Xbox Game Pass is like walking into a candy store. There are so many different options to choose from when it comes to its game selection, and some of the best games on Xbox Game Pass can be hard to spot. Every month more quality titles are added and at the end of the day t??he service has quickly become one of the best value subscriptions in video games.

Some need acquired tastes like liquorice (Dordogne), while many others will enjoy a beloved, comfortable chocolate bar (Minecraft). However, there's a good chance you'll find something to sate your palette in ?Microsoft's rolling digital library. Here are the 13 best games on Xbox Game Pass right now.

[Updated: November 2024]

Best Xbox Game Pass Games on Xbox and PC

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Dead Island 2 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Stellaris - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Inscryption - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Age of Mythology: Retold - PC, Xbox Series X|S

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Octopath Traveler 2 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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No Man's Sky - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Tales of Arise - PC, Xbox Series X|S

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Those seeking adventure should look towards The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This (take a deep breath) 12-year-old game (breathe out) still? has a fervent fanbase, and is still played to this day for good reason. There are many weapons, armor, spells, and even dragon shouts to find across the open world. There are also branching side quests that in and of themselves have deep, fascinating stories and characters behind them. You should take an arrow in the knee in this game and explore the grand landscapes of Skyrim with Xbox Game Pass. The Special Edition also comes with all of the DLC.

Halo Infinite - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

In my opinion, Halo Infinite gets way too much flak. This entry was my first step into the series, and I was floored by this sci-fi experience. Each weapon in Master Chief's arsenal feels powerful, but in the frantic first-person shooter levels, you're scrounging for whatever you can find, adding to?? the tension of battle. Finding improved weapons from the tough bosses you kill in the open world is gratifying, and the world itself truly grabbed me. The storyline with Master Chief saving the UNSC and the world on the brink is also thrilling to experience. The multiplayer, to me, feels dated with tired map design and modes, ?but the single-player campaign is the main attraction.

Hi-Fi Rush - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Hi-Fi Rush is one of the best Xbox exclusives in years. It combines thrilling action combat with engaging music rhythm gameplay to create a unique melee-focused experience. You play as a unique, clumsy protagonist, trying to save the day from Vandelay Technologies' evil leader. The slapstick is on point, and the script is laugh-out-loud hilarious. The action is also fantastic as you switch between the powers of your allies and string together combos on your foes.  You also can't forget the stand-out music selection in Hi-Fi Rush with rock h??its from Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, and The Black Keys.

Minecraft - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

There's not much else to be said about Minecraft but I'll try my best. It's a worldwide phenomenon for a reason as it allows players to build their own structures, craft their own items, and explore a randomly generated world. Building with your friends is a lot of fun, and many players have created amazing buildings throughout the years like Hogwarts from Harry Potter. Someone even made a working 3D graphing calculator. This game is great for kids, as it lets them show their creative side and figure out how to build materials in the game. Despite existing for over a decade, the game is still getting updates and DLC based on Mega Man X and SpongeBob SquarePants. 

Monster Hunter Rise - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

After many years of struggling to get into the series, Monster Hunter Rise finally got me on the saddle. Alongside your friends, you're taking down mons??trous beast??s, collecting their materials, fur, etc, and then crafting incredible gear for your player. It's a rewarding game loop that keeps you playing for hours on end.

There's a strategy to each battle, and you need to keep your wits about you to survive in some of these encounters. Ultimately, it's Monster Hunter's new maneuverability of the wirebugs that lets you zip from place to place like Indiana Jones' whip that really made it click for me. You can also mount ??????????????????????????your pet palamute, letting you get to the battle quicker. It's one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass because of how gratifying collecting resources and physically seeing your character getting stronger is.

Persona 3 Reload - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Atlus' Persona 3 Reload is a fantastic way to get into the series or continue your love for the JRPG franchise. It's a complete remake of the PS2 gem that some fans argue is the best Persona game. Expect engaging turn-based combat revolving around collecting shadows, a provoking, dark story, and plenty of wonderful characters to meet along the way. The visual improvements are a stand-out with stunning UI and a complete uplift on the same level as Persona 5 Royal.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has been out for almost five years now??, and I'm still surprised when anyo?ne tells me that they've finished it.

This game’s absolutely massive, taking place in a stunning Greek-inspired open world. You can tell Ubisoft did its research with the spectacular architecture and intriguing culture to be found in the game. Kassandra (one of the two possible playable characters) is one of the best protagonists in the series; she has spunk, charming humor, and an overall badassery that few other Assassin’s Creed heroes can match. The story also takes twists and turns you’ll find fascinating. Oh, and ?the combat’s ??thrilling with a deep customization system alongside it.

Dordogne - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

If you’re fatigued from the intense FPS gameplay of most triple-A games, Dordogne is a fantastic palette cleanser. This game features a beautiful watercolor-like art style and a compelling narrative that tells the story of a woman’s childhood. It’s charming and adorable, but there’s an element of drama in the backg??round that continues to grow as the game proceeds.

You’ll also interact w??ith the environment in unique ways. Don’t miss out? on this French indie game!

Celeste - PC, Xbox One

It's not often that a game truly moves me, but by the end of Celeste, I wept like a baby. Celeste was completely out of my comfort zone. It's a punishing platformer that te??sts your skills, and typically I don't have the patience for something like this. However, the challenging gameplay c??omes hand-in-hand with the storyline. As Madeline, you're trying to overcome your anxiety, and as you climb the mountain, she's pushing herself.

With anxiety and depression myself, this game strongly connected with me like no other did. Also, it will help others understand a foundation of what it's like to deal with symptoms like this daily. You also can't forget about Lena Raine's extraordinary soundtrack for Celeste.

