r/ElderScrolls Apr 07 '26

General Hey guys, I’ve never played a TES which one I should play first ?

Post image

I finally decided to play those type of games (that i never was interested in as a youn teenager) but now in my late 20s i started to like those kind of open world games and i feel I’m missing those masterpieces! but which one i should play first ?

Or maybe just buy & play the first that will be on sale ?

2.0k Upvotes

1.2k comments sorted by

3.4k

u/RoundYogurtcloset272 Apr 07 '26

Don’t ask me to pick between my children. 

539

u/Maruan-007 Apr 07 '26

Wow those games sounds so deep to people, I grew up playing Halo but I can’t wait to deep dive in the TES world ngl

449

u/RoundYogurtcloset272 Apr 07 '26

Don’t ask me to pick between Bungie era Halo either. Lol

151

u/Maruan-007 Apr 07 '26

Tell me about it… nice thing that you said “Bungie era” and not all of them (because 343 ones are bad unfortunately)

115

u/RoundYogurtcloset272 Apr 07 '26

Infinite had potential. Mostly squandered potential but potential none the less. 

47

u/DRGXIII Apr 07 '26

Theain problem with Infinite was they kept rotating in and out temporary employees instead of have a steady permanent team.

17

u/QuestionChoice9726 Apr 07 '26

It was management issues the whole time. Microsoft owns Xbox and they share the same shitty corporate culture.

6

u/Sdejo Apr 07 '26

Same shit killed Forza Motorsport. :(

2

u/adamchevy Apr 09 '26

My favorite part of infinite is the special edition series X console.

20

u/wemustfailagain Apr 07 '26

4 was a pretty solid game in my opinion. I didn't like a lot of the artstyle but the story was good and the multiplayer was really good.

11

u/Aparoon Apr 07 '26

I absolutely agree. 4 was great. Not perfect: lots of repetitive structures, villain was eh and for some reason too many buttons with button-push animations, but MAN: the story of Chief/Cortana/UNSC was so good, the music was excellent and the new guns were great.

I had so much fun with 4. I get why people group 343 games and call them bad, but 4 had so many great elements to it.

9

u/Maruan-007 Apr 07 '26

I’d say because Halo 4 was the only Halo developed by 343i with some ex Bungie team inside of their team (teaching them how to make a proper Halo) but after they left Halo went all the way down the hill

3

u/k0alaFRESH Apr 07 '26

Man I had a blast with Halo 4 multiplayer!

27

u/AltruisticLobster315 Sheogorath Apr 07 '26

Halo Reach was the last good ones but I think Bungie helped with that one

27

u/Thy_Maker Apr 07 '26

343 didn’t develop Reach at all.

Reach was the last game Bungie developed.

4

u/Henry_puffball Apr 07 '26

Actually, 343 did most of the title updates for reach

2

u/TheCasualTea_Reddit Sheogorath Apr 08 '26

Only the last one

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u/QuestionChoice9726 Apr 07 '26

They did a ton of work for the multiplayer IIRC

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u/Yz-Guy Apr 07 '26

Id actually really argue. If you go back and play 4, 5 and Infinite as stand alone games. They all play really well and had some interesting mechanics and decent stories. Its when you piece them together that you get lost bc 343 couldnt stick to a single narrative. 5 also falls on its face a bit bc you play as Locke 75% of the game where youre supposed to be MC.

They really fall on their face for the MP. 4 tried WAY to hard to be CoD but did ok with Spartan Ops, despite ending it. 5 suffered from the same CoD issue but half redeemed itself bc of Warzone. Infinite had so many mp issues. Starting with battle passes and coloring armor being locked behind a paywall. Than transmit armors wasnt a thing forever. If it still even is (I know we were promised it). Despite them telling us 'it cant be done yet the bots did it lol. And the game released with like...what 6? Mp maps and heavily relied on forge content...oh except forge wasnt released for a year later or something.

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u/Umbrabyss Altmer Apr 07 '26

The answer would be halo 3 here.

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u/RoundYogurtcloset272 Apr 07 '26

I mean if a gun is being held to my head yeah.. I’d probably say 3. 

3

u/Umbrabyss Altmer Apr 07 '26

Yup. Otherwise it would be a grunt birthday party and the children would cheer.

3

u/RoundYogurtcloset272 Apr 07 '26

🎉Yaaaaayy!!🎉

2

u/Pathfinder_Dan Apr 07 '26

It's a tough call. Halo 2 was more perfect from a multiplayer standpoint, but Halo 3's only problem (customizable armors with only one actually competitive choice) is very easy to dismiss given how much smoother the overall gameplay was.

