The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim |
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| Developer(s) | Bethesda Game Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Bethesda Softworks |
| Director(s) | Todd Howard |
| Producer(s) |
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| Designer(s) |
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| Programmer(s) | Guy Carver |
| Artist(s) | Matthew Carofano |
| Writer(s) | Emil Pagliarulo |
| Composer(s) | Jeremy Soule |
| Series | The Elder Scrolls |
| Engine | Creation Engine |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release date(s) |
November 11, 2011
Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
November 11, 2011 PlayStation 4, Xbox One October 28, 2016 Nintendo Switch November 17, 2017 PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S November 11, 2021 Nintendo Switch 2 December 9, 2025 |
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an exciting action role-playing video game. It was made by Bethesda Game Studios and released by Bethesda Softworks in 2011. This game is the fifth main adventure in The Elder Scrolls series. It came out for Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on November 11, 2011. Skyrim was built using a special tool called the Creation Engine. The creators wanted a unique and diverse open world. They felt it was more interesting than the previous game's setting.
The game takes place 200 years after the last big adventure, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. You explore a northern land called Skyrim, which is part of a huge continent named Tamriel. You play as the Dragonborn, a special hero. Your main mission is to stop Alduin the World-Eater. Alduin is a powerful dragon who is said to destroy the world. As you play, you complete quests and make your character stronger. You can travel anywhere you've discovered in the game world. You can also choose to explore or do side quests before finishing the main story.
When it first came out, people loved Skyrim. They praised how you could make your character unique. They also loved the amazing world design and graphics. Being able to use two weapons at once in fights was also a hit. Some minor criticisms were about close-up combat and a few technical issues. The game sold over seven million copies in its first week. By June 2013, it had sold more than 20 million copies. Many people think it's one of the greatest video games ever made. It has inspired many other fantasy and open-world games.
Three extra content packs, called downloadable content (DLC), were released: Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn. These were later put together with the main game in the "Legendary Edition" in June 2013. A newer, better-looking version called Special Edition came out in October 2016. It included all three DLCs and improved graphics. A version for the Nintendo Switch was released in November 2017. A separate virtual reality (VR) version, Skyrim VR, also came out then. The Anniversary Edition was released in 2021–22. It included the remastered version plus extra content from the Creation Club. A new game in the series, The Elder Scrolls VI, is currently being made.
Contents
Gameplay
Exploring the World of Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a fantasy action role-playing game. You can play it from a first-person (seeing through your character's eyes) or third-person (seeing your character from behind) view. You can freely explore the huge land of Skyrim. This open world is inspired by Scandinavia. It has wild areas, dark dungeons, hidden caves, busy cities, and quiet villages. To travel faster, you can ride horses. You can also pay for a ride from a stable. Or, you can use a quick-travel system to instantly go to places you've already found.
Creating Your Hero
When you start the game, you pick your character's gender and race. There are 10 races to choose from. These include different kinds of humans and fantasy creatures like elves and orcs. You can also customize how your character looks. You can even change their appearance later in the game. Your character has three main strengths:
- Health: How much damage you can take before you're defeated.
- Magicka: Used to cast powerful spells.
- Stamina: Lets you do strong attacks or run fast.
These strengths slowly come back over time. You can also use potions or spells to restore them quickly.
You get stronger by improving your skills. There are 18 skills, split into combat, magic, and stealth. Each skill gets better as you use it. For example, making a weapon improves your Smithing skill. Using a bow improves your Archery skill. When a skill levels up, you get closer to leveling up your character. When your character levels up, you can make one of your three main strengths better. You also get a "perk point" to unlock special abilities for your skills.
Interacting with Others
Many Non-player characters (NPCs) live in Skyrim. You can talk to them, which might lead to new quests or places to explore. You can even marry some of them! You can also fight them. Be careful, though. If you defeat certain characters, you might miss out on some quests or items. Some important characters in the story cannot be defeated by you. If you commit a crime, like stealing, and someone sees you, you might get a bounty. This means guards will come after you. You can choose to go to jail, pay a fine, or try to talk your way out of it.