Forza Horizon 5 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

One of the best driving games available on Xbox Game Pass is Forza Horizon 5. Variety is the spice of life and this is what you get with this Forza title. You're exploring volcanoes, the desert, beaches, Mexican towns, and even wintry mountain landscapes within Forza Horizon 5. There are also many cars to unlock as you complete challenges, earn cash, and get the best times around the open world. If you love outstanding graphics to test on your Xbox Series X or PC, Forza Horizon 5 is a grand tour-de??-force to show o??ff your lovely 4K TV.

Best Xbox Game Pass PC Exclusive Games

StarCraft Remastered and StarCraft 2 Campaign - PC Only

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Against the Storm - PC Only

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Even though many of us may see Skyrim as one of the greatest RPGs of all time, there's no denying that it?'s a painfully flawed game. We know this, and that's why modders are always working to make sure Bethesda's aging epic maintains some degree of relevancy.

This mod in particular is pretty simple, but quite effective. As spotted by PC Gamer, Nexus Mods user wSkeever recently uploaded "Simplicity of Stalking - Automatically Follow NPCs." As the name suggests, this gives you the ability to follow a character in Skyrim w??ithout having to do that awkward run/walk by their side in ord?er to keep up.

We've all been there. We all know how irritating it is that an NPC's a?mble is faster than our wal?k, but slower than our run. Well, wSkeever's mod fixes that.

Even if they don't want to be followed

As the video above shows, simply targeting a character and activating the "Follow" option will make it so you walk a few paces behind them. Instructions say that, to stop following, simply press "any movemen??t or attack controls."

You'll also need to download a few other mods for your game before you can use this one. Outside that, you're good to go. In fact, not only can the Dra?gonborn now follow people at a comfortable pace, it also works through loading screens as well.

Of course, while it's likely you'll use the mod mainly for following quest NPCs when they're escorting you somewhere, it can also be used on anyone, as far as I can tell. I'm not saying you should be stalking Skyrim residents. What I am saying is that it literally sa?ys the word "stalking" i?n the mod title.

The post Fina??lly, a Skyrim mod that lets you match NPC speeds when you follow them appeared first on Destructoid.

Skyrim and the whole Elder Scrolls series provides a near-infinite potential for modding. Some fan projects �such as Tamriel Rebuilt �expand on the original games and lore, and one other monstrous endeavor has b??een making grea??t progress.

In the most recent developer video diary, the Skyrim Rebuilt team has shown off the work that's so far been carried out in expanding Cyrodiil, the region where Oblivion takes place. Over the course of 35 minutes, we get to see exactly what's ??been imp??lemented and what's left to do.

For example: the city of Skingrad has had nearly all 33 interiors finalized and all 86 NPCs and 108 scenes have been completed, with focus now shifting to finishing quests. It's quite astounding the work that's been put in by the ??t?eam, yet there's still lots to be done.

What is Skyrim Rebuilt?

It should be noted that this massive project is not a recreation of Oblivion inside Skyrim's engine. Instead, Skyrim Rebuilt will encompass a complete expansion of the continent of Tamriel which will allow you to travel to regions from the other TES games.?? Cyrodiil is just one of the many provinces that's being worked on.

This means that The Elder Scrolls 4's story will not be present as the region is part of Skyrim's lore and history (i.e. 200 years after Oblivion). This also means there are numerous changes, with the most notable one being the complete recreation of Kvatch, the settlement that's been destroyed in TES4.

As for when it will be released, the team is unable to give an answer. You can already download the city of Bruma if you want to get a taste of what's been worked on, but as you can imagine, a project like this is going to take a long time to complete. And it's been in development since 2012. The team is interested in volunteers if you have the skills to help out.

The post Bey?ond Skyrim proj??ect shows the impressive progress made on remaking Cyrodiil appeared first on Destructoid.

Chris Avellone, the former chief creative officer and co-founder of Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian Entertainment, has revealed that the company tried to make an Elder Scrolls game in a similar vein. In a thread confirming an old tweet uncovered by 80 Level, Avellone discussed details about the proposal.

He also compared the idea to the way Infinity Ward and Treyarch handled alternate Call of Duty games during that generation, with Bethesda developing a main game and Obsidian working on something that would offer more Elder Scrolls adventures, like Fallout: New Vegas did for that series.

According to Avellone, the idea didn't gain traction with Bethesda, and he suggests that the Starfield studio wasn't happy with the reception that Fallout: New Vegas received, "good and bad."

Although Fallout: New Vegas has become highly regarded over the years since its release, there was initially some backlash toward the game due to bugs and game breaking issues.

After years of patches and updates, Fallout: New Vegas has gotten the recognition that it deserves. It's disappointing to think of what we could have had if this had ultimately panned out. It has been over a decade since The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released, and it doesn't look like we'll get to play The Elder Scrolls VI anytime soon.

If only we had an Obsidian-developed Elder Scrolls game to fill the decade plus gap between releases. It seems like Bethesda missed a trick with that one. Maybe Obsidian's (remarkably Elder Scrolls looking) fantasy RPG, Avowed, can fill that hole in my heart.

The post Fallout New Vegas dev says? studio once pitched an Elder Scrolls spin-off appeared first on Destructoid.

No matter how old it gets, people still seem to flock to Skyrim and its chilly world of fantasy ??possibilities. The fact that there are so many interesting NPCs to interact with arguably makes it that extra bit appe??aling. But what happens when you grow tired of this slice of Tamriel being full of characters and wildlife?

Why, you go on a killing spree, of course. That's what Reddit user amelix34 did at least (thanks GamesRadar). A post on the Skyrim?? sub shows sheer dedication when it comes to attempting to kill every possible thing in?? the game.

