Since lighting up the open-world video game scene with Arena back in 1994, The Elder Scrolls series has become a key figure in fantasy gaming. While Tamriel's recurring need for a chosen one-type hero gets a tad repetitive, the series' rich world-building, theatrical antagonists, and colorful settings have maintained its fan favorite status for decades.
Among the many exciting installments in the franchise over the years, some plot lines stand out far more than others. With almost 30 years of rich history to unpack, certain games pack a considerably more powerful punch in the plotting department.
6 Dawnguard Revolutionized Vampirism In Tamriel
The first DLC to arrive for the highly acclaimed Skyrim essentially blew its parent game's main narrative out of the water. Dawnguard introduces the player to the diabolical vampire Lord Harkon, who intends to block out the sun with an ancient ritual. The Dragonborn must either side with Harkon and his vampiric cronies or join the Dawnguard, a team of vampire hunters, and put a stop to the madness.
The subsequent odyssey the player goes on proves to be one of the most thrilling, lore-building arcs the Bethesda crew have put together for this long-running franchise. Prior to Dawnguard, vampirism had essentially served as a regrettable chore for anyone who contracted it in Oblivion. That all changed with the upgrades this popular release made to the series' vampire lore.
5 Elseweyr Is A Must-Play For Dragon Hunters
In a spot of great news for Skyrim fans, The Elder Scrolls: Online had an entire Season of the Dragon to sift through. No ESO chapter more effectively captured the season than Elseweyr, a thrilling adventure that takes the player into the heart of Khajiit country.
Full of canyons and rocky landscapes, the scenic Elseweyr is predictably chock-full of threats. From the dragon hordes to the native beasts of the region to the surprisingly large amount of necromancy, the game's themes and action complement its story well. The war against the diabolical Empress Euraxia to free Elsweyr makes this fun ESO installment an engrossing, epic helping of fantasy action.
4 Clockwork City Takes The Franchise In A Mind-Bending Direction
The Elder Scrolls: Online upped the ante with this sci-fi plotline about a city that exists outside of space and time. Enormous in scale yet somehow hidden within a Celestiodrome no bigger than a human, the city is a compellingly odd, mechanical marvel for players to explore.
Sotha Sil, the creator of the city, makes for an intriguing figure for players to gradually uncover more about. Introduced all the way back in Morrowind, this Tribunal god's curious decisions and tragic death are a key component in what makes this imaginative DLC's core plot so engrossing.
3 Summerset Lifts The Lid On The Mysteries Of The High Elves
While The Elder Scrolls: Online proved jarring to devoted fans of the more standard format, its expansion of the Tamriel world has been commendable. Look no further than 2018's Summerset, which finally gave players a look into the world of the mysterious high elves.
The expansion kicks off with the borders around Summerset opening for the first time in history. Needless to say, all is not well in the Summerset Isle, as Daedric conspiracies are afoot. While some players were disappointed with the surprisingly low-key architecture and styling of the elven land, its plot is an engrossing, occasionally thoughtful take on a high society in crisis.
2 Oblivion Takes The Player On A Wild, Dimension-Hopping Ride
Patrick Stewart's Emperor Uriel Septim VII kicks this classic entry off on a glum note, first losing all of his sons before ultimately getting assassinated himself. For the player, this grim tragedy is the set-up for an epic, apocalyptic adventure through an increasingly war-torn Cyrodiil.
Due to a pact involving Septim's now-deceased heirs, the realm of Oblivion sets up shop in the area via a litany of interdimensional portals. With top tier villains such as Mankar Camoran and Mehrunes Dagon to tackle, and a variety of curious side quests and oddly hilarious tropes to discover, Oblivion is a seminal entry in the franchise.
1 Morrowind Remains The Measuring Stick For All Elder Scrolls Games
Arguably the most beloved of all Elder Scrolls games, Morrowind throws the player into the deep end from the get-go. The player character is a hopeless case initially, lacking the necessary skills and strengths to effectively navigate the perilous island of Vvardenfell.
The beauty of Morrowind lies in its challenge to the player. Nothing is made easy or straightforward, and the game's magic system remains one of the most complex and well-developed in gaming history. The player must foster and grow their character as they discover an engrossing plot surrounding the demigod Dagoth Ur and his Sixth House followers. Frustrated with the Imperial rule sweeping the land, Dagoth Ur is among the series' most compelling antagonists and another key reason this fan favorite entry continues to be held in such high regard.