Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteFor most players starting today, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the best Elder Scrolls game to play first: its dragon-centered premise is easy to grasp, and it still offers the open-ended exploration the series is known for. My present-day ranking of the five numbered single-player games puts Skyrim first and The Elder Scrolls: Arena fifth, weighing accessibility, memorable worlds and quests, role-playing freedom, and how well each game’s strengths hold up now. Ask “What is the best Elder Scrolls game?” and the answer depends on those priorities; this is a recommendation, not an objective verdict.
Here, “all” means the five numbered games. The Elder Scrolls Online is a separate online RPG, while Legends is a card game, so neither is a direct equivalent to the single-player entries.
How the ranking works
The series spans a major evolution in design, from the early games’ emphasis on scale to later entries with more immediately legible worlds and adventures. This order favors an approachable experience that still rewards exploration and role-playing. A player who prizes systemic ambition over ease of entry could reasonably put Daggerfall higher; one drawn to a distinctive setting and interconnected story may prefer Morrowind.
Bethesda’s retrospective describes what each game set out to do, while PC Gamer’s staff discussion and retrospective review illustrate that players and critics can favor different entries. Those perspectives inform the comparison, but they do not establish a universal ranking.
#1 Best Overall
5. The Elder Scrolls: Arena
Why it ranks last for a new player now
Arena began the series in 1994, a milestone in franchise history. It ranks last here as an all-around recommendation for a contemporary player because its age makes it the least approachable starting point. That is an accessibility-weighted editorial judgment, not a claim that its historical importance is low.
Bethesda’s retrospective establishes the game’s place at the beginning of the series, but does not assess its present-day usability. Players interested in seeing where the franchise began may still find that history compelling.
Rank #2
- 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.
4. The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
Scale and systems over a tightly authored path
Released two years after Arena, Daggerfall pushed the series toward deeper combat, a richer story, and a broad variety of enemies. Bethesda describes its world as roughly the size of Great Britain; that is the publisher’s comparison, not a separately verified map-area measurement.
That ambition is the game’s defining appeal for players who enjoy large-scale systems and room to roam. It can also make the adventure less immediately legible than a more tightly authored journey. I rank it above Arena for the scope of its design, but below the later games for a first play today.
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
- Blackwood is the ultimate Elder Scrolls experience and includes the Base Game and all Chapters
- Blackwood (New for 2021)
- Greymoor, Elsweyr, Summerset, Morrowind
- Nagahide Welwa Ravager Mount
- Dremora Kynreeve Outfit
3. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
A more crafted world with a strong identity
Morrowind turns away from the earliest games’ emphasis on sheer scale toward a smaller, more crafted world. Bethesda highlights its massive, interconnected narrative, and that design gives the game a strong sense of place and room for role-playing identity.
Its older interface and combat conventions can be a hurdle for newcomers. That friction is an editorial assessment rather than a finding from a modern usability study. For players who value setting and narrative structure more than a smooth first hour, Morrowind may be the most rewarding choice in the series.
Rank #4
- Includes Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine expansions
2. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The strongest balance of exploration and accessibility
Oblivion is the bridge between Morrowind’s older RPG conventions and Skyrim’s more modern presentation. Bethesda points to its world-spanning story, varied environments, and player freedom. PC Gamer’s retrospective review praises its exploration and detailed adventures away from the main path, while placing it between the two neighboring games in style.
That balance earns Oblivion second place: it offers a substantial role-playing adventure with quests and exploration that are easier to enter than those of the earlier games. Bethesda identifies it as a 2006 consensus Game of the Year title; that historical distinction is not itself a measure of which entry is best for every player.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsBest Value
- IMMERSIVE STORYTELLING: Embark on a legendary campaign across Tamriel, filled with quests, conflict, and a web of mystery with a shadowy figure at its center!
- EPIC STRATEGY: Dive deep into dungeons, descend into delves, and clash swords with a wide range of enemies as you quest throughout the many provinces of Tamriel. A tactical combat experience awaits even the most veteran adventurer!
- MEMORABLE HEROES: Develop your character’s class and skill lines over a three-session campaign, exploring all of the possibilities with your questing hero!
- REPLAYABILITY: Character races and classes, guild and side quests, and so much more! This game has so much content for players to explore. Your adventurers will never be the same!
- FROM AWARD-WINNING CREATORS: At Chip Theory Games, we’re known for engaging designs and peerless production. Making memorable tabletop experiences is core to who we are, and we guarantee there are hours of fun waiting for you!
1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Best first game for most players
Skyrim gives newcomers a clear central fantasy—become the Dragonborn, explore, and take on dragons—without giving up the open-ended structure associated with the series. That combination makes it the strongest starting point for most readers and the best all-around pick in this ranking.
Bethesda’s 2016 feature reported that the game had received more than 200 Game of the Year awards. Bethesda also reported in a 2014 press release that Skyrim had sold over 20 million copies by then; that is a historical floor, not a current sales total. Neither figure proves that it is objectively the best entry, but both help explain its prominence.
Bethesda’s catalog lists Skyrim across Xbox, PC, Steam, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. Editions and formats vary by platform, so check the listing for the system and version you want.
Which Elder Scrolls game should I play first?
Choose Skyrim if you want the easiest on-ramp to the series’ exploration and open-ended play. Pick Oblivion if quests and a balance between older RPG conventions and a more modern presentation matter most. Start with Morrowind if a distinctive setting and interconnected narrative outweigh interface and combat friction. Daggerfall suits players curious about enormous scale and systems, while Arena is best approached as the historical beginning rather than the most accessible introduction.
How the other Elder Scrolls games fit
The Elder Scrolls Online is an online RPG in the same universe, not a numbered single-player entry. Its official page places it nearly 1,000 years before Skyrim. Legends, meanwhile, is a card game. Both belong to the wider franchise, but their formats make a direct ranking alongside the five numbered adventures less useful.
Quick Recap
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.
