Ah yes, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, my first ever computer roleplaying game. I originally played the disc version before I got The Elder Scrolls Anthology which gave me a Steam code for all of the games. I've also sunk plenty of hours into the version on the original Xbox at family gatherings and such. However, my history with it goes back even further, to a time when my late cousin showed me the game when my family visited his family. As such, Morrowind is one of the most important games in my life, as it shaped my love for RPGs and it introduced me to my favorite game series ever, so my objectivity is certainly in question (as it is when we're discussing any Bethesda game, I'm a huge fan), but I want to talk about why I view the game as being so special.


Anyone who has played Morrowind will tell you that this game contains one of the most unique fantasy settings ever devised. I think that is the number one reason Morrowind is so charming: it's not the sandbox gameplay, it's the alienish landscapes that almost feel like Star Wars moreso than traditional fantasy. This couples with a mystical and epic story, as well as an equally epic soundtrack by the legend Jeremy Soule, all to create an experience unlike anything else.

Every inch of this game breathes magic, mystery, intrigue. From the very start, you're greeted with a vision of prophecy spoken over you. You are marked by fate to do great things, though you're not told exactly what your role in fate will actually be. As a former prisoner, you go through the process of release and enter the island of Vvardenfell through the Imperial town of Seyda Neen. This town feels more like traditional fantasy, due to its medieval European-style architecture and predominantly human populace, but even here: something just feels... magical.

However, as you explore beyond the starting region (the Ascadian Isles), you start to really see just how alien and magical this world is. You'll see mushroom trees, wizard towers made out of what appear to be giant acorns, ashy deserts, murky swamps and barren wastelands. The architecture in parts of this game were influenced by ancient Sumerian and Babylonian architecture, which also gives certain areas a feeling of being really ancient and foreign to most.

As for the story, this game's plot is arguably the best in the series, introducing absurd amounts of new lore which has gone on to create the foundation for what I consider to be the greatest fantasy world-building ever (even over Tolkien himself). Without spoiling anything, I'll just say that you're prophesied by the Daedric Prince Azura to play a crucial role in the future of Morrowind, but this contrasts with the way the NPCs will treat you at first. Until you adventure and grow into the role you're destined to play, the Dunmer (Dark Elves) will treat you harshly and coldly as a foreigner. You'll hear all sorts of insults and you won't be getting any favors... at least, not at first.


That's where the gameplay aspect comes into play. While I'm entirely comfortable admitting that I prefer the two followup titles (Oblivion and Skyrim) due to how they streamline the experience, Morrowind has incredible design at its core. Even though its predecessor, Daggerfall, dwarfs this game in terms of sheer complexity, Morrowind's design is a great balance of sandbox freedom, robust roleplaying systems, and a fantastic sense of character progression.

This is easiest to see with the difficulty curve. When you start off, you can theoretically venture into the heart of Red Mountain, you're completely free to do that (you're free to do just about anything at any time, that's TES in a nutshell). That said, if you try, good luck. You'll need it. The game world is built in a way so that, in combination with the character building, you really do feel like certain regions of the world are harsher and more dangerous until you learn how to deal with them. This is why taking a more linear path through the early game quests and side quests is generally the best idea, at least for new players. Oh, and if you bork your character building during the release process, you're going to really struggle. Just keep that in mind.

All of those things sound awful to many people, but the truth is, this difficulty curve and harshness not only fits the game world, it makes you genuinely feel like you're getting stronger and growing into the shoes fate has crafted for you. You're a scrawny twerp at first, but if you keep up with it and, most importantly, take your time, you will see yourself grow to be capable of handling any threat. By the end of the game, you'll practically be taking godlike leaps across the landscape and dominating anything that dares look at you the wrong way. This sense of progression is immensely immersive and, most importantly, rewarding. Furthermore, the systems are simply built to allow you to decide how you get to that point. You are, quite simply, boundless in potential. The systems are all there for you to use, or ignore, at your own whims.

The gameplay is simply conducive to a true sense of adventure. By the time you finish this game's main quest, you will be looking back fondly on all that you did to get that point and it will feel incredibly rewarding.


Despite my gushing, Morrowind is not my favorite game in the series. It was my start, but the next game (Oblivion) remains my favorite in the series, and my favorite game of all time. Likewise, the fifth game, Skyrim, remains one of my favorite games of all time. However, it cannot be denied that Morrowind not only set the foundation, it also did many things a lot better than its followups. If you enjoy the later games, definitely give this one a try (though, you might want to get the Accurate Attack mod if you're impatient with the combat system). If you've never played an Elder Scrolls game before, and if you enjoy early 2000s RPGs with all the pros and cons that come with that era, Morrowind really is for you. It's a masterpiece of RPG game design. It has an intriguing, epic, lore-rich plot. It has a beautiful soundtrack. And, most importantly, it contains arguably the most interesting and magical fantasy world ever designed.

Buy this game and dive into the land of Morrowind. You won't regret it unless you're an n'wah!