When people think of Elder Scrolls games, many will automatically envision Skyrim. Understandably so, considering just how popular that particular instalment is 12 years on from its release – legendary editions, anniversary editions, DLC packs, the game keeps on giving despite its age. Yet, there are other Elder Scrolls titles that deserve your attention, and, currently, two of them are free to purchase from GOG.
Oh yes, the CD Projekt Red owned website is delivering the goods with this one, offering both The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall and The Elder Scrolls: Arena for nothing other than the file size of the downloads. These games are much older than Skyrim, and arguably less well-known than other Bethesda titles, so you may be wondering why you should bother adding them to your collection.
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“As someone who played Daggerfall for the first time in 2022, it is my favourite Elder Scrolls game,” explains Malbethion on Reddit. “Daggerfall has a huge degree of customization so that works for me. In addition, Daggerfall is where most of the Elder Scrolls lore was set down. The books are good reads. And, on top of that, you can do everything you can do in later games (which generally pare down Daggerfall’s features).”
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If you take a look at Steam reviews of the 1996 game, it stands at an impressive 9/10, with all reviews ranking at the “very positive” mark. And despite the graphics harking back to an age when we thought the original Tomb Raider looked realistic (I remember saying that), some players are saying that Daggerfall is better than Starfield…! Whether you believe that or not, it’s fair to say that this Elder Scrolls game still has an enchanting effect on all who play it, as any Elder Scrolls game worth its salt should.
But what of Arena, I hear you cry. Well, that too has a Steam rating of 9/10. Again, it's highly dated graphically, and it’s a dungeon crawler as opposed to the sprawling open-worlds we see in newer releases. Nevertheless, while it’s a 1994 package, it wins fans over with its simplicity. As one fan details, “I love Arena, however, I can understand if others don't. It definitely has a lot of flaws, and I personally wouldn't recommend it unless you're a die hard fan of the series”.
Perfect it isn’t, but for free, does that matter? You’ll get two lore-packed games that have helped define and craft what Elder Scrolls has become; that’s a priceless deal, quite literally.
Featured Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks, CD Projekt RedTopics: The Elder Scrolls, CD Projekt Red, Bethesda, PC, Steam, Microsoft, Cyberpunk 2077