The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim - Adventure Board Game review: "It can really work, until it doesn't"

GamesRadar+ VerdictThe original Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is one of the most approachable RPGs out there, with stripped-back easy-to-understand levelling systems and a world just begging to be explored. Though there’s some nostalgic joy to be had here, Skyrim — The Adventure Game is paradoxically, needlessly complicated, yet lacking in many of the areas that makes Bethesda’s premiere fantasy game shine.Pros+It nails that Elder Scrolls aesthetic+Genuinely encourages multiplayer fun in an organic way+Choose-your-own-adventure style quests are a theming home runCons-Very poorly explained gameplay systems-Setup is long and tedious-Writing quality is inconsistent

GamesRadar+ Verdict

GamesRadar+ Verdict

The original Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is one of the most approachable RPGs out there, with stripped-back easy-to-understand levelling systems and a world just begging to be explored. Though there’s some nostalgic joy to be had here, Skyrim — The Adventure Game is paradoxically, needlessly complicated, yet lacking in many of the areas that makes Bethesda’s premiere fantasy game shine.

The original Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is one of the most approachable RPGs out there, with stripped-back easy-to-understand levelling systems and a world just begging to be explored. Though there’s some nostalgic joy to be had here, Skyrim — The Adventure Game is paradoxically, needlessly complicated, yet lacking in many of the areas that makes Bethesda’s premiere fantasy game shine.

Pros+It nails that Elder Scrolls aesthetic+Genuinely encourages multiplayer fun in an organic way+Choose-your-own-adventure style quests are a theming home run

It nails that Elder Scrolls aesthetic

Genuinely encourages multiplayer fun in an organic way

Choose-your-own-adventure style quests are a theming home run

Cons-Very poorly explained gameplay systems-Setup is long and tedious-Writing quality is inconsistent

Very poorly explained gameplay systems

Setup is long and tedious

Writing quality is inconsistent

Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.

Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.

Jump to:Features & designGameplayShould you buyHow we tested

Jump to:Features & designGameplayShould you buyHow we tested

I had high hopes for The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim – Adventure Board Game.

The Elder Scrolls series cemented my love of RPGs at a very young age. At just eight years old, I started exploring the sewers of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and when Skyrim launched just after I turned 13, it soon shot up to being my favorite genre. Part of what made this stick in my adolescent brain is just how easy it is to pick up and learn. If I started on Morrowind, my impatient little brain may have clicked off after getting lost in my first quest. However, Skyrim felt both overwhelmingly big yet easy to continue exploring in. Unfortunately, the Skyrim board game doesn’t reach the same heights.

I’ve needed more guides in just tens of hours of playing the board game than I have in hundreds spent playing the video game. This is a problem that not only permeates through but actively sours some of the best parts of the game, even if there is still a lot to love here.

Features & design

Swipe to scroll horizontallyPrice$139.99 / £110Ages14+Game typeDungeon-crawler / LegacyPlayers1 - 4Lasts90mins+ComplexityHighPublisherModiphiusPlay if you enjoyGloomhaven, HeroQuest, the Descent series

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Price$139.99 / £110Ages14+Game typeDungeon-crawler / LegacyPlayers1 - 4Lasts90mins+ComplexityHighPublisherModiphiusPlay if you enjoyGloomhaven, HeroQuest, the Descent series

As well as this, you have character sheets, which come with little slots to fit your health, XP, and more. Then, you have deck boxes to “save” your data, and a sequence of cards which determine where quests send you and which encounters pop up. As there are quite a lot of tokens, small models for your characters, the board itself, and hundreds of cards, you need a lot of table space to start setting up the game – a problem not uncommon amongst thebest board games, but still worth bearing in mind. Most of the components are made out of cardboard or plastic so, while the price doesn’t show here, it does come through in the sheer size of the game.

It’s rather easy to get your character set up, as icons represent each of the races and character sheets are initially blank, allowing you to organize your own health, gear, and more. Unfortunately, the character sheet has small gaps to place the end of your health bar and one member of our party managed to entirely destroy their token getting it out of the slot. As the health bar grows over time, and players can sometimes place it in the wrong spot, this feels like an unfortunate oversight in design.

(Image credit: James Bentley)

The Skyrim board game player interface with cards and tokens on a wooden table

Luckily, all dice have custom logos and symbols, which are used throughout the game, and they feel of good quality. The same can be said for adventure cards, character models, and quest cards. This is to be expected from the miniatures at least, because they’re lifted straight fromThe Elder Scrolls: Call to Armswargame.

Perhaps the worst part of setting up the game is having to read the rulebook, which is often overly vague at some points, and needlessly intricate at others. Some parts have the rulebook explain edge niche cases before explaining the basic rules you have to follow, whereas others don’t even finish explaining key parts of combat and progression. I’ve always been a bit of a rules guy – taking control of tables to get the game running. Yet my role in the first few sessions was spent reading the same few paragraphs with exasperation, hoping that would solve the lack of information. Not only are some of the game’s instructions needlessly vague but some are plain wrong, pointing you to sections and cards that don’t correlate. You can make your way around this with a little searching or inferring based on the rulebook but this isn’t an inconvenience you’d expect to run into, given the substantial asking price.