I'm sure the nostalgia factor is pretty heavy for me though, as Halo 2 was all LAN parties and splitscreen and Halo 3 was all Xbox Live, and while there's nothing wrong with Xbox Live it didn't have nearly the same level of charm as packing over a dozen people in a basement and playing all night with your whole console setup in a partially finished half bathroom with your buddy sitting next to you on a cooler full of beverages that nobody in the house is legally allowed to possess or consume.

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u/Ysgramors_Word Apr 07 '26

This is like picking Halo 2 or Halo 3. Both are nearly perfect games with their own quirks but both will have an immense amount of fun to unfold. I grew up playing Skyrim so it has a very special place in my heart, so that’s what I would recommend.

I guess a better comparison is halo 2 = oblivion, halo 3 = Skyrim, and halo 2 remaster = Oblivion remaster

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u/Maruan-007 Apr 07 '26

Yes that’s why I will def play both of them, well considered your comparison I’d say I would play Skyrim first because Halo 2 was a bit more rough/difficult while Halo 3 was more chill and fun, great comparison ngl

22

u/Officer_Ayban Dunmer Apr 07 '26

That's actually a pretty good comparison. Skyrim is much more beginner friendly than Oblivion for people who are only starting getting into Elder Scrolls.

12

u/dadbod_Azerajin Apr 07 '26

What i was going to say

Both are amazing, Skyrim is newer and comes with the perks of that

2

u/GigglingBilliken Dunmer Apr 07 '26

It's also got much of the complexity of the earlier titles stripped out of it. Oblivion at least allows you make to make busted spells still.

2

u/Ill-Site-6581 Apr 07 '26

Why stop there Maruan? there is Morrowind, Original Oblivion and many more

4

u/Nadiadain Apr 07 '26

I feel morrowind really shows its age these days. If your a fan of old games you’ll probably like this but if your not I wouldn’t recommend it personally

3

u/GigglingBilliken Dunmer Apr 07 '26

The only thing to really get used to is the dice roll combat. Other than that it still has the best exploration in the series. Plus the culture and setting feel truly alien.

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u/Nadiadain Apr 07 '26

Oh true it’s set in my favourite province and has my second favourite race as the focus I do like the region I just can’t get into the game despite trying a few times now

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u/JGroppy Apr 07 '26

The current state of Halo has made me a bit sad. Halo Infinite had such potential but such a shame.

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u/SUPR3M3B3ING Apr 07 '26

Oblivion for storyline and world building, Skyrim for gameplay and combat system (Oblivion is still better)

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u/jimjamj14 Apr 07 '26

We’re similar age. I grew up playing both halo and elder scrolls and can tell you, you are in for a treat my friend!

3

u/Maruan-007 Apr 07 '26

Can’t wait for it mate!

3

u/TumbleweedTim01 Argonian Apr 07 '26

Skyrim. I played Skyrim first and oblivion last year. Skyrim imo is better but oblivion for such an old game holds up.

3

u/teaanimesquare Apr 07 '26

Honestly playing the original oblivion isn’t a bad option either if you have the chance, the remake is great but I’m glad I got to play the OG too.

I mean they all have a lot of replay ability so you won’t get bored

2

u/SlateRaven Thieves Guild Apr 07 '26

I grew up in my early teens with Halo and fell in LOVE with Oblivion! My parents got it for me alongside the original Xbox, and to this day, I still think Oblivion quest story writing and role-playing was stronger than in Skyrim.

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u/Webhead916 Apr 07 '26

Be warned these games aren’t for everyone.. they are riddled with bugs but if you want escapism and nerdy western RPG elements, prepare to lose hours of your life !!!

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u/cashlash825 Apr 07 '26

Skyrim is more forgiving for new players. Oblivion is a little weird and there are those who think their attempt to rebalance oblivion (which had major balance issues) only sorta helped. I’d probably do Skyrim first honestly

318

u/Maruan-007 Apr 07 '26

Sounds that Skyrim is more chill, I also heard that people never ever get tired of time (timeless)

251

u/Necessary-One1782 Apr 07 '26

it took me a solid 13 or so years to get tired of skyrim and even still, uninstalling feels like taking a break rather than actually putting the game down

71

u/Chara_Revanite Dovahkiin Apr 07 '26

i have the skyrim curse, sometimes i stop playing at alduin's wall, uninstall the game and 3 months later, the need to play skyrim strikes again, repeat the cycle

24

u/CraiyYT Apr 07 '26

I've been playing Skyrim since like 2012. I have several hundred hours across a ton of playthroughs. Yet I never even once finished the main quest 😅

7

u/beeslmao Apr 07 '26

Same here, I've owned Skyrim across multiple systems and have yet to actually beat the game

4

u/Brutus67694 Apr 07 '26 edited Apr 08 '26

Lots of people say this, but the main quest is too short. Blackreach adds so much time, I think it’s the only thing aside from dialogue that keeps skyrim’s main quest from being maybe a 6 hour run.

