Of the many reasonsSkyrimand its predecessors are so beloved, combat is rarely one of them, andThe Elder Scrolls 6needs to change that. Unfortunately, the next game in the beloved franchise could find itself between a rock and a hard place, as many new RPGs have risen in the shadow ofSkyrim, and they’re doing its combat much better. There is one simple way thatThe Elder Scrolls 6’s combat could change to be more dynamic, reactive, and enjoyable, but it could be an extremely controversial choice.
With doubt being cast ontheories ofThe Elder Scrolls 6’s release date, Bethesda is under renewed pressure to impress audiences, especially afterStarfieldfailed to make a big impression. Besides offering a once-in-a-generation open world experience, the nextElder Scrollsneeds to improve on its core systems to keep up with modern competition, but even necessary changes to combat could divide the community down the middle.
A Soulslike Formula Could Improve the Elder Scrolls 6’s Combat, but It Comes at a Cost
Though Bethesda couldn’t have known what it would become at the time, a little game calledDark Soulslaunched just months beforeSkyrim, and it took the RPG space by storm. While it was drowned out by the sheer size of the fifthElder Scrollsinstallment in 2011, word quickly spread of this difficult game that proved RPGs could have compelling combat mechanics. Since then, the Soulslike combat model has only become more popular, influencingpopular action gamesand spawning a subgenre of its own. The appeal of it lies in its simplicity and reward, something that isn’t easily said aboutThe Elder Scrolls’ combat, which is often viewed as a functional, but clumsy necessity.
This has begged the question among fans over the years of whetherThe Elder Scrolls 6should adopt a Soulslike combat style. Soulslikes have certainly captured the attention of millions of players, but whether it is right forThe Elder Scrollsis another matter. The series has built a reputation for doing things its own way, for better or worse, and much of the charm inherent to that lies in some of the more dated features. But even Bethesda is not immune to the ravages of time, and a failure to adapt to suit current expectations could have serious consequences for the beloved franchise going forward, so it’s worth looking at what could be gained and lost by going down this path.
Soulslike Mechanics Could Bring New Life to an IP Rooted in the Past
One of the reasons that a Soulslike model is so compelling is just how popular it could be. Taking a cursory glance at the Nexus, it’s clear just how popular Soulslike combat mods are, and there are hundreds of YouTube videos detailing howfans have transformedSkyrimintoDark Souls. Many of these mods have not transformed the game wholesale, of course, but they have taken many pages out of FromSoftware’s playbook. I-frame dodges, perfect parries, and real-time healing mechanics are all very popular ways to tweakSkyrim’s combat in ways that enhance the replayability.
Beyond the core fanbase, it’s clear that Soulslikes are very popular too.Elden Ringhas sold more than 30 million copies, and it has one of the highest concurrent player counts in Steam history. The formula has resonated with a lot of players, andThe Elder Scrollswouldn’t even need to incorporate many of its elements to turn fights from a chore to something compelling. There is a level of immediacy in Soulslikes, where fights are dangerous, but death is not the end.
A new game set in Hammerfell could tap into this ethos, providing a faster, more fluid experience that gives players something to master, not just mindlessly face-tank. While the series still has plenty of brand name recognition, many of its fans have only playedSkyrim, and with no new game since, there could be a serious problem if many of them feel more attached toSkyrimthan the series as a whole, so it needs a way to entice them in.
Soulslike Combat Could Strip the Elder Scrolls of Its RPG Identity
Just because one formula works in certain cases, does not mean it translates over to everything.The Elder Scrollshas rarely prided itself on stellar gameplay, instead focusing on maximizing its immersive features. There is a genuine argument to be made that a combat style that leans too heavily into player skill could compromise the premise of roleplaying a character that starts weak and becomes strong. If a player can just outskill every enemy at level one, then it isn’t their character overcoming obstacles, it is the player’s own talent.As clumsy asSkyrim’s combat may be, it effectively forces a character to level up in order to take on its most fearsome threats without being instantly obliterated.
It also could walk the series into a trap of trend-chasing. Soulslike formulas are successful because of how adaptable they have proven to be, but that doesn’t mean they will endure forever.IfThe Elder Scrolls 6takes several more years to come out, it could potentially miss the boat on a wave of enthusiasm for Soulslikes. Even a half-hearted attempt at one might not be enough, showing the series has no way of innovating its own combat to suit itself, having to copy other contemporary games, which could easily date the formula in the years to follow.
There is no simple solution on how tofixThe Elder Scrolls’ dated combat model, butStarfieldhas shown that if Bethesda fails to innovate, it could cost the company dearly. At the moment, mods could provide the best window into how the series could move forward, but they can often walk a fine line between engaging and immersion-breaking. Whatever happens,The Elder Scrolls 6is under a lot of pressure to deliver an RPG experience that can last as long asSkyrim, and it might need to get a little more radical with its ideas.
