Skyrim and Fallout 4 are considered to be incredible open-world masterpieces that are often compared to one another. Bethesda Studios created both titles, creating similarities that would eventually lead to them being stacked side by side. Despite their similarities, Skyrim and Fallout 4 vary from each other in many different ways.
Gamers love discussing which game is the better take on the open-world formula, and for good reason. This article examines whether Skyrim or Fallout 4 is the better of the two by comparing various criteria such as level design, exploration and even modding potential. Read on to find out which game managed to score the win.
Updated December 29th, 2020 by Derek Draven: We’ve updated our article to include a few more comparisons between Skyrim and Fallout 4 that help determine which one scores the knockout punch. Both games are fantastic, and considered complete winners regardless, which means adventure gamers shouldn’t hesitate to spring for both.
16 Fallout: Exploration
Exploration is a big factor in Bethesda games, and both Skyrim and Fallout 4 tackle the concept very well. There’s a lot to see and discover, and that extends the length of the gameplay while adding new experiences. It’s hard to call a winner between the two when it comes to exploration, but Fallout 4 holds a razor-thin advantage.
There’s something particularly fascinating about exploring a world ravaged by a nuclear war. Around every corner is a relic of humanity’s bygone days and a world that once was. Abandoned bunkers, museums and underground passageways contain not only a wealth of loot, but echoes of the past. Skyrim does the same, but Fallout 4 does it just a little bit better.
15 Skyrim: Atmosphere
Both Skyrim and Fallout 4 successfully replicate a feeling of fantasy and post-apocalyptic wasteland, respectively. Bethesda succeeded at crafting two very immersive game worlds littered with all the details that go into the making of either realm. Immersion and atmosphere are huge reasons why both games stand so tall with fans.
Still, it’s hard to deny Skyrim’s slight advantage over Fallout 4, given how well it nails the fantasy feeling. This goes double (perhaps triple) for a modded copy that adds texture and environment detail, new music and nature mods that flesh out the game. It’s the closest one can get to wandering around a Lord of the Rings-style world without actually getting inside Tolkien’s head.
14 Fallout: Choices
Quest lines and character development are a part of both games, and there are forks in the road that allow players to dictate how the story progresses. This is yet another reason why fans adore both titles, but they’re not entirely the same in how they dish out choice.
Skyrim definitely has a decent amount of decision-making strewn throughout the story, but Fallout 4’s decisions create a much bigger impact, especially if one has the DLC content. There are a lot more moments in the game where players are forced to consider the consequences of their actions, for better or worse.
13 Skyrim: Modding
Bethesda games are made to be modded, and both Skyrim and Fallout 4 are two of the absolute biggest platforms in the entire scene. Mods are plentiful, and they range from texture upgrades to weapon and armor mods, and even brand new locations that extend the size and scope of the game.
Skyrim still has an advantage when it comes to modding. The Special Edition version of the game is very stable and much more forgiving than Fallout 4. Even veteran modders have trouble dealing with Fallout 4’s tricky architecture. Mods that affect navmeshes are particularly troublesome, and can either break the game, or plague it with massive FPS drops.
12 Fallout: Charm
Skyrim is all about spectacle and immersion, and it sells the fantasy aspect of its world and lore in such a way that is incomparable. However, Fallout 4 has it beat when it comes to overall charm and quirkiness, and it’s easy to see why. After all, the game takes place in an alternate future where America never really left the 1950s.
Though not perfect, there’s no denying the charm of that decade and the impact it had on an America that had just exited the worst war in history. The music, the décor and the good old fashioned family values are utterly charming and captivating, even if they’re juxtaposed by a future world inhabited by the worst dredges of humanity.
11 Skyrim: Side Quests
Something that makes Skyrim stand out from Fallout 4 are the incredibly interesting side quests. Both games have them, but Skyrim’s are more memorable, perhaps due to the fantasy-friendly approach Bethesda took to the game.
Whether it’s joining the Thieves Guild, taking out the Dark Brotherhood or running errands for the various Jarls, the story in Skyrim never seems to end. It’s all thanks to a side quest system that makes the game compelling and rewarding, even during multiple playthroughs.
10 Fallout 4: The Settlement Creation Feature
In Fallout 4, Bethesda implemented a completely new feature which allows players to customize their own settlements around the map. This was a function that allowed gamers to get very creative when it came to building, defending and managing each settlement’s resources.