Quests and Companions
NPCs often give you side quests. These are extra adventures that can be very fun. Some NPCs can become your companions. They will travel with you and help you in battles. To get their help, you might need to complete a special quest for them. You can also join different groups called factions. For example, you could join the Companions, a group of noble warriors. Or, you might join the Dark Brotherhood, a group that takes on dangerous tasks. Each faction has its own story and missions for you to complete.
Combat and Magic
You can hold a weapon, shield, or magic in each hand. This lets you use two things at once, like a sword and a spell! You can quickly switch between your favorite items. Shields help you block enemy attacks. They can also be used to hit enemies. Different weapons, like swords or axes, have their own strengths. Strong "power attacks" use stamina to hurt enemies more. Spells can do many things. They can damage enemies, heal you, or even light up dark places. Bows are great for fighting from far away. You can also sneak around to surprise enemies or take items from their pockets.
Dragons and Shouts
As you explore, you'll meet many wild animals. Some, like wolves or bears, will attack you. Others will run away. Skyrim was the first game in The Elder Scrolls series to have dragons flying freely. These huge creatures can appear anywhere. They might fight other characters, animals, or even you! Sometimes, dragons even attack cities. When you defeat a dragon, you can absorb its soul. This lets you use special powers called "dragon shouts" or "Thu'um". Each shout has three words in the dragon language. The more words you know, the stronger the shout. You learn new words from "word walls" in dungeons or from other characters. You use absorbed dragon souls to unlock these words. You can't use shouts all the time; they need a moment to recharge.
The Story of Skyrim
Where the Adventure Takes Place
Skyrim happens 200 years after the last game, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It's a new story, not a direct follow-up. Skyrim is a cold, mountainous land in the north of Tamriel. It's split into nine areas called "holds," each led by a jarl. Big cities like Solitude and Whiterun are important centers. The land is full of old forts, camps, and ruins. Some were built by the Dwemer, an ancient race of Dwarves. The Nords, a human race, call Skyrim their home. But many other races live there too. These include Dark Elves who fled from a volcanic disaster in Morrowind. There are also Orc strongholds scattered across the land.
Skyrim is part of a larger area called the Empire. The Empire recently fought a big war with the Aldmeri Dominion, a group of elves. The elves believed they were better than humans. The war ended in a tie, but the Empire became much weaker. They had to sign a peace treaty that made them stop worshiping Talos. Talos was a human hero who became a god. This made many Nords angry. Ulfric Stormcloak, a jarl, started a rebellion against the Empire. This led to a civil war in Skyrim.
In the distant past, dragons ruled Tamriel. Three human warriors used a powerful artifact called an Elder Scroll to send the dragon ruler, Alduin, forward in time. When Skyrim begins, only one dragon, Paarthurnax, is known to be alive. He lives with an order of monks called the Greybeards. They teach a special way of using dragon shouts. Ancient stories say that Alduin will return to destroy the world. A special hero, the "Last Dragonborn," is destined to defeat him.
Main Characters
You play as the Dragonborn, the hero of the story. You can be male or female, and choose from ten different races. Each race has special skills and a unique power. For example, Nords are good at fighting and can scare enemies. You can also have one NPC travel with you as a follower. There are many followers to choose from.
Other important characters include:
- Alduin: The main dragon villain who wants to destroy the world.
- Balgruuf: The Jarl of Whiterun, a central town.
- Arngeir: The leader of the Greybeards, who teach you about shouts.
- Delphine and Esbern: The last members of the Blades, a group of dragon hunters.
- Paarthurnax: The last surviving dragon and a wise teacher.
- General Tullius: Leads the Imperial Legion.
- Ulfric Stormcloak: Leads the Stormcloak rebels.
You can choose to help either the Empire or the Stormcloaks in their civil war. You can also join other groups like the Companions (warriors), the College of Winterhold (magic users), the Thieves Guild, or the Bard's College.
The Main Story
The game starts with you being captured by Imperial soldiers. They are about to execute you, thinking you are a rebel. But then, Alduin the dragon attacks! You escape and warn Jarl Balgruuf in Whiterun. When another dragon attacks and is defeated, its soul flows into you. The guards realize you are the Dragonborn. The Greybeards then summon you to their mountain monastery to train you in using dragon shouts.