According to the user, they've managed to kill 3,310 people, 693 animals, 401 creatures, 947 undead, 55 Deadra, and 98 Automatons (such as the Dwarven Spider). That's over 5,500 characters, animals, and enemies killed, which may or may not be the maximum f??igure across the whole of the RPG.

Sounds tiring

Obviously, that's not counting characters that can't be killed, such as children or those pertinent to the main quest. However, this could well represent the maximum number of murders that can be done in The Elder Scrolls 5.

Another image shows that amelix34 has managed to amass a lifetime bounty of 267,140. But then again??, if all the guards in the game have been killed, who exactly is going to retrieve that? Exactly.

Despite the attempt to pretty much wipe any sign of life off the face of Skyrim ?(non-killables notwithstanding, of ?course), the user did say they made an exception when it came to Paarthurnax and Shadowmere. Good to see they're not a total psychopath then.

All-in-all, it's just one of the many ways that TES5 remains in the gaming limelight more than 12 years after its release. Its legacy is hard to surpass, despite the issues it has (perhaps even because of them). Even Bethesda's own Starfield can't match such a legendary status.

The post Sky?rim p??layer tries to kill everything possible, mayhem ensues appeared first on Destructoid.

Having just passed its 12th birthday, Skyrim continues to take up real estate in the AAA gaming sphere. As one of the most successful RPGs in recent memory, Bethesda's epic Elder Scrolls game is still quite pretty, but has evidently a?ged over the past decade or so.

That's where artist and YouTuber Leo Torres coming into the picture. As spotted by DSO Gaming, Torres has recently uploaded a new video showing what Skyrim would look like were?? it built today in Unreal? Engine 5.

More specifically, we get to see some incredible shots of the bitterly cold northerly city Winterhold. It looks, for want of a better phrase, pretty spectacular, which is not something many people are willing to say about TES5 these days.

What could have been

In this era of remakes, it's fun to imagine what an aging game like Skyrim would look like in something such as Unreal. Torres' render give??s us a taste of how things could have been in a different universe. Obviously, this is just a video render demonstrating Winterghold at a "more realistic and lore-accurate scale." It's not a remake currently in development, official or otherwise.

It also gives us an idea of just how far gaming visuals have come over the years. That's not to say Skyrim is ugly (far from it), merely that many of us take it for granted just h??ow advanced graphics become given enough time.

As for The Elder Scrolls itself, we're currently on day seventy-squillion (citation needed) and no word on the sixth entry yet. There's a good chance Skyrim's popularity may drop off suddenly once TES6 comes out, but we'll probably all be a lot old?e?r and wiser by then.

The post If you haven’t seen Skyrim in Unreal Engine 5, you’re missing out appeared first on Destructoid.

If there's one thing that can be said about Skyrim, it's that it at least has longevity. That; and the fact that it's one of the most successful RPGs in recent memory. Part of the reason it's still going strong after 12 years is due to the modding community. The Elder Scrolls 5 has so many mods, including this recent one for all you Garret-from-Thief wannabees.

Over on Nexus Mods, user Elsawirr has uploaded "Immersive Carcass Carrying." As you can guess from the name, this is a way of allowing you to carry those dead bodies that you "find" in Tamriel. This is actually based on a previous mod they made that did the same thing. However, it's now been improved upon with new animations and the removal of the "c??arry weight penalty."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dp0_tAK0yc

A quick video shows it in action, with the Dragonborn seen carrying a dead moose over their shoulder. Indeed, it does look more immersive as they stroll through Whiterun and wait patiently in line at one of the food stalls. Very RDR2.

Skyrim: a different beast these days

In this modern gaming era, it's not uncommon for people to poo-poo the vanilla version of TES5. With so many custom mods to download �especially on PC �many players prefer to tinker with Bethesda's epic RPG. While so?me are just there to tweak the gameplay, others (such as this one) improve the overall immersion. Then there are those that are just kind o??????????????????????????f out there and wild. You know the ones.

At any rate, Skyrim is still kicking it more than a decade after its release. Other games can only dream of being in the limelight for this length of time. Now, we just need to see whether Starfield can boast as big a legacy.

The post This Skyrim mod allows for ‘immersive’ corpse carrying appeared first on Destructoid.

The bes??t menu screens in games can be articulated in many ways, just like the sheer amount of options you can get from the? feature itself. In my mind, they're determined by the music, the visuals, and how unique they can be. You don't want to see a bland introduction to a magnificent game. Here are the top 10 best main menu screens in games, ranked.

Before we start, I have some honorable mentions. While it's too soon to rank this alongside long-standing greats, Sea of Stars' main menu screen is an impressive introduction to its world. The flickering of the flames reflecting on the pixel-based characters, and the gorgeous backdrop is absolutely stunning. Additionally, Rayman 2: The Great Escape's menu? features strange, yet enticing music with a view of the world we're about to explore. There's also a cute teensie on the left?? side, welcoming you to the game with its hat.

[caption id="attachment_400167" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

10. Super Metroid

During the SNES era, gamers weren't anticipating a cinematic introduction to the game. However, Super Metroid features tense music and neat transitions of scenes that feature the creepy sci-fi world of the game. It then reveals a Metroid trapped within a pipe with the machinery flickering in green light. It's genuinely creepy to see fallen bodies next to the machine as well. It's a perfect introducti??on to this game.

[caption id="attachment_399796" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

9. Psychonauts

Double Fine is a developer known for its wild worlds, game concepts, and characters. This menu follows that same idea. One of the strangest (and coolest) is in Psychonauts, in which you're Raz running around a brain. The concept of the game is that you're trying to fix the issues of a person by infiltrating their mind. It's a clever main menu concept for a game like this and is certainly unique. I also love Double Fine's record-based main menu design in Brutal Legend, but Psychonauts just edges it out.

