Skyrim Showdown: Anniversary, Special, Legendary, or Just Plain Old Dragonborn? Which Version Reigns Supreme?
So, you’re thinking about Skyrim? That’s a great choice! You will embark on an adventure with dragons, magic, and cheese wheels. But now comes the tricky part: which version should you play? Fear not! We will help you find the best Skyrim experience.
Skyrim Versions: A Dragon’s Hoard of Choices
Bethesda has released many versions of Skyrim. Let’s break them down. We have the Original Skyrim, also called “Oldrim.” Then we have the Legendary Edition, the Special Edition, and the Anniversary Edition. And don’t forget the Very Special Edition for Amazon Alexa. Yes, it exists.
Anniversary Edition vs. Special Edition: The Newest Rumble in the Reach
Let’s talk about Anniversary Edition versus Special Edition. Which one is better? This question buzzes through Jorrvaskr and beyond.
The Special Edition is like Skyrim 2.0. It has 64-bit architecture and DirectX 11, a big jump from the original’s setup. This means better performance, smoother graphics, and more stability. It also added mod support for consoles, a real game-changer.
Then we have the Anniversary Edition. This one is the Special Edition on steroids. It combines Special Edition with tons of Creation Club content. This includes quests, dungeons, bosses, weapons, spells, armor – you name it! It’s Bethesda’s decade of extra fun to celebrate Skyrim.
So, which is better? If you own the Special Edition and think about upgrading, it all depends on your desire for that new content. If you are a veteran seeking fresh quests without exploring fan mods, consider the Anniversary Edition. But if you are fine with what Special Edition offers, maybe hold off on upgrading for now.
Legendary Edition vs. Special Edition: A Tale of Two Eras
Next up is the Legendary Edition versus the Special Edition. Which version is better? This question matters for people looking at older versions. The Legendary Edition was the ultimate version back in its day. It packed the base game with all three official DLCs: Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn. It added combat cameras and a Legendary difficulty mode – for those who want tougher challenges.
Yet, the Special Edition is viewed as the superior choice today. It is more advanced and graphically enhanced. With a 64-bit engine and better visuals, it brings console mod support too. Although the Legendary Edition is a complete package, the Special Edition offers a smoother and modern Skyrim experience.
Original Skyrim vs. Special Edition: The Old Guard vs. The New Blood
Now for the classic clash: Original Skyrim vs. Special Edition. The heart of the matter comes down to tech. Skyrim Special Edition uses 64-bit and DirectX 11. The original runs on 32-bit and DirectX 9. That difference is huge. While the original is loved, it shows signs of age. It crashes more often, especially with heavy modding.
But here’s a twist! The original has many mods while Special Edition is still growing. When Special Edition launched, the original had many established mods. However, times have changed. Now, the Special Edition modding scene has exploded with Nexus Mods hosting countless mods.
In most cases, choose the Special Edition. It is more stable, graphically superior, and has a flourishing mod community. The original still holds nostalgia for some, but most players should pick the Special Edition for a modern experience.
The Most Recent Version: Bow Down to Anniversary Edition
The latest version is the Anniversary Edition. Released to celebrate ten years of dragon shouts and sweetroll thievery, it represents the pinnacle of official Skyrim content. If you want the latest official offering, choose the Anniversary Edition.
How Many Skyrim Versions Are There? A Scroll of Releases
How many Skyrim versions exist? Prepare to go down Bethesda’s release history. There are seven unique releases across nine platforms:
- Original Skyrim (2011): PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
- Skyrim: Dawnguard DLC (2012)
- Skyrim: Hearthfire DLC (2012)
- Skyrim: Dragonborn DLC (2013)
- Skyrim: Legendary Edition (2013): PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
- Skyrim Special Edition (2016): PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
- Skyrim VR (2017): PlayStation VR, PC VR
- Skyrim Anniversary Edition (2021): PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Skyrim: Very Special Edition (2018): Amazon Alexa
That’s a lot of Skyrim! Even Sheogorath would raise an eyebrow at this.