In many ways, this was light years ahead of Skyrim’s rather disappointing Hearthfire DLC pack which allowed players to (sort of) craft their own dream abode. Fallout 4 went above and beyond with a level of personal customization that Skyrim couldn’t hope to match, even if it tried.
9 Skyrim: Character Customization
Skyrim’s replay value is practically legendary at this point. It all starts with character customization that helps players craft their perfect avatar for some in-game immersion. The inclusion of multiple races isn’t just there for the sake of personal taste – it also plays a role in how the game’s story unfolds.
The character creation system may be further expanded on with the use of several mods that increase the amount of customization players may do to the face and body, as well as other mods that affect perks, strengths and weaknesses based on the biological makeup of each race.
8 Fallout 4: The Main Story
Fallout 4 has a better main story than Skyrim for a few reasons. First, Fallout 4’s main set of quests help build suspense all the way up to the climatic ending in a much better and more organic way than Skyrim managed to accomplish.
Late game missions are also full of twists and surprise turns that make for a fun and interesting gameplay experience. Fallout 4’s main story also includes different factions that can be joined which affect the story progression, and with it, multiple endings.
7 Skyrim: Map Variation
Both Skyrim and Fallout 4 offer up two amazing maps to explore. In regards to which map has more variation, Skyrim offers a more varied experience by mixing up snowy mountain peaks with green grasslands and rustic caves. Fallout 4 takes place in a rather static world that is less about fantasy, and more about exploration.
This gives Skyrim a definitive edge for players who don’t want to see the same types of terrain over and over again. Even the DLC content helps expand the game’s environmental offerings in a way that Fallout 4’s by-the-books content does not.
6 Fallout 4: Weapon Mods
Fallout 4 goes above and beyond when it comes to modding and customizing each weapon to your liking. Every gun can be customized with various add-ons and materials in order to craft precisely the weapons best suited to each player.
Modding doesn’t just affect the damage done – it can also completely change the mechanics of the weapon with scopes, suppressors and other add-ons. Skyrim has enchantment options for weapons, but it’s quite limited in scope and functionality compared to Fallout 4’s weapon system.
5 Skyrim: Add-Ons (DLC)
Both Skyrim and Fallout 4 have a sizeable amount of quality DLC content that expands upon the vanilla base title. Skyrim has three DLC packs, but Fallout 4 doubles that amount with six different downloadable content pieces.
Less is more when it comes to this section, because it feels as though Skyrim’s DLC had a little more thought put into them as opposed to Fallout 4. Being able to fight (or become) vampires was an incredible experience, while traveling to the island of Solstheim to fight another Dragonborn was a neat twist on the story.
4 Fallout 4: Combat
Bethesda worked on making Fallout 4’s gameplay more accessible and refined compared to what they did with Skyrim. It was released four years later than Skyrim, and various touch-ups to the interface and gameplay mechanics within the Creation Engine are evident.
Taking on a group of enemies feels more natural than it does in Skyrim, and switching between melee and ranged combat feels very smooth. Enemies react to what kind of approach players take when it comes to choice of both weaponry and tactics.
3 Skyrim: Magic & Shouts
Being the Dragonborn in Skyrim comes with plenty of cool perks that can make gameplay feel very unique. Upgrading and using certain shouts can be a very useful and entertaining way of fighting, whether it be using force shouts to hurl enemies away, or using a shout to set them on fire.
The magic in the world of Skyrim helps elevate it above it’s predecessors, especially when it comes to the Dragonborn tongue. This singular language creates an entirely new way of approaching battles and other challenges that go far beyond what other games have to offer.
2 Fallout 4: Companions
Having a companion fight by one’s side that they can form a relationship with throughout the game is a staple of a Bethesda title. There are around 50 companions to choose from in Skyrim, while there are only 15 in Fallout 4.
The disparity in these numbers was a good decision by developers, because all of the companions in Fallout 4 are much more fleshed out than Skyrim, especially in terms of backstory. Companions will also react to what players do in the game, which can alter how they perceive them.
1 Winner: Skyrim
Bethesda has done such a great job creating such completely different worlds to play in that it is really hard to pick a winner. Skyrim and Fallout 4 are still enjoyed today by many people because of the enormous amount of excellent content and experiences they have to offer.
Despite Fallout 4’s amazing presentation and great play mechanics, Skyrim still manages to inch its way to victory with a photo-finish. The two games are crafted for maximum immersion that sucks players in and keeps them entertained for dozens, if not hundreds of hours. Skyrim may have won, but there are no losers in this battle.
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