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The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall similar games & best alternatives

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

PC (Microsoft Windows), DOS • 2022

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Quick resume

THE GREAT MACHINE AWAKENS

Global score

86/100

Genres

Action, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure

Similar games

    Pros

    • Massive open world and exploration
    • Deep character customization and roleplaying
    • Active modding community and quality of life improvements
    • Free to play
    • Immersive fantasy life simulation

    Cons

    • Dated graphics and clunky controls
    • Steep learning curve and difficulty
    • Buggy original version (unity fixes many issues)
    • Procedural dungeons can feel repetitive
    • Lack of modern ui and quest tracking

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression, Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Sensation.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      5

      "Players have nearly total freedom to choose their path, character build, and activities without pressure to follow the main quest."

    • Competence
      3

      "The game features challenging combat and skill-based progression requiring mastery, though some mechanics are clunky and rely on dice rolls."

    • Competition
      -4

      "Focus is on personal exploration and roleplaying rather than competing against others; no mention of PvP or leaderboards."

    • Continuation
      5

      "Players report hundreds of hours invested, with habitual play and deep attachment to the vast world and gameplay."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Single-player experience focused on individual goals and exploration; no cooperative multiplayer elements."

    • Creativity
      5

      "Extensive character customization, spell crafting, modding support, and roleplaying options encourage creative expression."

    • Domination
      -5

      "Interactions emphasize roleplaying and simulation rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism
      5

      "Players use the game as a deep fantasy life simulator and immersive escape from reality."

    • Expectation
      -5

      "Engagement is voluntary and driven by intrinsic interest and curiosity rather than obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Players experiment with builds, mods, and different playstyles; the open world encourages exploration of mechanics."

    • Exploration
      5

      "Massive procedurally generated world with thousands of locations and dungeons encourages discovery and curiosity."

    • Expression
      4

      "Character customization and modding allow for personal expression, though graphical options are limited by the era."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Strong fantasy setting with magic, mythical creatures, and roleplaying in an imaginative fictional world."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "Primarily a solitary experience with minimal social or community interaction described."

    • Growth
      4

      "Skill-based progression and learning curve encourage player development and mastery over time."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of RPGs; no physical activity or health-related mechanics."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires sustained attention due to complex mechanics and exploration; not suited for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing; focus is on solo play."

    • Leadership
      Insufficient data
    • Progression
      5

      "Character leveling, guild ranks, item collection, and quest completion provide strong progression incentives."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Some players find immersion relaxing, but the game also involves tension and challenge, especially early on."

    • Sensation
      1

      "Visuals are retro and atmospheric; some sensory enjoyment but limited by dated graphics."

    • Status
      Insufficient data
    • Story
      3

      "Narrative is present but non-linear and often secondary to open-ended gameplay; multiple endings and lore."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Requires planning character builds, managing resources, and navigating complex dungeons and quests."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Combat and dungeon exploration can be tense and suspenseful, especially due to difficulty and permadeath risks."

    • Value
      5

      "Free to play with extensive content and mod support offers excellent return on time investment."

    • Violence
      3

      "Combat and dungeon crawling involve fighting monsters and enemies, though violence is contextualized within fantasy."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must manage health, resources, and avoid threats in dungeons, though not a hardcore survival game."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026