I may never get around to playing Skyrim. Is this something I should feel bad about?

[Dalisclock]

I've mentioned it before in various threads over the years but I feel like I'm one of the few people who play games as a hobby who has never touched Skyrim. To elaborate, I have a gaming PC, a PS3 and a PS4, while my wife as a XBOX360 and I log a couple hours a day on my days off and maybe an hour during my work days if I'm really into a game and don't have more pressing matters to deal with. I've owned Skyrim on Steam for at least 4 years at this point and somewhere along the that came to include the GOTY package with all the dlc bits. It was probably on deep discount or something. I honestly can't remember anymore.

However, every time someone brings it up in conversation, I have to admit I've never so much as touched the damn thing. Mostly, the reason comes down to time. HowLongtobeat puts the main quest between 24 and 33 hours(the special edition somehow is shorter, though that might be because of people replaying the Special edition and not playing for the first time), while adding all in the side quest pushes it out to about 100 or so hours.

That's a hefty chunk of time to invest. I suspect it doesn't help that I've never played any of the other ES games either. I have a copy of Oblivion I'm also likely to never play which a friend gave to me(and I haven't talked to him in years). I just know of the series and how apparently it's pretty good.

Meanwhile, I swear that every week or so a new game pops up on my radar that I file away to keep an eye on and at least once a month I'll grab a couple games cheap on discount sale, either because either because they were indie games(thus already cheap) with good reviews and something that grabbed my attention or a AAA game where the price point finally reached a point I felt it was worth actually paying for(which at this point in time is rarely above 30 bucks). Hell, the AAA games I do buy at this point are far fewer then the indies, both because I'm kinda sick of the AAA industries self selving BS("We can't afford to make games for $60, ignore the millions in quarterly profit") and the Indie market has far more games I actually have an interest in.

And then there's my backlog, across Steam, Humble Bundle and GOG, not to mention my PS3/PS4 library, which I've completely given up on keeping track of at this point.

I keep a running "To play next" list in my head, and currently it's something like this:
-Hollow Knight(On a short break until I finish Unavowed, also trying to wait out the new content drop in a week or so)
-Unavowed(Playing)
-Hellblade: Senuas Sacrifice
-Subnautica
-Assassins Creed: Syndicate
-Assassins Creed: Origins

The last few items on that list to be reshuffled and replaced pretty much at a whim, depending on how I feel at the time.

Skyrim is perpetually "Will play someday" but I've recently realized that while I've heard it's great and there's lots to explore and do and such and I do want to play it, there's always a shorter game that more in line with what I'm in the mood for now or want to get to now so Skyrim is always pushed to the "Later" pile, with so many other games such as Fallout 4, Dragon Age: Origins(I've started that one 3 times and still haven't finished it), pretty much any Western RPG from the past few years that doesn't have"The Witcher" in the title. Maybe I'm just intimidated by any game anymore that takes 50+ hours to really get the full worth out of.

I know it's a bit of a stupid problem to ramble about and this is more of a vent session then a question. I appreciate everyone who made it this far. I just kind of wanted to get this off my chest and run it past other people who might have something to say about this feeling.

 

[totheendofsin]

Nothing to feel bad about, maybe that type of game just isn't for you

 

[Hawki]

Peh, dirty scrub.

I jest, I haven't played it either. I haven't played any Elder Scrolls games, period. While I doubt I'd enjoy it much anyway, I just don't see myself having the time to commit to the dozens, if not hundred of hours required to complete it (if you can even "complete" an Elder Scrolls game per se).

That said, I do sympathize with this feeling. Very often, people are discussing games that I just have no experience with. When I see people brag about spending thousands of hours on (insert game here), I have to ask, "how?!"

 

[Yoshi178]

no. i tried it. you ain't missing much.

 

[Catfood220]

no. i tried it. you ain't missing much.

But...but...How can you say that? It was voted Best Game Ever on these very forums on its original year of release.

But yeah, I have to agree. There are some fun to be had in the side quests, namely the vampires and the assasins. But the main story is shit, especially the final fight against the main dragon where it seems that you aren't even needed as everyone else seems to have it all under control.

The game is alright, just not amazing.

