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

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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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 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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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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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 / 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.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

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

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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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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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

7.5 / 10.0
Nov 3, 2016

If you didn't dig it way back when, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Special Edition won't do much to change your mind. It's still impressively open, but once you actually reach your objective marker, it morphs into a shallow experience with shaky writing. Mod support will naturally help grease the wheels a bit, but make sure you stick to Xbox One if you're going the console route and stay on the beaten side path.

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