Elden Ring vs. Skyrim: A Map Size Showdown

Elden Ring’s map is approximately 79 square kilometers (30.5 square miles), making it significantly larger than Skyrim’s, which is estimated to be around 38.8 square kilometers (15 square miles). This means Elden Ring’s map is roughly twice the size of Skyrim’s, providing players with a much more expansive world to explore.

Delving Deeper into Open-World Dimensions

The debate over which game boasts the “biggest” or “best” map is a classic among gamers. While raw size is a factor, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Density, verticality, and the quality of content scattered throughout the world play equally significant roles. To truly appreciate the difference between Elden Ring and Skyrim, we need to look beyond the numbers.

Size Isn’t Everything: Density and Design

Skyrim’s map, while smaller, is renowned for its handcrafted feel and the sense of discovery it evokes. Every mountain pass, every hidden cave, feels deliberately placed. Elden Ring, on the other hand, takes a different approach. Its vastness is punctuated by pockets of intense activity and meticulously designed dungeons. While some might argue that parts of Elden Ring’s open world feel more sparsely populated than Skyrim’s, the sheer number of secrets and challenging encounters more than compensates.

Furthermore, Elden Ring expertly uses verticality. The Lands Between aren’t just wide; they’re also tall, with towering cliffs, sprawling underground areas, and hidden sky realms. This vertical element significantly expands the explorable space and contributes to the feeling of immense scale.

Fast Travel: A Telling Comparison

The article mentioned that Skyrim has 343 fast-travel locations, while Elden Ring has 300. While this may seem like a disadvantage for Elden Ring, it highlights the different philosophies behind each game’s design. Skyrim often encourages exploration on foot, rewarding players with random encounters and scenic vistas. Elden Ring, while still promoting exploration, leans more heavily on its Sites of Grace (fast travel points), enabling players to quickly traverse the immense map and engage in challenging boss fights.

Beyond Skyrim and Elden Ring: The Open-World Landscape

It’s important to remember that Elden Ring and Skyrim aren’t the only contenders in the open-world arena. Games like Starfield, with its promise of 1,000 explorable planets, dwarf both in sheer scale. Other titles, such as Final Fantasy 15, Just Cause 3, and Ghost Recon Wildlands, also boast significantly larger maps. However, the true measure of an open world isn’t just its size but its ability to immerse and engage the player.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is Elden Ring the biggest open-world game ever made?

No, Elden Ring is not the largest open-world game ever made. Games like Starfield, No Man’s Sky, and Minecraft feature significantly larger explorable areas.

Q2: Is Elden Ring’s map bigger than Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5)?

Yes, Elden Ring’s map is bigger than GTA 5’s. Elden Ring’s map size is approximately 79 km^2, while GTA 5’s is around 49 km^2.

Q3: How long does it take to complete Elden Ring?

On average, it takes around 58 hours to beat Elden Ring’s main story. However, completing all aspects of the game can take upwards of 133 hours.

Q4: How many bosses are in Elden Ring?

There are approximately 238 boss encounters in Elden Ring, offering a significant challenge for players.

Q5: Is Elden Ring more difficult than Skyrim?

Yes, Elden Ring is generally considered to be much more difficult than Skyrim. Elden Ring features challenging combat and unforgiving enemies, whereas Skyrim offers a more accessible and customizable difficulty curve.

Q6: Is Skyrim’s map bigger than Fallout 4’s map?

Yes, Skyrim’s map is bigger than Fallout 4’s. Skyrim is about 15 square miles, while Fallout 4 is about 9.3 square miles.

Q7: What games have bigger maps than Skyrim?

Many games have bigger maps than Skyrim, including Final Fantasy 15, Just Cause 3, Death Stranding, Ghost Recon Wildlands, and Xenoblade Chronicles X.

Q8: What is the smallest game map ever?

Based on measurable game maps, Rocket League has one of the smallest, at approximately 0.1127 km².

Q9: What game has a real-world map?

Microsoft Flight Simulator utilizes real-world data from Bing Maps to create a realistic representation of the entire globe.

Q10: How long does it take to beat Skyrim?

It takes approximately 34.5 hours to complete Skyrim’s main story. However, 100% completion can take around 231 hours.

Q11: How big is Skyrim in real-world terms?

Skyrim’s explorable area is estimated to be around 14.8 square miles.

Q12: Is Hogwarts Legacy bigger than Elden Ring?

Hogwarts Legacy has different measures of big. It is the sales, that measure success that is bigger than Elden Ring.

Q13: Is Diablo 4 harder than Elden Ring?

Some players find Diablo 4 harder than Elden Ring, comparing its difficulty to Sekiro or Bloodborne. This is subjective and depends on individual playstyles and builds.

Q14: How many people have fully completed (100%) Elden Ring?

Approximately 7.9% of Elden Ring players have achieved the Platinum trophy on PlayStation, indicating 100% completion. This is considered a high completion rate for a AAA game.

Q15: Is Elden Ring too difficult for casual players?

Elden Ring’s difficulty is subjective. While it can be challenging, players can utilize various strategies, such as summoning other players, to make the game more accessible. Its open nature also allows players to explore different areas and level up before tackling difficult encounters.

Ultimately, both Elden Ring and Skyrim offer compelling open-world experiences, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Elden Ring provides a vast and challenging world with intricate level design, while Skyrim delivers a more intimate and handcrafted experience with a rich history and diverse quests. Deciding which map is “better” depends entirely on individual player preferences. The work that the Games Learning Society performs will help new game developers to develop the ultimate gaming experience. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.