red case legendary for the ps3 in 2016. The game blew my mind. The interactivity was one of the main components. The music. The environments (Riften being my preferred). Watching someone die a funny way only to realize later that he was important. Yes, it froze a lot and the load times were horrendous but everything else made it worth playing. Then I moved up to the ps4. By then I played a wood elf, both male and female. Redguard female, khajiit (didn’t get very far), orc, Breton, argonian (didn’t last very long), and imperial. 8 characters each with about 400-500hrs (aside from the khajiit and argonian. Probably 3hrs combined haha). Then I moved up to the ps4 version. I played a dark elf male and tried using magic as a primary for the first time ever. It’s way easier to just cut them down haha I was side tracked by my daughter wanting me to create a wizard orc that didn’t last very long. Now I am on a run with a female high elf. Who recently cut her hair and went goth haha I played on the ps5 and have the same female high elf but with a different name. But I couldn’t just leave the ps4. I just started and was getting trophies. Plus I am 38 now. I can’t be shoe horned into using the next thing anymore 🤷‍♂️ I will move up when I am ready to. It when this society tells me to or I am not cool haha

[@CPOV-pj4zx]

I play this game every winter for the last 12yrs. I never beaten it. I have 3 saves and only one is the new Anniversary Edition save. Amazing time

[@benjaminmcgregor1250]

A lot of people use mods, which disable steam achievements. I have no steam achievements for it, even though I’ve played it 5/6 times

[@MG_uk]

I've been debating getting into skyrim over the Christmas break and wanted to play modded after seeing some fun videos from various creators on here. Honestly though modding seems like such a painful, complicated, and involved process that it's completely put me off.. Even after eating various videos on how to do it. I'm not sure the base version will hold me with all the clunkyness. Any tips to make it a simple process?

[@cenktuneygok8986]

Achievments mean nothing in case of Skyrim.

[@Bishal021]

It's about the experience! Reviews generally put emphasis on tangible things and misses out completely on why Skyrim is what it is. Skyrim is filled with intangible small details that make the world feel incredibly real with all its fantasies. Skyrim doesn't provide the lore through cinematic cutscenes, rather the lore is etched on the many books, side quests, locations and environment that one need to explore, take in and understand. It doesn't give you a cool weapon or a different new enemy to fight when you explore, rather it gives a story told by the environment. It should be quite apparent within couple hours in the game the generic reward and quest system just act as a path for exploring and experiencing a life in Skyrim. It doesn't have choices that impacts the world, wheels turn with or without you, rather it throws in choices that can be incredibly hard for player personally. It's easy to kill stranger from a quest as evil character but the choice to kill a friend for a weapon or artifact. And these are not friends dictated by the game, no, these are NPCs you have interacted with closely and made meaningful connections with. Choices where the player may never know which is right or wrong, or grey choices are something that stays in your head for a long time.

[@oopy354]

Man, I love Skyrim!!

[@Thepunisher90thGaming]

Ive played Skyrim from original PS3 onward. 😂 i have it on PC, i haven't modded it. Its confusing to do, but I love the game. Will get back on it.

[@VressGames]

Enjoy :-)

[@Thepunisher90thGaming]

@VressGames Ty! I sure will 😁

[@LowEffortDoodles]

I've considered finally buying Skyrim (I have played it to death before) only for the possibility of expansion and battle modifier mods

[@RickHoffman777]

gaming being what it is now I am scared for the future of gaming

[@lukasguziur4229]

tears of the kingdom which released last year is absolutely amazing game

[@wheelfried]

its in sale in steam NOW : 4 $

[@brendonwallace6640]

This Game is great not gonna lie never played it until like 2022 but never stopped since then I play with mods tho

[@VressGames]

Welcome to the party :-)

[@yoboipapi5306]

Morrowind had the best intro of all TES imo I hated how skyrim made you and unstoppable force immediately. I like to start with nothing as nobody and slowly grind to being god-like being. No other game has replicated that feeling for me

[@VressGames]

You have reminded me that I need to do a morrowind review :-)

[@bowenledington6796]

I’ve played with mods a lot so I just started unlocking achievements I’m a ps5 player but I’ve almost completed Skyrim several times there’s a bunch of things I love and even more I hate because spell absorption can eat your conjuration spells and it’s maddening to summon dunhervir and lose a shout

[@finix7419]

the answer to this question is easy. no without mods(unless it's your first time trying skyrim and you don't care about graphics) and big yes if you know what kinda mods to install depending on your preference.

[@Ollidor]

I’ve played Skyrim since forever and I disagree you need mods. And from the mods you probably do need it’s not graphical mods that come to mind first.

[@tendo3526]

Don't forget that once you play with mods the achievements are locked away.

[@Chrisfragger1]

Running Skyrim right now, with 3,700+ mods, lol.

[@manacipher]

I'd like to argue that New Vegas shouldn't count as a Bethesda game considering all they did was basically take credit

[@hse7004]

Playing heavy modded Skyrim in VR and there is no other game that comes near this great Experience. And I don't see any on the Horizon. And yeah Achievents Statistics does not count. Modlist disable Achievents

[@thestew56]

I really missed seeing your character on inventory menu😢

[@kevo300]

It always is. I also love Oblivion but so much dungeons look the same to me even compared to Skyrim.

