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The Elder Scrolls: Arena

Also known as TES Arena, Arena

1994 Bethesda Softworks Role-playing Updated 27 Jul 2026

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.

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Where can you play The Elder Scrolls: Arena today?

Device by device, which of the 5 alternatives below you can play on it.

PC: OpenTESArena (Free), Outward Definitive Edition (€ 39,99), The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (€ 39,99) and 2 more.
Mac: OpenTESArena (Free).
Linux: OpenTESArena (Free).
iPhone: None of the alternatives to The Elder Scrolls: Arena runs on iPhone.
iPad: None of the alternatives to The Elder Scrolls: Arena runs on iPad.
Android phone: None of the alternatives to The Elder Scrolls: Arena runs on Android phone.
Android tablet: None of the alternatives to The Elder Scrolls: Arena runs on Android tablet.
PlayStation: Outward Definitive Edition (€ 39,99) and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (€ 39,99).
Xbox: Outward Definitive Edition (€ 39,99) and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (€ 39,99).
Switch: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (€ 39,99).
Steam Deck: Outward Definitive Edition (€ 39,99).

Games like The Elder Scrolls: Arena

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.

OpenTESArena Indie

Free

An open-source reimplementation of the original Arena engine.

Available on

PC Mac Linux iPhone iPad Android phone Android tablet PlayStation Xbox Switch Steam Deck

OpenTESArena runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Steam Deck.

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Outward Definitive Edition Indie

€ 39,99

An unforgiving open-world RPG where you navigate by landmarks and carry your own supplies.

Available on

PC Mac Linux iPhone iPad Android phone Android tablet PlayStation Xbox Switch Steam Deck Verified

Outward Definitive Edition runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch. It is Steam Deck Verified.

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

€ 39,99

The most accessible Elder Scrolls, with the same go-anywhere freedom Arena promised.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is also an alternative to 2 other classics

Available on

PC Mac Linux iPhone iPad Android phone Android tablet PlayStation Xbox Switch Steam Deck Unsupported

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Unsupported.

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