The Elder Scrolls: Arena
The Elder Scrolls: Arena is a 1994 role-playing game developed by Bethesda Softworks, the first entry in what became one of gaming's most celebrated fantasy series. Originally conceived as a gladiatorial combat game, it evolved during development into a sprawling first-person open-world adventure across the entire continent of Tamriel.
Players create a character and journey through a vast, largely procedurally generated world of cities, wilderness, and dungeons, gathering pieces of a legendary staff to defeat a treacherous imperial sorcerer. Its enormous scale, real-time combat, and freedom to travel to any named town were striking for the time, even if the execution was uneven and repetitive in places. The game supported spellcrafting and a wide range of character classes.
As the foundation of the Elder Scrolls franchise, it holds significant historical importance despite its rough edges. Bethesda has made the original freely available, and the series it began went on to produce some of the most acclaimed open-world RPGs ever made.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to The Elder Scrolls: Arena, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenTESArena Indie | Free | Not on Steam | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Outward Definitive Edition Indie | € 39,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition | € 39,99 | Steam Deck Unsupported | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| The Elder Scrolls: Arena | Free | Not on Steam | PC |
| The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | € 14,99 | Steam Deck Untested | PC |
OpenTESArena Indie
FreeAn open-source reimplementation of the original Arena engine.
OpenTESArena runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Outward Definitive Edition Indie
€ 39,99An unforgiving open-world RPG where you navigate by landmarks and carry your own supplies.
Outward Definitive Edition runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
€ 39,99The most accessible Elder Scrolls, with the same go-anywhere freedom Arena promised.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
The Elder Scrolls: Arena
FreeBethesda released the original game for free to celebrate the series.
The Elder Scrolls: Arena runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
€ 14,99A landmark open-world Elder Scrolls RPG with deep exploration and freedom.
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
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