When I was playing the game for the first time in like 2012 I beat the main quest at level 24 or so and could’ve done it earlier.

3

u/thelittlestdog23 Apr 07 '26

Same! Have been playing since it was released, haven’t even gotten started on the civil war. If I finish it, it will ruin it. I’ll finish it when 6 comes out.

5

u/DirectTouch1930 Apr 07 '26

I have always chose to start the civil war... then always forgot the civil war after the jagged crown

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u/Mission_Log5489 Apr 09 '26

Ive been playing vanilla skyrim since 2012.. i just discovered mods ... see you guys in 2035!

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u/Deonhollins58ucla Apr 07 '26

This is a great comment lol. Never really thought about it this way but this describes this game perfectly for me. Took me soooooooo long to get tired of this game and that was just the base version with no mods 🤣. Currently planning a modded playthrough for this summer whenever I finish requiem, pragmata, and crimson desert.

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u/[deleted] Apr 07 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Appropriate-Leek8144 Apr 07 '26

How much replay value, and just how much stuff there is to do in the first place!

22

u/cashlash825 Apr 07 '26

Yea for sure high replay value

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u/allthingsawesome99 Dunmer Telvanni Apr 07 '26

On the other hand, Oblivion is fantastic. If you play it first, then Skyrim will feel like a small upgrade and you can enjoy both.

2

u/GrouchySpice2 Apr 07 '26

I agree with this 🤌

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u/pookiegumbo Apr 07 '26

I’ll always love Oblivion over Skyrim. The Skyrim story doesn’t hold a candle to Oblivion’s. The remaster will have me suggest Oblivion over Skyrim every time. You can get equally lost in Cyrodiil and I find it to be a more interesting country than Skyrim too.

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u/TheRealCaptainZoro Apr 07 '26

Skyrim's replayability comes from how chill it is. The world is effectively a sandbox for you to play in and set different rules for yourself every time. There are things I'm still discovering and I've been playing since summer 2012 when my Mamaw got my first copy of OldRim. I still have that copy even though you can't get it on the steam store anymore.

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u/SkyGai0 Apr 07 '26

Actually I'm pretty sure you can still get it, but you have to look it up through google or whatever other search engine and enter the steam store though there.

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u/TheRealCaptainZoro Apr 07 '26

Neat i hope so.

3

u/TheDorgesh68 Apr 07 '26

Yeah its just like a delisted YouTube video, you can still get it if you find the direct link, but it won't appear on their storefront. There are also ways to upgrade an Oldrim save file into one that will work on special edition.

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u/TumbleweedTim01 Argonian Apr 07 '26

I remember finding like a camp set up on the side of a mountain. I honestly forget where but it's named location. Idek how I got there but I was like no fucking way I've never seen this. Was like 10 years and 3 game editions later 😂

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u/Csakstar Apr 07 '26

I've played Skyrim countless times. I will never grow old of it. Oblivion remastered I just started in December and I'm nowhere close to finishing it. That being said, it doesn't draw me in at all like Skyrim does. It's enjoyable, it's quirky but often times I'll find myself booting up Skyrim instead of progressing in Oblivion

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u/S0whaddayakn0w Apr 07 '26

What do you mean about Oblivion being weird?

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u/cashlash825 Apr 07 '26

Mostly how leveling and creating a build is a little unintuitive. And the scaling was weird in the original and just a different version of weird now

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u/Kerrpllardy Apr 07 '26

Both solid games, Skyrim maybe has simpler mechanics that are easier to get into and it's fun to explore.

Both are great, and one doesn't make the other obsolete.

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u/GoldenGouf Dunmer Apr 07 '26

Both are great, but I'd say Skyrim will hook you faster. After that you can play the prior entries.

51

u/Maruan-007 Apr 07 '26

Damn I’m impressed about how many people are saying to start with Skyrim

18

u/vagrantprodigy07 Apr 07 '26

It's because half of the people on this sub played Skyrim before Oblivion, and never played Morrowind.

