The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis no doubt Bethesda’s most popular title to date. It’s been well-loved by fans since its initial release in 2011 and has gotten multiple re-releases. More than a decade after its debut, however, fans of the franchise are eagerly awaitingThe Elder Scrolls 6.
Bethesda may be working onStarfieldat the moment, butmany believe thatThe Elder Scrolls 6is somewhere on the horizon. Fans speculate that the game could come out anytime between 2024 and 2026 considering the development periods for the past titles in the franchise. Despite release dates being unclear, one thing’s for sure: fans want more thanSkyrimset in Hammerfell.
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More Than Just Skyrim 2
The Elder Scrolls 6has big shoes to fill, especially given how popular its predecessor is.Skyrimhas seen various re-releasesand, to this day, has an active modding community. Clearly, it’s well-loved in the gaming community. However, this is a double-edged sword, as the enduring praise forSkyrimalso means heightened expectations forThe Elder Scrolls 6.
Recent rumors that thenextElder Scrollsinstallment might be set in Hammerfellhave rekindled the community’s interest inThe Elder Scrolls 6, with players excited to see what Bethesda has in store for the beloved franchise. As with all sequels, there should be improvements in the game’s graphics, gameplay mechanics, and any other carried-over aspects that might have needed polish inSkyrim.
Though, most importantly,The Elder Scrolls 6needs to set itself apart fromSkyrimwhile still delivering a distinctlyElder Scrolls-esque experience. This is easier said than done, but there’s plenty that Bethesda can do to achieve this.
Create A Rich World with Plenty of Quests
Assuming thatThe Elder Scrolls 6will take place in Hammerfell, then there’s already plenty of opportunity to make a game world distinct from that ofSkyrim. While the land ofSkyrimis characterized by snowy mountains, chilly tundras, and dense forests, Hammerfell is known for its vast mountain ranges, wide grasslands, and the desolate Alik’r Desert.
Though aside from creating a novel game world, the elements that populate said game world are just as, if not more, important. In this regard, the developer would do well to improve onthe Bethesda open-world formula. For example,Skyrimis filled with miscellaneous dungeons, but it’s guilty of having very similar interiors for them, stopping the areas from truly feeling distinct.The Elder Scrolls 6can improve upon this by introducing more variety to its interiors so that dungeons aren’t merely draugr crypts or dwarven ruins.
Aside from this, it’s also crucial to populate the game world with quests. The many side quests and miscellaneous tasks are part of what madeSkyrimsuch a fun experience. They’re a reward to players who go out of their way to explore and interact with the game world. That said, quests inThe Elder Scrolls 6should vary in content as well — from fetch quests that bring players to sprawling desert ruins to more conversation-driven quests that reveal ’s cultures and traditions.
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Tweak Skyrim’s Combat Systems
Exploring and leveling up become more fun when a game’s internal systems are optimized for it. This is something that was arguably lacking inSkyrim. In this regard,The Elder Scrolls 6could improve its combatby looking to the older titles in the franchise. Many in the community think thatSkyrim’s combat was a step down fromOblivionin terms of its mechanics because the latter generally had more variety.
In terms of physical combat,Oblivionhad four different power attacks for melee players, each with a unique effect.Skyrimremoved this feature, reducing it to a simple power attack that dealt more damage. Though both titles have overpowered archery,Skyrim’s is overpowered to a ridiculous degree.Magic inSkyrimwas also a step down, as the game didn’t allow for custom spells anymore.
Knowing this,The Elder Scrolls 6can improve its combat by giving players more options (and tweaking archery to be less OP). It also wouldn’t hurt to reintroduce custom spell creation, perhaps with a more modern system. After all, Bethesda seems to be doing something similar withStarfield’sdialogue system, which takes inspiration fromOblivion’spersuasion mini-game.
Present a New Threat to The Elder Scrolls World
Finally,The Elders Scrolls 6can set itself apart fromSkyrimby introducing a new crisis, so to speak.Oblivionhad theOblivionCrisis, andSkyrimhad the Dragon Crisis. As such, the next installment should bring something new to the table — a threat worthy of the game’s main questline. With rumors thatThe Elder Scrolls 6might not have dragons, it seems likely that Bethesda has a new enemy up its sleeve.
This new threat could be anything from a formerly dormant force residing in the deserts of Hammerfell to a cataclysmic event that takes root in the region. And much like inSkyrim(as well as its predecessors), this main threat is felt throughout the player’s journey. The Hero of Kvatch finds dozens ofObliviongates in their travels, while the Last Dragonborn constantly runs into hostile dragons. Such encounters remind the player of the dangers they face and what’s at stake, which makes the main questline more compelling. So, whatever the major threat is, it needs to be felt inThe Elder Scrolls 6at all times.
Of course, this is only a fraction of what Bethesda can do to makeThe Elder Scrolls 6stand apart fromSkyrim. And even then, there haven’t been any recent announcements on the sequel. The developer has been keeping the game close to its chest, so there isn’t much to go on. As such, fans will have to wait and see whether Bethesda decides to tease the long-awaitedElder Scrollssequel. At the moment, people are optimistic that there might benews onThe Elder Scrolls 6by 2023, though that remains to be seen. Until then, perhaps moddedSkyrimwill suffice.
The Elder Scrolls 6is currently in development.
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