Bethesda's long-running RPG series is one of the most beloved franchises in the genre, up there with the likes of Final Fantasy. Starting life in 1994 with Arena, the series has matured and advanced along with the emerging game development technology, helping to make the studio one of the most successful in the industry. While many are talking about The Elder Scrolls 6 and when that could finally be out, there are those that fondly remember the classics, such as Morrowind which is about to turn 20.
It may have aged over the years, but The Elder Scrolls 3 is considered an absolute classic, especially among older gamers who saw the visual leap from 1996's Daggerfall to this one. Come Sunday, May 1, Morrowind will officially be 20-years-old. Like a lot of entries in the series, the 2002 release was a marvel in video game graphics, not to mention the in depth lore on offer, as well as the ability to explore a vast island. It was also the last entry before the developer started adding quest markers to the series, meaning the idea of exploration was much more pertinent to the experience.
As a result of the upcoming anniversary, many Morrowind fans will no doubt be celebrating the momentous occasion. It may not be the biggest Elder Scrolls entry in terms of map size, but it certainly has left a lasting impression on a lot of people. It expanded on what Bethesda had already learned with the two previous games, with visuals that were, at the time, absolutely stunning. For some, this may have been the first entry in the series they ever played, especially given that it was the first one to have a console port, so it holds a special place in many people's hearts.
Even now, people are unwilling to let this two-decade old RPG go. With a Skyrim mod that allows players to travel to Morrowind, not to mention the Skywind project, in which a team of modders is working diligently to recreate the third Elder Scrolls game in the more modern Skyrim engine. On top of that, there are still add-ons and mods being made for the classic game.
These days, Skyrim is often considered the best in the series. It's certainly the most ubiquitous and most modern, but Morrowind often places high in terms of Elder Scrolls quality. With a Metacritic score of 89 on PC, it's a beloved entry in the epic series that has been going for nearly three decades. Given its status as a classic game, it's no wonder there's that meme about how every time Morrowind is mentioned, someone has to go and reinstall it.
The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind is available for PC and on the original Xbox.