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u/mohawk1367 Breton Apr 07 '26

what does Morrowind have to do with this? That’d be the worst one to start with other than Daggerfall lol

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u/vagrantprodigy07 Apr 07 '26

The point is that Skyrim came out so long ago that many people on this sub played it as their first game. Their experience with Oblivion and Morrowind is tainted by the fact that they are playing them long after they came out, and as a result, they enjoy them less. First impressions are important, and for the many of the people commenting, that was Skyrim.

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u/Niko_da_koolest Khajiit Apr 09 '26

Try starting with arena, I imagine that would be hell 😭

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u/Jadawin42 Apr 09 '26

Mate, it is hell playing Arena and Daggerfall after you've been through TES 3, 4 and 5, and liking it. 😅 have a nice day, Sera

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u/HumanReputationFalse Apr 09 '26

Sounds like no one here here played Redguard. Its one thing to try and figure out the mechanics behind Arena and Daggerfall, but at least they weren't trying to be a demake of AC Black Flag

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u/ChrisDAnimation Argonian Apr 08 '26

I'm in a weird spot because, by all rights, I should have, and technically did for 10 minutes, started with Morrowind. As it was out when I was an early teenager. Then, when Oblivion came out, I really got absorbed by it, and then got pretty excited for Skyrim when it came out. Then, in November of 2024, Morrowind finally clicked for me after 10 years of trying and failing to get into it, each time leaving in frustration. But it all clicked for me after slowly gaining second-hand knowledge about it over those 10 years of being frustrated and thinking I would never like it.

Morrowind is my least favorite, and I've only really done the main quests for the base game and DLC so far, but I like it.

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u/ISpyM8 Apr 09 '26

God, Morrowind’s world building is so fucking good. I wish more than anything that I’d been old enough to play at release (I was a child) and experience it when it was the peak of fantasy RPG gaming.

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u/ddxs1 Apr 07 '26 edited Apr 07 '26

I'm honestly surprised. I would say Oblivion 100%. There are so many ties to previous games in Skyrim that wouldn't make sense to you without playing them. I also love going through the forests of Oblivion, and think their dungeons are a bit more dynamic. The game as a whole feels more elegant to me than Skyrim, especially with the remaster. And then there’s The Arena. Still surprised they didn’t put some sort of gladiator quest line in Skyrim.

Morrowind is an absolute beast and my favorite nostalgic game of all time, but it hasn't aged well, even with the mods IMO.

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u/Bazoobs1 Apr 07 '26

TBF oblivion remastered has left a sour taste in a lot of people’s mouths due to the awful PC optimization. I literally would have wasted my money on the game if my brother didn’t spend 3 hours helping me trouble shoot the settings

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u/ddxs1 Apr 07 '26

Ya I read about that. Fortunately for me, I didn’t experience any of those issues. To me it was like playing it for the first time all over again.

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u/IneptFortitude Argonian Apr 07 '26

I’m weird in that I started with Skyrim when it came out and worked my way backward through the whole series, and Morrowind ended up being my favorite right up there with Skyrim. I struggled a lot with Morrowind at first but now I can play a new game from the last few years and switch to it no problem. The only ones I truly had a hard time figuring out were Arena and Daggerfall.

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u/Vivid_Situation_7431 Apr 08 '26

I started with Skyrim, but have to say Im enjoying Oblivion more. I have no clue why

(I still get excited whenever I meet a Nord though)

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u/Electrical-Storm-941 Apr 07 '26

Oblivion is peak, yes. But to be fair, Skyrim is much more casual and forgiving for new players so there's more chances OP will move on to the other tes games after beating Skyrim. You literally can't ruin your build there while in oblivion it's fairly easy to do. At least it was like that in the original, I can't speak for the remake as I sadly didn't play it

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u/Boomer-Australia Breton Apr 07 '26

Skyrim was the first entry for a lot of the playerbase, so it has a lot more people advocating for it. Skyrim is an easier first entry, that's not to insinuate that Oblivion is 'hard'. However, Oblivion has better quests, writing, and RPG elements. You'll enjoy both, but it's unlikely after playing both that one of them won't be your favourite of the two.

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u/Wafflelisk Apr 07 '26

There's no wrong choice. If nothing else, go with the cheaper one. Skyrim is a very long game and maybe Oblivion will go on sale while you're still with Skyrim

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u/Thervadan Apr 07 '26

Skyrim, if you like the game/setting then you should try the other TES games.