Skyrim Very Special Edition: Fus Ro Dah to Your Smart Speaker
Then there’s Skyrim Very Special Edition for Amazon Alexa. One version is completely playable through voice commands. You could shout “Fus Ro Dah” at an Echo, and something would happen. It was quirky and fun. Not serious for long gaming hours but a cool party trick reflecting Skyrim’s impact and Bethesda’s creativity.
Content and Features: What’s in the Box?
Let’s discuss the content and features that set these editions apart. What do you get with each version?
DLC Inclusion: Dawnguard, Hearthfire, Dragonborn – The Holy Trinity
Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn are part of Legendary and Special Editions. These DLCs are essential additions to Skyrim, adding significant content. The Legendary Edition includes all three official add-ons. Skyrim Special Edition also comes with all DLC by default. The Anniversary Edition contains the core game and all three DLCs as well.
- Dawnguard introduces a vampire-versus-vampire-hunters conflict, new storylines, locations (like the spooky Soul Cairn!), and lots of vampires and werewolves.
- Hearthfire lets you build your own house from scratch.
- Ground up? Adopt children? Become a homeowner? Hearthfire is a ticket to suburbia in Tamriel.
- Dragonborn sends you to Solstheim. This land is filled with ash wastes and mushroom towers. Prepare for a fierce fight with Miraak, the first Dragonborn. This expansion offers a new region to explore.
Creation Club Content: A Treasure Trove
The Skyrim Anniversary Edition combines Skyrim Special Edition with all Creation Club content available at its launch. This includes new quests, armor, and gameplay modes. Anniversary is Special Edition with added Creation Club content and perks. This content features Bethesda-approved mods. They are curated and polished, providing new quests, items, and gameplay tweaks. Picture them as mini-DLCs. They are smaller than the main DLCs but add interesting elements.
Fans debate if Creation Club content is “worth it.” Some view it as overpriced microtransactions for what modders give for free. Others value its quality and official status. The Anniversary Edition offers all this content, giving a vast amount of quests, items, and gameplay additions whether players want them or not.
Combat Cameras and More: Legendary Edition’s Impact
The Legendary Edition had the original game, plus add-ons like DawnguardTM, HearthfireTM, and DragonbornTM. It introduced features like combat cameras, mounted combat, Legendary difficulty, and Legendary skills. These features are mainly present in the Special and Anniversary Editions too. Combat cameras provide cinematic moments in dragon battles, while mounted combat enables fights from horseback. Legendary difficulty ramps up the challenge, making even weak enemies feel tough.
Legendary Skills: Endless Progression?
Legendary skills from the Legendary Edition let you master perks and level up your skills. Legendary skills develop like normal skills and hold no extra benefits compared to non-Legendary skills. This feature allows infinite character growth. When a skill hits level 100, it can reset to level 15 as “Legendary.” All perk points spent return, allowing new investments elsewhere and continued leveling. This suits completionists wishing to master every skill in the game. Its utility as a grind versus a feature for progression is debatable, but it’s there.
Mods: The Core of Skyrim
Regular Skyrim has many mods while Skyrim Special Edition’s modding scene is growing. Mods breathe life into Skyrim. The community has maintained excitement for years by adding graphical improvements and new quests. Both original Skyrim and Special Edition have large modding communities. Special Edition’s community thrives and gets more developments and support. If mods appeal to you, the Special or Anniversary Editions are ideal.
Graphical Upgrades: Enhanced Visuals
Windows players who owned the original game received the Special Edition for free. The remastered version features an upgraded engine and enhanced graphics. It also supports mods on consoles. Skyrim Special Edition runs 64-bit and DirectX 11. In contrast, the original is 32-bit and DirectX 9. Special Edition shows significant visual improvements. Better lighting, shadows, water effects, and overall fidelity make it more appealing than before. It may not meet current high standards but provides a better visual experience. Moreover, modding can greatly enhance visuals further.
