According to the patch notes, which you can check out below, among the key features coming to the Switch 2 release of Skyrim is a 60 Hz mode in the Display settings, allowing players to switch between “Prioritize Visuals” and “Prioritize Performance.” Picking the former also locks the game at 30 Hz to ensure smooth gameplay. These locked frame rate options will go a long way in ensuring the frame pacing is on track, which should, in turn, reduce input lag.

Several other improvements have also been made, including fixes for frame rate drops that could happen when the player is at the Talking Stone Camp, the Drelas’ Cottage location, at Secunda’s Kiss, or at Kynesgrove, as well as several crash fixes.

In the meantime, Bethesda has also confirmed that Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition will be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 on February 24th.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Nintendo Switch 2 update 1.2 patch notes:

Features:

• Added a 60 Hz mode under Display settings that allows players to toggle between “Prioritize Visuals” or “Prioritize Performance”.
• In addition, frame rate has been locked at 30 Hz in “Prioritize Visuals” mode for smoother gameplay.

Crashes and Performance Fixes:

• Fixed a crash that occurred when reading “The Crimson Dirks Vol. 4” book for the “Tilted Scales” quest in German.
• Fixed an audio-related crash.
• Fixed a crash, infinite load, and game freeze that sometimes occurred when rapidly selecting “Load” multiple times in the pause menu.
• Fixed a crash that occurred when the “Transmute Ore” spell was repeatedly cast outside of the Haltered Stream Camp.

Improved FPS performance drops that occurred in the following locations:

• during the Hide and Seek quest in Kynesgrove
• during combat at Secunda’s Kiss
• when discovering the “Drelas’ Cottage” location
• when engaged in combat with a giant at the Talking Stone Camp.

Visuals Issues Fixes:

• Viewing water planes from a distance or within menus caused them to shift up and down.
• Distant aspen trees appeared with a blue tint.
• Transitioning out of caves caused an outline of the entrance to linger during the fade-to-black loading screen.

User Interface Fixes:

• Switching between mouse and controller mode while in dialogue or the Help menu caused different options to be highlighted.
• Switching between mouse and controller mode while in help menus or user hints did not dynamically update callout prompts.
• The “Ready/Sheathe” option was missing from the Joy-Con 2 Mouse Controls menu.
• The “Delete” prompt remained greyed out within the Load menu when swapping between mouse and controller mode.
• Deleting a save in the Save/Load menus resets the highlighted selection to the top of the menu list.
• While in mouse mode, the cursor remained stuck within a smaller section of the screen when changing between docked/undocked modes or interfacing with GameChat.

Controls Fixes:

• The “Eagle Eye” Archery perk remained active after switching between mouse and controller mode.
• Holding down the Right Joystick while reassigning a button caused that button to disappear from the Controls list.
• The Joy-Con 2 controllers provided haptic feedback while in mouse mode.
• Buttons became unresponsive when controls were remapped while moving the Joy-Con 2 controllers in mouse mode.
• Rotating the map in mouse mode was slower and less smooth than in controller mode.

Audio Issue Fix:

• Scrolling SFX continued to play while holding up or down on the Left Joystick or buttons at the top or bottom of the Save/Load menus.

Localization Fixes:

• “Amiibo” appeared as plural in Spanish.

Miscellaneous:

• Added new translations for the features listed above and UI updates.
• Updates were made to the game credits.

Today, portables playing AAA games, Skyrim ports, and the Nintendo Switch are all commonplace, and so the true impact of that moment can often be lost on newer audiences. But Skyrim for the Switch helped legitimize both that burgeoning system at a time when it still wasn’t clear that there would be a sustainable market for it, and for the resurgence of portables as a whole. That the port was as impeccable as it was – for years it was among the most recommended versions of the game – only served to reinforce that further.

"Additionally, this version also includes mouse control support for the Switch 2’s Joycon controllers."

In 2025, Skyrim on Switch 2 isn’t really anything special. It’s simply Skyrim, now with a native Switch 2 version. Theoretically this should be an easy win. At this point Skyrim is a several generations old game, the hardware in question is extremely capable, and the version Bethesda has chosen to port – the Anniversary Edition – is a great one. It comes along with the original base game, all its DLC and expansions, multiple quality of life improvements added to the game adapted from player created mods, multiple quests similarly added from the Creation Club. New additions like fishing and Survival Mode (which is honestly my favourite way to play Skyrim now), along with the Nintendo exclusive extras from the original Switch version, most notably the Zelda-themed gear, help round out the experience..

Additionally, this version also includes mouse control support for the Switch 2’s Joycon controllers. The game also looks and sounds great, with the visuals here being basically on par with the visuals for Anniversary Edition on any of the other platforms.

