Ten years ago I embarked on yet another adventure in Tamriel. This time the province of Skyrim was the backdrop. I honestly thought Oblivion couldn’t be topped but Skyrim quickly proved me wrong. The game won numerous awards and is still played 10 years later in modded or unmodded ways. A lot has happened and a lot of content has been created along the way. The 10the Anniversary Edition bundles tons of extras in what is – as of now – the ultimate version.
Quick introduction
I doubt anyone reading this won’t be aware of what Skyrim is but in the rare case you’re actually this late to the party… here’s a quick introduction. In Skyrim, you create your own character who is then plunged in the world of Skyrim to be executed… You are caught up with the wrong crowd and have been proven guilty by association. Being in close proximity to Ulfrick Stormcloak – enemy number one for the Imperials – was all it took to meet your maker. As you approach the executioner’s block a dragon appears creating enough chaos to escape. Dragons aren’t at all common in Skyrim and were more or less stuff from legends. This encounter might’ve saved your life but the return of the dragons can’t be good news for Skyrim. Not soon after the game starts you discover you are Dragonborn and have the power of the voice. Being Dragonborn makes you extremely valuable to the events happening because Dragonborn are great dragon slayers. From this point on you have numerous quests to embark on and each has branching paths to take rewarding appropriately based on your choices.
What’s in the box?
What is actually included in Skyrim: 10th Anniversary Edition and is it worth it? Well first up the 10th Anniversary Edition can be bought as a full package or as a DLC for the special edition released in 2016. The full package contains the core game in its “special edition” remastered version still looking sharp I might add. As was already the case with the special edition, the three add-ons: Dragonborn, Dawnguard, and Hearthfire are included. This alone will have you playing 150+ hours to fully complete. If that wasn’t enough, mods are also included as was already the case with the special edition. This was a big deal for console gamers when the special edition came out. The 10th Anniversary Edition only real new content in comparison with the special edition is the content from the Creation Club.
Creation club
Creation Club was introduced to a few Bethesda titles and is basically a micro-transaction store for approved third-party creations. Think mods but made official. The mods featured in Skyrim: 10th edition come with the warning of potentially “breaking” your game. Since these aren’t all tested, Bethesda can’t guarantee a smooth experience. Using mods bars you from earning trophies. Creation Club content is tested and deemed balanced enough to add to the original game. The fact that people who developed these additions are also paid for their devoted time is an added bonus. Buying all of the content in the Creation club could set you back quite a bit. This is where the 10th Anniversary Edition tries to make a difference. You get all the creation club content up until this time included in your purchase. Those returning after only haven played the original game need the full package to enjoy hours of content. Players who own the special edition can just buy the 10th Anniversary update to get the same benefits.
Is it still relevant?
I’ve mainly played Skyrim when it came out and made multiple runs and thoroughly enjoyed it. Bethesda is known for not always delivering the most polished experiences and Skyrim is no different. Despite it all, Skyrim shines in story-telling and the freedom you get to just do whatever you want without pushing you too much in one direction. For this alone, I would still recommend playing Skyrim 10 years later. I felt the same excitement I felt 10 years ago when I first started playing the game so the “magic” is still there. With the remastered version included in this version, you don’t have to worry all that much about it looking outdated. I would argue the game’s graphics still hold up. The added content from Creation club keeps everything feeling fresh even for someone like me who spent multiple hours in Skyrim.
Conclusion
Skyrim: 10th Anniversary Edition is the ultimate package – to this date – to experience one of the best (first-person western) RPGs out there. New gamers will get a great deal buying this package and returning gamers will have something extra to explore while waiting for the Elder Scrolls sixth installment.