[caption id="attachment_399797" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

8. L.A. Noire

This may be a controversial pick, but L.A. Noire has a unique menu design that complements the subject matter. You get the old-fashioned black-and-white styling mixed in with a shadowy figure of the text. The light shone from the car gives a wonderful effect on the brick wall, adding to the atmosphere of the scene. While it can be annoying to have a gentleman walking in and out of the menu, it's certainly an interesting take on this classic gaming feature that we haven't seen ??before.

//youtu.be/cHGF302fBZk

7. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Yes, this is a simplistic menu for such a huge RPG like Starfield, but it more than makes up for it with the theme alone. You hear a majestic choir and triumphant orchestra calling to ??you. It gets you pumped for the adventure you're about to have. The logo also looks iconic amongst the white mist and the black background.

//youtu.be/njoPUWILwpo

6. Pokemon Red & Blue

Despite the limited power of the Game Boy, Pokemon Red & Blue still had amazing intros and menus. You see two Pokemon fighting it out in the intro underscored by a memorable theme song. It then constantly switches between the different Pocket Monsters you'll find in the game like Snorlax, Mankey, and Ditto. It's simple but "super effective"at introducing us to the world of Pokemon. 

//youtu.be/DRgLR-cPMls

5. Xenoblade Chronicles

The Xenoblade Chronicles title screen is super simple. You see the Monado sword stuck in the ground all by itself. However, the beauty of the world surrounds us as day turns to night. You also see the shine of the metal blade against the sunlight, which is a nice touch. The Monado also glows in the dark as the star??s shine brightly above. The emotional music is engrossing as you simply stare at this stunning scene. This i?s one of the best main menu screens just from how stunning it is.

//youtu.be/kAwwQ7dTjRY

4. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

I know, many say that Ocarina of Time's menu screen is better, but the one from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess holds m?ore prestige for me. You see Link riding Epona valiantly across the Bridge of Eldin and the wilderness of Hyrule. In the background is a somewhat creepy choir singing the main theme of the game. Then, the intro transitions to Wolf Link who howls to a strange golden wall in the distance.

You also have a hint of the "Midna's Theme" from the music, hinting at how prevalent your partner will be in the plot and gamep??lay. You're then left with a feeling of dread as you only have the sound of wind to keep you company. It's a brilliant main menu that pulls you into the intended darker atmosphere of the game.

//youtu.be/IM-r2hxtO8g

3. Kingdom Hearts 2

Possibly with the prettiest main menu theme ever "Dearly Beloved," Kingdom Hearts 2 has one of the best intros in ?gaming history. The credits roll and the music begins to build up. As you begin to see? Sora emerge into the title screen, you hear the harp play and the bass strings refer to the protagonist.

It sounds like an orchestra prepping to play before a concert occurs. It then calms down for a brief second until the full menu appears. Then, the piano begins to play the main melody, and each wonderful ??instrument of the piece blends together in a truly "beloved" way.

Seeped with the sound of waves from Sora's home world Destiny Islands, you remember where the end goal? lies. The blue streak to the right also has a wave-like gradient to it. I just noticed this as I was writing, but the color?? of the streak goes from navy to turquoise to yellow like a beach. Neat!

[caption id="attachment_399816" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

2. Persona 5

Persona 5 has so much style behind its UI and graphical ingenuity. However, the main menu stands out as well. The introduction of the train pop art and then the Phantom Thieves at a stop is fantastic. I love the striking red and white style as you see the trains beside them rush ??on either side.

The music give?s you the depiction that this is g??oing to be a cool, suave adventure. When Futaba gets off her seat, you'll see a graffiti mark on her seat. It also shows Haru in the back, showing her more shy side.

Personally, I prefer the calmer nature of this scene to the more energetic Persona 5 Royal's, but it's a personal taste, for sure. It gives a more underground feel that matches the Phantom Thieves bett?er.

//youtu.be/ZT9DST_M_g8

1. Mega Man 2

Admittedly, I haven't grown up during t??he NES era, but my goodness, this is one of the greatest main menu screens in a game, bar none. You start with an overview of the city with a brief summary of the story. The music begins slow and pleasant, but as the camera moves up the skyscraper, the music gets faster until you get one of the most ??badass menu themes ever. You can't help but get hyped.

You see Megaman's hair waving in the air as he readies himself for his tough adventure. When you choose a selection, he then teleports away. Despite having better technology today, this main menu still stands as one of the most epic. Let's set out and defeat each of the bosses (or at least hope we can). This is one of the best ?main menu screens ever just due to the excitement I get every time I boot it up.

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If you ever want an understanding of how Skyrim has managed to stay alive these past 12 years, just look to the modding community. There are tons of ways to tweak The Elder Scrolls 5, and a new?? one has recently come out that takes cues from one of Rockstar's most critically acclaim?ed releases.

Over on Nexus Mods, veteran modder JaySerpa has been at it once again. This time, they've brought the sport of hunting to the chilly world of Skyrim. Called "Simple Hunting Overhaul," it gives the Dragonborn the ability to take time out from all that hero questing and drag??on slaying.

//youtu.be/m1aK9Njuxbo

You can skin the corpses of animals that have been killed, which you can th?en sell to vendors in a nearby town or city. Typical with JaySerpa's projects, this mod also incorporates NPC reactions to your hunting, making for a more immersive experience.

The creator says this Skyrim hunting mod of theirs was inspired by Red Dead Redemption 2. No prizes for guessing which particular aspect of the gam?e.

Who even plays vanilla Skyrim these days?

