The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim vs Elden Ring
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Skyrim is Bethesda’s landmark open-world RPG set in a Nordic fantasy province, known for its freeform exploration, dragon-shouting Dragonborn, and an enormous modding community that keeps it alive over a decade later.
Elden Ring is a challenging open-world action RPG that brings FromSoftware’s punishing combat into a vast, explorable land conceived with George R. R. Martin. It rewards curiosity and mastery with deep build variety and cryptic, atmospheric storytelling.
Around $39.99 for the Anniversary/Special Edition.
Around $59.99; Shadow of the Erdtree expansion sold separately.
- Enormous freedom
- Best-in-class modding
- Great atmosphere and exploration
- Tons of content
- Massive, rewarding open world
- Incredible boss design
- Huge build freedom
- High replay value
- Dated combat and animations
- Bugs without mods
- Re-released many times
- Very difficult, steep learning curve
- Little hand-holding
- Performance issues at launch on some platforms
What reviewers say
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Reviews
4.0 (2)Love it
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has been my go-to lately. Great atmosphere and exploration. No real complaints. Would recommend.
Good but flawed
Picked up The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim recently. Upside: enormous freedom. Downside: bugs without mods.
Elden Ring Reviews
4.0 (2)Love it
Sunk way too many hours into Elden Ring. Massive, rewarding open world. No real complaints. Would recommend.
Fun with caveats
Picked up Elden Ring recently. Upside: high replay value. Downside: very difficult, steep learning curve.
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
View all →A vast open-world action RPG with a acclaimed story and monster hunting.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an open-world action role-playing game developed by CD Projekt Red.
Alternatives to Elden Ring
View all →A vast open-world action RPG with a acclaimed story and monster hunting.
A moddable open-world fantasy RPG where you can go anywhere and be anyone.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an open-world action role-playing game developed by CD Projekt Red.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataSkyrim offers a flexible, moddable fantasy sandbox at a lower price, while Elden Ring delivers a challenging, high‑skill action experience with deeper combat.
Key differences
- •Combat style: Skyrim has dated, less demanding combat; Elden Ring features methodical, high‑skill soulslike combat.
- •Mod support: Skyrim boasts massive PC mod ecosystem; Elden Ring has minimal modding.
- •Difficulty curve: Skyrim is accessible to casual players; Elden Ring is intentionally very difficult with little hand‑holding.
- •Price point: Skyrim typically $39.99; Elden Ring around $59.99 plus separate expansion cost.
- •Platform reach: Skyrim also on Nintendo Switch; Elden Ring not available on Switch.
Gameplay & fun factor
Elden Ring’s deep build variety and rewarding combat are praised, whereas Skyrim’s combat is considered dated.
Platform availability
Skyrim runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch; Elden Ring lacks Switch support.
Price & value
Skyrim’s typical $39.99 price is lower than Elden Ring’s $59.99 base plus separate expansion.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Both titles are single‑player only; no multiplayer or co‑op features listed.
Content & replayability
Elden Ring offers massive world, boss design, and high replay value; Skyrim relies on mods for extended replay.
Difficulty & accessibility
Skyrim is accessible with low difficulty; Elden Ring has a steep learning curve and very high difficulty.
Graphics & performance
Elden Ring launched with high‑end visuals; Skyrim’s graphics are older, though mod‑enhanced on PC.
Choose The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim if…
Casual RPG fans who want freedom, modding, and lower cost.
Choose Elden Ring if…
Hardcore action‑RPG players seeking deep combat and challenging exploration.
Common questions
Which game is cheaper overall?
Skyrim typically costs around $39.99, while Elden Ring is about $59.99 plus a separate expansion.
Can I play on a Nintendo Switch?
Yes, Skyrim is available on Switch; Elden Ring is not.
Which title has more community mods?
Skyrim has massive mod support on PC; Elden Ring has minimal modding.