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.
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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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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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 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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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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Nov 15, 2016

Did Skyrim need a remaster? Probably not. Are we all going to buy it anyway? Probably.

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8.2 / 10.0
Nov 2, 2016

Skyrim has lost none of the original charm, even in the face of a successful porting so from a technical point of view. If you have never dressed as dragon blood, then this Special Edition falls perfectly and offers you dozens, if not hundreds of hours of content, complete with support for mods, even on consoles.

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Telegraph
Top Critic
Nov 3, 2016

Even after half a decade, Skyrim is an RPG with an unprecedented level of soul.

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Nov 12, 2016

Fundamentally, stepping back into Skyrim is like revisiting one of your favorite places as a child. Everything is like you remembered it, except it's been redecorated and modernized.

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Nov 8, 2016

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim gets a facelift with a new Special Edition that improves graphics and convenience, but leaves just about everything else the way it was in 2011.

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7.5 / 10.0
Nov 1, 2016

Skyrim is still a blast to play, and while I appreciate many have gone off it, or weren’t on it to begin with, there’s still an arresting quality to the world Bethesda built, a world full of individual places that feel like home.

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8 / 10
Oct 31, 2016

Skyrim Special Edition on console looks lovely and runs well, and with all the DLC included it's a great option if you aren't fussed about mods. If you are fussed about mods you might be disappointed. Or already have a PC.

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Oct 29, 2016

It’s showing its age and still suffers from the trademark Bethesda bugs, but The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a good enough excuse to warrant a return trip or serve as an entry point to this massive game.

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8.5 / 10.0
Nov 3, 2016

Quest, hunt, explore, get married, build a house, invest in property, slaughter entire villages – it’s up to you how you spend your time in the frozen north, and it’s absolutely worth a repeat visit.

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8.7 / 10.0
Oct 28, 2016

You can discuss graphics improvements, mods, DLCs and many more things forever. The truth is this: Skyrim is still one of the best RPGs available today.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Oct 31, 2016

A modern classic and one of those games that everyone must play but a little bit overpriced for a simple remaster.

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Paul Tassi
Top Critic
Unscored
Oct 31, 2016

Skyrim is a great game, but one where I finally might have reached my limit, as I discovered in this latest playthrough. If you’ve never played it, this is definitely the version to get, and if you’re a superfan, you’ve probably already bought it before reading this review.

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7 / 10.0
Oct 31, 2016

This remastered version of Skyrim includes a graphical improvement similar to the PC version with HD mods. The console version includes mods support, but this is not enough for Bethesda to sell this remastered game as a full-price version for the consoles.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Unscored
Nov 1, 2016

Upon fleeing the smoking ruins of Helgen, you’re treated to a breathtaking view of Skyrim once more and from that moment you’re inexorably sucked into a world that refuses to let go.

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Oct 28, 2016

It's amazing that after five years The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition can manage to fit right in with the best of the current generation. Its cold wilderness appears breathtakingly beautiful, and has been expanded on console with the introduction of mod support. Though, this package makes much more sense for console gamers who previously didn't have a way to enjoy the experience with the benefits of new hardware; on PC you don't get much for the inflated price. Nonetheless, any excuse to head back out into Skyrim and become consumed by its sense of wonder and enchanting sub-stories is a good one.

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