If you play the game on PC, you'll already be very familiar with the near-countless ways you can mess with Bethesda's epic 2011 RPG. Because, let's face it: after well over a decade, the cracks in Skyrim are more than showing.

The vanilla experience is still fun, but there's no sense in pretending that it's not aged quite significantly. This is where modding comes to the rescue, and people like JaySerpa are responsible for keeping TES5 very much in the limelight. That, and Bethesda wouldn't stop re-releasing the damn thing.

We can't say for certain whether The Elder Scrolls 6 will ever be able to live up to such a legacy. In fact, we can't even say for certain at what stage of development it's currently at. But Bethesda's next big RPG, Starfield, is due out in less than a month.

The post Skyrim hunting mod takes inspiration from Red Dead Re?demption 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

If you thought the Skyrim community was done with modding, think again. There are countless ways to tinker with Bethesda's epic fantasy RPG, especially if you play the game on PC. Now, for thos?e who want to see dinosaurs roaming this cold slice of Tamriel, there's a mod that could be right up your alley.

Over on Nexus Mods, user Birbwalker21 (who's done numerous dinosaur-themed mods in the past) brings us "Raptors" for the special edition of Skyrim. As the name implies, this particular download fills the world of Tamriel with a bunch of different raptors for ?that dose of prehistoric role-playing.

//youtu.be/0gJxi5xWUK4

It's interesting to note that these particular dinosaurs have been given feathers, which research has shown is what the real beasts would have had, as opposed to the?? scaly crea??tures seen in popular culture.

Dr. Alan Grant, if he was a Dragonborn

It's not just one raptor, either. Birbwalker21 has added three different types of raptors to Skyrim. The first one (called the Forest Raptor) is based on the Velociraptor, which many of you will know from Jurassic Park. These can be identified by their black and orange feathers and are?? typically found in woodland areas.

Next is the Alpine Raptor, designed after the Deinonychus. This is a larger raptor you'??ll come across in the higher and more northerly areas of Tamriel. They sport blue feathers with white crests.

Then there's t?he Plains Raptor, which is based on the larger still Utahraptor. They're said to be the fiercest of the bunch when encountered in Skyrim. You can spot them through their brown feathers, but you may want to give them a wide berth, given their aggressive nature.

It's great to see new things still being added to t??his 11-year-old game. Who knows what the Dragonborn will encounter next??? Dragons, perhaps? Or is that too farfetched?

The post Skyri?m meets Jurassic Park in this raptor-themed mod appeared first on Destructoid.

I can see my feet!

Is anyone bored with Skyrim yet? Probably a few of you, but those who are familiar with the modding community have probably been making the most out of the nearly 12-year-old RPG with custom content a-plenty. It may have its problems, but TES5 fans know how to extend the life of Bethesda's epic 2011 release, which incl??udes bumping up the immersion.

Skyrim mods come in all shapes and sizes, and this one by Nexus Mods user ArranzCNL (via PCGamesN) gives us yet another reason to jump back into the game. Essentially, what this custom download d??oes is improve the camera, hence the name of the mod �"Improved Camera."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCZ9sjAwA6s

Using the SKSE plugin, it improves the first-person perspective of the game by allowing for "typically forced 3rd person animations...to be played in 1st person." This also comes with the added bonus of being able to see your own feet! There are a few videos showing it in action, in which the Dragonborn can even be seen crafting and riding a horse, all in first-person with these new viewpoints. It might sound like a simple addition, but it ticks all the right boxes if you want a more immersive Skyrim experience.

Yes, but what about TES6?

Look, we get it. Skyrim is pretty old by now and is definitely showing its age these days. But we don't appear to be getting any closer to the sixth installment in the Elder Scrolls series. It could be years away still, and we've waited several years already. The last thing ?we were treated to was a brief flyover of some unknown piece of Tamriel. That was back in 2018.

As of now, TES5 modders are just making the most of things. PC players typically get the better end of the deal, but even if you have the game on a console, you can still download a ton of mods to keep yourself ent??ertained for a bit longer.

Failing that, there's always the upcoming fan-made project Skyblivion, a massive mod that is an unofficial remake of Oblivion in Skyrim's engine. It's not a new game, of course, but it is something extra in the pipeline. Or you can wait for Starfield, which is due out ??soon anyway. That's another option.

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Now your Skyrim character can flex for the lens

Photo mode has pretty much become a standard feature in modern gaming. Everything from Disco Elysium to God of War: Ragnarok to Final Fantasy XVI have it available. In an?? era in which games are looking more and more beautiful, developers seem keen to give fans the option to drink in all those delicious surroundings that take a lifetime to render and design.

Now it's Skyrim's turn, thanks to modder powerofthree over on Nexus Mods (via PCGamesN). As the name suggests, this custom modificati??on allows you to take snapshots of this icy slice of Tamriel. It also comes with a host of settings for the in-game camera, such as the ability to slow down time, adjust the FOV, and add a few filters.

[caption id="attachment_390021" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Image via powerofthree/Nexusmods[/caption]

Given how Bethesda loves to keep re-releasing Skyrim, it's quite surprising that the studio hasn't opted to include a photo mode at some point. You'd think that spanning three console generations and having multip?le editions, Todd Howard and his team would think to add it in. However, as usual, the modding community?? has taken it upon itself to implement such a feature.

A game that knows no end

Over the years (well, more than a decade now), there have been a ton of mods released for Skyrim. Some of them just want to tweak the vanilla game for a better experience. Some fix bugs that Bethesda doesn't seem to have gotten around to. While there are some which turn TES5 into a different beast entirely. It honestly begs the question of whether Skyrim could boast such longevity if it weren't for mo??dders.

