The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition Reviews

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Ken McKown
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Nov 9, 2016

While all of these enhancements and additions are nice, I still don’t feel like it is worth it for a double dip. Skyrim is still a masterpiece of a video game, but for those that spent hundreds of hours already digging through, there really isn’t enough here to recommend jumping back in. I like the mods, the new visuals are lush, but the core game remains the same. However, for those that skipped out the first time around, there has never been a better time to take an arrow to the knee. Please forgive me for that.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 9, 2016

How does Skyrim Special Edition fare in a post-Skyrim world? Conceptually: Not bad. Technically: It could use work. The game should've cleaned up some more of its long-standing "Bethesda jank." But the rugged plains, the jagged peaks, and the deep forests of Skyrim are still a sight to behold. These stories, and finding your place in them, is still worth the price of admission.

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7 / 10
Nov 7, 2016

Skyrim is still a great RPG – one that successfully submerges you in a fantastic fantasy world that's packed with things to see and do. The remaster is the best way to play the game on console thanks to improved visuals, technical performance, and mod support – even if the latter is disappointingly limited on PS4. If you've taken part in this epic adventure before, then you may want to wait for the price to come down, but if you're a newcomer who isn't quite sure what all the fuss is about, the Special Edition presents an immersive journey that's perfect for those cold winter nights.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 2, 2016

Skyrim is still a wonderful game, with much to see and do. While it may be prettier here and function better than its PS3 predecessor, it continues to suffer from the same garden-variety bugs and glitches of five years back. Age hasn’t been especially kind to the mechanics or the writing, but the old magic is still shining bright as ever.

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85 / 100
Nov 3, 2016

If you’ve never had the chance to climb the snowy mountains of Skyrim, face off against its fierce Frost Trolls, or absorb the souls of dead dragons you’ve bested then jumping into Skyrim Special Edition is a no brainer.

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Wccftech
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Nov 3, 2016

Although the allure of returning to one of the most engaging Elder Scrolls titles might be overwhelming, Skyrim Special Edition itself feels dated, with little improvements made in terms of gameplay and graphics. You'll play it for hours, but you'll keep wondering why.

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8 / 10
Nov 7, 2016

If you haven't play Skyrim before, Special Edition is the version to get. It's a lazy remake though that still contains minor but frustrating bugs.

Review in Swedish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 4, 2016

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition doesn’t set the bar for remakes, but it is the de facto entry point for one of the best games ever made. With mod support, all of the DLC, and noticeable stability and visual upgrades, Skyrim Special Edition is a welcome addition to the current console generation. However, given the inconsistent value of the versions, take a few moments and consider where you want to play it.

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Rae Grimm
Top Critic
85 / 100
Nov 17, 2017

Skyrim is still an awesome, gigantic RPG, but it can not hide its age on Nintendo Switch.

Review in German | Read full review

PCMag
Top Critic
Dec 16, 2016

Skyrim is still a rock-solid RPG that's worth purchasing if you missed vanilla Skyrim. That said, if you already own and mod the original game, Skyrim Special Edition has nothing fresh to offer.

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4 / 5.0
Dec 10, 2016

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a faithful rendition of the original, perhaps too faithful, with visual improvements and mod support right off the bat for consoles. The lack of major new content and gameplay changes means folks who have burnt out while extensively playing the original likely won’t have reason to revisit this region of Tamriel. If you’ve never played the game before, however, it presents a great opportunity to experience one of the best RPGs to date.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 1, 2016

The impressive quality of the title, revived by Bethesda after five years, are always the same, and if you've never tried it, we strongly advise you to do it as soon as possible. For those, however, that had the opportunity to dive into the wonderful world of Skyrim, this remastered edition adds little more to the previous editions.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 4, 2016

Turns out Skyrim is even more fun the second time around.

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4.5 / 5.0
Nov 1, 2016

This Special Edition is nothing less and little more than Skyrim. That is either exceptionally exciting or a respectable pass, depending on how much Dhovakiin thirst the last five years has left you with.

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Oct 31, 2016

For all the visual enhancements and lusher vegetation, this Special Edition can’t disguise the areas where Skyrim has dated. Other games have built on the foundations Bethesda laid. What was once jaw-dropping now seems merely remarkable. Yet get stuck into Skyrim and it’s still a magnificent saga, with one of gaming’s most compelling worlds and the kind of breadth and depth that subsequent RPGs have almost always failed to match. If you’ve had your fill of Skyrim then there’s not enough new stuff here to make a second trip essential, but if you’re looking to start or rekindle an addiction, fill your boots.

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Oct 31, 2016

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a terrific entry point for those who were unlucky enough to miss out on one of the last decade’s best open-world RPGs.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 31, 2016

The Special Edition of the game, complete with DLC and available on Windows PC, Xbox One and PS4, manages to look great and old at the same time.

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82%
Nov 24, 2016

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition offers wonderful escapism and plenty of bang for your buck—provided you've never played it before.

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8.6 / 10.0
Nov 5, 2016

Skyrim Special Edition delivers the same classic adventure as it did in 2011, while adding packaged DLC, an upgraded visual package and the introduction to mods that have been keeping its PC gaming life alive and kicking for the last five years. Definitely a special edition.

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8.5 / 10.0
Nov 3, 2016

This Special Edition offers a complete package, yet it does not strive to offer truly new content, other than mods, so far absent on console

Review in Italian | Read full review