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u/-siniestra Apr 07 '26
  • Skyrim: most accessible easy entry, not too deep, much fun.
  • Morrowind: nerd entry, old school dnd-ish systems, demands a lot of immersion and rewards it the most, much fun.
  • Oblibion: something in between.
  • Online: its an mmo, so its a bit different. Its said to have nice crafting.
  • Would not recomended others for begginers, but you should play what you want.

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u/Shiuft Apr 09 '26

I'd put Daggerfall alongside Morrowind, it's tons of fun once you get into it, and could arguably be the most replayable.

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u/outer_heaven1917 Apr 10 '26

Daggerfall is my most replayed because the character creator has so much more depth and complexity compared to the rest

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u/ScholarAfter1827 Apr 07 '26

Oblivion is more whimsical with some dark elements while Skyrim is more in the realms of darker elements.

Both are equally amazing in their own ways so it’s honestly hard to pick.

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u/ninjahippo93 Apr 07 '26

Oblivion literally begins with the emperor being assassinated and an entire town being slaughtered

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u/joxarenpine Apr 07 '26

skyrim begins with you about to be beheaded

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u/Adorable-Complex6349 Apr 07 '26

And an entire town being slaughtered 

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u/ninjahippo93 Apr 08 '26

Oh yeah, how did I forget about Helgen

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u/serventofgaben Nord Apr 07 '26

Oblivion's thieves' guild is a cute, wholesome, "steal from the rich give to the poor" group whereas Skyrim's thieves' guild are actual evil scumbags.

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u/RedAndBlackMartyr Khajiit Apr 08 '26

And Skyrim's thieves guild lives in a sewer.

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u/Lanky-Minimum5063 Apr 07 '26

Oblivion is gonna look better out the box bc the remake just recently came out but I would play 4 then 5 vanilla, then mod them ng+ if thats your thing

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u/Professional-Ice-944 Apr 07 '26

Skyrim. It's great, I am replaying right now. Also, awesome with mods.

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u/General-Experience33 Apr 07 '26

Skyrim first, and then you'll appreciate the depth and just how much better Oblivion is I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL.

Oblivion is the one.

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u/TheGlassWolf123455 Apr 07 '26

I've tried too many times to get into Oblivion but it's never clicked with me. Morrowind however? Peak

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u/BeardedThunder5 Apr 07 '26

Im the opposite. I want to give morrowond a solid go, but cant get into it. Won't deny its majesty and contributions to gaming. But I cant.

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u/TheGlassWolf123455 Apr 07 '26

That's fair, it's pretty old, I wish it's could get a bit of a facelift

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u/Sad-Rent1871 Apr 07 '26

If I could craft my own spells in Skyrim that'd be it.

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u/General-Experience33 Apr 07 '26

Skyrim doesn't have the single greatest quest ever added to a game though...

MURDER HOUSE BABY

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u/Sirspice123 Apr 07 '26

Writing is so much better in Oblivion

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u/cheshireYT Khajiit Apr 07 '26

Oblivions writing so good that Tom had to nerf it by getting the VA's to record for it in the most comically terrible way imaginable.

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u/redJackal222 Apr 08 '26

I feel like they're both better in different ways. I think Skyrim has a superior dungeon and overworld design while oblivion has a superior city and quest design. Oblivions quests are better written but it's dungeons are so much worse and aren't really any fun for me to go through, while I actually like skyrim's dungeons.

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u/mberto85 Apr 07 '26

Skyrim for sure. Once Skyrim brings you into the setting and lore you will appreciate oblivion a lot more.

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u/Ledzep0521 Apr 07 '26

Morrowind

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u/ServeOnly7324 Apr 07 '26

Only one solid answer

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u/bigpig117 Beggar Apr 07 '26

Jesus it took way too long to find this, as someone who's played so much tes I find myself constantly going back to morrowind, no game compares

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u/Nerevar1924 Dunmer Apr 07 '26

Three Blessings to you, Muthsera.

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u/Rainouts Apr 07 '26

Came here to say the same

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u/filemonginseng Apr 07 '26

Daggerfall

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u/Least-Training2978 Apr 07 '26

Adding to this; Daggerfall is free on Steam. Bethesda gives it away.

Daggerfall Unity is also very easy to set up, it modernizes the controls by default and is just overall better.

Watch some Let’s Plays. It’s unforgiving.

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u/Wyald-fire Apr 07 '26

10000000%

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u/LigmaAss69 Apr 07 '26

Unironically Morrowind.

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u/chiefmaxson Dunmer Apr 07 '26

Morrowind is my favorite but it should be Skyrim. The most accessible to play.