But many feel it's time to move on, even if mods are great for expanding the epic RPG's shelf life. Given that The Elder Scrolls 6 could still be years away, though we still can't be certain about that, TES5 is still going to get a look in for some time. At least now you can download Skyrim's unofficial photo mode and - combined with ?some graphics mods - get a newfound respect for the game's visuals.

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There's a whole new fantasy world ahead of you

Skyrim is one of the best-selling games of all time, and for good reason -- its expansive map, detailed cities, and compelling questlines make for some of the most immersive, fantasy-themed gaming you're gonna get. Skyrim also has a robust modding community, so though aspects of the game might be dated now, you can make some changes to get your gaming experience to your exact specifications. If even that isn't enough to keep your Skyrim playthroughs feeling fresh, then maybe it's time to move onto something new. Thankfully, there are plenty of games out there that are perfectly-suited to fill the Skyrim-shaped hole in your heart.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

The most recent mainline entry in Bioware's flagship fantasy series, Dragon Age: Inquisition is a perfect game to try out if you're missing the snow-capped mountains of Skyrim. The game's cast of colorful characters make for some interesting choices along the way, including combat where players can control each of their party members in a fight. Inquisition may not be as full-out of an open-world game as Skyrim, bu??t it should be able ??to scratch that high-fantasy itch.

The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt

I would say that the title for best open-world fantasy game of all time is probably tied between Skyrim and The Witcher 3, so of course we had to include it on this list. If the idea of an incredibly immersive, high fantasy game with great storytelling and a monster-hunting twist sounds like fun, The Witcher 3 is a must-play. There's also a chance that if you love Skyrim, you love games that you can easily sink hundreds of hours into, which is just as easy to do with The Witcher 3.

Fallout: New Vegas

The Fallout series may not have fantasy theming, but if that's not a deal breaker, it's absolutely worth a shot. Created by the same studio that released the Elder Scrolls series, Bethesda Games, long-time Skyrim players will know what they're getting themselves into by way of design conventions. Fallout: New Vegas, a 2010 spin-off of the series developed by Obsidian Entertainment, is widely renowned as the best game in the Fallout series, so it has my endorsement as the first game fr??om to series to try.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Breath of the Wild may not have the same serious tone or visuals that Skyrim does, but it has some of the best gameplay design of the open-world genre. You've still got the melee and ranged bow combat you're used to in Skyrim, and the rune powers add that extra layer of magic and complexity in gameplay. Breath of the Wild is a masterpiece that deserves to be played regardless, but if you're looking for a fairly easy, beautifully simple game to follow up Skyrim, BOTW is a safe bet.

Elden Ring

Skyrim's combat isn't exactly the easiest thing in the world, but if you're looking for a real challenge, Elden Ring makes it look like a frolic through the park. I'll admit that combining FromSoft's stylish worldbuilding and punishing gameplay and an open-world map is a pretty ingenious idea, but it does ?take an extra level of patience when you're getting absolutely decimated trying to do even the most simple of tasks. What can I say, sometime?s us gamers have a taste for pain.

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If you somehow haven't played Skyrim yet, it's out...again

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition is out now on Switch, thanks to a sudden eShop drop from Bethesda. Wait, the Switch already had Skyrim?! About that!

As a reminder, nearly five years ago, Skyrim came out on Switch (and subsequently, every device ever). "I knew it!" you're all saying right now. The one that's coming out today on the platform is actually the "Skyrim Anniversary Edition," which has the following features:

"The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim celebrates 10 years of adventuring in stunning detail. The Anniversary Edition includes a decade worth of content: the critically acclaimed core game and add-ons of Skyrim Special Edition, plus pre-exist??ing and new content from Creation Club includin??g quests, dungeons, bosses, weapons, spells, and more."

What does Skyrim Anniversary Edition on Switch actually have?

Those features, to be exact, include:

"The core game, pre-existing and new Creation Club content, plus all three official add-ons: Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn."

Nintendo of Europe points out that in addition to buying this new "complete bundle" for $69.99, you can also upgrade your existing version for $19.99. Of course, it's almost parody at this point: putting some convoluted version of Skyrim out on some o??ther? platform randomly without warning.

(Cue the old man voice) Back in my day, we played Skyrim with no mods or DLC! And it was...sort of OK! But eventually small-to-large DLC packs came out for it, some mods rose in popularity (and were integrated into the game by proxy), and then a GOTY edition came, and the rest is history. We're stuck in an endless time loop of Skyrim, with Skyrim Anniversary Edition being the latest version.

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'If you want us to stop releasing it, stop buying it'

At E3 this year, Bethesda poked fun at the joke that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is available on basically everything. They did this not only with a funny trailer but by releasing an actual working version of the game for Alexa devices (even if it was hardly a game). Skyrim is one of the most successful video games released in the ??past few years, but surely people have had their fill. The title?? originally launched seven years ago, so there can't still be people playing it...right?

At Gamelab this past week, Geoff Keighley sat down with Bethesda's Todd Howard and talked about the success of Skyrim and its many re-releases. As Howard put it, "Even now, the amount of people who play Skyrim seven years later; millions of people every month are playing that game. That's why we keep releasing it. If you want us to stop releasing it, stop b?uying it." It's?? hard to argue with that logic.

Howard went on to elaborate that he wants the worlds that Bethesda creates to be sustainable for longer periods. Instead of plopping out yearly sequels or contrived spin-offs, Howard likes the idea of a single setti??ng being sustainable for longer durations. "Every year there's a new idea we can't do, and a new technology for something that excites us," Howard states. "I'd ??say I want it to be sustainable. Eventually, there will come a day where I'm not making games at Bethesda...But I want to make sure that who we are...that's sustainable far beyond me."