 

[Gethsemani_v1legacy]

It is almost seven years old at this point and that age is beginning to show. It is still a good game, but it is no longer the epitome of what an open world game can be (Fallout 4 essentially does everything Skyrim does well better, GTA V is a much better open world, The Witcher 3 has a more immersive open world and better quests etc.) and unless you are ready to spend 10 hours setting up the perfect mod library for your Skyrim experience, you are not missing much at this point.

 

[Yoshi178]

no. i tried it. you ain't missing much.

But...but...How can you say that? It was voted Best Game Ever on these very forums on its original year of release.

i didn't vote for it.

shit game.

 

[Casual Shinji]

You're not missing much story, character, or lore wise. I guess the whole idea behind dragon shouts is pretty interesting, but that's about it.

The game is fun enough, but it generally consists of you going around the world killing shit, taking their stuff, going back to Whiterun to sell it, get better gear, level up. Going into caves and dugeons is where the game is at its best, but even then it feels like you're going through the motions. Not much role-playing to be had either.

Also that same fucking voice actor who does 60% of the male characters.

Still better than Fallout 4 though.

 

[Saelune]

Well, that depends...have you played Morrowind?

 

[Dalisclock]

Well, that depends...have you played Morrowind?

I haven't played any games in the series. I have a copy of Oblivion I was given like 10 years ago and haven't even taken it out of the box, for much the same reason. Though Skyrim is supposed to the easiest to slide into for a newcomer.

Unless you are ready to spend 10 hours setting up the perfect mod library for your Skyrim experience, you are not missing much at this point.

Yeah, that's another issue. Yeah, Mod support is great, but I don't want to jump into the mod scene until I get a feel for the base game.

 

[Saelune]

Well, that depends...have you played Morrowind?

I haven't played any games in the series. I have a copy of Oblivion I was given like 10 years ago and haven't even taken it out of the box, for much the same reason. Though Skyrim is supposed to the easiest to slide into for a newcomer.

Unless you are ready to spend 10 hours setting up the perfect mod library for your Skyrim experience, you are not missing much at this point.

Yeah, that's another issue. Yeah, Mod support is great, but I don't want to jump into the mod scene until I get a feel for the base game.

I mean, do you consider yourself a casual who is intimidated by reading and actually thinking of how to solve quests? Cause if not, then start with Morrowind.


And no, you don't need ANY mods to enjoy ANY TES game. I have been playing Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim for years without bothering with mods that do nothing but turn it into a different game that looks ugly and full of whorish dragon women with giant breasts and anime hair.


(Also joke about ofcourse a mod wants mods in a game ;P)

 

[MrCalavera_v1legacy]

Short answer: No.

Long answer: Noooooooooooooooo.

Objectively, you shouldn't feel bad about not playing this or that game, no matter how much praise it got. There are already too many games that cater to our personal tastes that we may never play. Add all those "critically acclaimed" to this pile, and its size becomes even more ridiculous. You won't be able(probably) to fully experience every title you want.
Subjectively: There are sooo many better picks you can feel regret about. I bumbled about in Skyrim for couple of hours, never came back to it, and still feel ripped off.

 

[Drathnoxis]

I had fun with Skyrim for around a hundred hours at launch, but it had a lot of problems that place it below Oblivion in my books (still above Morrowind, though). I can't really bring myself to go back to it, even with a billion mods installed.

 

[DeliveryGodNoah_v1legacy]

It's a good roleplaying game, but it's by no means some revolutionary RPG with some engrossing main story.

I think if it did have a better story, I might say you'd be missing something, but the story, in this case, is more of means to string along gameplay.

Plus it's still a game vastly improved by mods, which could easily add a few hours before you even start to play.

 

[Elijin]

I played Skyrim, and I'd still argue I never really got around to playing Skyrim.

Just a lot of smithing, and exploring of random caves. I was like, lvl 80 before I discovered dragons only appear in the world after your first story encounter with a dragon (Look, I just thought this game about dragons was real stingy with its dragons. Think like, the Sacred games, where dragons are super rare hidden bosses).

 

[BrawlMan]

I didn't' care for Skyrim back then and don't now. I played Morrowind, but that is a far as my experience goes with the Elder Scrolls series. I just don't have time rpgs in general. Too many games to play, and I prefer shorter games anyway. And if they are long, about 10-18 hours at most.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

No.