Delphine, a member of the secret Blades society, believes the Thalmor elves are behind the dragon attacks. She asks you to sneak into their embassy. There, you learn that Esbern, a Blades expert on Alduin, is alive. You rescue Esbern from Thalmor agents. He leads you to an old Blades temple. There, you see an ancient carving showing Alduin's past defeat. Esbern explains that ancient Nords used a special shout called Dragonrend. This shout forces dragons to land and makes them weaker.
Arngeir doesn't know Dragonrend, as it goes against the Greybeards' teachings. He sends you to Paarthurnax at the top of the mountain. Paarthurnax tells you that no one alive knows the shout. But he thinks you can learn it by looking through time. You find the Elder Scroll that was used to banish Alduin long ago. You use it to witness Alduin's past defeat. You learn Dragonrend by seeing how it was used. After this vision, Alduin attacks you. You use Dragonrend to fight him, and he is forced to flee.
Your allies then plan to capture a dragon in Whiterun. You help arrange a truce in the civil war so that Whiterun remains safe during this plan. The captured dragon, Odahviing, tells you that Alduin has gone to Sovngarde, the Nord afterlife. There, Alduin is feeding on the souls of the dead to regain his strength. Odahviing agrees to fly you to Sovngarde if you set him free. In Sovngarde, you meet the three heroes who first defeated Alduin. With their help, you finally defeat Alduin and save the world.
Game Development
How Skyrim Was Made
After finishing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in 2006, Bethesda Game Studios started working on Fallout 3. During this time, they also began planning the next The Elder Scrolls game. They decided early on that the new game would be set in Skyrim. They also wanted dragons to be a big part of the story. Full development started after Fallout 3 was released in 2008. The team saw Skyrim as a new step for both Fallout 3 and previous The Elder Scrolls games. About 100 people worked on the game. This included new talent and experienced team members. Todd Howard, a director for Bethesda Softworks, led the project.
Designing the World
The team built the world of Skyrim by hand. It's similar in size to Oblivion's world, Cyrodiil. But Skyrim's mountains make it feel much larger and harder to travel. The designers wanted Skyrims world to look more "epic-realism" than Oblivions classic fantasy style. Todd Howard wanted players to feel the "wonder of discovery" like in Morrowind. To make the world diverse, they divided it into nine "holds." Each hold was designed to feel unique. They also showed the different wealth levels of the people in the game.
The team also made each of the game's ten races feel special. Your choice of race adds "flavor" to how other characters react to you. It doesn't stop you from doing any quests. The team decided to hand-craft the world instead of using computer-generated landscapes. In Oblivion, only one person designed dungeons. For Skyrim, eight people designed the 150 dungeons. Skyrim has 244 quests and over 300 marked places to explore.
The Technology Behind the Game
Skyrim uses Bethesda's Creation Engine. This engine was specially made for Skyrim from the Fallout 3 game code. The team had many goals for Skyrim's design. They achieved all of them and kept going! The Creation Engine allowed for much better graphics. For example, you can see objects far away in great detail. Dynamic lighting creates shadows from anything in the game. The engine also made plants look more detailed. Trees now sway realistically in the wind. Wind also affects how water flows in rivers. Since Skyrim has a lot of snow, the engine made snow fall dynamically on the ground.
The team used a tool called Havok Behavior for character movements. This made walking, running, and sprinting look smoother. It also improved the third-person camera view. This had been a problem in Oblivion. This tool also lets you talk to NPCs in real-time. In Oblivion, time would stop when you talked to someone. In Skyrim, NPCs can move and gesture while chatting. Children are in the game, but you cannot harm them. Skyrim uses an updated Radiant AI system. This system lets NPCs "do what they want under extra parameters." NPCs can farm, mill, or mine. They also react to each other in the game world.
Sounds and Music
Jeremy Soule composed the music for Skyrim. He also worked on Morrowind and Oblivion. The main theme, "Dragonborn", was recorded with a choir of over 30 people. They sang in the fictional dragon language. Creative director Todd Howard wanted the theme to sound like barbarians singing The Elder Scrolls theme. Jeremy Soule made this happen by layering three recordings of the 30-person choir. This made it sound like 90 voices! Bethesda's artist Adam Adamowicz created the dragon language and its alphabet. New words were added whenever the team needed to say something.