Some of the rule cards came in the wrong order too, which wouldn’t be a problem normally, but was here. Packs are segmented intentionally, so you only open some when you hit the right point in the story or want to take on supplementary quests. With inconsistent placing of the cards, this segmenting ended up hindering the full experience as my playgroup had to scatter and sort them ourselves. It’s a great idea that could work well to invite you into the world but does the opposite instead.

Gameplay

(Image credit: James Bentley)

The Skyrim board game board, tokens, cards, and models on a wooden table

Once you’ve made your way through the grind that is the rulebook, The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim – Adventure Board Game does shine in some of its combat and quest systems.

Once you start a given questline, you have to use turns making your way around the map, engaging in fights to get better gear, and completing side quests. The quests often lead to you getting given a choice, where you have to hunt down a corresponding numbered card to match the next quest. It feels like reading one of those Choose Your Own Adventure books, in a way that is both rudimentary but surprisingly engrossing. In multiplayer, this system leads to a more hectic gameplay experience, where you have a bit of a standoff on who is going to which location and the best way to tackle the board as a team. It can really work, until it doesn’t.

Fighting fantasies(Image credit: Rob Burman)Publisher Modiphius has plenty of experience working with big franchises like Skyrim. On top of its Call to Arms wargame, it has also made a Fallout tabletop RPG, a couple of Fallout wargames (the most recent of whichcould be a very S.P.E.C.I.A.L), numerous Star Trek games, and the upcomingDiscworld RPG.

Fighting fantasies

(Image credit: Rob Burman)Publisher Modiphius has plenty of experience working with big franchises like Skyrim. On top of its Call to Arms wargame, it has also made a Fallout tabletop RPG, a couple of Fallout wargames (the most recent of whichcould be a very S.P.E.C.I.A.L), numerous Star Trek games, and the upcomingDiscworld RPG.

(Image credit: Rob Burman)

Fallout Factions miniatures huddled together, surrounded by tokens

Publisher Modiphius has plenty of experience working with big franchises like Skyrim. On top of its Call to Arms wargame, it has also made a Fallout tabletop RPG, a couple of Fallout wargames (the most recent of whichcould be a very S.P.E.C.I.A.L), numerous Star Trek games, and the upcomingDiscworld RPG.

Failing quests will often raise the threat on the board, and taking on too many side quests via world events will fail them too. This means you have to make your way through both forms of quests as quickly as possible, to avoid the world filling with threats. This is a good system that avoids players' power-leveling and walking through encounters with ease.

Combat, once you’ve got through unclear wording, is mostly a decent addition to the game, with players attacking rows of enemies with dice rolls – each attack playing into their build. If you go in with light armor, you can attempt a sneak attack and get extra damage in immediately. If you wear heavy armor, you won’t get this same chance but you can tank incoming damage a little easier. Unfortunately, bows don’t feel quite as thought out, not having as distinct a selling point as other forms of damage.

Once you get into the flow of playing, the Skyrim board game can be a fun time… but it can also be a real slog getting everything in line. Even when you’ve put in that time and effort, you need to look over its many flaws to get the experience I feel is intended.

Should you buy The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim - Adventure Game?

(Image credit: James Bentley)

The Skyrim board game board and quest cards laid out on a wooden table

Are you a massive fan of Elder Scrolls? Have you already gone back and got that Skyrim Platinum, or is it your Holiday game every year? If so, and you enjoy a good Legacy campaign (check in with thetypes of board gamesif that doesn’t mean much), this choice makes perfect sense. Though I’d probably wait for a slight sale as it’s still a lot of money to spend on a board game that needs this much time and effort to get going.

However, if you and your buddies have just finished your playthrough ofGloomhavenor its expansion,Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, and want something else to play, I’d put this in the backlog for now. It’s worth busting out at some point but you’ve probably got a few better choices to occupy you and your friends first.

Itisfun to play as a Khajiit, though.

Buy it if…

✅ You’re looking for a Legacy board gameAs setup can take a while, and your entire party really needs to know how to work the story components and gameplay, you need to commit to a legacy playthrough to get fun out of it.

✅ You’re looking for a Legacy board gameAs setup can take a while, and your entire party really needs to know how to work the story components and gameplay, you need to commit to a legacy playthrough to get fun out of it.

✅ You’re looking for a Legacy board gameAs setup can take a while, and your entire party really needs to know how to work the story components and gameplay, you need to commit to a legacy playthrough to get fun out of it.

✅ You’re looking for a Legacy board gameAs setup can take a while, and your entire party really needs to know how to work the story components and gameplay, you need to commit to a legacy playthrough to get fun out of it.