I played Skyrim, and I'd still argue I never really got around to playing Skyrim.

Just a lot of smithing, and exploring of random caves. I was like, lvl 80 before I discovered dragons only appear in the world after your first story encounter with a dragon (Look, I just thought this game about dragons was real stingy with its dragons. Think like, the Sacred games, where dragons are super rare hidden bosses).

Been there. One play through the dragons just stopped emerging beyond set encounters. I tried going back to earlier saves and while that seems to correct the problem, because they were so farback and I couldn't even remember all the stuff I had done, and because I wasn't entirely happy with the character I had created, I just decided to restart the game.

Each time I have played the game since then, and there is a paucity of dragon fights, a part of my brain just starts up; "Oh, it's bugged out. It's bugged out, hasn't it? What's the point of playing further? You just know the game is broken and you'll have to start again ... won't you? Won't you...? Wooooooonnnnnn''''''ttttt yoooooouuuuuuuu? .... Suck it, nerd."

Installing mods designed to increase the dragon fights didn't seem to correct the dragon situation, either.

 

[TheSapphireKnight]

I certainly wouldn't say that you should feel bad about, but I do think that it is probably worth your time. That being said I don't think you necessarily have to sit down and make it the one and only game you play either. Its easy enough to pop in and out whenever it strikes your fancy. Skyrim and Bethesda RPGs at large tend to be my go to games when I just want to just chill out and have a good time.

I find even just traveling Skyrim between quests to be an enjoyable experience but your mileage may vary. Some might say mods are essential to really enjoying skyrim, but I got a fair few hours in the vanilla game doing 3 different characters before I ever considered modding. Although I absolutely fell down the modding rabbit hole in the end, I wouldn't recommend modding if you are only trying to 'fix' the game. Modding is for the kind of person who enjoys tinkering with something they already like.

Long story short I would recommend it but don't stress about not getting to it right away or 'finishing' in a timely manner.

 

[Saelune]

No.

I played Skyrim, and I'd still argue I never really got around to playing Skyrim.

Just a lot of smithing, and exploring of random caves. I was like, lvl 80 before I discovered dragons only appear in the world after your first story encounter with a dragon (Look, I just thought this game about dragons was real stingy with its dragons. Think like, the Sacred games, where dragons are super rare hidden bosses).

Been there. One play through the dragons just stopped emerging beyond set encounters. I tried going back to earlier saves and while that seems to correct the problem, because they were so farback and I couldn't even remember all the stuff I had done, and because I wasn't entirely happy with the character I had created, I just decided to restart the game.

Each time I have played the game since then, and there is a paucity of dragon fights, a part of my brain just starts up; "Oh, it's bugged out. It's bugged out, hasn't it? What's the point of playing further? You just know the game is broken and you'll have to start again ... won't you? Won't you...? Wooooooonnnnnn''''''ttttt yoooooouuuuuuuu? .... Suck it, nerd."

Installing mods designed to increase the dragon fights didn't seem to correct the dragon situation, either.

Well, the likeliness of dragons depends on where you are at in the story and where you are traveling. Until you fight your first dragon for Whiterun, dragons just don't show up, then as you go through the story, frequency increases until you get to a point where it decreases. By the time you beat the main plot, it goes back down, though they still can show up.


But you also need to go places they show up, some places have higher chance than others.


It may not have been a bug, it may have been a combination of those two things...


I mean, it COULD have been a bug, but that is not the only possibility.

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

You should probably try a Bethesda game to see if it's your cup of tea. Personally, I don't find the gameplay to be very good and the writing is usually just straight-up bland. RPGs to me are also the worst genre because they tend to have the lowest percentage of engaging content of all the genres while at the same time having systems in place that really don't accomplish anything but waste the player's time.

I find the immersive sim genre (like say Dishonored) has basically all the same trappings of a Bethesda game but you just get the good stuff vs a bunch of copy-pasted content. Dishonored has something interesting every few feet whether it's a little visual detail or personal note left by a NPC. I kinda think a good immersive sim does all the things people love Bethesda games for but just in a much denser world as exploration and lore can be just as prevalent (if you get sucked into the world) as long with the freedom to tackle scenarios in many different ways.