The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

About The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

Daggerfall is a large RPG from Bethesda, released in 1996 for DOS and Windows. Set in the high fantasy world of Tamriel, you start shipwrecked in a cave near Daggerfall, tasked with uncovering the emperor’s request to investigate King Lysandus’s murder. The game emphasizes player freedom, quests, character builds, and endings vary wildly. With over 200 cities, 12 provinces, and no scripted story paths, it’s a sandbox RPG where survival, exploration, and choice define the experience. Classic 16-bit visuals and procedural content generation make each playthrough distinct.

Gameplay

You begin with nothing but a knife and a cave, scavenging for survival while navigating a world teeming with dungeons, towns, and random encounters. Combat uses real-time melee with a stamina system, while skills like lockpicking, alchemy, and crafting shape your progression. Dialogue options and faction interactions matter, but the open-ended design means you can ignore the main quest entirely. Over 100 classes and 400+ spells offer diverse playstyles. Exploration is key, every location, from taverns to catacombs, hides secrets. The game’s non-linear structure allows you to tackle quests in any order, with branching outcomes affecting the world.

What Players Think

Daggerfall holds an 84.5/100 IGDB score from 92 critic ratings, praised for its ambition and freedom. Playtime averages 50 hours, with 22% of players completing the game. Community moods lean nostalgic (78%) and appreciative of player agency (65%). Reviews highlight “unmatched freedom for 1996” and “a template for open worlds.” Completion rates drop after 30 hours, suggesting a grind-heavy late game. With 120 achievements (12% completion globally), the game rewards thorough exploration. Players often cite its dated UI and combat as barriers, but the core systems remain respected.

PlayPile's Take

Daggerfall is a landmark for RPG fans who crave freedom, not polish. At a modern price of ~$15, 20, it’s a budget-friendly dive into early open-world design. The 120 achievements and 40-hour+ playtime justify its reissue for collectors. However, its clunky inventory system and grind-heavy progression may frustrate newcomers. Best suited for those who prioritize procedural discovery over streamlined narratives. It’s not a flawless game but a vital piece of RPG history.

Storyline

The Emperor recruits you to exorcise the walking spirit of the late King of Daggerfall, but soon the story unfolds to something far greater than avenging the death of a noble...