The Elder Scrolls franchise has a long history of including epic lore and world-building in games like Oblivion -- hopefully including The Elder Scrolls 6.Skyrim might be the most popular game in the franchise, allowing players to slay ancient dragons as the Last Dragonborn, but there were times when the narrative didn't match the incredible scope of the game. While the Dragon Crisis was a dire threat to Skyrim, it mainly appeared as sporadic dragon attacks. There is a disconnect between the narrative and the game world, creating a dissonance where players know that the threat is real, but it's not palpable enough to demand their interest.
With the announcement of The Elder Scrolls 6 being in early development -- and more information to come after the release of Bethesda's outer-space RPG Starfield -- it would be incredible to have the upcoming game emulate the world-shattering narrative elements of previous games. The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion immediately comes to mind as having an extremely compelling narrative, using empire politics and a Daedric invasion as the foundation of a consistently evolving storyline. While the upcoming game will hopefully be centered around new locations and new challenges to overcome, it may be better off emulating the narrative mechanics seen in Oblivion, and not Skyrim.
The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Combines Political Intrigue with Daedric Peril
Skyrim attempts multi-layered storytelling by melding the Dragon Crisis with the civil war. Unfortunately, the storylines are disconnected. The lore around the civil war can be challenging to understand, but since the conflict operates in the periphery of the game, there's no immediate urge to take action.The Dragonborn prophecy quest line is compelling but feels oddly distant from the game world. For instance, after the player reveals their legacy as the Last Dragonborn, the journey to ultimately ending the Dragon Crisis can be a slog.
In contrast, Oblivion's main storyline is immediately active from the opening, forcing the player to witness Emperor Uriel Septim's assassination. The player needs to attain The Amulet of Kings, an ancient relic with immense importance to the lore of The Elder Scrolls. The entire first act of the game is a masterclass in escalating stakes, combining the political crisis with the epic invasion of Tamriel by Mehrunes Dagon and the Daedra. The player is immediately thrown into chaos, tracking down the Emperor's illegitimate son while contending with impending doom. In this case, the layering of the two intertwined storylines creates an ever-heightened narrative.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Should Learn From Oblivion's Ambitious Use of Otherworldly Lore
One of the most remarkable aspects of Oblivion's world-building is the gratuitous use of Elder Scrolls lore. For instance, not only was the player able to learn about the ancient legacy of the Dragonfires, but they also come into contact with a Daedric cult, a full-scale invasion, Daedric artifacts, multiple realms of Oblivion, Mehrunes Dagon himself, and Akatosh, the god of time. The lore included pulls from every area of interest, allowing there always to be a surprise. The use of esoteric lore makes the game more compelling and adds an air of legacy, finality, and futility, giving Oblivion a genuinely epic feel.
While Skyrim also achieves an epic feel, it's through the vastness of the in-game map and the depth of immersion. There is a degree of epic storytelling, but the game never scales past that one layer of complexity. It would be incredible for the main storyline in The Elder Scrolls 6 to allow players to travel to divine realms like Aetherius instead of Oblivion, consistently heightening conflict. Hence, each act of the game feels cohesive and surprising. To compete with upcoming RPG titles like Baldur's Gate 3, The Elder Scrolls 6 needs to include a storyline that hinges on more than the scope of the open world.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is currently in development.
