Game Review: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Screenshot from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on Nintendo Switch

My quest to save Skyrim from Alduin, the prophesied world-killing evil dragon, has only just begun. I mean this in game terms and real-world terms.

In real life The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is six years old, making it as ancient and dusty as the cobweb-encrusted treasure chests you'll discover in the terrifying depths of its dungeons. The thing is, I didn't play it when it was originally released way back in the PS3/Xbox 360 era.

This makes me the target market for this re-release of Bethesda's ambitious and sprawling open world RPG. Only now, thanks to the dual nature of the Nintendo Switch, Skyrim is untethered, freed from the shackles of the television and able to roam with you on holiday, on your commute, or wherever you happen to be heading.

It's hard to overstate how much of a selling point this portability is. Skyrim is humongous, with hundreds of hours of exploring and adventuring to discover. Especially as this Switch version includes all the DLC and expansion packs. Being able to carry this giant world with you is simply remarkable and allows you to dip in and out much more frequently than ever before.

This makes it an appealing option even for those who saved the day back in the, er, day...

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on Nintendo Switch

And you'll want to do just that. It may be a relic in gaming terms but Skyrim has lost none of its ability to enchant and enthrall. I often found myself battling fatigue and sensible bedtimes as I battled my way through various quests.

At first, its giant open world was off-putting and overwhelming. So I put off saving the world, narrowed my focus and decided to retrieve a stolen trinket for a friendly shopkeeper.

This simple little quest took me high into snow-capped hills, right into a bandit's base, then deep down into a scary dungeon before I was double-crossed and pitted against a giant spider and some kind of spell-casting, undead, big bad boss fella.

It felt epic, even though in the grand scheme of Skyrim it was less than a mere footnote. After that mini-adventure, around four to five hours of real time, I was 100 per cent all in.

There's a simple reason that Skyrim has been critically acclaimed and beloved for so long. And that reason is that it's bloody great.

So watch your scaly, dragon back Alduin, I'm coming for ya.

Platform: Nintendo Switch
Rating: R13 (Violence and offensive language)
Verdict: Don't be dragon your feet, Skyrim is as good as it gets.