To freely roam a mystical land where magic is deeply interwoven into the fabric of the world to the point you can taste it on your tongue, where monsters both majestic and terrifying soar through the sky and their earth-shattering Shouts rupture the ground. This is what the world of fantasy gives you, an escape from the dreariness of life — an escape that fantasy giants like Elden Ring and Skyrim can offer.
FromSoftware and Bethesda have each crafted their magnum opus, in realms rich with lore and the opportunity to be the most OP in the land. The Soulsborne and Elder Scrolls series both have an undeniable classic in their hands, but we've decided to put things to a test and decide who's got the leg up over the other despite the ten-year gap.
Updated March 28, 2023, by Lucas Ellinas: After more than a decade, Skyrim remains a mainstay in any conversation about the best RPGs of all time. Around a year ago, another contender entered the ring to critical acclaim: Elden Ring. Shortly after the game’s launch, we compared these two titans of fantasy gaming, and Elden Ring came out with a narrow lead. Now that Elden Ring’s first DLC has finally been announced, it seems like the right time for another look at how two of the best RPGs in recent memory stack up.
Elden Ring: Consistent Balance Patches
As you might expect, Skyrim's balance doesn’t get too much attention these days. The Special Edition does receive the occasional patch, but they come with minor fixes at most. If you want to improve your experience, you’ll have to turn to the modding community for help.
Meanwhile, FromSoftware has taken an active approach when it comes to making sure Elden Ring is balanced, releasing consistent patches for both PvE and PvP. If there’s a weapon you think is overpowered, or one that interests you but isn’t strong enough to see play, there’s a decent chance it will get changed soon.
Skyrim: Followers
Traveling the massive worlds of Skyrim and the Lands Between can get lonely after a while. And while going solo can create an atmospheric experience, sometimes you want the sort of companionship only an NPC can provide.
The closest Elden Ring comes to fixing this problem are Spirit Summons, which, while powerful, generally aren’t the best conversationalists. Skyrim, on the other hand, has you covered. Whether its fan favorites like Serana, or characters everyone loves to hate (looking at you, Lydia), you'll have a wide variety of options when choosing who should accompany you on your journey.
Elden Ring: A Bigger Map
The first thing you notice about Elden Ring and its vast difference from the other Soulsborne games boils down to the fact that you can now access a world map. From the verdant greenery of Limgrave to the starry skies of underground Siofra River, Elden Ring's map far trumps Skyrim's.
Not only are there more places to explore for some amazing drops, but Elden Ring's map does not leave you wanting with big, empty spaces. Instead, there's an enemy at every corner, with hidden areas and easily missable spots that you just don't experience with Skyrim's map.
Skyrim: Established, In-Depth Lore
Elden Ring's lore is undoubtedly multifaceted, deep, and well-thought-out, but there are some aspects of the lore that remains unclear and unexplained. Of course, the game hasn't been around nearly as long as Skyrim, so it is to be expected.
But The Elder Scrolls' history and lore have been established since its very first game, and Skyrim has further opened our eyes to how the world of Tamriel works. As the enigmatic Dragonborn, you get access to a wide array of books and living sources as old as time, like your dragon mentor Paarthurnax. All in all, Skyrim's lore is meticulous in its details and as realistic and relatable as any history book.
Elden Ring: Multiplayer
Similar to Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne, Elden Ring gives you the option to summon your friends for a bout of co-op. Well, with the number of difficult bosses in store, FromSoftware understands that you'll need all the help you can get.
Of course, Skyrim gives you a fantastic cast to choose from as permanent followers, but it's totally different when you can hang around with your friends, laugh, and scream as you're being squashed by a two-headed dragon.
Skyrim: Mods, Mods, And Mods Galore
Even to this day, Skyrim's mod community is still going strong, and there, fortunately, seems to be no end in sight. The game itself is already a masterpiece but Skyrim fans have continued to show their love, from mods that add new lands to explore to making things just a smidgen more realistic.
There are some mods that border on the absolutely comical, such as replacing all the spiders with wacky Spider-Men to turning all the dragons in the game into Thomas the Tank Engine. These mods only add to the game experience, and Elden Ring's modding community is gradually making their contributions as well. But right now, nothing beats the beast that is Skyrim's modding community.
