The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard vs The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dragonborn
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Skyrim's first official add‑on, Dawnguard, expands the world with a new faction of vampire hunters and the ancient Volkihar Clan. Players choose to side with the Dawnguard to stop a prophecy that would plunge Nirn into eternal night, or embrace vampirism and become a powerful Vampire Lord. The DLC adds two unique skill trees, dozens of quests, new weapons, armor, and characters, while preserving Skyrim’s open‑world sandbox experience. All content is single‑player and available on PlayStation 3, PC, and Xbox 360.
The Dragonborn expansion takes you to the volcanic island of Solstheim, where ancient dragons and mysterious cultures await. Dive into a new storyline that expands the lore of Skyrim and introduces fresh quests, locations, and characters. Featuring new abilities, gear, and a ship to sail the seas, Dragonborn offers a rich, single-player experience that builds on the core game's open-world freedom. Encounter powerful foes, uncover hidden secrets, and become the legendary Dragonborn once more.
- Deep narrative choice with lasting consequences
- Two entirely new skill trees expand character builds
- Adds substantial quest content and new gear
- Integrates smoothly with the base game
- Expansive new island with diverse environments
- Adds ship sailing for maritime exploration
- Introduces powerful new dragon shouts
- Rich storyline that deepens Skyrim lore
- Requires the base Skyrim game to play
- Some players find the new questline less polished than the original
- Limited to single‑player experience
- Some quests feel repetitive compared to base game
- Limited to single-player experience
- Higher difficulty may challenge casual players
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard
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Alternatives to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dragonborn
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataDragonborn delivers more content, higher critic scores, and a lower price, while Dawnguard offers a unique vampire/lawful faction choice at a higher cost.
Key differences
- •Price: Dawnguard $19.99 vs Dragonborn $9.99.
- •Critic score: 71/100 for Dawnguard vs 85/100 for Dragonborn.
- •New region: Dragonborn adds the island of Solstheim with ship sailing; Dawnguard adds no new landmass.
- •Core gameplay twist: Dawnguard introduces Vampire Lord transformation and crossbow focus; Dragonborn adds new dragon shouts and Daedric artifacts.
- •Quest count: Dawnguard mentions over twenty new quests; Dragonborn’s exact quest count isn’t specified but emphasizes a rich storyline.
Pricing & value
Dragonborn costs $9.99, half the price of Dawnguard’s $19.99, giving more bang for the buck.
Gameplay & fun factor
Both add distinct mechanics—Dawnguard’s vampire/lycanthrope skill trees and crossbows vs Dragonborn’s ship sailing and new shouts.
Content & replayability
Dragonborn adds an entire new island (Solstheim) plus ship travel, expanding exploration beyond Dawnguard’s quest additions.
Difficulty & accessibility
Dawnguard’s quests are noted as less polished but not described as harder; Dragonborn mentions higher difficulty that may challenge casual players.
Critic reception
Dragonborn holds an 85/100 critic score, outperforming Dawnguard’s 71/100.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Both are single‑player only.
Graphics & performance
No specific graphics differences are provided; both integrate into the same base engine.
Choose The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard if…
Players who want vampire/lycanthrope powers and don’t mind a higher price.
Choose The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dragonborn if…
Players seeking more content, better reviews, and lower cost.
Common questions
Do I need the base Skyrim game for either DLC?
Yes, both Dawnguard and Dragonborn require the base Skyrim game.
Which DLC offers more new areas to explore?
Dragonborn adds the island of Solstheim and ship sailing; Dawnguard adds no new landmass.
Is there any multiplayer component in either DLC?
No, both DLCs are single‑player only.