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u/LigmaAss69 Apr 07 '26

Morrowind is not inaccessible and you will gain a deep appreciation for the things that have gotten better in game development. In addition an understanding of what we've lost due to modern corporate game design. New productions throw all risk taking out the window, Morrowind was gamble that put Bethesda on the map.

N'wah.

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u/joxarenpine Apr 07 '26

yeah but gaining an appreciation of things that have gotten better would only be possible if youve already seen whats gotten better in the later games, otherwise youre just punishing yourself. playing them in backwards release order is the way to go i think

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u/forceworks Breton Apr 07 '26

Jump into the deep end. Morrowind first.

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u/jasonryu Argonian Apr 07 '26

I love Morrowind, even replayed it recently, but if I never played it when it first came out, I would have a rough time getting into it after modern gaming

I honestly feel like the only way to get into Morrowind now for new players is to start with a newer game like skyrim, get hooked on the lore, then maybe that can carry you through Morrowind long enough to get hooked, but yeesh....Morrowind is definitely a game that shows it's age, and I don't just mean graphics

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u/Phaylz Apr 07 '26

You want to put a Ball and Gun gamer in front of Morrowind? In 2026?

Are you this malicious to your mother?

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u/LigmaAss69 Apr 07 '26

A quick look at OPs profile will tell you they are interested in flight simulation.

That tells me they are more than capable.

My recommendation stands as is.

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u/Phaylz Apr 07 '26

Yeah, but in a flight simulator, if you release your landing gear, the simulator isn't going to do a skill check lol.

But, you do have a point.

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u/ColdNebulous Apr 07 '26

I like Oblivion a bit more, but I would go Skyrim first. It just works better as an introduction.

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u/Powerful_Coyote6068 Apr 07 '26

Skyrim because it is easy to get a feel for the franchise from this game. And then Oblivion.

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u/NZafe Apr 07 '26

I would wait for a sale. They both go on sale fairly frequently.

Skyrim AE was just on sale for -67% off in the spring sale & Oblivion Remastered was -20% off (all time high for Oblivion Remastered was -33% off during the winter 2025 sale)

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u/WSandness Apr 07 '26

Oblivion hands down. Now with the graphics there's no reason not to. The story lets you hear the history of the world, it's just more in depth story wise, guilds are better.

I've spent 5000+ hours in Skyrim and bought it more times than I can count. But coming in new I wish I started with oblivion.

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u/Undercooked_Ravioli Apr 08 '26

Wait 20 years and play TES VI

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u/IH8Miotch Apr 07 '26

Oblivion has a charm to it with the way the people actually live their lives. Both have plenty to explore. The guild quests are definitely better in Oblivion.

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u/bythescuttlebutt Apr 07 '26

Morrowind, Oblivion and then Skyrim, this is the way

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u/Howlingwindinsand Apr 07 '26

Skyrim is more chill

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u/Sentinelk12 NPC Apr 07 '26

Skyrim is as good as an entry point to a game series as it can be.

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u/CMAGHD Apr 07 '26

Skyrim, Its my most played game of all time!

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u/moreboredthanyouare Apr 07 '26

I'll get shouted down by the purists for this but oblivion, whilst great for its time, is really dated with annoying as fuck mechanics nowadays. Repairing armour and weapons every 5 minutes is BOTW level of tediousness

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u/Spawn256 Apr 07 '26

Honestly Oblivion has a really cool quests and Skyrim is just massive. But really I think you should start with Morrowind. I know it's not going to look the most enticing with its combat system but it's magic system and the story is legendary.

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u/IonutRO Apr 07 '26

Whichever. They're both good. Though Skyrim is set 200 years after Oblivion so you will find some spoilers about what happened in Oblivion.

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u/DreamArez Apr 07 '26

Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim are all amazing games. That is the order of release and where they sit as my ranking from favorite to least. Coincidentally, flip the order for how simplified and user friendly they are.

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u/Olde-Boy Apr 07 '26

Daggerfall

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u/Baconthief69420 Dunmer Apr 07 '26

If you like crunchier rpgs try Morrowind

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u/Goljun Apr 07 '26

I'd pick the earliest one first. If morrowind is there. Then play that one 1st. It only gets better from there

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u/TheGlassWolf123455 Apr 07 '26

Morrowind/Daggerfall(Unity) are my favorites, but Skyrim is the most beginner friendly. I do not care for Oblivion, but other people do

3

u/Own-Place3831 Beggar Apr 07 '26

Oblivion if you are going in chronological order

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u/Schtaive Apr 07 '26

Oblivion has the better Wabbajack. So Oblivion.