Fishing: An Unexpected Enjoyment
Adding fishing makes the DLC worthwhile. Fishing is essential for an RPG. Yes, fishing now exists in Skyrim thanks to Anniversary Edition’s Creation Club content. Surprisingly, it’s engaging. This relaxing activity lets players catch various fish in Skyrim’s waters. Some fish are rare or used in alchemy while others are trophies. The addition enhances immersion and provides a way to relax in the wilds of Skyrim. Who knew fishing could be so calming?
Skyrim Special Edition: Is It Sufficient?
Is Skyrim Special Edition enough? This question holds weight. It depends on your love for Skyrim and boredom with its vanilla version. If you cannot run regular Skyrim, then yes, Special Edition is worth it. For many players, especially newcomers or returning ones, Special Edition is definitely enough. It’s a superb starting point.
Which Elder Scrolls game to start with? If new to Elder Scrolls, players should start with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It provides a complete modern experience with improved graphics and stability. The vast modding community enhances gameplay and includes all essential DLCs, leading to hundreds of hours of playtime.
Curious about multiplayer? Learn how to use Skyrim Together Reborn. To play, use Skyrim Special Edition 1.6 on Steam. Skyrim Together Reborn enables cooperative multiplayer gameplay despite some bugs. If you wish to adventure with friends in Tamriel, Special Edition is your path.
Should I upgrade to Legendary Skyrim? Probably not. Legendary Edition has less technical support than Special Edition. Is upgrading necessary? No. Special Edition offers a better way to play the game; it’s simply the more modern version.
Should I play Legendary or Special Edition? Most players should choose Special Edition. It is graphically better, offers more stability, has an active modding community, and gives a smoother experience. Legendary Edition remains playable but does not match up to the newer edition.
Skyrim Anniversary Edition: Worth the Price?
Is Skyrim Anniversary worth it? That’s the question to consider. Anniversary Edition includes Bethesda’s creations up to Nov. 11, 2021. This includes some controversial paid mods. The upgrade acts as a paid DLC for Special Edition, unlocking all Creation Club content. Whether it’s worth it relies on your desire for more content and thoughts on Creation Club. Even still, fishing makes it worth considering for many. The added quests and gameplay modes may offer welcomed fresh content. Others feel that it resembles paying for mods, which can divide opinion within the community.
Which version has it all? Skyrim: Anniversary Edition (2021). This version contains the base game and all three DLCs. You can upgrade from Special Edition to Anniversary for a lower price too. For those who desire complete content from Skyrim, Anniversary Edition offers everything officially available.
Creation Club content. What version of Skyrim has the most content? THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM ANNIVERSARY EDITION. This edition includes ten years of content: the core game, add-ons from Skyrim Special Edition, and both new and existing content from Creation Club. It includes quests, dungeons, bosses, weapons, spells, and more. Anniversary Edition is the king of official content. It’s Skyrim at its most intense.
Gameplay and Playtime: How Long Will Skyrim Steal Your Life?
How long does it take to beat Skyrim? This question troubles many aspiring Dragonborn. To finish Skyrim, which means completing the main questline, expect about 30-40 hours. If you seek 100% completion with all side quests, it can take 200-300 hours or more. Skyrim can consume your time rapidly. Main Questline: Focusing on the primary story quests, you might wrap up Skyrim in 30-40 hours. This time is good for a campaign length. Main + Extras: If you do some side quests but not everything, you may spend about 100-150 hours. This time lets players sample Skyrim’s vastness without becoming full completionists. Completionist: Doing everything in the game, including all side quests and exploring every location, may take 200-300 hours or more. With hidden corners and uncompleted quests, Skyrim is gigantic.
Factors Affecting Playtime: Playstyle: Are you rushing through the story or taking your time to explore? Your play style dramatically influences playtime. Are you a speedrunner focused on the main quest, or a casual explorer observing every detail? Mod Usage: Mods can increase or decrease playtime based on the type of mod used. Mods can introduce extensive new content or streamline gameplay, decreasing overall playtime. DLC: The official DLCs (Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn) provide a wealth of content, thus extending playtime. DLCs, notably Dawnguard and Dragonborn, significantly add to playtime with their expansive stories and areas.
