The Elder Scrolls franchise, developed by Bethesda Game Studios, has long been synonymous with expansive open-world RPG experiences. Whether you’ve wandered through the frozen tundras of Skyrim or explored the lush forests of Cyrodiil, the series has captivated millions of players with its rich lore, deep storytelling, and intricate world-building. So when The Elder Scrolls: Blades was announced in 2018 as a mobile-first game, it generated quite a bit of buzz. Could a franchise known for its massive, immersive worlds translate well into the small screen of mobile gaming?

In this blog, we’ll delve into the key features, strengths, and criticisms of The Elder Scrolls: Blades, discussing how it fits into the broader Elder Scrolls universe and its reception by both fans and critics.

A Brief Overview of The Elder Scrolls: Blades

Released in May 2019, Elder Scrolls is a free-to-play action RPG available on both iOS and Android devices, with subsequent releases on PC and the Nintendo Switch. The game was designed as a mobile-first experience, which means that everything from its controls to its user interface was optimized for touchscreen devices. But while it is scaled down in many ways, Blades retains many elements that are quintessential to the Elder Scrolls series: dungeon crawling, character progression, loot collection, and the ability to customize and build your own town.

The game is set in the Elder Scrolls universe, specifically during the Fourth Era, but it doesn’t explicitly connect to the events of the mainline games like Skyrim or Oblivion. You play as a member of the Blades, an elite group of secret agents that once served the Empire of Tamriel. After being forced into exile, your character returns home to find their town destroyed, and it’s your job to rebuild it while uncovering the mystery behind its destruction.

Gameplay and Mechanics

One of the biggest questions when Blades was announced was how Bethesda would manage to condense the deep, complex mechanics of a traditional Elder Scrolls game into a mobile format. The answer was a mixture of streamlined combat, simplified exploration, and an emphasis on short, repeatable gameplay loops.

Combat System

Combat in The Elder Scrolls: Blades is far simpler compared to its mainline counterparts. Using either touch controls or motion sensors, players swipe or tap to attack, block, and dodge in first-person combat. The game has no open-world exploration in the same vein as Skyrim, but instead offers a series of linear dungeons or arenas where combat is the main focus.

The combat system features a stamina and magic bar, allowing players to use a combination of physical attacks and spells. While there is less freedom than in the traditional Elder Scrolls combat system, where you could choose from a wide variety of weapon styles, spells, and abilities, Blades still offers a taste of that variety. You can dual-wield, carry a shield and sword, or even specialize in magic attacks. There’s a certain satisfaction in chaining together hits, landing critical blows, and casting spells at just the right moment. However, the repetitive nature of combat does become a sticking point for some players, which we’ll explore in more detail later.

Exploration and Dungeons

Unlike the sprawling, interconnected open worlds of previous best games online, Blades limits exploration to more focused dungeon environments. Dungeons are procedurally generated and vary in design, from dark crypts and forests to ancient ruins. There is no seamless open world, and each dungeon serves as an isolated adventure with objectives like collecting treasure, defeating enemies, or rescuing captives.

These dungeons are quick, often taking only 5-10 minutes to complete, making Blades a game well-suited for mobile play sessions. However, for players used to the exploratory freedom of games like Morrowind or Skyrim, the limited scope of these environments can feel restrictive. There’s little incentive to explore beyond completing your objectives, and the dungeons themselves can start to feel repetitive after extended play.

Town Building and Customization

One of the more unique features of play best games online is its town-building mechanic. After returning to your destroyed hometown, you are tasked with rebuilding it by gathering resources, completing quests, and earning in-game currency. As you progress, you can construct and upgrade buildings like blacksmiths, alchemy labs, and homes. These buildings, in turn, provide you with better gear, potions, and other upgrades.

The town-building aspect of Blades is where the game shows some of its mobile-centric design choices. Many of the upgrades and constructions are time-gated, meaning you’ll either have to wait for long periods or spend in-game currency (which can be bought with real money) to speed up the process. This can feel like a grind, especially when you hit certain bottlenecks in progression. But for players who enjoy city-building mechanics, this feature adds an additional layer of strategy to the game.

Monetization and Free-to-Play Model

As a free-to-play game, Blades uses a monetization model common in mobile gaming. Players can purchase in-game currency (gems) to speed up processes like building upgrades, stamina regeneration, or to unlock premium chests with better loot. There’s also an “Abyss” mode, which is a roguelike dungeon crawl where you fight increasingly difficult enemies for rewards, and an Arena mode where players can face off in PvP combat.

While the game is technically playable without spending money, progression can feel slow at times, especially when upgrades or crafting take hours or even days to complete. The reliance on microtransactions was one of the more criticized aspects of the game, with some players feeling that the game pushes too hard for purchases to smooth out the experience. That said, for those who are patient or willing to grind, Blades offers a decent amount of content without requiring any financial investment.

Reception and Criticism

The Elder Scrolls: Blades received a mixed reception upon its release. On the one hand, players praised its impressive graphics for a mobile game and its attempt to translate the core elements of an free online games game into a more bite-sized experience. On the other hand, the repetitive nature of the gameplay, limited exploration, and heavy monetization dampened the enthusiasm of many long-time fans of the series.

The game's controls also received mixed reviews. While the touchscreen interface is intuitive and responsive, some players felt that the combat felt too simplistic compared to the rich combat systems of previous Elder Scrolls games. Moreover, without the depth of storytelling and world-building that fans are accustomed to, Blades sometimes feels like a shallow experience in comparison.

However, Bethesda has continuously updated Blades with new content, balance patches, and events, which has improved the overall experience. Seasonal events, new dungeons, and additional customization options have kept the game fresh for players who are willing to stick with it over time.

Where Does Blades Fit in the Elder Scrolls Universe?

The Elder Scrolls: Blades occupies an interesting space within the broader Elder Scrolls franchise. On the one hand, it clearly lacks the depth, freedom, and complexity that defines the mainline games. For players expecting a grand adventure like Skyrim or Oblivion, Blades may feel underwhelming. However, when viewed as a mobile experience—designed for shorter, more casual play sessions—it offers a surprisingly rich, Elder Scrolls-flavored diversion.

For fans of the series, Blades offers a taste of Tamriel while on the go. The game’s graphics, sound design, and lore are all true to the Elder Scrolls universe, even if the gameplay itself is simplified. It’s not a replacement for the mainline games, but rather a complement—something to dive into while waiting for the highly anticipated The Elder Scrolls VI.

Conclusion

The Elder Scrolls: Blades is a unique experiment within the Elder Scrolls franchise, offering a scaled-down yet familiar RPG experience for mobile devices. While it doesn’t capture the full scope or depth of the mainline games, it provides an enjoyable, if somewhat repetitive, dungeon-crawling experience with the added twist of town-building. Though the game’s heavy reliance on microtransactions and its simplified gameplay have garnered criticism, it still manages to carve out a niche for itself among fans of the franchise.

As Bethesda continues to update and expand Blades, it will be interesting to see how the game evolves. For now, it serves as a curious entry in the Elder Scrolls series, one that offers a glimpse of Tamriel in a pocket-sized package. Whether you’re a hardcore Elder Scrolls fan or a casual gamer looking for a mobile RPG, The Elder Scrolls: Blades is worth checking out, if only to see how one of gaming’s most beloved franchises adapts to a new format.