All Elder Scrolls Games with Ranking & History

7. The Elder Scrolls: Arena

The massive Bethesda Softworks success began before the 1990s with popular sports games. Refusing to unite with Electronic Arts, Bethesda decided to design something unique – and that’s how Arena came to life, originally intended to be purely an action game.

Arena was supposed to focus entirely on action-driven duels and nothing else. However, more ideas for developing its lore came up, and surprisingly it became more of a role-playing game. Featuring an open world, repetitive quests, many bugs, and rather unimpressive locations,

Arena never became as successful as its successors. But it will always be iconic, establishing the fantastic The Elder Scrolls series. Which, by the way, were named that because it sounded cool. Only later, the actual elder scrolls become the mythical core of the entire TES universe.

You can download the game for free here

6. The Elder Scrolls Online

Developed by ZeniMax, the MMORPG set in the universe of The Elder Scrolls has become an answer to the needs of fans dreaming of playing with others. So now you can enjoy it all: a memorable atmosphere, classic features of the best MMO games, and more locations to live your favorite adventure even longer.

Image credit: ZeniMax Online Studios

The plot of ESO takes place about a thousand years before the events of the other parts, but it is not directly related to their action. However, you can count on encountering many references, familiar places, famous characters, and legendary themes.

There are also DLCs, introducing key locations like Morrowind, Greymoor, Blackwood, and more, expanding the lore of this world. While this isn’t strictly The Elder Scrolls classic series, it’s worth playing for an exciting multiplayer experience in an ever-expanding universe.

5. The Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire

Following the success of the first installment in the renowned Elder Scrolls series, Bethesda Softworks continued to innovate and expand upon the foundations laid by Arena. The Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire was born as a unique blend of action and role-playing elements, focusing on a more dungeon-crawling experience.

Image credit: Bethesda Softworks

Originally intended to be an expansion for The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, Battlespire evolved into a standalone game that brought players into the heart of the eponymous Battlespire – a magical training academy in the midst of an interdimensional war.

Battlespire never reached the heights of popularity of its predecessors or successors, but it remains a noteworthy entry in the Elder Scrolls series. Its refined gameplay, challenging level design, and captivating story make it a cult classic for fans of the franchise.

The Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire

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4. The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

With an almost finished vision of the gameplay world, Bethesda could let its imagination run wild with a sequel. So a new installation was born, featuring the largest open-world map of about 161,000 kilometers.

Inspired by the tabletop Dungeons & Dragons game, Daggerfall delivered everything that any fan of a decent RPG could desire. It was the first game in the series that allowed players to customize their character and fully engage in the history of High Rock and its inhabitants. They could go anywhere, buy a ship, meet 750,000 NPCs, or participate in trials. It was also the first title where players could become a werewolf or vampire!

You can download the game for free here

3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Running on the innovative Creation Engine, Skyrim has created a setting more gorgeous than ever. Featuring impressive animations, natural lighting, and a highly detailed plot, it reigns as the best game in The Elder Scrolls series.

Image credit: Bethesda Game Studios

One of Skyrim’s most groundbreaking features is its upgraded combat system, introducing dynamic battles that require a bit of strategy and skillful use of weapons. Also, the NPCs’ behavior is even more unpredictable than in Oblivion, so almost every action can trigger a reaction – often unpleasant for the protagonist.

It’s a game where you decide what to do and how. The multitude of activities will always keep you engaged! And those who care about The Elder Scrolls vibe will be pleasantly surprised by the harsh nature, atmospheric music, and changing weather that became the gem of this successful series.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

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2. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

The 2006 title takes players to the province of Cyrodill, with graphics heavily inspired by Lord of the Rings. Introducing a challenging storyline about the search for the only heir to the throne of Tamriel, Oblivion is one of the best games in the series.

Image credit: Bethesda Game Studios

Oblivion is a technological leap forward, significantly improving the AI of non-player characters and generating more details than any game in the series before. Now, all the inhabitants really live, committing themselves to daily activities and being part of a changing world. It is also more beautiful regarding the character’s appearance – including the protagonist.

The plot feels more logical and cohesive than in Morrowind. But players can still do whatever they want as they slowly explore a vivid world filled with unexpected adventures and ancient mysteries. And one of the title’s best features is Shivering Isles DLC, introducing a 30-hour campaign set in a disturbing land plagued with all types of madness.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

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1. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Morrowind is where everything has become even more magical. It was the first installation in the series released for the Xbox console and the first that abandoned pixelated graphics for absolutely stunning visuals.

Image credit: Bethesda Game Studios

TES III is only 30 square kilometers of the map but introduces so many factions, character creation options, new dialogues, and lore details that it’s hard to find a game as good as this one. Thanks to the new graphics engine, all the views have become truly breathtaking, delivering experiences like the ever-changing sky or misty sunrises, providing hope for a better day.

There are the strangest NPCs, like the falling wizard or the mud crab merchant. Plus, it features a soothing soundtrack by Jeremy Soul, which players love to listen to on Spotify just for the atmosphere and to reflect on the most delightful memories from this game.

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

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? The Elder Scrolls VI

At the E3 conference in 2018, The Elder Scrolls developers announced that work on the next installment in the series will not start until after the grand release of Starfield in 2022. However, there was a tiny delay.

As it turns out, the Starfield release has been moved to 2023, which means that TES 6 can be expected somewhere in the uncertain future. But fans do not stop making various guesses, creating millions of theories about what it may contain. One thing is sure – this upcoming title may dethrone Skyrim. And as loyal fans like to predict, we can hope that TES VI will come to life around 2026.