✅ You’re looking for a Legacy board gameAs setup can take a while, and your entire party really needs to know how to work the story components and gameplay, you need to commit to a legacy playthrough to get fun out of it.

✅ You’re looking for a Legacy board gameAs setup can take a while, and your entire party really needs to know how to work the story components and gameplay, you need to commit to a legacy playthrough to get fun out of it.

✅ You really like SkyrimDespite hiccups with setup and pacing, grabbing your Khajiit player character, throwing on some of that wonderful soundtrack, and pummeling bad guys can be a lot of fun, especially if you’ve got all you can out of the video game.

✅ You really like SkyrimDespite hiccups with setup and pacing, grabbing your Khajiit player character, throwing on some of that wonderful soundtrack, and pummeling bad guys can be a lot of fun, especially if you’ve got all you can out of the video game.

✅ You really like SkyrimDespite hiccups with setup and pacing, grabbing your Khajiit player character, throwing on some of that wonderful soundtrack, and pummeling bad guys can be a lot of fun, especially if you’ve got all you can out of the video game.

✅ You really like SkyrimDespite hiccups with setup and pacing, grabbing your Khajiit player character, throwing on some of that wonderful soundtrack, and pummeling bad guys can be a lot of fun, especially if you’ve got all you can out of the video game.

✅ You really like SkyrimDespite hiccups with setup and pacing, grabbing your Khajiit player character, throwing on some of that wonderful soundtrack, and pummeling bad guys can be a lot of fun, especially if you’ve got all you can out of the video game.

✅ You really like SkyrimDespite hiccups with setup and pacing, grabbing your Khajiit player character, throwing on some of that wonderful soundtrack, and pummeling bad guys can be a lot of fun, especially if you’ve got all you can out of the video game.

✅ You don’t mind some setupNot only is it a bit of an effort to unpack the board, set up players' stats, items, and general information, but you will often be left reading more than just the player’s manual to grasp everything in the game. If you’re OK with that, proceed.

✅ You don’t mind some setupNot only is it a bit of an effort to unpack the board, set up players' stats, items, and general information, but you will often be left reading more than just the player’s manual to grasp everything in the game. If you’re OK with that, proceed.

✅ You don’t mind some setupNot only is it a bit of an effort to unpack the board, set up players' stats, items, and general information, but you will often be left reading more than just the player’s manual to grasp everything in the game. If you’re OK with that, proceed.

✅ You don’t mind some setupNot only is it a bit of an effort to unpack the board, set up players' stats, items, and general information, but you will often be left reading more than just the player’s manual to grasp everything in the game. If you’re OK with that, proceed.

✅ You don’t mind some setupNot only is it a bit of an effort to unpack the board, set up players' stats, items, and general information, but you will often be left reading more than just the player’s manual to grasp everything in the game. If you’re OK with that, proceed.

✅ You don’t mind some setupNot only is it a bit of an effort to unpack the board, set up players' stats, items, and general information, but you will often be left reading more than just the player’s manual to grasp everything in the game. If you’re OK with that, proceed.

Don’t buy it if…

❌You don’t have the space for itNot only does the game take up a bunch of space when in the box but, outside of it, Skyrim can hog up entire tables with the map alone. When you factor in space for extra cards, character sheets, and more, you need a sizeable table to get a campaign going.

❌You don’t have the space for itNot only does the game take up a bunch of space when in the box but, outside of it, Skyrim can hog up entire tables with the map alone. When you factor in space for extra cards, character sheets, and more, you need a sizeable table to get a campaign going.

❌You don’t have the space for itNot only does the game take up a bunch of space when in the box but, outside of it, Skyrim can hog up entire tables with the map alone. When you factor in space for extra cards, character sheets, and more, you need a sizeable table to get a campaign going.

❌You don’t have the space for itNot only does the game take up a bunch of space when in the box but, outside of it, Skyrim can hog up entire tables with the map alone. When you factor in space for extra cards, character sheets, and more, you need a sizeable table to get a campaign going.

❌You don’t have the space for itNot only does the game take up a bunch of space when in the box but, outside of it, Skyrim can hog up entire tables with the map alone. When you factor in space for extra cards, character sheets, and more, you need a sizeable table to get a campaign going.

❌You don’t have the space for itNot only does the game take up a bunch of space when in the box but, outside of it, Skyrim can hog up entire tables with the map alone. When you factor in space for extra cards, character sheets, and more, you need a sizeable table to get a campaign going.

How we tested The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim - Adventure Board Game

Disclaimer

We spent extensive game sessions testing out the Skyrim board game with a regular group of four players, and also tested a single-player session, going through central storylines and some more casual exploration.

You can find out more in our guide tohow we test board games, or the general GamesRadar+reviews policypage.

For more recommendations, don’t miss these must-haveboard games for adults. Want something a bit more personal? Check out the topboard games for 2 players.

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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

1

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

3

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

4

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

5

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

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Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

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Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

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The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan as Joy in Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World

1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

1

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

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Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

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Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

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Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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