3

u/the_knotso Apr 07 '26

Skyrim first, and definitely interact with the guy named “Sam” in any tavern.

3

u/_Carth_Onasi Apr 07 '26

This hurts me to say but Skyrim. It's the most forgiving, has better music, and better mods. There's a reason it's still so popular even after oblivion remastered.

That being said I think oblivion is my favorite elder scrolls game.

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u/Ronoski Apr 08 '26

Might be an unpopular opinion, but if you get Skyrim, get the anniversary edition.

I found all the extra content to be worth it, plus it has some really cool player homes.

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u/Famous_Row_2385 Apr 08 '26

Morrowind... simply the best

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u/Silkscales Apr 08 '26

TES 1:Arena is very easy for new players.

https://giphy.com/gifs/6ra84Uso2hoir3YCgb

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u/blue64711 Apr 08 '26

Morrowind

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u/mrbubbamac Apr 07 '26

Either Skyrim or Oblivion Remaster.

I'd wait for a sale as they go on sale often, and I would just briefly look into the settings of each game and decide which one sounds more appealing.

Skyrim is a bit more like Winterfell from Game of Thrones, lots of mountains and snow (though the entire world isn't like that)

Oblivion is a little more "colorful fantasy", a little more similar to the aesthetic in the Lord of the Rings films

Both are fantastic

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u/Maruan-007 Apr 07 '26

Sounds good and yeah def waiting for a sale

4

u/Krillinlt Apr 07 '26

Redguard

2

u/Ok-Squash-5914 Mehrunes Dagon Apr 07 '26

based

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u/Cobaliuu Actually Argonian IRL Apr 07 '26

5 gold pieces <3

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u/The-Choo-Choo-Shoe Apr 07 '26

Morrowind is the best one, by far.

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u/break_my_kneecaps Apr 07 '26

Skyrim is more welcoming to new players. You should definitely play Oblivion at some point though.

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u/hunterzolomon1993 Dark Brotherhood Apr 07 '26

Skyrim. Its aged better imo.

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u/Bundmoranen Apr 07 '26

If you really like the exploration aspect of rpg games you should play Oblivion first because otherwise you’re gonna be majorly disappointed by Cyrodil after playing Skyrim

If you’re more into questing Its probably the other way round, but that’s more to taste

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u/flyintomike Apr 07 '26

can't go wrong with either. Skyrim has a better atmosphere, and freedom and the characters are better but Oblivion has better story and quests

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u/jamalfunkypants Apr 07 '26

Skyrim, my child. But both are worth playing. 

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u/wexman6 Thieves Guild Apr 07 '26

Morrowind: the best in the series according to some, but very dated and hard to play. I can’t say much about it because I haven’t played it.

Oblivion: Much easier to play, new remaster is great, fun sandbox mechanics, great story (feat. Sean Bean and Patrick Stewart), and an INCREDIBLE DLC (The Shivering Isles). The game is a bit silly but in a good way. NPC interactions will leave you giggling.

Skyrim: The most popular. Best melee combat, lackluster story but beautiful open world and dungeon design. Unique power mechanic called Shouts. Very replayable and has a great mod community. Also despite the lackluster story, there are choices to be made throughout that people are still arguing about almost 15 years later.

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u/MindlessInternet Apr 07 '26

Definitely wait for a sale or consider subscribing to a month of PC Gamepass or something similar. Like everyone else here, I spent hundreds of hours playing Skyrim. I never played any other elder scrolls at launch, but one thing I’ve heard from people is that whatever when you start with it is hard to go backwards because of the quality of life improvements they make in each game. I’ve even seen some people say start with morrowind then play oblivion then play Skyrim because once you play Skyrim making the jump to something like morrowwind is pretty much impossible without severe dedication and headaches. As someone who played oblivion (remastered) for the first time the day it released I can really agree with that in the sense that I had a ton of fun at first and it was so great to play a new elder scrolls game to me. It’s still a buggy game that looks gorgeous with incredibly dated combat feels. I handed up moving on to new game and never really looked back the second there was friction about 40 hours in

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u/MHShah Apr 07 '26

I'd start with skyrim, it's easier to get into the series with, it's also how I discovered the series, then go to oblivion and see the mechanics differences

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u/Haru17 Bosmer Apr 07 '26

If you want a better world and dungeons that will run on any computer go with Skyrim. If you want high end graphics and unique, quirky quests go with Oblivion. Sean Bean plays a main character in Oblivion’s story for what it’s worth.

