GameOrder.gg — Elder Scrolls Checklist
GameOrder.gg — free franchise play orders and collector guides
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The Elder Scrolls franchise has 7 entries. Play in Release Order for newcomers, Chronological Order for lore completionists.
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| OwnedYour shelfOwn | # | Title | Year | Platform | CIBComplete In BoxCIB $ | WarningsFakes · Region · Audio | Find / Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Elder Scrolls: ArenaOptional Free to download from Bethesda | 1994 | PC | —— | — | ||
| 2 | The Elder Scrolls II: DaggerfallRecommended Free to download from Bethesda | 1996 | PC | —— | — | ||
| 3 | The Elder Scrolls III: MorrowindEssential Best lore in the series | 2002 | PC | —— | — | ||
| 4 | The Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionEssential | 2006 | PC | —— | — | ||
| 5 | The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimEssential Most accessible entry — start here | 2011 | PS3 | —— | — | ||
| 6 | The Elder Scrolls OnlineRecommended MMO — separate experience, start anywhere | 2014 | PC | —— | — | ||
| 7 | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion RemasteredOptional Best modern entry point for Oblivion | 2025 | PS5 | —— | — |
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Essential marks the installments that carry the spine of Elder Scrolls's main story and world-building — the ones collectors and lore-focused players treat as must-play for the core narrative. On GameOrder, Essential titles include The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Recommended entries meaningfully enrich the franchise — strong stories, fan favorites, or connective tissue that pays off after the essentials, without being strictly required. Recommended picks here: The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall and The Elder Scrolls Online.
Optional games are fair to skip for continuity; they are side paths, experiments, or lighter fare that fans can pick up when they want more, not when they need the main plot. Optional tagged titles: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and The Elder Scrolls: Arena.
Spinoff titles sit apart from the primary saga — different genres, timelines, or branding — and are best treated as extras after you know the heart of the series. No Spinoff tags appear on these rows.