Now in its 5th outing, The Elder Scrolls is a franchise that fans of RPGs are pretty much obsessed with. Oblivion was a huge game both in size and critical acclaim and its sequel has had RPG adventure nerds such as I desperate for a sequel, and praise Talos (one of the nicer gods) we have one. If the devil is in the details then this is the most demonic game ever made.  It’s a huge open world affair where you can go almost anywhere, do almost any thing, and the main quest is often completely forgotten about.

So, you’re a “Dragon Born” which means when it comes to slaying dragons you are pretty much the go-to guy. As with previous Elder Scrolls games, you can chose from a variety of races, both humanoid and beastly. Personally I think that the cat and fish people are slightly silly, so I chose to be a Nord. I’m a Viking with a huge beard and greasy locks who kills dragons with massive swords and axes. And did I not mention I can fire lightening out of my hands like the evil Emperor Palpatine?

The biggest introduction in Skyrim to The Elder Scrolls world is the ability to “Shout”. Shouting is an ancient Nord power which is studied and taught by a bunch of monks called the Grey Beards who live on a really, really high hill. Each Shout comes in three parts and each part must be activated by the soul of a defeated dragon as these shouts are actually derived from the screams of said gigantic lizards. Shouts give you the ability to achieve such things as breathing fire and running very, very fast or even freeze time. Along with the soul that is automatically absorbed after killing a dragon in battle, you can also harvest their scales and bones.

As with the majority of RPGs, levelling up and perks make your progression through the game a far more interesting experience. You can learn and develop a variety of skills, such as lock picking, magic and blacksmithing, there being 18 skills in total. I mainly enjoy Destruction Spells, which allows me to fire various elements from my hands. Each time you use a skill, read about it in special skill books or ask to learn about it from one of the many inhabitants of Skyrim, this contributes experience points which eventually lead you to level up.

I also enjoy a bit of blacksmithing. I’ve been desperately upgrading in the hope that I can at some point use the dragon bits I’ve been gathering to make some nice dragon armour. When you have earned enough experience points you can upgrade your skills, from a lovely interface that is set out to look like constellations on a star map, which is one of the many terrific visual touches in Skyrim.

You can also help people and gain followers to aid you in your quests. They will help you in battle, hold your swag and even steal for you. Thieving is also something you naughtier sorts can happily indulge in. I’m not overly careful with my followers and have already lost a couple whilst battling in one of the many dungeons full of undead creatures and gigantic spiders. Speaking of darker paths, you can also practice murdering or even a spot of demon worship. Engaging in a drinking contest, with what turned out to be a God, led to all sorts of bother but ultimately earned me a brilliant weapon for my trouble.

Enchanting is also another key magical skill, using souls captured in fancy rocks known as soul gems you can award powers to weapons and clothing or recharge items. There are many types of gems relating to the various sized creatures you should trap in them, from lesser gems for animals such as rabbits and foxes to grand black soul gems for humanoids.

Reading is also a big part of the gameplay. Not only does it give you a variety of folklore and backstory to the ever expansive Elder Scrolls universe, it will also provide you upgrades. You can also be a proper grown up and buy property and even get married. Buying a house can be pretty essential, what with all your looting, harvesting and blacksmithing, you will soon need somewhere to store your ill gotten gains. Not only that, but you can kit your house out with such luxuries as an alchemy lab for home brewing potions and poisons or a library for all your books. Potion making encourages you to wander about and harvest a variety of ingredients such as mushrooms, troll fat, sabertooth tiger teeth and thistles. Fans of RPGs will appreciate that it’s these aspects which define Skyrim as a standout of the genre. You truly immerse yourself in your character, their world and you can do almost anything you might want to do, except maybe doing the dishes or going to the loo, but most other things.

The main story arc is supplemented by many side quests which range from the sublime to the ridiculous. Clearing dungeons of bandits and witches and the like is not only financially rewarding but a great way to level up, even if they have little to do with your overall progress in the main story. The game is made up of many quests, infinite quests in fact, with the game just generating randomised quests once the scripted scenarios are complete. 

The world of Skyrim is varied, from snowcapped mountains to lush green fields and forests, as well as dungeons, towns and cities for you to explore. You could buy a horse from one of the city stables and just go for a long ride around the plains, forests and mountains and be satisfied.

When playing Skyrim time seems to vanish. What seems like a few moments in-game are more likely hours in the real world. I believe this is Bethesda’s best game yet. Sure, I have encountered a few glitches, such as floating people and cheerful wanderers pottering about in the midst of a serious dragon battle. Regardless, it’s more than likely my game of the year.