10 Longest-Running Video Game Franchises With The MOST Quality
3. The Elder Scrolls
Summing up The Elder Scrolls feels like far too big of a feat but there’s no turning back now so let me try and squish this sprawling Lord of the Rings-sized fantasy world into a little ball so we can all nod knowingly in the space of 45 to 90 seconds.
Despite Bethesda’s stubborn refusal to give us the next mainline entry even though we’ve been good and deserve it and some of us even finished our Starfield first, The Elder Scrolls is simply undeniable. Taking place throughout the continent of Tamriel, many Elder Scrolls entries share commonalities like places, races, people, gear, and a common history, but the intent is largely to have you explore a brand new wedge of the continent each time you return.
Skyrim, for instance, took place in Skyrim. Morrowind, took place in Morrowind. And Oblivion took place in Cyrodil. Ah, got you there. It did however also take place inside Oblivion gates which were the worst part of the game but I digress.
Where Final Fantasy and its incredibly rich lore raised and maintained the bar for JRPGs, the Elder Scrolls series did the same for WRPGs, and unlike many other RPG series that have faltered in quality, Bethesda has taken special care of its flagship fantasy franchise.
That’s including the MMO, The Elder Scrolls Online, which, though launching to cautious optimism, is still releasing new content that dips into deep cuts in Tamriel’s history.
Though it should be said, the single-player experience is where Elder Scrolls thrives with its deeply memorable quests, gorgeous worlds, morish RPG mechanics, and stories that will absolutely swallow you up.