Elden Ring: More Comprehensive Repertoire Of Magic
Despite the variety available in Skyrim's Dragon Shouts that make the game tons of fun, Elden Ring triumphs through the sheer number, comprehensiveness, and effectiveness of its spells and magic system. Elden Ring has taken Soulsborne's magic repertoire to the next level.
From wielding an arcane greatsword to flinging electrified boulders at your enemy, there's no greater satisfaction. Yes, you can wield lightning and fire in Skyrim, but Elden Ring's got Skyrim beat through the complexity and creativity of their best sorceries.
Skyrim: More Dialogue Options
In comparison to Elden Ring, Skyrim has more dialogue options. Elden Ring gives you two dialogue options, which are usually a 'do' or 'do not', or a 'yes/no' situation.
In Skyrim, you can seek more information from an NPC, giving you a better perspective on the situation and a deeper insight into the lore. Yes, at times, it can also boil down to a 'yes/no' situation. But being able to hold a conversation and interact with many NPCs is something you can't really often do in Elden Ring, and it does get lonely and isolating at times.
Elden Ring: Top-Notch Combat
When it comes to combat, Elden Ring has taken the cake. From dex weapons to wielding strength weapons, each weapon has its own move set and, at times, a special skill.
You can even perform AoE arcane attacks despite being a predominantly melee build by using attaching some sickening Ashes of War on your chosen weapon. In comparison to Skyrim, Elden Ring's combat is far more complex and well done, and it's understandable why when you have to face some insurmountably difficult opponents.
Skyrim: More Peaceful Exploration
Unlike Elden Ring, you can experience a far more peaceful exploration of gorgeous spots in Skyrim. You can definitely explore when playing Elden Ring, but you're constantly on your toes, looking over your shoulder if an enemy is creeping up on you.
Yes, that doesn't negate the fact that there are some enemies waiting to one-up the Dragonborn, but you're far less likely to get killed while going on a tour of the countryside.
Elden Ring: Amazing Character Designs (NPCs & Bosses)
Whether it be an NPC or a boss, Elden Ring pulls out all the stops no matter who or what it is. Their conceptual designs for their thousands of characters are always immaculate and underscore the magical aspect of The Lands Between.
For example, Elden Ring's dragon bosses vary both in size and in appearance from one another. One has two heads, and another's got four wings, while one poor dragon is slowly rotting away due to Scarlet Rot. But for Skyrim, all of their dragons generally look the same, with a slight difference in color and design, yet nothing too drastic.
Skyrim: Your Character Choice Matters
Both Elden Ring and Skyrim let you go through character creation. However, for Skyrim, what race you choose to play really matters to how other NPCs react to you, and can close or open dialogue options.
If you play as a Nord and side with the Imperials, Ulfric will lament why you're betraying Skyrim and the Nords. The most obvious example is when interacting with the Thalmor; of course, playing as a High Elf will cause Elenwen to react well, but any other race will cause them to be snobbish. All these little details go into making a great game experience.
Elden Ring: Better Atmospheric Locations
Don't take this the wrong way — Skyrim does indeed have some beautiful locations, but Elden Ring has taken it to another level entirely. Not only are the boss arenas one of the coolest and most innovative ever, but the various location designs are equally top-notch.
From a floating fortress surrounded by levitating rocks and swirling tornadoes to an underground city beneath an intergalactic ceiling, Elden Ring takes home the trophy for one of the best atmospheric locations in video games.
Elden Ring: More Compelling Endings
In Skyrim, you can do everything. Become Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold, Listener of the Dark Brootherhood, and Harbinger of the Companions, all at the same time. It’s enough to make you forget that you’re supposed to be saving the world from the dragon apocalypse. This is kind of a problem; Skyrim’s main quest might be the least memorable part of the game.
Elden Ring, on the other hand, provides a more focused experience. It has multiple endings, each tied to different characters. While being forced to pick a side isn’t always fun, it does grant every ending a unique sort of gravitas, at least if you’re willing to delve into the lore a bit.
Winner: Elden Ring
Well, there you have it: by a score of eight to six, Elden Ring is our winner. Of course, this debate could go on forever — there are many more comparisons to make.
Additionally, how heavily you weigh each of the factors we’ve compared already will come down to personal preference. Either way, these are two incredible games; you won’t be disappointed with either option.