The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim vs The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
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.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an action-adventure game that takes place in the kingdom of Hyrule. The game follows the story of Link, who awakens from a deep sleep with no memory of his past. He must explore the vast open world, complete quests, and battle enemies to uncover the truth about his past and save Hyrule from destruction. The game features a dynamic weather system, a day-night cycle, and a vast open world to explore, complete with puzzles, secrets, and hidden areas.
Around $39.99 for the Anniversary/Special Edition.
- Enormous freedom
- Best-in-class modding
- Great atmosphere and exploration
- Tons of content
- Immersive open-world environment
- Engaging storyline with memorable characters
- Innovative gameplay mechanics
- High replay value
- Dated combat and animations
- Bugs without mods
- Re-released many times
- Steep learning curve
- Some players may find the game too challenging
- Limited character customization options
What reviewers say
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.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Reviews
No reviews yet.
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataSkyrim is the safer default for budget-conscious modding fans wanting deep customization, while Breath of the Wild suits players seeking a polished, challenging single-player adventure. The main trade-off is between Skyrim's massive mod support and freedom versus Zelda's higher critic score and innovative physics mechanics.
Key differences
- •Skyrim is priced around $39.99, whereas Breath of the Wild has an MSRP of $59.99.
- •Skyrim offers massive mod support on PC and flexible skill-based progression, while Breath of the Wild features environmental interaction like gliding and swimming.
- •Skyrim is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, while Breath of the Wild's specific platform is not specified in the facts.
- •Skyrim faces cons like dated combat, animations, and bugs without mods, whereas Breath of the Wild faces a steep learning curve and limited character customization.
Gameplay & fun factor
Breath of the Wild features innovative gameplay mechanics, environmental interaction, and a 98/100 critic score.
Platform availability
Skyrim supports PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, while Breath of the Wild's platforms are not specified.
Price & value
Skyrim is priced around $39.99 for the Anniversary/Special Edition, which is cheaper than Breath of the Wild's $59.99 MSRP.
Multiplayer / co-op
Multiplayer is not specified for Skyrim, while Breath of the Wild is explicitly noted as single player.
Content & replayability
Skyrim offers countless side quests, guilds, and best-in-class mod support, though both boast high replay value.
Difficulty & accessibility
Skyrim features flexible progression, whereas Breath of the Wild has a steep learning curve and can be too challenging.
Graphics & performance
Breath of the Wild achieves a 98/100 critic score, while Skyrim suffers from dated combat, animations, and bugs without mods.
Choose The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim if…
Gamers wanting deep character customization, go-anywhere exploration, and extensive PC mod support on a budget.
Choose The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild if…
Adventure seekers looking for innovative environmental puzzles, a high critic score, and a challenging single-player story.
Common questions
How much do these games cost?
Skyrim is around $39.99 for the Anniversary/Special Edition, while Breath of the Wild has an MSRP of $59.99.
Which game offers better mod support?
Skyrim features massive mod support on PC, whereas Breath of the Wild's mod support is not specified.
Can I play either game in multiplayer?
Breath of the Wild is single player only, and Skyrim's multiplayer capabilities are not specified in the facts.