The icing on the cake is that Bethesda has made the upgrade available for free for existing owners of Skyrim Anniversary Edition on Switch. Given all of that, it’s honestly hard to imagine how one could possibly take issue with this package, but unfortunately, there are some critical missteps and omissions here that hold the package back.

"Bethesda is leveraging some of the Switch 2’s unique capabilities here — DLSS is being used to some degree; Bethesda only specifies its usage as being for anti aliasing, though I assume they’re also upscaling the resolution a little bit"

Let’s start with the most obvious – this game still runs at 30fps on the Switch 2. This is a title that ran at 30fps on the Xbox 360 or the original Switch, both vastly inferior bits of hardware to the Switch 2; there should be nothing stopping a 60FPS implementation here, even only as an option. There is none. Skyrim, as I mentioned, was 30fps to begin with (unless you played on a PS3, in which case 30fps was the highest you could hope for if you were exceedingly lucky), so this isn’t a downgrade, but it absolutely does feel baffling that Bethesda missed out on such an obvious and immediate upgrade here. Again, at the very least you’d expect it as an option or a toggle, but nope.

The problem with the 30fps is exacerbated by the baffling, and I mean BAFFLING, degree of input lag the game has. In docked mode it can be almost comically obvious, with actions on screen taking a perceptible amount of time to execute after you press a button. It does feel slightly better in portable mode, but in either case, it’s unclear why or more importantly how, something like this passed QA and was allowed to release as is. Skyrim isn’t Elden Ring, so the input lag, while noticeable and bothersome, isn’t really disruptive in any sense; it does, however, make the game feel worse to play, particularly since the framerate is already 30fps to begin with.

Bethesda is leveraging some of the Switch 2’s unique capabilities here — DLSS is being used to some degree; Bethesda only specifies its usage as being for anti aliasing, though I assume they’re also upscaling the resolution a little bit. The aforementioned mouse controls are also implemented well, and it that’s a control scheme you enjoy playing with, you’re going to like it here too. Mercifully, given how much of a time investment the game can be, Bethesda have also allowed players to import their saves from the original Switch version of the game.

"I would definitely be a lot angrier at the missteps taken here if it weren’t for the fact that the upgrade is being offered for free for existing players."

All the peripheral considerations aside, the game itself is still excellent. Skyrim is one of the most beloved and influential games of the modern era, and that’s because its core design is so innately compelling. It’s so easy to pick it up and get lost in its dense, layered, sprawling fantasy world again, and find yourself in adventures of discovery and exploration and intrigue. The fact that the game itself remains fun to play means it is still easy to recommend – well, mostly. There are those peripheral caveats that can’t really be dismissed or handwaved after all.

I would definitely be a lot angrier at the missteps taken here if it weren’t for the fact that the upgrade is being offered for free for existing players; however, for anyone who is looking to jump in now, these omissions and fumbles are fair warnings for them to consider and bear in mind. Skyrim on the Switch 2 is conflicted – it’s Skyrim, and on Switch 2, which is great, but this isn’t a particularly great version, and there are some very obvious fixes Bethesda can make here. Hopefully in the months to come, they will be patching those in.

This game was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch 2.

And not just any version of Skyrim, no, the Skyrim Anniversary Edition – technically the fourth iteration of the game, not counting the VR version or Collector’s Edition. Over 14 years later, after the original launched for the Xbox 360, PC and PS3, and more than seven years after director Todd Howard said, straight up, “If you want us to stop releasing it, stop buying it.”

No doubt taking a page out of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered’s playbook, Bethesda shadow-dropped the Switch 2 port out of nowhere. For $60, you could get the base game, all of its expansions, “hundreds” of Creation Club items (which feature some actual decent mods), and Nintendo-exclusive Zelda content. Leaving aside the fact that $60 is an absurd price to pay for Skyrim in 2025, at least it’s a free upgrade for current Switch 1 owners.

Bethesda also promised some visual improvements, at least, as far as it wanted to on the Switch 2. Textures and character models look better, even if the differences are quite minor, and some players have reported a higher resolution in Handheld Mode (1080p, which is up from 720p). Loading times are also significantly faster, though you can decide whether 17 seconds to load a save is acceptable in this day and age. That’s all, seemingly good news, but, in typical Bethesda fashion, it’s the calm before the storm.

First off, it occupies 53 GB of space. Why, especially when it’s about 25 GB on PC? For further comparison, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition – a graphically superior title that many even doubted could run on the platform – is approximately 60.6 GB, which is only a bit more. It’s also only $10 extra for new players, but I digress.