Bethesda released four music CDs with the game on November 11, 2011. The soundtrack to Skyrim is sold through Jeremy Soule's distributor, DirectSong. A digital version of the soundtrack was released on iTunes on January 31, 2013.
The game had over 70 voice actors and more than 60,000 lines of dialogue. Casting director Timothy Cubbison oversaw the recordings. The cast included famous actors like Max von Sydow, Christopher Plummer, and Joan Allen.
Marketing and Release
| 2011 | Original release |
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| "Collector's Edition" | |
| 2012 | "Premium Edition" |
| 2013 | "Legendary Edition" |
| 2014 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2016 | Special Edition |
| 2017 | Skyrim VR |
| Switch version | |
| 2018 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2020 | |
| 2021 | "Anniversary Edition" |
| 2022 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2025 | Switch 2 version |
Skyrim was first announced at the Spike Video Game Awards on December 11, 2010. Todd Howard showed a trailer that introduced the story and revealed the "11–11–11" release date. It was featured on the cover of Game Informer magazine in February 2011. This article shared the first details about the game's story and gameplay. In June 2011, Howard mentioned plans for downloadable content (DLC). He wanted fewer, larger DLC packs, unlike the many small ones for Fallout 3. The first two DLCs were released on Xbox 360 a month before PCs and PlayStation 3.
In October 2011, pictures of the game manual were leaked. Soon after, footage from the game's introduction also appeared online. By November 1, 2011, a copy of the Xbox 360 version was leaked. This allowed some players to play Skyrim 10 days early. In the Netherlands, the game was sold on November 7. Stores in Australia began selling it on November 10.
On January 11, 2014, Bethesda teamed up with 2K Games. They bundled Skyrim with BioShock Infinite for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. This bundle was released on February 11, 2014.
Different Game Editions
At the 2011 QuakeCon event, the team showed Skyrim's "Collector's Edition." This special package included the game, a map, a 12-inch Alduin figurine, a 200-page art book, and a DVD about the making of Skyrim. A "Premium Edition" with the game and physical extras was released in Europe in October 2012. The "Legendary Edition" came out on June 4, 2013. It included the game, the version 1.9 update, and all three expansions.
Remastered Versions
On June 4, 2016, Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Special Edition. This was a remastered version for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. It was released on October 28, 2016. PC players who owned the original game and all its DLC on Steam received the Special Edition for free. This remastered version had an upgraded game engine and better graphics. It also added mod support for consoles. The Special Edition supported UHD on the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. It also supported 60 frames per second on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S through a fan-made mod.
A version of the Special Edition without DRM was released on GOG on September 29, 2022.
For Skyrim's 10th anniversary, a new "Anniversary Edition" was released in November 2021. It was available for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It included the Special Edition and 74 "Creations" from the Creation Club. It also added new features like fishing and player-owned aquariums. The "Anniversary Edition" was released for the Nintendo Switch on September 29, 2022. A DRM-free version of the "Anniversary Edition" was released on GOG on September 29, 2022. A DLC pack for the Special Edition was also released. This pack included all the content from the "Anniversary Edition." On December 9, 2025, Skyrim Anniversary Edition was also released on Switch 2.
Virtual Reality Version
At E3 2017, Bethesda announced a PlayStation VR version of Skyrim. It was called The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR and was released in November 2017. A separate VR version for Windows was released on April 2, 2018. It supported HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality headsets.
Other Ways to Play
In October 2016, a trailer for the Nintendo Switch showed Skyrim gameplay. At first, it was thought to be just for the trailer. But on January 13, 2017, Todd Howard confirmed that the game would come to the Nintendo Switch. This made it the first Bethesda game on a Nintendo home console since 1991. At E3 2017, it was revealed that the Switch version would support Amiibo and Joy-Con motion controls.
Bethesda also released a funny version called Skyrim: Very Special Edition at E3 2018. It was for Amazon Alexa. They joked it would also come out for Etch A Sketch, Motorola pagers, and Samsung smart refrigerators. The Alexa version turned out to be a real game. It played on the joke that Skyrim seemed to be on every platform.
