Skyrim VR is a game quite unlike most VR games out there, mostly because it's literally the complete vast world of Skyrim playable in VR. No other VR-only games out right now can claim to rival Skyrim, arguably the most popular RPG of all time, though there's plenty to criticize about the VR version of the 10-year-old classic.
For example, while Skyrim VR offers the chance to become fully immersed within the Nordic homeland from a first-person perspective, the controls leave much to be desired (and more often than not hinder this feeling of immersion). While other VR RPGs have their own unique takes on fantasy gameplay, Skyrim VR is almost the same as it is on PC and consoles – for better or for worse.
Pros: Immersion, Interactivity, And The Modding Community
The pros of Skyrim VR are shared with the impressive technical feats of VR systems in general. The feeling of immersion one feels being in Skyrim from the point of view of your character is unmatched, but that's true for most VR games that give players a first-person view. Skyrim is already a very interactive game, and playing in VR makes picking up objects both mundane and unique feel more realistic. Players can dodge spells and arrows by moving side to side, and have to bend down (or stand on their tiptoes) to reach items depending on their character's height.
However, much of this interactivity is limited without the help of mods. Just like the vanilla game, Skyrim VR has an incredibly strong modding community, one that has turned the VR version of the game from a lackluster port to a full-fledged game of its own. Mods like VRIK, which gives the player a responsive body, MageVR, which allows spellcasting through a unique Rune-drawing system, and Dragonborn Speaks Naturally, which uses the player's voice for their character's Thuum, are some prime examples of what's been made possible by the Skyrim VR community.
Cons: Input Lag, Glitches, Unpolished Gameplay, And Price
Skyrim VR as it ships is, for lack of a better way to put it, underwhelming. It allows players to see the world from their character's perspective and look around their surroundings, but the controls don't utilize the full capabilities of VR systems, the game is rife with glitches (even for an Elder Scrolls game) and it just feels like a rushed-out, unpolished version of a game that has been re-released more times than there are entries in the Elder Scrolls series.
To put it another way, players don't have a body, can't grab items off the ground, can't swing swords with their controller, and can't do many of the things that VR systems are so perfect for without the help of extensive modding. The game as it ships is basically Skyrim with a VR headset on, and doesn't take advantage of any of the unique gameplay properties of VR systems. Skyrim VR is priced at $60, $20 more than Special Edition or Anniversary Edition. It's a lot less content for a lot more money, and the extra cost just isn't worth being able to experience it in first-person.
So, Is Skyrim VR Worth It?
When it comes to the question of whether Skyrim VR is worth it, there is a lot to consider. The first thing to consider is your VR setup – most mid-to-high tier VR systems and computers can handle the game just fine, but it won't run on low-end PCs. The second thing to consider is how much you are paying for it. At a price of $60, Skyrim VR is not worth it.
However, a price of $20 (like during the Steam Holiday sale) is much more reasonable, especially for all the VR port's downfalls. Ultimately, though, the vanilla experience is severely lacking, and it's best to learn how to mod the game and make it a much more satisfying experience in VR. At the end of the day, what makes Skyrim VR worth it is the modding community that (mostly) fixed this shoddy port.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is available on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S