[@bradshaw2244]

I’ve played this game every since it’s came out logging no less than 60 hours worth

[@sammcguinness8717]

The clash are punk !!! Fool of a Took !!! Nice video tho 😂

[@VressGames]

Fool of a Took XD. Thanks dude, glad you got a laugh out of it!

[@sammcguinness8717]

It was sweet man I love Skyrim and I love the clash so this piece of tape ticks allll the boxes 😂 are you planning on making more Skyrim videos ?

[@VressGames]

I already have a series of Skyrim guides, several opinion type videos and a high likelihood of making more. Will be also be covering many more RPGs using this format :-)

[@nBomF]

I had 200 hours before I reached the mid point of the main quest :D

[@TrickyThe0ne]

The sword combat sucks but other than that it is fantastic.

[@KeyAndrew]

Play it in VR with mods.....(Wabbajack 1 click mod list is easy to install)

[@Hpln-kv2se]

You know what is my other favorite game?! Crysis series

[@steve7189]

Bought it for PS4 got hooked. Spent around 300/500 hours in a month to get every single trophy. 🏆 greatest game ever made in my opinion

[@Justanobody8472]

I just get super demoralized by crashing and never end up actually doing anything..

[@ciri151]

What's next? The sims 1 review?

[@VressGames]

Not a bad shout actually…

[@drewskiee9254]

Skyrim has aged in a boring way. I recommend to no one who's a seasoned gamer. If you're getting into gaming then yes. Besides that, it's boring compared to games released in modern day. Fallout 3 and NV, though older, are more playable

[@jw5280]

I just bought it on steam the game is a banger. That is all

[@markymark425]

Anyone ever told you that you sound exactly like Pepin the Healer from Diablo 1?

[@VressGames]

Haha can’t say I have. I vaguely recall him having an American accent though? Or at least an American voice actor?

[@markymark425]

@ bro go watch a video from Dash Lore on Diablo 1. You’ll hear it - it’s uncanny. And it’s definitely British

[@chadalpha7983]

I have hundreds of hours but I always start over before I get the stupid horn

[@aestheticdemon3802]

Mods... Alternate Stat - Live Another Life... Most of my games I don't bother much with the main quest, finished it in a previous game, so, time to do other stuff in Skyrim.

[@ClamHamula-u9g]

Achievements 😂😂😂 who gives a shit about a timy little sticker that doesnt do anything ? I turned alduin into Charizard and modded the game to where i can catch animals and monster in "dwemer eggs" that i throw out to fight for me lmaoo ive modded my games to have fully fleshed out skooma trading networks amd i rob drug dealers amd take over the trading company.. its endless an i dont care if its other people making them 👏 its a game i can play till the ed of time

[@iproblumanno]

🤨 me with mods on, Play this game originally on PS3

[@iLoveMiIfs]

I can’t get past the first spider boss to gross

[@InNawa]

Yes still worth play, i still play it

[@Hpln-kv2se]

It is for all time

[@bravose7en]

The answer is yes.

[@TheDanc1nghawk]

As a (very) long time rpg player. Skyrim feels hollow. It was fun for the first few playthroughs, but its too wide and not deep enough. It seems nowadays everytime someone mentions Skyrim, it just makes me want to play Morrowind (or occasionally Oblivion)

[@connorrod6251]

Silly question

[@brentrogers-se8kx]

Gate to sovengarde

[@ErosXCaos]

It’s one of a few games I wish I liked. I played it through twice. Once to play as a 2-handed melee build, and the second time as a diplomat. Unfortunately, both left me wanting. The landscape didn’t pull me in, and the dungeons were boring.

[@markcrouch9047]

You're high bro

[@ErosXCaos]

@@markcrouch9047 i forgot to mention the melee combat in Skyrim feels like dogsiht.

[@r1ddlebox916]

As a rpg player and played every elderscrolls game this game was underwhelming to me. Didnt hate it but it was dumbed down so much thanks cod players.

[@aaa3d473]

I just can’t replay it like I can oblivion. I don’t think it’s half the game oblivion was. I don’t to now if it even cracks my top 10 now

[@orionblu3]

Imo, the game was never better than a 6.5 without mods. The modding community made skyrim into the phenomenon it is

[@rogueraven1333]

Skyrim is bland and repeatative. Oblivion does a better job at capturing high fantasy and is a better rpg mechanically.

[@veilmontTV]

Unless you want to play a stealth archer you likely don't want to play Skyrim. Game is so overhyped

[@mister4721]

Skyrim WAS a good game in its time, but it has aged far too much, compared to the likes of Oblivion, though not perfect, but just plays a bit better and which has a lot of play left in it, to which i much prefer. And also other games like Dragon age Origins which plays far better than this game. Skyrim is still a pretty decent game though, but what lets it down is things like the 1. H2H combat which is very stiff and rigid, again compare skyrim to other games of this type. 2. The magic spell casting sounds just sound .....ugh!! HORRIBLE. I have never liked them tbh. 3 The damage that most weapons do is just insulting at low level to say the least. Far too low, especially when i remember attacking this Bandit and i must of hit him about 20 f**king times before he fell, myself i must of taken nearly all my healing potions just to survive this one encounter. And 4. Finally i absolutely hate when enemies just ignore any damage you do to them until the final blow. Its just Boring to say the least. Yes its still worth playing but if you like this type of game, then look for something better, Skyrim its just too ancient now and should be put in a museum.

[@comebackqing8452]

Not really. But I'm gonna