Related Games
While Skyrim was being updated, Zen Studios made a virtual pinball game based on it. This was part of the Bethesda Pinball collection. It became available in Zen Pinball 2, Pinball FX 2, and Pinball FX 3. It was also a free game for iOS and Android devices. A Skyrim-themed expansion for the digital collectible card game The Elder Scrolls: Legends was released on June 29, 2017. It was called Heroes of Skyrim.
Additional Content
Official Expansions
Dawnguard
Dawnguard was the first extra content pack for Skyrim. It was about a battle between the Dawnguard and Clan Volkihar. The Dawnguard are hunters who use crossbows to fight creatures that are part of the game's fantasy world. Clan Volkihar is a family of these creatures. Early in the story, you choose which side to join. Dawnguard added new weapons, spells, and armor. It also expanded abilities for players who chose to become one of these fantasy creatures. It added two new areas: the Soul Cairn and the Forgotten Vale. Dawnguard was released for Xbox 360 on June 26, 2012. It came out for Windows on August 2, 2012. It was released for PlayStation 3 on February 26, 2013.
Hearthfire
Hearthfire was Skyrim's second extra content pack. It let players build houses and adopt children. Three new plots of land were added to the game world for purchase. Once you bought land, you could build a basic house. Then you could add more rooms. Houses were built from materials like lumber and clay. You could gather or buy these materials. Players could adopt up to two children. They could live in your home with your character's spouse. Hearthfire was released for Xbox 360 on September 4, 2012. It came out for Windows on October 4, 2012. It was released for PlayStation 3 on February 19, 2013.
Dragonborn
Dragonborn was the third and final extra content pack for Skyrim. It focused on your character's fight against Miraak. Miraak was the first Dragonborn. He became corrupted and wanted to control the world. This content pack took place on Solstheim. Solstheim is an island northeast of Skyrim. It was presented as another open world to explore. It added new content and let players ride on the backs of dragons. You could also learn new shouts on Solstheim. Dragonborn was released for Xbox 360 on December 4, 2012. It came out for Windows on February 5, 2013. It was released for PlayStation 3 on February 12, 2013.
In April 2013, Bethesda announced they were "moving on" from Skyrim. They were preparing to work on other projects. They said they would only release "minor updates" for the game.
Creation Club Content
Through the Creation Club, 74 small content packs were released. These were called "Creations." They came out for the Special Edition between 2017 and 2021. All 74 Creations were put together in the "Anniversary Edition" in 2021. The 74 Creations were also sold separately on Steam and GOG.com. This was called The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Upgrade. It was a single DLC pack for the Special Edition in 2021. The "Anniversary Edition" was not available as a standalone game on GOG.com until 2022.
Community-Made Content
Many official and fan-made mods are available for Skyrim. Mods are short for modifications. They are usually made using the Creation Kit tool. These mods are shared for free on sites like Nexus Mods. They are also available through the Steam Workshop. Mods can add better game stability. They can improve gameplay features or make visuals much better. They can also change weather systems, add new characters and places, or update the user interface.
The first Skyrim mod was The Fall of the Space Core, Vol. 1. Bethesda made it with Valve. It made a fictional device from Valve's game Portal 2 fall from the sky. This "Space Core" would follow the player and make space-related comments.
Enderal: The Shards of Order is a huge mod for Skyrim. It was made by SureAI. It's a follow-up to Nehrim: At Fate's Edge, which was made for Oblivion. It was released in July 2016, first in German. An English version came out on August 16, 2016. A 2015 mod called The Forgotten City was later made into its own game. It was released on PC and consoles in 2021.
Several Skyrim modders were later hired by Bethesda or other game studios. Alexander J. Velicky made the Falskaar mod as a job application for Bethesda. This mod added a large new land, new quests, and 25 hours of gameplay. It also had 29 voice actors for 54 new NPCs. Velicky was hired by Bungie in late 2013. Emmi Junkkari, also known as "Elianora," made a "Breezehome" replacement mod. She was hired in 2023 to work on Starfield as a level artist.
See also
In Spanish: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim para niños
