Jess Thomas' 2023 Game Of The Year? Skyrim | Winter Spectacular 2023
There have been many wonderful video game releases this year. In fact, it’s been hard to keep up with the constant flow of game releases. Despite this, it's hard to say 2023 has been fantastic for gaming when this year has been laced with the constant news of redundancies and it feels as though each month we see a beloved studio forced to cut its teams down, or even close. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my role in this industry as a PR Manager, but it’s very difficult to feel inspired these days.
Before I go into this more though, I did want to take a moment to reflect as I have this platform. It’s not just the video game industry that struggles with this turmoil, as the world we find ourselves in these days can feel a lot more negative than it does positive. The games industry is no doubt in the shit right now, but these problems are miniscule in comparison to the atrocities being committed in Palestine.
I find it difficult to find the words to describe the state of the world currently, as the events in Gaza we are presently witnessing are indescribable as Palestine is still subjected to genocide. It’s easy to feel powerless, but there are ways we can help and we should absolutely do so if we have the means. I have linked below educational resources on this matter, and thank you to Lexi and the startmenu team for providing me with this platform to speak.
It’s always a good time to take a Skyrim arrow to the knee!
As technology becomes more advanced each year, I find myself longing for the ‘simpler days’, something to get that nostalgic buzz from. For me, that comes from Bethesda’s 2011 masterpiece – Skyrim, because does it get better than Skyrim? This is 100% a rhetorical question.
This game is over a decade old now, but there's a strong chance you’ve played within the last few years. Skyrim is a staple of the industry and conversation that never leaves for long, re-emerging like a rising sun, shining over the landscapes of our lives, pulling us out of reality and into familiar worlds. Cheesy? Just like the many cheese rolls you’ll have in your inventory, of course.
If you know me, you’ll know that Skyrim will forever be my favourite video game, truly a title I will never be able to move on from, and I am more than okay with that. I’ve had a lot of fun playing other massive open-world RPGs, such as The Witcher 3, Elden Ring, and even Bethesda’s latest release, Starfield, but none of these have even come remotely close to taking hold of me like Skyrim continues to do, so why is this?
Open-world games have been present for years now, and existed well before Skyrim fus-ro-dah’d its way in. Hell Bethesda have been making these since the 90s, but the team from Maryland struck gold in 2011. Capitalising on the idea of a world that could be explored totally freely with next to no restrictions is immediately immersive as you get to pave the way for your character in any way you see fit. Let’s be real here, it’s likely you also made a beeline for the nearest giant campsite only to then be flung into Oblivion (awful Bethesda pun) – You simply can’t beat it.
Having no set main character is undoubtedly appealing because the Dragonborn can be anyone, and anything. I say this as someone who will always start a new playthrough like “This time I’ll try a different play style!” and suddenly I find myself in the Dark Brotherhood as a sneaky archer assassin… I just simply cannot ignore the pul.
Dark Brotherhood and falling into the most popular build jokes aside, the idea of being anyone and anything reflects wonderfully into reality as well. With life, I at times feel a sense of responsibility to blend in, but why should I? We’re all unique individuals and Skyrim celebrates this superbly! Like the Dragonborn, we can be whoever we choose to be. It's wonderful and should be shouted from the rooftops, or the Throat of The World, provided you’ve got enough dragon souls in your inventory.
Everything in Skyrim is built from the ground up to give the player a feeling of nearly boundless freedom, and you’d be forgiven for totally forgetting it has a main storyline. I know I do, unless I’m going for yet another 100% achievement/platinum run. Actually, I’m working on achieving the platinum trophy for a 3rd time now. Why? Because it’s Skyrim and it’s amazing. Duh.
In my opinion, Bethesda and Skyrim defines the modern RPG genre. Sure, the game is riddled with glitches and bugs, and has seemingly been re-released on every console ever created, but that's all part of the Bethesda charm. I love playing on the Alexa…obviously.
Booting up Skyrim feels like a warm hug., It feels comfortable. It feels safe. Back in 2011 when it first launched, I was 19, and the prospect of leaving school and making a successful career for myself was a daunting one. Unlike a lot of my classmates at the time, I didn’t want to go to University. Back then, the idea was drummed into me by teachers that this was a horrid decision and I’d regret it. Spoiler alert, I don’t. I landed on my feet fine without it, but with hindsight, it’s easy to say all this. At the time I felt like if I didn’t attend University, I wouldn’t be able to have a career. The pressures of this, as well as being an only child, were heavy, so diving into the world of Skyrim gave me a respite I desperately needed.
I’m now 31, and life is obviously different from when I was 19, but the pressures of life affect us all from time to time unfortunately, and when those heavy spells of hardship kick in, I’m glad I still have Skyrim to provide me with that, let’s say, sweet (roll) security.
I’ve loved video games since a very young age. 90’s kid with a Gameboy and Pokémon Red kind of thing. Still, nothing has ever made me feel a sense of belonging like Skyrim has and will continue to do. So hey, if you’re looking for someone to nerd out with about all things Skyrim, I am the person for you. 😊
