The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind GOTY Edition

Morrowind is the 3rd game in the Elder Scrolls series, and features a large handcrafted world that was only rivaled in size by MMOs like Everquest on release (not counting procedurally generated games like Daggerfall). It's sort of a mix between Ultima 7, where you can pick up and interact with any item, and Ultima Underworld with its first person perspective, 3D world and real time combat. Morrowind's biggest strength is its setting. It takes place on the island of Vvardenfell, which is a uniquely strange place that combines influences from Middle Eastern, African, European and other cultures to create a mix that feels alien. You'll travel from swamplands to volcanic regions to mushroom forests and archipelagoes in the sea, while also diving into caves, Steampunk themed ruins and shrines to various gods. It's very fun to explore. It's also probably one of the most open-ended RPGs ever made, at least in terms of big budget games. From the very beginning, you can teleport all over the island for very little money, and nothing is blocked off from access. You can create your own spells, your own enchantments and build out your character any way you like. The game does have some problems, however. The default movement speed is glacial and makes getting around the large world tedious, so you'll want to boost your Speed stat early. It's also not very well balanced, and you'll find that you inevitably become an overpowered god, even with the difficulty maxed out. Combat is super basic and relies on dice rolls to determine if you hit your enemy, which may put some people off of the game. NPCs can also be a bit generic and will sometimes speak more like an encyclopedia than a person. Overall, the game is a classic of the genre that any fan of open world RPGs should try. I strongly recommend using OpenMW (search for it) to make it run well on modern systems. It's also heavily moddable to bring graphics up to modern standards or change how it plays, if you like.

Morrowind is the game that shaped the Elder Scrolls series into what they are today. There would be no Skyrim without Morrowind. If you played any of the newer ES games, this game will feel familiar. Yes, the graphics might seem rough for today's tastes, and the leveling, stats and combat systems are different than today's standards, but all of that is besides the point. The value of Morrowind is in the unique blend of setting, story and sounds, which all help shape the experience. Unusual game mechanics are easily overcome by reading guides (esp. UESP wiki) and planning the character ahead. Graphics and art style are subjective, and personally I like to leave any game as close to the originally intended look. That said, there are graphical overhauls with high resolution textures and whatnot on modding sites for those who really cannot immerse themselves into a game without them. Issues with modern OSes are overcome by using a modern engine like OpenMW (highly recommended) with the data files from the original game. So, if you haven't yet, there is no excuse not to play this classical gem.

For almost 2 decades, I have spent more time in Morrowind, than almost all other games I've played combined. It's not a matter of habit, just the simple fact that after comparing and playing other games, very few have managed to even come close to what Morrowind offers (KOTOR, Skyrim are close). My longest save is over 800 hours, and never went over 40% of the storyline. I have a save that never activated more than the initial 3-4 quests and you could still finish the game with as little as 25-30 hours (maybe less if you take a few shortcuts). But I still come back for the world, exploration, new areas, the excellent modding from the community and above all the no-rush approach for the main storyline. The world doesn't scale with the character, there are easy areas and some that remain deadly no matter your level. You have access to varied fighting skills/weapons, multiple armors and more spellcasting schools than you could probably use. Enchantments, Potions, Spells can all be customized, adding depth and expanding your options. All in all, this is a world were you can get lost, live and struggle to survive (well, maybe not in vanilla) while the multitude of mods ensure that you can tweak the game as you see fit and bring the graphics up-to modern standards

I was recently inspired to revisit this game after seeing Warlockracy's videos about Tamriel Rebuilt and although the beginning can be a bit rough (a low HP pool and frequent missing is a great recipe for frustration), I have to say that this game holds up remarkably well even some nineteen years and two sequels after its release. The gameplay itself is nothing to write home about, consisting mostly of clicking to swing your weapon or cast your spell and hoping that the dice rolls for hitting and how much damage you do are in your favor, but the game more than makes up for it with its setting. The island of Vvardenfell is quite unlike any other, with no generic fantasy countryside to be seen anywhere. Instead you're greeted with swamplands full of rundown little fishing villages, volcanic ash deserts where people live in houses resembling giant insect shells, rocky islets where wizard towers made from giant fungi and roots stand tall and a savanna populated by nomadic tribals, not to mention the central volcano of Red Mountain with its ash creatures and the floating city of Vivec which houses one of the living gods of the indigenous dunmer people. The island is positively bursting at the seams with character and just begging to be explored, studied and made home. I honestly can't recommend it enough for anyone looking for a strange, alien world to disappear into for a while.

It is a massive game. It amazes me how much content there is. I spent about 40 hours on my last playthrough, and I didn't even complete all the factions or explore most of the map! Yes, the game is old. Yes, the graphics and some mechanics are dated. It is, however, a hidden gem. It offers a massive island which you can freely explore. There are many quests to complete and dungeons to loot. You can customise your character by choosing its race, apperance, skills and more. There are quite a few factions to join, some of which are in conflict so you have to make a choice. The world is filled with interesting, weird or completely bizzare things and characters. All this combined makes a truly wonderful and immersive role playing game. Pros: - Massive world - Different joinable factions (and some unjoinable too) - Many quests - Many skills - Character customisation - Interesting and well written lore - A lot of things and places to discover - Interesting enemies - Complex magic - Intersting expansions - Mod support Cons: - Cliff racers - Combat is dated and takes getting used to - Very little voice over and a lot of reading - Directions can be very vague, unclear and frustrating at times - A lot of walking - Dated graphics - A lot of things that can be exploited - Lots of clicking (alchemy and picking ingredients)