8 strong Elder Scrolls opinions: With over 2,500 combined hours (and not all as stealth archers), we shout at each other about Skyrim, Morrowind, and Oblivion

The five PC Gamer editors, each with over 2,500 hours of Elder Scrolls experience, have united to share their thoughts on the series. According to them, the series should return to being an RPG rather than being reduced to a uniform gameplay experience. While they appreciate Bethesda's effort to make the games more accessible, they believe that the lack of limitations has led to a boring, repetitive experience.

The editors highlight the contrast between the engaging side quests in Oblivion, such as the Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood, and the monotonous main questline. They argue that Skyrim's side quests lack the depth and uniqueness of those in Oblivion, focusing more on repetitive tasks. However, they praise the main quest of Skyrim for its spectacle and memorable NPCs like Paarthurnax.

Regarding spellmaking, the editors argue that it should have been kept in the series for its role in creating a strong Elder Scrolls character. They believe that the feature allows for an engaging RPG experience, similar to classic Dungeons & Dragons gameplay. They also express their enjoyment of Oblivion's spellmaking feature, despite its potential issues.

While Morrowind is praised for its atmosphere, worldbuilding, and main quest, the editors believe that the side quests do not measure up to those in Oblivion. They note that while Morrowind's quests are straightforward, they lack the shocking twists found in Oblivion's quests, such as "The Ultimate Heist." They also express concern that the current Bethesda team may not be capable of creating the same level of creativity, weirdness, and gallows humor in future Dark Brotherhood quests.