Research-backed game lineage

The Elder Scrolls

The Elder Scrolls is included in the Series Atlas after independent recognition and an authoritative game-by-game roster audit. Editions, simple ports, DLC, bundles, canceled projects, and cameo-only appearances are excluded.

18 curated games 1994–2025 release span 0 connected branches
The Elder Scrolls: Arena coverThe Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall coverAn Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire coverThe Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard coverThe Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind cover

Release chronology

The complete path.

Ordered by researched series position, then original release date. Ports, DLC, and duplicate editions are intentionally excluded.

18 games in this lineage

01 The Elder Scrolls: Arena cover
Mainline1994

The Elder Scrolls: Arena

The Elder Scrolls - Arena is the first RPG fantasy game of the Elder Scrolls series. The game takes place on a planet called Nirn in the empire of Tamriel. The emperor of Tamriel, Uriel Septim, is planing to gather the whole Nirn under the imperial flag. He allies himself with the mage Jagar Tharn who is unfortunately intent on stealing the emperor's throne. Jagar Tharn imprisons the emperor in another dimension and locks the key inside a dungeon under the imperial city. Your job is to find all the pieces of the key, reassemble it, kill Jagger Tharn and free the emperor.

Mar 25, 199479/100
02 The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall cover
Mainline1996

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

The Elder Scrolls - Daggerfall is the second fantasy RPG from The Elder Scrolls series. The game is situated in a city of Daggerfall and its surrounding areas. The emperor himself asked you, as your friend, to investigate the death of King Lysandus. The whole story is up to you. There is no straight line which you should follow. you have a number of options for character classes and numerous regions filled with cities, towns, and dungeons. Your journey starts on your way to the Kingdom of Daggerfall. Unfortunately your ship is wrecked in a storm and you end up in a small cave with only your bare life. Your first goal becomes to escape, and so your adventure begins. The game has a numerous options how to solve the crisis and numerous differed endings as well.

Aug 31, 199684/100
03 An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire cover
Mainline1997

An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire

An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire is an action role-playing open world video game developed and published by Bethesda Softworks, set in the world of The Elder Scrolls.

Nov 30, 199752/100
04 The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard cover
Mainline1998

The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard

You play as Cyrus, a Redguard in search for his sister, and a mercenary pirate. After receiving a letter from your old friend and Nord captain Tobias about your sister's disappearance, you sail to Stros M'kai, your sister's home, and site of the final clash between the Redguard Crowns and the Empire. The game begins when you arrive at the port.

Oct 31, 199858/100
05 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind cover
Mainline2002

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is an open-world first-person role-playing game and the third main entry in The Elder Scrolls series. Set on the island of Vvardenfell in the province of Morrowind, the player arrives as a released prisoner and becomes involved in the political and religious conflicts of the Dunmer people. Gameplay combines freeform exploration, real-time combat, and character customization across a vast landscape of ashlands, swamps, and volcanic terrain, with a main quest centered on an ancient prophecy.

May 1, 200274/100
06 The Elder Scrolls Travels: Dawnstar cover
Mainline2003

The Elder Scrolls Travels: Dawnstar

The Elder Scrolls Travels: Dawnstar is a 2004 RPG developed exclusively for Java-enabled cell phones in the style and scope of its fellow The Elder Scrolls games. It is one of four mobile TES games published by Bethesda Softworks.

Jun 1, 2003
08 The Elder Scrolls Travels: Shadowkey cover
Mainline2004

The Elder Scrolls Travels: Shadowkey

The Elder Scrolls Travels: Shadowkey was the third game in the Elder Scrolls Travels series. You must save your village from marauders who are but pawns in the struggle to capture Shadowmage Skelos Undriel -- a piece in a darker and more sinister game. . You'll fight many foes in your search for the power of the Shadowkeys and the Star Teeth, and your journey will lead you to the Crypt of the Heart where you'll face the ultimate test.

Nov 24, 2004
09 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion cover
Mainline2006

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the fourth game in the Elder Scrolls story, is set within the province of Cyrodiil, the heartland and Imperial capital of Tamriel. Emperor Uriel Septim VII is assassinated in flight from his own palace, but just before he dies he passes on to you the mystic Amulet of Kings. The adventure proper begins with the quest to find Uriel's lost and illegitimate son who is the only heir to the throne. In a world where the forces of darkness seek their ultimate dominion over the ranks of man and mer alike, you alone stand between the future of Tamriel and the gates of Oblivion.

