Reasons Why It’s Hard To Replay Skyrim Today

The popular game The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim recently received a significant update on the Nintendo Switch 2, finally delivering a smooth 60 frames per second. This makes playing the beloved Bethesda game on the go much more enjoyable. Along with the improved frame rate, several small performance and graphics issues were also fixed, making 2026 a great time to experience or revisit Skyrim on the Switch 2.

Although Skyrim remains a hugely popular and influential game from the past twenty years, it’s starting to feel dated in ways that can impact the experience in 2026. Modern games have introduced many quality-of-life improvements and features that we’ve become accustomed to, so going back to a game built with 2011 standards can be jarring. From storytelling approaches to a user interface that players almost always modify, let’s explore some reasons why Skyrim doesn’t quite hold up as smoothly as it once did.

Still Needs More Choices That Matter

RPGs Have Taken Big Steps In Recent Years Regarding Choice

When it comes to storytelling, Skyrim feels a bit dated compared to more recent games because it doesn’t offer much in the way of meaningful choices. The main storyline essentially has one path – you either join the Imperial Legion or the Stormcloaks – and it doesn’t change based on your decisions. This is especially noticeable when compared to other Bethesda games like Fallout 4, which lets you support different groups and offers multiple ways to finish the story. Even Cyberpunk 2077 goes further, with several different endings determined by the choices you make throughout the game, who you bring with you, and whether or not you trust Hanako.

Beyond open-world RPGs, games like Baldur’s Gate 3 demonstrate how even small choices can have significant consequences. This means Skyrim now feels less impressive from a story perspective. Even when it was first released, Skyrim‘s narrative wasn’t as strong as games like Fallout: New Vegas, which came out shortly before. This is especially noticeable because Skyrim boasts a beautifully designed world, excellent and varied dungeons, and some truly engaging side quests. It’s a shame the main storyline doesn’t measure up to these strengths.

Companion Management Feels Outdated

More Options, More Ways To Track, And So On

Skyrim lets you travel with many different companions, which is great, but some are more interesting than others. However, the biggest problem isn’t their stories – it’s actually using them. Followers frequently get stuck, accidentally set off traps, and can be hard to direct, often requiring you to give them specific commands. It would be much more convenient if you could simply use hotkeys to tell them what to do, like pointing them at an item or object.

In open-world games, it’s really important to be able to easily find your companions. It can be frustrating to search for them in every city, especially if you haven’t bought a house to send them to. This might seem like a small detail, but the number of mods dedicated to solving this problem in Skyrim shows that many players find it annoying. Fallout 4 handles this better by letting you assign companions to specific settlements, making them much easier to find and manage.

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Grappling And Climbing Are Missing

A Simple Thing That Could Make A Huge Difference

Recent open-world games have really impressed with how players can move around and explore. Games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom offer fantastic freedom in traveling across their landscapes. It’s surprising that Skyrim, which was known for its hilly terrain, doesn’t include basic movement options like climbing or grappling, features we’ve seen in games like Cyberpunk 2077.

While that other game does have more varied heights, it’s a good example of what Bethesda could aim for in future installments. Starfield addressed this problem with a boost pack, which fit the game’s sci-fi setting well. This highlights how important it is for the next Elder Scrolls game to include a new way to get around – something to keep exploration exciting. Even in Skyrim, the horse, though a little unrealistic, could climb almost anything, which helped with getting around.

The UI That Needs SkyUI

Skyrim’s UI Was One Of Its Biggest Flaws

A game’s user interface (UI) can significantly impact how fun it is to play, often without players even realizing it. A clunky or poorly designed UI can pull you out of the game, especially if it’s difficult to manage your items efficiently. While we’ll discuss faster looting options later, the current inventory system feels frustrating because navigating through categories horizontally, instead of a more intuitive vertical layout, wastes time and disrupts the flow of gameplay.

A well-designed user interface (UI) should be easy to understand and let you quickly see all the information you need. That’s why SkyUI is so popular among Skyrim players – many find the game’s original inventory system confusing and disorganized. The original requires a lot of scrolling, while SkyUI presents information in a more compact and organized list. Bethesda, the game developer, has used different UIs in its games – Starfield has a radial menu, and Fallout uses the Pip-Boy. Because role-playing games often have a lot of items and details, creating a good UI is challenging for any game, even today.

Janky NPC Movement

Not Matching Your Pace, Getting Stuck Or Lost, Outdated Animations

Video games are constantly improving visually, and animation plays a big part in that. For example, looking at a game like Skyrim shows how older games haven’t kept up – characters move in a stiff, unrealistic way, no matter their size or what they’re wearing.

Sometimes, the way characters move in Skyrim can feel a bit outdated, especially when compared to more recent games like Cyberpunk 2077. But the bigger problem is how NPCs behave. They often walk very slowly, forcing you to match their pace, which is a common issue in many games. This is particularly noticeable in Skyrim because NPCs frequently get stuck while walking, often bumping into objects or just standing still.

No Quick Looting, Except In Mods

Looting Takes You Out Of The Game

The next Elder Scrolls game will likely include a faster looting system. This suggests that Skyrim‘s gameplay is becoming outdated, as two more recent Bethesda open-world RPGs already have this feature. It works by bringing up a small window when you hover over a container or corpse, letting you quickly grab desired items without fully opening it and pausing the action.

Everyone enjoys finding loot, but spending too much time collecting it during dungeons can be a drag. You defeat enemies, quickly grab the items, and want to keep the action moving. Those detailed inventory screens really interrupt the flow. Luckily, mods exist – like the one shown in the pictures – that let you grab loot much faster. If you’re comfortable modding your game, adding quick loot alongside SkyUI is a great way to modernize your gameplay experience.

2026-03-24 10:35