Is Skyrim a very long game? Yes, yes it is. Is Skyrim an endless game? Thanks to the radiant quest system generating new quests, the game never truly ends. Skyrim’s radiant quest system gives rise to procedurally generated quests, making the gameplay feel boundless. You will never fully drain your task list, even if tasks repeat with “go here, kill that.” How many hours is Skyrim anniversary? When focusing on main objectives, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Anniversary Edition lasts about 37 hours. If you aim for 100% completion, you may invest around 158 hours. Anniversary Edition playtime closely resembles Special Edition, with added Creation Club content potentially extending time for completionists.
Can you complete all of Skyrim? Completing the entire game seems nearly impossible. The multitude of side quests often leads nowhere near an end. Truly “completing” Skyrim is unlikely. Another dungeon waits, new quests pop up, and more dragons appear to slay. The game fosters endless exploration and replayability. What game takes the longest to complete? Melvor Idle tops the list for longest completion time according to HowLongToBeat.com. It’s an idle game with an estimated playtime of 3,126 hours. While Skyrim is lengthy, it is not as lengthy as “Melvor Idle.” But it will certainly consume your free time.
Character Choice and Customization: Become the Dragonborn You Were Meant to Be
What is the best Skyrim race? In Skyrim, the “best” race relies on your playstyle. However, for versatility, the Breton with 25% magic resistance is a solid choice. The Orc excels as a melee warrior thanks to its Berserker Rage ability. Character creation in Skyrim is flexible and allows diverse options. No race is wrong, but some fit certain playstyles better. Breton: Racial Ability: 25% resistance to magic is useful throughout gameplay. Strengths: Versatile for any build, viable from early to late game, allowing enchantment on gear. Magic poses a common threat, making Bretons tanky against it. Orc: Racial Ability: Berserker Rage doubles damage dealt while halving taken for 60 seconds. Strengths: Best for melee combat, warriors and assassins thrive here. Berserker Rage can change battle outcomes. Orcs start with bonuses to heavy armor, one-handed weapons, and smithing.
Other Notable Races: Altmer (High Elf): +50 Magicka makes them formidable mages. High Elves wield magic remarkably well, conjuring storms and annihilating foes. Nord: 50% resistance to frost aids warriors in cold climates. Nords endure as frost-resistant warriors in harsh conditions of Skyrim.
Does gender matter in Skyrim? Gender does not significantly impact gameplay in Skyrim. Some minor exceptions exist, such as speech bonus with merchants of the opposite gender or a combat bonus from a quest in Markarth. Gender in Skyrim primarily serves cosmetic purposes. Speech Bonus: Certain merchants give a speech bonus when engaging characters of the opposite gender. This bonus provides a slight edge in haggling. Combat Bonus: A quest for the Priestesses of Dibella in Markarth grants a combat bonus against the opposite gender. This minor boost stems from a specific quest. These differences are negligible. Choose whatever gender fits your vision.
What is the best character to start in Skyrim? The Nord offers a balanced option for new players. The Orc excels at dealing damage in melee and soaking damage too. For newcomers, Nords and Orcs work well. Nords are forgiving while Orcs withstand fights brilliantly. Ultimately, any race can work well for a beginner’s first playthrough.
Is Skyrim noob friendly? Beginners don’t need to stress about building the perfect character in Skyrim. It’s generally forgiving, even at higher difficulties. Experiment without worrying much about min-maxing during your initial run. Does Skyrim difficulty matter? The difficulty levels alter damage multipliers affecting skills relying on them directly. Higher difficulty means enemies strike harder while you hit weaker. It’s not overly complex. Does Skyrim get harder as you level up? It depends on what you level up first. If you focus on combat skills, generally, the game eases up as you strengthen that aspect. Non-combat skills can create difficulties as enemies adjust with your overall level while combat skills may lag behind if neglected.
