The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an open-world fantasy role-playing game set in Tamriel’s northern province. You play a character drawn into the Dragonborn story, but you are free to follow the main quest, explore dungeons, take side quests, and shape your character through skills rather than a fixed class. If you are deciding which version to get, the key distinction is that Anniversary Edition is the full game, while the Anniversary Upgrade is for people who already own Special Edition.
What is Skyrim?
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a fantasy RPG set in Skyrim, a mountainous province in the world of Tamriel. Its central premise is that your character is the Dragonborn, a mortal with a dragon’s soul, amid a story involving dragons and the wider region. Bethesda’s welcome overview presents the main quest as one path among many: you can leave it to explore locations, enter dungeons, and pursue side quests.
The game’s appeal is partly that there is no single required route through its world. You can spend your time advancing the central story, following local quests, exploring, or developing a character around the activities you enjoy. This overview avoids major plot turns and faction outcomes.
How do character creation and skills work?
Skyrim uses a skill-based system rather than assigning your character a fixed class. At character creation, you choose from playable races with different skill characteristics and bonuses. As you play, you develop skills such as Destruction, Archery, and Speech, allowing you to specialize or combine abilities instead of being locked into one role. Bethesda’s game overview describes this flexible approach to races and skills.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhat is the difference between Skyrim Special Edition and Anniversary Edition?
Special Edition is the core game referenced by Bethesda’s Anniversary Edition product pages. Anniversary Edition includes that game, all three official add-ons, and additional Creation Club content. Bethesda’s Anniversary Edition page describes more than 500 unique pieces of Creation Club content, including quests, dungeons, bosses, weapons, and spells. This is Bethesda’s current product-page description, and content counts can change.
Bethesda sells both a full Anniversary Edition and an Anniversary Upgrade. The Anniversary Upgrade is intended for people who already own Special Edition; it is not the base game on its own. Bethesda’s edition comparison explains that Special Edition is required to access the upgrade’s content.
Rank #2
- EXPAND TO 8 PLAYERS: This expansion increases the player count from the base game, allowing 5–8 players to explore Skyrim together in epic, large-scale tabletop adventures.
- MORE HEROES, MORE CHAOS: Supports bigger parties and bolder strategies, perfect for groups who want deeper cooperation, rivalry, and emergent storytelling across the province of Skyrim.
- SEAMLESS CAMPAIGN INTEGRATION: Designed to plug directly into The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim – Adventure Board Game, preserving narrative depth, progression, and immersive gameplay.
- PERFECT FOR GAME NIGHTS & EVENTS: Ideal for larger gaming groups, clubs, and marathon sessions where more players means more interaction, alliances, and unforgettable moments.
- EXPANSION ONLY: Requires The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim – Adventure Board Game base game to play; enhances existing campaigns without replacing core systems.
| Option | What it includes | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Skyrim Special Edition | The core game. | Someone who wants the base game and does not need Anniversary Edition’s additional content. |
| Skyrim Anniversary Edition | Special Edition, the three official add-ons, and additional Creations. | Someone buying the game who wants the core game and Anniversary content together. |
| Anniversary Upgrade | Anniversary content for Special Edition; it does not include the base game by itself. | An existing Special Edition owner who wants the added content. |
Before purchasing, check your exact platform and regional storefront. Bethesda lists Anniversary Edition for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, PS5, PS4, and Switch, while its purchase page also shows storefront options including Xbox, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. A listing does not guarantee local retail availability or identical features across versions, so confirm the listing for your device and region. See Bethesda’s product page and purchase page.
Bethesda’s 2021 launch FAQ listed historical MSRPs of USD $49.99 for Anniversary Edition and USD $19.99 for the upgrade. Those were launch prices, not current prices; the FAQ warned that prices and availability could vary by region or platform. Check the current storefront for what you will pay. Bethesda’s 2021 FAQ.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Rank #3
- ENTER THE WORLD OF SKYRIM: Experience the legendary open-world RPG as a tabletop adventure, exploring Tamriel through branching quests, iconic factions, and rich Elder Scrolls lore.
- COOPERATIVE OR SOLO PLAY: Designed for 1–4 players, allowing you to adventure solo or team up to face dragons, uncover conspiracies, and shape the fate of Skyrim together.
- OPEN-ENDED QUEST SYSTEM: Choose how you approach each mission—diplomacy, stealth, or combat—as your decisions permanently impact the story and the world around you.
- DEEP CHARACTER PROGRESSION: Build unique heroes with evolving skills, gear, and abilities inspired by the video game’s iconic progression systems.
- HIGH REPLAYABILITY: Modular scenarios, multiple quest paths, and varied character builds ensure every campaign feels fresh and every journey through Skyrim is different.
What do the three official add-ons add?
All three official add-ons are included with Anniversary Edition. Each adds a different kind of content, as described on Bethesda’s Anniversary Edition page.
- Dawnguard: The vampire lord Harkon returns, and you can choose to join the Dawnguard or become a Vampire Lord.
- Hearthfire: You can buy land and build a home, adding facilities such as an armory, alchemy lab, stable, and garden. The add-on also includes adoption.
- Dragonborn: The story takes you to Solstheim, an island off Morrowind, with new towns, dungeons, quests, and shouts. Bethesda describes shouts that can bend enemies’ will or tame dragons.
What are Creations, and what should you check before installing them?
Creations is Bethesda’s unified in-game menu for browsing community-made content, existing mods, Creation Club items, and newer Creations. Bethesda introduced the menu for Skyrim Special Edition in December 2023, with rollout described for PC through Microsoft Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store, as well as Xbox and PlayStation platforms. Bethesda’s announcement cautions that availability can vary by region, title, and platform.
Rank #4
- Winner of more than 200 game of the year awards, Skyrim special edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail
- The special edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features
- All-new features include remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol
Do not assume that a mod you have seen elsewhere is available for your version, or that content works across every platform. Check the Creations menu in your installed game and the current information for your platform before choosing or troubleshooting community content.
Bethesda’s Anniversary Edition page displays an August 20, 2026 update notice for Special Edition, saying the console update increased mod storage limits and included Creations improvements and fixes. That notice does not specify the new storage amount, so check the page or your platform’s current information for details. Bethesda’s update notice.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Official Game Guide
Which Skyrim edition should you choose?
- You do not own Skyrim: Compare the full Anniversary Edition with Special Edition based on whether you want the additional Creations and three add-ons.
- You already own Special Edition: Consider the Anniversary Upgrade if you want the added content; verify that the store listing matches your platform and account.
- You plan to use community content: Check the Creations menu on the platform and version you intend to play, because availability varies.
- You are comparing prices: Use the current store listing. The 2021 launch MSRPs are historical and do not establish today’s price.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