"Millions of people" are still playing Skyrim every month [GamesIndustry.biz]

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'it's not something we're actively doing'

At last year's E3, Bethesda unveiled the "Creation Club" for Skyrim and Fallout 4. Available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, it was a way for Bethesda is (essentially) monetize mods from the community. More importantly, it was bringing more content to the console versions of the games without having to be 100% official. When it was later announced that Skyrim would be heading? to Switch, the Creation Club was curiously absent.

In the seven or so months since that Switch version hit store shelves, we still haven't heard anything about mods coming to Nintendo's platform. Speaking with Eurogamer at Gameslab last week, Bethesda's Todd Howard confirmed that the studio is not currently working on modding capabilities for Skyrim Switch.

When questioned about future support for the Switch version, Howard said, "Skyrim Switch has a big community that we haven't supported the way we'd like." When pressed about how Bethesda intends to change that, Howard continued, "Right now, we're doing nothing. People, they're on other things. Our Switch group did Fallout Shelter... and that's done really well. I'm surprised at how well it's done.?..We wou?ld love to see it happen but it's not something we're actively doing."

While this doesn't completely rule out mods ever hitting the platform, Bethesda is simply not working on it at the moment. That sucks to hear, but I'm honestly not surprised. It would be amazing to have mods available in every version of the game, but this is likely an issue with Nintendo more than Bethesda. As we all famously know, Sony has far stricter policies on modding than Microsoft, so Skyrim on PS4 ends up getting shafted on use?r creations. Likely, Nintendo is being cautious about what can be on the platform, so Bethesda probably has its hands t??ied.

Either way, ?don't hold out hope for mods to land on t??he Switch anytime soon.

Don't get your hopes up for mods in Skyrim Switch [Eurogamer]

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FUS-RO-last 30 seconds!

If you thought Bethesda's open-world adventure game would be ripe for the Switch's built-in video capture feature, ??then y?ou're in for a treat. With a day-one patch, the game now supports the very limited functionality that the Switch offers. You'll be able to record the last 30 seconds of gameplay and potentially share some hilarious physics hi-jinks or a badass moment of strength. Maybe you can also chronicle how many people took arrows to the knee for the whole world?

While I enjoy having some form of video capture, Nintendo's solution is kind of bare bones??. At least you can edit the clip, but with the ability to have expandable storage via a micro SD card, there isn't any real reason why we should be limited to 30 seconds. That being said, maybe it is meant solely for those instances where you do something incredible and just want to remember it. I just wish it could do more.

Skyrim’s Day One patch adds video capture support [Vooks]

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From Bethesda itself as well as third parties

Bethesda is breathing life into some old classics in the form of Creation Club, a "collection of new game content for Skyrim and Fallout 4" that includes new weapons, armor, accessories and other things made by both Bethesda employees and outside creators.  It's all totally sanctioned by Bethesda so it will definitely work with your game -- whereas mods can cause some problems with?? existing save data and things like that. 

Creation Club is coming this summe??r to PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

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THE MACHO!

One of the more hilarious mods for Skyrim was the "Macho Dragon Mod." While this didn't alter any quests or provide new content, i??t swapped all of the dragons in the game for some deformed Randy "Macho Man" Savage character model and sound clips. It ended up becoming an internet phenomenon

GameSpot had a short talk with the mod's creator, FancyPants, and he mentioned he was happy with the way Microsoft was handling mods for Skyrim. Reportedly having, "very few problems po??rting," it se?ems FancyPants is happy to have his work getting out to more gamers.

He also took some time to denounce Sony's limitations on modding. "I have no plans to make any [mods for PS4]. None of the modders I know are planning on making anything, either.?? I think a lot of players are going to be very disappointed."

Those are some pretty damning words for the PS4 version. I haven't heard anything about performance differences between the two console versions of Skyrim: Special Edition, what with Bethesda deeming it necessary to withhold review copies, but it hasn't had the best track record with regards to games on Sony hardware. The modding issue isn't its fault, but it? will more than likely further damn its im??age with Sony fans.

Skyrim's Macho Man ?Dragon Mod Coming to Xbox One, But Not PS4 [GameSpot]

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Renovate the kingdom

Looking for a reason to dust off your copy of Skyrim? Holds: The City Overhaul might be the excuse you're looking for. This gigantic mod (a 4 GB download) took its creator Galandil more than three years to put together. Why so long? Because the mod basically remakes several of Skyrim's less imp??ressive cities and towns (while also?? adding in some brand new ones).

Cities such as Falkreath, Dawnstar, and Winterhold all get some much needed TLC with added vendors, improved buildings, and more impressive holds and courts. There are also new settlements scattered around some of Skyrim's more ;austere area??s to liven up the experience.

What I like about this mod is that all of these changes are designed to smoothly fit with the look and lore of the game, unlike a lot of other mods that just make everything sparkly or crazy-magical. As the description on the Nexus download page says, “the aim of all of this is to create a more memorable and diverse experience, making the ci?ties actually feel like cities hopefully without ruining the natural and realistic design of the vanilla game.” Sounds good to me.

Galandil does recommend you explore the redesigned keeps with a fresh character to avoid conflicts and bugs with previous save files. Considering Skyrim has been around for five years and jumping back into a?? character you abandoned in a dun??geon half a decade ago would be fairly disorienting, starting the game with a new character seems like a smart choice anyway.

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Made to facilitate Fallout 4 development

In twilight of 2013, Nintendo put out a remastered The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker for Wii U. One of the key reasons cited for the? project's existence was it allowed the Zelda team to experiment and familiarize itself wit??h the new hardware before developing the next entry in the franchise.

