Choose The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Choose The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim if it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. 101,764 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim vs The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition both land in RPG on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are RPG games on Steam. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) is 5 years older than The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (2016). The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (94.7% positive) than The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (92.5% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Choose The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition if you want the Stereo Sound, Surround Sound, and Playable without Timed Input side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 94.7% positive across 125,909 reviews.
Both The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition sit in RPG on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim |  The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2011 | 2016 |
| Genres | RPG | RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 39.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92.5% positive (101,764 reviews) | 94.7% positive (125,909 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Bethesda Game Studios | Bethesda Game Studios |
Side by side
- Both are RPG games on Steam.
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) is 5 years older than The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (2016).
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition scores higher on Steam reviews (94.7% positive) than The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (92.5% positive).
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (19.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is Deck Playable, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is Deck Unsupported.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim vs The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition — FAQ
- Which is better, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition?
- On Steam reviews The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition scores higher (94.7% positive) than The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (92.5% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition first?
- If you want chronology, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) came out before The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (2016). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition similar?
- They overlap on RPG on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.