The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition review

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition takes the No. 1 spot because it gives dragon fans the most game for $39.99. Bethesda Game Studios' open-world RPG casts you as a hero who fights dragons across Skyrim, and the Special Edition on Steam bundles the base game with its add-ons. Bethesda's own page for the Dragonborn add-on says your shouts can bend the will of enemies and even tame dragons, and the Hearthfire add-on lets you buy land and build a home. Its 94% positive score across 133,253 English Steam reviews is the highest of any PC game here, and Steam lists it as the winner of more than 200 Game of the Year awards. The minimum PC needs 8 GB of RAM and 12 GB of storage, and it also runs on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. The drawbacks: it is single-player only, Steam lists partial controller support, and its violence makes it a poor pick for young children.

Who it is for

players who want to fight and tame dragons in an open world

Price

$39.99 one-time on Steam for the Special Edition with add-ons.

The Special Edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features. $39.99 Buy on Steam
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Dragonborn add-on adds shouts that Bethesda says can even tame dragons
• Special Edition bundles the base game with its add-ons
• Hearthfire add-on lets you buy land and build your own home
• Creations support adds new quests, armor, weapons and more on PC and consoles
• Remastered art, volumetric god rays and screen-space reflections

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: 94% of 133,253 English Steam reviews are positive
• Strength: Steam lists it as the winner of more than 200 Game of the Year awards
• Strength: Minimum spec is 8 GB of RAM and 12 GB of storage
• Weakness: Single-player only, with no co-op mode
• Weakness: Steam lists only partial controller support
• Weakness: Bethesda lists intense violence, blood and gore as content descriptors

Key facts

• Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
• On Steam since: October 27, 2016
• English Steam reviews: 94% positive of 133,253
• Minimum RAM: 8 GB
• Storage: 12 GB

Where it ranks

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is No. 1 in our Best Dragon Games verdict.