What is the best armor in Skyrim? “Best” armor choices depend on your playstyle and build specifics. Generally, Daedric armor ranks as the top heavy armor type while Dragonscale marks the peak of light armor options considering armor rating and smithing/enchanting capabilities. Your armor choice depends on heavy or light builds. Heavy Armor: Daedric Armor provides a high armor rating making it strong for tank builds. Daedric reigns as heavy armor—tanky and intimidating by design. Dragonplate Armor also shines as an excellent heavy option, known for high damage mitigation and durability. Dragonplate holds strong second place: stylish yet powerful. Light Armor: Dragonscale Armor gives a high rating for light armor choices and suits stealthy builds excellently. Dragonscale is elite light armor—agile yet protective. Yet with smithing and enchanting skills high enough, any armor type can emerge viable.
Factions and Relationships: Choose Your Allies (and Maybe Your Spouse)
What is the best choice in Skyrim? Choosing between the Imperials and the Stormcloaks is personal. It depends on your character’s journey. Is it better to join Imperials or Stormcloaks? There is no “better” faction. The decision relies on your values and preferences. The Imperial-Stormcloak war defines Skyrim. Stormcloaks fight for Nord freedom and traditions, opposing the Empire and Thalmor. They are nationalists, seeking independence. Imperials aim for political stability and provide some resistance to the Thalmor. They are loyal to the Empire, focusing on order. There is no “right” side. Choose based on your character and personal ideals. Both sides present strong cases and flaws. The conflict embodies moral ambiguity, adding to its intrigue.
Can you romance in Skyrim? Yes, you can marry NPCs in Skyrim. You can marry anyone, regardless of gender or race. This includes characters from Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn expansions. Skyrim allows diverse romantic options! Jenassa stands out among marriage candidates. She is an active follower, giving her a unique edge over other spouses. Jenassa, a Dark Elf mercenary, remains a favored choice. Why is she popular? She combines competence as a follower and spouse. Practicality in romance is appreciated.
Mods: Extending Skyrim’s Lifespan Indefinitely
Is Skyrim the most modded game of all time? It ranks among the most modded games, with nearly 70,000 mods on Nexus Mods and 28,000 in Steam Workshop. Skyrim’s modding community is well-known, creating vast player-generated content. Wildlander transforms Skyrim into an immersive world. Wildlander Skyrim is a popular modlist that enhances Skyrim’s survival RPG experience. The Requiem version powers Wildlander. It revolves around Requiem, which offers hardcore difficulty and realism. If you seek a challenging and immersive Skyrim journey, explore Wildlander.
Other Considerations: The Final Bits and Bobs
Is there inappropriate content in Skyrim? The game features dialogue and text with sexual references (e.g., “. . . all the whores your heart, or any organ, desires,”). “She . . . raped the men as cruelly as Bal had ravished her.” “Remember when you thought [he] was . . .?” While Skyrim is not overtly graphic, it contains mature themes and suggestive content. The lore sometimes discusses sexual matters and violence. Although rated “teen,” beware of some adult content.
What is the hardest content in Skyrim? Miraak serves as the final main boss in Skyrim. He is very hard to defeat. Miraak is notable as the final boss in Dragonborn DLC, known for being tough. He possesses powerful abilities and tricks that challenge players. This fight proves difficult for seasoned Dragonborn too.
Can you become king in Skyrim? No, you cannot be High King of Skyrim in the base game or DLCs, but mods can change this. In vanilla Skyrim, royal ambitions remain unfulfilled. However, modding can make it possible. If you dream of ruling, the modding community has solutions.
What is the best house you can get in Skyrim? Housing options in Skyrim vary widely. Choices range from simple shacks to large estates. “Best” depends on personal taste. Many prefer Proudspire Manor in Solitude for its location and spaciousness or Honeyside in Riften for its cozy riverside views.
Skyrim Similar Games? The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Special Edition 2016 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 2006 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