Mar 20, 200683/100
10 The Elder Scrolls Travels: Oblivion cover
Mainline2006

The Elder Scrolls Travels: Oblivion

An RPG originally in the works for the Playstation Portable to be released in 2007, but has since been presumed on hold, or even canceled, since no more information has been revealed.

May 3, 2006
11 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim cover
Mainline2011

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Skyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose. Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the legendary freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls is realized like never before.

Nov 10, 201184/100
12 The Elder Scrolls Online cover
Mainline2014

The Elder Scrolls Online

Every legend starts somewhere and in The Elder Scrolls Online, it starts with you. Write your story into a vibrant chapter of Tamriel’s distant past that takes place nearly 1,000 years before the iconic TES V: Skyrim, and discover a world steeped in adventure and possibility.

Apr 4, 201471/100
13 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition cover
Remaster2016

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition

Skyrim special edition is a remaster of the classic from 2011. Now with upgraded visuals. Skyrim reimagines and revolutionises the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.

Oct 27, 201685/100
14 The Elder Scrolls: Legends cover
Mainline2017

The Elder Scrolls: Legends

The Elder Scrolls: Legends is a strategy card game that explores the series' characters, creatures, deities, and lore. Whether you have 10 minutes or five hours, Legends provides a variety of gameplay modes and challenges that are easy-to-learn but difficult to master. Built with all levels of players in mind, Legends offers accessible gameplay for beginners who want to get started quickly, and the game's depth keeps expert players engaged. With a wide variety of deck types and strategies, no two games are ever the same.

Mar 9, 201774/100
15 The Elder Scrolls: Blades cover
Mainline2020

The Elder Scrolls: Blades

Take the Elder Scrolls anywhere you go with The Elder Scrolls: Blades. Revealed during the 2018 Bethesda E3 Showcase, Blades is an all-new Elder Scrolls game from Bethesda Game Studios. Launching in winter 2019, Blades will be free-to-play on iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

May 12, 202040/100
16 The Elder Scrolls: Castles cover
Mainline2024

The Elder Scrolls: Castles

From Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning developer behind The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout Shelter, comes The Elder Scrolls: Castles—a new mobile game that puts you in control of your very own castle and dynasty. Oversee your subjects as the years come and go, families grow, and new rulers take the throne. Build Your Dynasty – Tell your story for generations—each day in real life covers the span of an entire year in The Elder Scrolls: Castles. Train your subjects, name heirs, and maintain order to help your kingdom flourish. Will you keep your subjects happy and ensure a long life for their ruler? Or will they grow discontent and plot assassination? Manage Your Castle – Customize your castle from the ground up, adding and expanding rooms, placing lavish decorations and inspirational monuments, and even assign subjects to workstations to ensure your castle has the resources to thrive for years to come! Rule Your Kingdom – Make key decisions that impact your legacy. Will you risk a limited supply of food to aid a neighboring kingdom? How should a heated spat between your subjects be settled? Your choices determine if your rule will inspire prosperity or lead your castle to peril. Complete Epic Quests – Create heroes, equip them with epic gear, and send them to battle against classic Elder Scrolls foes to collect valuable items and keep your kingdom growing.

Sep 10, 2024
18 The Elder Scrolls VI cover
Mainline

The Elder Scrolls VI

The Elder Scrolls VI is an upcoming single-player action RPG from Bethesda Game Studios, serving as the sixth main entry in The Elder Scrolls series and the follow-up to 2011's Skyrim. The game is built on Creation Engine 3 and entered active production in 2023 following the completion of Starfield. Director Todd Howard has described the project as aiming to be the "ultimate fantasy-world simulator." The game's setting and story details remain undisclosed. It will release exclusively on Windows and Xbox platforms.

Release date TBA4.9/5

Sources and method

Built from the public record.

Membership is researched from external official and independent sources. Mainline games, direct spin-offs, remakes, remasters, and standalone expansions are included; DLC, simple ports, duplicate editions, compilation-only duplicates, rumors, cancellations, and cameo-only crossovers are excluded.

  1. database The Elder Scrolls collection — IGDB

    IGDB maintains a distinct collection record for The Elder Scrolls and supplies the authoritative roster used for membership verification.

  2. reference List of best-selling video game franchises

    The independent catalog recognizes The Elder Scrolls as a multi-game franchise and supports its inclusion in this major-series research sweep.