The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind GOTY Edition

Like every major title in the Elder Scrolls series, Morrowind is a diamond in the rough. For every strength (world building, exploration, character development, freedom, immersion) there are jarring weaknesses (combat, NPC dialogue and characterization, and of course bugs-galore). Still, these weaknesses don't altogether overshadow what is arguably the most atmospheric game in the TES series, thanks to its wonderfully detailed and idiosyncratic game world (Vvardenfell is easily one of gaming's strangest and most fantastical settings) and wonderfully flexible character building system. Plus, with mods you can fix many of Morrowind's obtuse design elements (Cliffracers!), and even make the game look comparable to and in some ways even better than Oblivion, its successor. In short: *A Must Buy for RPG fans. *Install Morrowind Overhaul 3.0 for graphical goodness. *Enjoy!

Yes, it's old. Graphics are dated, you have to read a lot, gameplay is antiquated(I personally don't mind it), and there's balance issues - to name some of the bigger issues people have with it. However, no game before or after offers the depth of gameplay and immerson that Morrowind does. No game has matched the mysterious, eerie tone that this game exudes. From giant mushrooms that people live in, to a city made of of ziggurats emerging from the see - each one a town of its own, this game is amazing. Not to sound like a Todd Howard broken record, but this is truly a game where you can go where you want and do what you want. If you can get over the antiquated veneer of this game, it's an absolute gem of gems.

If you're a fan of ambiguity in storytelling, this game has it all. Everybody in the game is his or her own unreliable narrator. Nobody is ever going to give you the straight story, and even if they're being real with you, they don't have all the facts. Or maybe the facts are a lie. Or maybe they've been passed down from generation to generation for so long, everybody has their own spin. Or maybe the whole damn thing is up for interpretation. Or maybe nobody knows, or cares. Or maybe you're just being taken for a ride from start to finish by forces you can't understand. Even the big bad of the entire game is justified from his own point of view. Everybody in the game has their own reasons, and I really like that. The plot of dubious prophecy and political court intrigue (and there's multiple courts to be a part of) keeps me playing. The storytelling is one thing, but the actual mechanics of the game are another. I don't find early and mid game combat fun. You'll be whiffing at your opponents for no good reason for hours. But then you claw your way to a little bit of power, a little bit of wealth, a little bit of charm, a little bit of crafting skill. You keep struggling, you keep fighting. And then, you get it. It's yours, more and more. Suddenly, you're Hulk jumping across the wasteland, slicing things up indiscriminately with your katana forged by demons, and shooting out Kamehamehas at immortal vampires. Whether the prophecy is true, false, half-truth, complete disinfo, wholesale propaganda, high heresy, it doesn't matter. For all intents and purposes, you ARE The Nerevarine. I love Morrowind. I'm giving this game a 4/5 because certain aspects of the game have aged very poorly, and it is incredibly off putting to people accustomed to modern gaming and modern graphics, but, I'll never forget the story. Never let your guard down. Trust no one. Everybody's out to get you in this game. Except Jiub. Jiub's legit. Enjoy your stay in Vvardenfell.

The best entry in the Elder Scrolls series. Make sure you will look up how to build a character for beginners. I keep coming back to this game due to the excellent modding community. Land expansions like Tamriel Rebuilt and Skyrim Home of The Nords are highly recommended. OpenMW is an open source engine that comes along with gamepad, modern resolution support and better stability.

I could write forever about why Morrowind is so good. But I'll stick to what elevates it above later Elder Scrolls in my opinion. Morrowind is the best Elder Scrolls game primarily because of its setting. This is because the setting is not only very engaging, but also, more or less, the main character. Every single quest, from the Mage Guild new guy chores of collecting some flowers, to the epic intrigues of the main quest, revolve around the land, peoples, history, conflicts, and secrets of Morrowind. And the land, peoples, history, conflicts, and secrets of Morrowind are bloody interesting. There is a very real sense of place, and of culture. The appeal of Morrowind lies not merely in levelling up and crushing the many beasts and bandits of Morrowind; it lies for a huge part in playing the anthropologist, the historian, the religious scholar -- all roles you will have to play over the course of the main quest. Morrowind was when The Elder Scrolls was, in terms of setting and lore, at its most strange, creative, and fascinating - to the point that while dedicated modders remake Morrowind to Skyrim's engine, the largest mod project for Morrowind seeks to create... more of Morrowind. Morrowind is truly something special. In terms of game mechanics, how you explore and fight across this strange land, the game may show its age (depending on your taste); but in terms of that strange land itself, Morrowind is evergreen.