Skyrim vs. Elden Ring: A Deep Dive into Map Sizes and Open-World Design

The question on every open-world aficionado’s mind: Which map is bigger, Skyrim or Elden Ring? The answer, unequivocally, is Elden Ring. While the frozen peaks and sprawling valleys of Skyrim hold a special place in our hearts, FromSoftware’s masterpiece boasts a significantly larger explorable area. Specifically, Elden Ring’s map clocks in at approximately 79 square kilometers (30.5 square miles), more than double the size of Skyrim’s, which is roughly 15 square miles. However, the sheer size is only part of the story. Let’s delve deeper into the nuances of each game’s open-world design and what makes them both so captivating.

The Allure of Open Worlds: Skyrim and Elden Ring

Both Skyrim and Elden Ring exemplify the best of open-world gaming, but their approaches differ markedly. Skyrim embraces a traditional open-world formula, emphasizing exploration, countless quests, and a narrative primarily driven by player choice. You are the Dragonborn, destined to save the land from dragons. The game provides you with direction, but you have the freedom to completely ignore it and create your own destiny.

Elden Ring, on the other hand, offers a more minimalist narrative, encouraging players to forge their own paths through the mysterious Lands Between. Combat takes center stage. A vast and challenging world pushes players to improve their skills and find inventive ways to overcome its many challenges. The “story” is more fragmented, pieced together through environmental storytelling and item descriptions.

Verticality and Density: Beyond Simple Square Mileage

Simply comparing square mileage can be deceptive. Elden Ring utilizes verticality to a much greater extent than Skyrim. Dungeons like Stormveil Castle and legacy dungeons wind far downward, offering complex levels and challenges separate from the surface world. This adds significant explorable area that isn’t immediately apparent when just looking at a top-down map. The Elden Ring map size is 79 km^2 (entire map) and 40 km^2 (accesible area) plus a 6% percent extra for the undergound map area.

Furthermore, Elden Ring packs a much higher density of points of interest (POIs) into its space. Every nook and cranny seems to hold a hidden cave, a challenging boss fight, or a valuable item. While Skyrim is vast, its POIs can sometimes feel more spread out, with larger stretches of empty wilderness.

Fast Travel and Exploration: Contrasting Philosophies

Both games utilize fast travel systems, but to different ends. Skyrim boasts a large number of fast-travel locations – approximately 343 – allowing players to quickly traverse its world. This encourages revisiting old locations and completing numerous side quests.

Elden Ring, with its 300 fast-travel locations, leans more heavily on horseback exploration. Torrent, the player’s spectral steed, enables rapid traversal of the open world. The emphasis is on discovering the Lands Between organically. The game rewards players who take the time to explore.

The Impact of Map Size on Gameplay

The difference in map size significantly impacts the overall gameplay experience. Elden Ring’s larger world contributes to a greater sense of scale and mystery. The Lands Between feel truly vast and dangerous, with unexpected encounters lurking around every corner. This sense of discovery is a key component of the game’s appeal.

Skyrim’s smaller size, by comparison, makes the world feel more manageable. Players can become intimately familiar with its regions. This familiarity allows them to feel like they’re a part of the world. Quests and locations are also easily accessible, encouraging completionist tendencies.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about map sizes and open-world aspects of Skyrim and Elden Ring, providing further insights into these captivating games:

1. Is Elden Ring actually larger than Grand Theft Auto 5’s map? Yes. While estimates can vary slightly, Elden Ring’s map is generally considered to be larger than that of Grand Theft Auto 5.

2. How does Starfield’s map compare to Skyrim’s? Starfield is exponentially larger than Skyrim. Given that it features 1,000 planets, with each having a few square miles of explorable area, Starfield dwarfs Skyrim.

3. Are there any games with maps bigger than Elden Ring? Absolutely! Games like Minecraft, The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall, and Fuel have significantly larger maps than Elden Ring.

4. How does the size of Red Dead Redemption 2’s map compare to Skyrim’s? Red Dead Redemption 2 has a map that’s roughly twice the size of Skyrim’s, but some argue that Skyrim packs more content into its smaller space.

5. Which game offers a “better” map, Skyrim or Elden Ring? “Better” is subjective! Skyrim’s map is more readily accessible and digestible, while Elden Ring’s map is more challenging and rewarding to explore. It depends on player preference.

6. How does the magic system in Elden Ring compare to Skyrim’s? Most agree that Elden Ring triumphs through the sheer number, comprehensiveness, and effectiveness of its spells and magic system. It’s considered an evolution of the Soulsborne magic repertoire.

7. Is there a Dark Brotherhood equivalent in Elden Ring? Yes! There’s a group in Elden Ring very similar to the Dark Brotherhood located at the Volcano Manor, offering assassination quests.

8. What are some other games with impressive open-world maps? Other games with noteworthy open worlds include The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, Grand Theft Auto V, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

9. How long does it take to 100% complete Skyrim? On average, it takes around 231 hours to achieve 100% completion in Skyrim.

10. Is Elden Ring more difficult than Skyrim? Yes, Elden Ring is significantly more challenging than Skyrim. Its combat and boss encounters demand skill and strategy.

11. Which Dark Souls game is Elden Ring most similar to? Many consider Dark Souls 3 to be the closest experience to Elden Ring in terms of gameplay and combat, although it’s less open-world.

12. Does the lore size of Skyrim match its playable map size? No. While the in-game map of Skyrim is around 15 square miles, the lore suggests the province is much larger, closer to 105,000 square miles.

13. Is Hogwarts Legacy bigger than Elden Ring? No, Hogwarts Legacy’s open world is not as big as Elden Ring‘s.

14. Is Skyrim bigger than Fallout 4? Yes, Skyrim is roughly 1.5 times the size of Fallout 4.

15. What are some of the largest video game files in existence? Games like Ark: Survival Evolved, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor are among the largest in terms of file size.

Concluding Thoughts

Ultimately, whether you prefer the vastness of Elden Ring or the more contained experience of Skyrim comes down to personal taste. Both games offer exceptional open-world experiences that have captivated millions of players. Elden Ring has taken Soulsborne’s magic repertoire to the next level. While Skyrim provides a compelling narrative and endless exploration, Elden Ring’s density and verticality create a unique and unforgettable adventure.