Summary
- The Wayward Realms features a massive open world set on an Archipelago, creating a new "Grand RPG" subgenre.
- The game boasts a constantly evolving world where player actions impact characters and factions.
- Players can immerse themselves in the lore-filled world of The Wayward Realms and choose various progression methods like direct combat, stealth, and magic.
The Wayward Realms is an upcoming open-world fantasy RPG by OnceLost Games, led by Ted Peterson and Julian LeFay — Peterson, who is one of the original designers for The Elder Scrolls and responsible for the majority of its worldbuilding and lore, and LeFay, who is known by fans as "Father of The Elder Scrolls" for his work directing The Elder Scrolls: Arena and Daggerfall. As expected, with two Elder Scrolls legends behind its wheel, The Wayward Realms looks like an Elder Scrolls game through and through.
Despite being comparable to an Elder Scrolls game, The Wayward Realms is an indie game that has a lot more going for it in terms of its size, gameplay, and lore. As such, players can expect a unique experience once it launches, even if they have spent plenty of hours with The Elder Scrolls.
What The Wayward Realms Is Bringing to the Table
The Wayward Realms Features a Massive Open World
Based on what has been revealed so far, The Wayward Realms features a massive open world unlike anything ever seen before in a role-playing game. In fact, The Wayward Realms' open world is so massive that it claims it will create a new subgenre of RPG called "Grand RPG." The Wayward Realms is set on the Archipelago, a group of over one hundred realistically scaled islands packed with a variety of races. In addition to being far too large for a single player to explore, the Archipelago's structure relies on dynamic, procedural generation.
The Wayward Realms Is a Constantly Evolving Experience
Something that sets The Wayward Realms apart from other modern RPGs is its evolving world. A virtual Game Master makes sure that the inhabitants of the world, consisting of various characters and factions, react according to the player's actions. Furthermore, whatever role the player chooses to take on, whether it be a thief or a charismatic social butterfly, will affect the events that happen in the world of The Wayward Realms.
This whole system ensures no two players have the exact same experience.
The Wayward Realms Boasts a Lore-Heavy World
Fans of lore-heavy games will be pleased to know that The Wayward Realms is chock-full of lore that ventures much deeper than the surface of its world lets on. The various kingdoms scattered throughout the Archipelago have unique cultures for players to immerse themselves in and become educated on, and they will occasionally come across vast libraries filled with books that can teach them more about The Wayward Realms and its fantasy world. The trailer for the game shows the player collecting a book with detailed lore, much like they can with the various books and letters found in the Elder Scrolls games, so players can likely expect much of that as well.
The Wayward Realms Features Multiple Methods of Progression
Choice-driven RPGs have become increasingly common over the last couple of decades, and The Wayward Realms has decided to join that club. During their time in the game, players will be able to make their own progression in a lot of situations, whether it be through direct sword combat, stealth, magic, or simply using their wits to outsmart their enemies. Additionally, unlike similar games like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, players can climb on the ledges of buildings and likely natural structures as well, allowing them to improvise their way into locked houses and hidden caves.
All in all, The Wayward Realms may look like a classic Elder Scrolls game, but it largely takes the fundamental principles of an Elder Scrolls title and expands on them with a variety of new and much larger features. With an open world massive enough to merit the game a "Grand RPG" classification, a constantly evolving world, plenty of lore to dive into, and more than enough ways to progress, The Wayward Realms is preparing itself to be a one-of-a-kind RPG experience.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
- Released
- November 11, 2011
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda Softworks
WHERE TO PLAY
Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim celebrates 10 years of adventuring in stunning detail. The Anniversary Edition includes a decade worth of content: the critically acclaimed core game and add-ons of Skyrim Special Edition, plus Creation Club content released on or prior to November 11, 2021.
EPIC FANTASY REBORN
Skyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.
LIVE ANOTHER LIFE, IN ANOTHER WORLD
Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the legendary freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls is realized like never before.
YOU ARE WHAT YOU PLAY
Choose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities. The new character system allows you to play any way you want and define yourself through your actions.
BATTLE DRAGONS
Battle ancient dragons like you’ve never seen. As Dragonborn, learn their secrets and harness their power for yourself.
- Engine
- Creation Engine
- Cross-Platform Play
- no
- Cross Save
- no
- Expansions
- Skyrim: Dragonborn, Skyrim: Hearthfire, Skyrim: Dawnguard
- Franchise
- The Elder Scrolls
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 35 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium (Special Edition)
- File Size Xbox Series
- 29 GB (DECEMBER 2023)
