Gaming

The best open-world RPG ever is free on Xbox Game Pass

by Robin Bea

Nearly 10 years after its release, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is finally available on Xbox Game Pass.

Despite its immense popularity — and the fact that it’s been ported to every platform imaginable — there are still some who haven’t played it.

Whether you’re diving in for the first time or coming back for another journey, there are still plenty of reasons to play this all-time classic RPG.

If you’re looking for a game to get absolutely lost in, Skyrim is one of the best options out there.

You could easily sink over 100 hours into side quests without even finishing the main story.

From taking over the Thieves Guild to perfecting your spellcraft at the College of Winterhold, there’s plenty of adventure to be had.

Just exploring the map of Skyrim on foot can be thrilling or relaxing, depending on what pace you set for yourself.

With decades of Elder Scrolls lore behind it, Skyrim is great for players who want to immerse themselves in the world and its mythology.

The Skyrim Special Edition on Game Pass comes with three expansions, letting you run a household, hunt vampires, and explore the bizarre, mushroom-covered land of Vvardenfell.

Skyrim’s 2011 graphics certainly show their age, but it still has a beautiful landscape to get lost in.

Though its most annoying bugs have been patched out, it still retains some of the original wonkiness that’s a hallmark of Elder Scrolls games.

Skyrim gets even weirder with the addition of mods, which are now available on console.

Modders have added new spells, companions, quests, and entire storylines, bringing endless variety to an already massive game.

And you get to explore it all with a completely customized character thanks to Skyrim’s deep skill system.

You can charge through Skyrim with an axe in one hand and a fireball in the other, or charm and sneak your way from town to town.

Elder Scrolls VI is still just a dot on the horizon, but there’s enough to do in Skyrim that you could still be playing when the sequel comes out if you start now.

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