Grand Theft Auto IV vs The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Grand Theft theft IV puts you in the shoes of Niko Bellic, an Eastern European immigrant navigating the underworld of Liberty City. The game blends a deep narrative with a massive, living city where every decision can have consequences. The title offers both a compelling single‑player story and a robust multiplayer mode, delivering countless hours of action, driving, and exploration across three major platforms.
Skyrim is Bethesda’s landmark open-world RPG set in a Nordic fantasy province, known for its freeform exploration, dragon-shouting Dragonborn, and an enormous modding community that keeps it alive over a decade later.
Around $39.99 for the Anniversary/Special Edition.
- Immersive open‑world environment
- Compelling storyline with memorable characters
- Deep multiplayer component
- High production values and soundtrack
- Enormous freedom
- Best-in-class modding
- Great atmosphere and exploration
- Tons of content
- Occasional frame‑rate drops on older hardware
- Steep learning curve for driving mechanics
- Limited post‑launch content updates
- Dated combat and animations
- Bugs without mods
- Re-released many times
What reviewers say
Grand Theft Auto IV Reviews
No reviews yet.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Reviews
4.0 (2)Love it
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has been my go-to lately. Great atmosphere and exploration. No real complaints. Would recommend.
Good but flawed
Picked up The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim recently. Upside: enormous freedom. Downside: bugs without mods.
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Grand Theft Auto IV
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Alternatives to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
View all →A vast open-world action RPG with a acclaimed story and monster hunting.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an open-world action role-playing game developed by CD Projekt Red.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataChoose Skyrim if you want a fantasy RPG with endless modding and exploration, or Grand Theft Auto IV if you prefer a gritty, story-driven crime saga with multiplayer. The main trade-off is fantasy sandbox freedom versus modern-setting narrative action.
Key differences
- •Setting and genre: Skyrim is a moddable fantasy open-world RPG, whereas GTA IV is an action shooter set on the gritty streets of Liberty City.
- •Multiplayer capability: GTA IV features robust multiplayer supporting up to 16 players, while Skyrim's multiplayer support is not specified.
- •Pricing: Skyrim costs around $39.99 for the Anniversary/Special Edition, while GTA IV has an MSRP of $59.99.
- •Mod support: Skyrim highlights massive mod support on PC, which is not a feature mentioned for GTA IV.
- •Age rating: GTA IV carries an ESRB M and PEGI 18 rating; age ratings for Skyrim are not specified.
Gameplay & fun factor
Both offer open-world freedom, but Skyrim focuses on fantasy exploration and quests while GTA IV features narrative missions, shooting, and driving.
Platform availability
Skyrim is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, whereas platform details are not specified for GTA IV.
Price & value
Skyrim is around $39.99 for the Special/Anniversary Edition, beating GTA IV's $59.99 MSRP.
Multiplayer / co-op
GTA IV includes robust multiplayer for up to 16 players in competitive and cooperative matches, whereas Skyrim's API and multiplayer are not specified.
Content & replayability
Skyrim offers countless side quests, guilds, and massive mod support on PC, while GTA IV has limited post-launch content updates.
Difficulty & accessibility
GTA IV has a steep learning curve for driving mechanics, while Skyrim features flexible skill-based progression with bugs noted without mods.
Graphics & performance
GTA IV has an 88/100 critic score and high production values, though with occasional frame-rate drops; Skyrim has dated combat and animations.
Choose Grand Theft Auto IV if…
Mature gamers seeking story-driven open-world action and deep multiplayer components.
Choose The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim if…
Open-world RPG and sandbox fans seeking endless fantasy exploration and PC modding.
Common questions
How much do these games cost?
Skyrim is around $39.99 for the Anniversary/Special Edition, and GTA IV has an MSRP of $59.99.
Does GTA IV have multiplayer?
Yes, GTA IV features robust multiplayer supporting up to 16 players in competitive and cooperative matches.
What platforms can I play Skyrim on?
Skyrim is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.