It seems Bethesda took a similar approach with Fallout 4. Instead of releasing the post-apocalyptic action role-playing game alongside the new Xbox or PlayStation, as The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind and Oblivion once had, the stud??io opted to spend a little more time with the kit before launch.

"The first thing we did was port Skyrim to Xbox One," Fallout 4 director Todd Howard told Game Informer. According to Howard, this was done purel?y as an exercise to allow Bethesda's staff to understand the new hardware faster than they would making a new game from the gro?und up.

As for whether we'll ever see that Skyrim p??ort on new platforms, Howard cautioned "don't get your hopes up yet," indicating nothing is in the works right now while su?ggesting it might be someday.

Fallout 4 development began by porting The Elder Scrolls???: Skyrim to Xbox One [Game Informer]

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It's not out yet

Every so often, I'm compelled to install total conversion mods and replay an entire game over again. I might be doing that for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in the future, if this early build of Toon ?Skyrim is any indication.

While it's not out yet, the creator was originally aiming to make the game over in an ugly style, but it sort of evolved into a new project. Creator UniqueUses wants to put it up on Skyrim Nexus when he's finished with it, and we'll try to keep you updated as to when that happen??s.

Toon Skyrim [Reddit]

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Not the easiest name to say. Oblivirim?

Skyrim came out?? four long years ago now. For four years, we’ve been ??striding out into the tundra, exploring new cities, fighting in the civil war, all of which conveniently requiring us to go into yet another crypt full of a metric fucktonne of Draugr.

But since then, a few pretty huge revivals of the older Elder Scrolls games have been in the works. You probably already know about Skywind, which aims to port Morrowind to the newer game’s engine, but did you know about its less elegantly named sibling Skyblivion?

Skyblivion plans to bring Cyrodiil and the Shivering Isles from Oblivion into Skyrim, alongside as many quests from Oblivion as poss??ible. It’s been a long and slow development, but finally we can see it in action again?? with a pretty damn long gameplay video.

It shows off some areas familiar to Oblivion players such as the Imperial City and Water’s Edge, as well as some of those good ol’ fa??shioned Ayelied ruins. But mostly it’s riding a horse through the countryside like some BBC2 Documentary.

From what I can remember from my time with Oblivion, this looks like an incredibly faithful remake. Nothing seems out of place to me, even if it’s pretty unpolished and kind of dead looking. It’s being made by a team of volunteers, and ??is still a work in progress, so it being a bit janky is to be expec?ted.

If you want to see more of the project, take a look at their forums. There's also this lovely Imgur album of screenshots from it.

Dang it, I need to go and reinstall Oblivion now. That one’s always been my favourite Elder Scrolls game.

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I am not making this up, guys.

Okay, that's it. We're done. Skyrim is vanquished, and Ronnie James Dio can now mount his big clean? tiger and ride it down into the midnight sea full of shiny diamonds like the eyes of a cat in the black and blue. Or something.

Who knows, maybe Dio's adventures in Skyrim will continue someday... But, Bill just showed up with a copy of Ride To Hell: Retribution, so I think we're gonna go play that instead.

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Cairn? Cave? Cavern? Something.

My old roommate told me there's some trick to Skyrim du?ngeons where if you follow one of the walls all the way around, you'll find the exit, or something, but I never listened to him. I'm still actually mad because ?he buckled my frying pan by dunking it in cold water, so now it rises up in the middle, so when I cook eggs, they always run off to one side. He's a good guy, though. He played an archer with like a level 100 sneak, and then his PS3 bricked. Poor guy.

Here's some more of our?? Ronnie James Dio vi-D?IO series. Ahem. Video. 

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We played a game some more!

Our ongoing look at what it would be like if the late heavy metal icon Ronnie James Dio continues his exploration of Skyrim. I like to think??, in a decade or so, people will look back on this video series the same way they on that Ken Burns documentary about that thing that he did.&??nbsp;

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I'd say U2 fans, too, but who am I kidding

As Ronnie James Dio continues through the land of Skyrim on his stolen horse, we turn our magnifying gl?asses of journalistic criticism and nitpickery on Metallica and U2. What is the relationship between these two bands of musicians?

Watch our dumb video to find out. 

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Dio in Skyrim continues!

In our ongoing attempts to break YouTube by uploading the dumbest things possible into it, thereby short-circuiting the Mother Brain and freeing us all from our virtual imprisonment, we've started the second chunk of our adventures in Skyrim as heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio. This is a bad video made by dumb people, but those dumb people h??ad fun making it, so there's that.

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Skyrim is finally worth it

Usually I just poke fun at Skyrim modders for rendering photo realistic horse vaginas, but I may finally play Skyrim just to play this mod aiming to recreate the first four levels of the tragically abandoned classic MediEvil. 

MediEvil 3 and Bushido Blade 3. C'mon, guys. Needs to happen.  

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With a new DLC pack coming out for Skyrim, comes more pestering. Recently with the advent of Hearthfire on the PC, and thus, past 360 exclusivity, patient PS3 Skyrim fans want to know, once again, when their system of choice is actually getting DLC.

Pete Hines, resident PR head at Bethesda, took to Twitter, but what he had to say wasn't promising: "I don't have any info on Hearthfire, Dawnguard, or DLC in general for PS3. We're ??still on it. Will?? share update when I have one."

Hines also clarified the issue for people blaming Sony for the delay, noting that "it's our problem, it's on us to solve it."

Well, there you have it. If I had to guess, I'd say the DLC either isn't coming to the PS3 at all, or it's?? coming sometime next year. Maybe Bethesda will just delay the DLC altogether and attempt to streamline it into a PS3 GOTY edition. Sit tight, peeps.

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