Which Is Better: Skyrim Vs. Elden Ring (2024)

FromSoftware and Bethesda have each crafted their magnum opus, in realms rich with lore and the opportunity to be the strongest 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 July 25, 2024, by Andrew Scariati: The battle of Elden Ring vs Skyrim was reignited with the release of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, putting Skyrim up against a growing gaming giant. However, there are many factors to compare Skyrim vs Elden Ring, so let's see how the Shadow of the Erdtree shifts the balance between these fantasy giants.

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 it's

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 the underground Siofra River, Elden Ring's map far surpasses 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 some aspects of the lore remain 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 to come, 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 Elden Ring lets you hang with your friends, laugh, and scream as you're squashed

by yet another massive 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 modders have continued to show their love, from mods that add new lands to explore to making things just a smidgen more realistic.Some

mods border on the 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.

Elden Ring's community is thriving, 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 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 predominant melee build by 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 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 some enemies are 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 has 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 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 Brotherhood, 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.

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.

Skyrim: Better Accessibility & Guidance

When it comes to navigating the worlds of Elden Ring vs Skyrim, exploring Skyrim feels much more comfortable for a variety of reasons, but being able to fully pause the world, check your map at any time, and return at your leisure is

a massive difference from the continuous experience Elden Ring offers.In addition,

map markers and a well-defined quest journal are huge RPG staples that Elden Ring skips out on, leaving many Tarnished uncertain where to go next without consulting a guide.Furthermore, Skyrim's

difficulty can be adjusted to suit your needs if you're walking around and getting destroyed by enemies, but obviously, Elden Ring isn't quite so welcoming to you if you're suffering against ordinary foes.

You can make Elden Ring easier, but it isn't as simple as adjusting a setting in the menu.

If you're looking for a casual experience, Skyrim will be a more comfortable game to pick up and put down as you please.

Elden Ring: Better DLC

While Elden Ring stood for quite some time without a true DLC to put against Skyrim's trio of offerings (Dawnguard, Dragonborn, Hearthfire), the

Shadow of the Erdtree debuted with a bang, easily eclipsing any of the Skyrim expansions.There's no doubt that Skyrim's variety of DLC has a few interesting storylines to follow, but

Elden Ring's DLC surpasses these tales with a world that feels like a second, miniature game, rather than a series of quests tacked on.While the DLC's difficulty can ramp up to almost unfathomable levels when you

battle the final boss.

Winner: Elden Ring

Well, there you have it: by a score of nine to seven, 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.