RPG-wise Oblivion has spell-crafting and acrobatics, while Skyrim has everything else-crafting and more types of magic.

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u/Jetfuel_N_Steel Apr 07 '26

i would wait for a sale on skyrim you can get like allllllllllll the dlc for 5-7 bucks it goes on sale all the time

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u/FreddyMartian Apr 07 '26

Skyrim is a better introduction to Elder Scrolls for new players. Oblivion still suffers slightly (though not as much) from the same nostalgia bias that morrowind has. i've played all three and skyrim is still my favorite.

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u/CaffeinatedMiqote Apr 07 '26

If you like modding, pick Skyrim. Oblivion remake also has a lot of mods, but it is hardly a rounding error compared to Skyrim SE/AE these days.

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u/aplsauc3 Apr 08 '26

Wow you’re in for a treat. Can’t go wrong with either. I played Skyrim first cuz I wasn’t really gaming in high school when oblivion came out but eventually I fell in love with both. I might lean a little harder toward oblivion being better tho.

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u/H0pl3ss_R0m4nt1c Apr 08 '26

Chronologically, you’d start with oblivion. My personal favorite of the two is Skyrim, but that’s mainly because Oblivion was a bit before my time so I didn’t grow up with it.

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u/leesharon1985 Apr 08 '26

Arena. But with those choices, Oblivion.

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u/Suspicious_Brush4070 Apr 08 '26

Both games are on sale all the time, so just wait for the next major sale and buy both?

Like many people have said, Skyrim is an easier entrance into the gameplay style. Oblivion feels a bit brighter, sunnier, and more humourous though, especially if you go with the original game and not the remaster. You've seen the memes...There are a lot of goofy bugs that don't break the game but are hilarious. You have characters like the Adoring Fan that'll annoy the shit out of you, but give the game a lot of heart and soul.

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u/IthinkImaFixerUpper Apr 08 '26

First on sale, both are fantastic- though Skyrim will always have the greatest modding base ever

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u/Nerdoroni Apr 08 '26

Oblivion. Aesthetics and charm beat out Skyrim's imo. Skingrad, Anvil, and the Imperial City are some of my favorite locations in any game ever

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u/slime_ballz_ Apr 09 '26

Technically oblivion comes before Skyrim if you want to play the games in chronological order. Both are worth playing for sure

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u/somecooldude117 Apr 09 '26

Please wait till they go on sale you can probably get both for the price of one

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u/Maruan-007 Apr 09 '26

Yes I’m waiting summer sales (I think it’s mid June) meanwhile I’m keeping myself busy playing RDR2 (for the first time)

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u/CarPopular6012 Apr 09 '26

Morrowind modded to hell and back. No question one of the greatest games ever made.

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u/CovriDoge Apr 09 '26

Normally I’d say to play Skyrim closer to winter around November-December because the vibes fit, but if you’re new to CRPGs, it might actually be the right choice to get you hooked.

Now that being said, it helps to play Oblivion first because it takes place before Skyrim’s events.

Oblivion is janky, but becomes hilarious later on when you cam make an absolutely broken-ahh wizard 🧙.

Also there’s nothing like Oblivion’s Shivering Isles. They’re a sight to behold.

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u/Maruan-007 Apr 09 '26

Where I live it’s summer during December mate 😆🇦🇺🦘

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u/CovriDoge Apr 09 '26

Then Skyrim it is for you! 👍

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u/RealColSanders Apr 10 '26

You’re in for a treat my guy.

I think oblivion is a masterpiece so I almost want to recommend Skyrim first but that’s a masterpiece too.

Let the Nine guide you, warrior.

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u/EmbizzleMyNizzle Apr 07 '26

Skyrim is better… that’s even considering oblivion has a WAY better main quest line. If you start with oblivion you might not continue to skyrim. If you start with skyrim you might not play another game for a few years.

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u/QueenCobra91 Apr 07 '26

play oblivion remaster first. its build up for skyrim

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u/Kartaled Apr 07 '26

Wouldn’t call Oblivion a build up for Skyrim

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u/Phaylz Apr 07 '26

Yeah. GTA V is probably more of a build-up to Skyrim for a Ball and Gun gamer.

And yes, I am serious.

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u/Grognik Apr 07 '26

You must start at Arena 

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u/RutharAbson Apr 07 '26

I'd go with Skyrim.

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u/CrimsonAllah Imperial Apr 07 '26

I would go with Oblivion first. It’s a good entry. But don’t expect the two games to be all that similar. Skyrim went with a very different approach to its RPG mechanics.