The other big problem is that Skyrim Anniversary Edition runs at 30 frames per second on the Switch 2. Besides the fact that Bethesda touted “optimized performance,” it runs at the same frame rate as the Switch 1 version. This is the same performance as the Special Edition on PS4 and Xbox One – no word yet on whether there are dips on Switch 2 like those versions. But how Bethesda can’t get a 14-plus-year-old game running in 60 FPS on hardware that’s more than capable of the task is baffling. Further technical analysis also revealed that the resolution increase via DLSS in handheld mode is handled rather poorly and might as well not even matter.

So the price is absurd for new players, the installation size is downright heinous compared to other platforms, and the performance is disappointing given the game’s age. Don’t worry, though – there’s more.

Some users reported significant input delay with the Switch 2 version. One Reddit user noted that it was almost a “full second of delay after each input.” Other players noted the same in the comments, with one calling it “unplayable.” This is in both docked and handheld modes, and funnily enough, it matches issues with the Switch 1 version, where switching to third-person would cause the same issue.

What’s even stranger is the process of upgrading for physical edition owners on Switch 1. If you own the cartridge and downloaded the Anniversary Edition content, well, you won’t have the option to upgrade. One user revealed that you need to not download the latter. Instead, open the game after inserting the cart, then go to the store in-game, which should then prompt you to download the upgrade. So yes, Bethesda found a way to mess up the upgrade process. Oh, and it’s a separate title on the platform, so you’ll need to uninstall the Switch 1 version when done.

And if all that wasn’t enough, Skyrim Anniversary Edition on Switch 2 reportedly doesn’t support mods yet. What you see from the bundled Creation Club items is currently what you get.

I would be shocked at this point, but remember: This is the same Bethesda that dropped the Anniversary Edition of Fallout 4 and effectively broke the game on several platforms. And players, especially those who had curated their mod selections broken, had no choice but to download the update, even if they didn’t buy the absurdly priced Creations Bundle. Bethesda would release a patch that fixed many of the crashes, though it completely ignored the community begging for no more, especially when its Next-Gen Update caused all the same issues last year.

And while Skyrim is an older game that would require significant work to run properly on the Switch 2, why re-release the Anniversary Edition in the first place?

Not like Bethesda isn’t aware of how this constant, unabashed cash-grabbing comes across. Creative Director Matt Carofano, who served as lead artist on the original game, even admitted to Nintendo Life in a recent interview that it’s “a bit of a joke at this point how often we release Skyrim.” Nevertheless, he believes it’s “a great game. We want everyone to be able to play it in the best way possible.” Which is a fine sentiment – except where the company charges $60 for marginally improved visuals. Truly a highway robbery that would put Red Dead Redemption to shame.

At this point, you really have to wonder what’s going on at Bethesda. Starfield releasing as it did and having no major updates throughout this entire year till now, especially after a terrible paid expansion, is one thing (especially when significant improvements are seemingly on the way). The Elder Scrolls 6, announced in 2018 and still a long way off according to Todd Howard, is another. But messing up basic updates and ports for their older games? What possible justification could there be, aside from the fact that the studio doesn’t care enough about its fans, new and old, to ensure quality?

Why then should anyone believe it will put quality, first and foremost, for its upcoming releases? Will Starfield, when it eventually releases on PS5, also be a mess? Will its second expansion be any better than Shattered Space? At this point, what goodwill or benefit of the doubt has the company earned? Even those who peddled the “It just works” meme are tired of beating a dead horse.

But, and as much as I hate to admit, Howard is right. Tons of people still play Skyrim, even after all these years. Even on Steam, Skyrim Special Edition currently has the highest 24-hour player count among all its titles, beating Oblivion Remastered, Fallout 76, Fallout 4 and Starfield. Why shouldn’t Bethesda keep re-releasing the game when people will still buy it, which is a nice way of saying, “Why put in any effort when it’ll still sell?”

Despite my rambling, I’m honestly at a loss for words for this company. It’s gone beyond shock and disdain, creeping slowly towards apathy. Of course, you know what that means – now Bethesda needs to shadow-drop Starfield for the PS5 at The Game Awards and have that be a broken mess. Then the trifecta will be complete heading into 2026.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Among other things, the trailer features an elf who manages to raise the level of their Speech skill up to 27, which in turn helps get their overall level closer to 20. Fans have taken this to mean that Bethesda might be teasing a 2027 release window for The Elder Scrolls 6.

While Bethesda itself hasn’t really made any official announcement regarding The Elder Scrolls 6, some fans believe that the trailer is teasing the title’s proper unveiling “This honestly might be the best piece of evidence we have for a release date,” said one fan. “Those are very specific numbers and I don’t think they would use those numbers by accident.”

Another noted that the fan base for The Elder Scrolls might be reaching a bit for hints that the upcoming RPG might be getting officially unveiled. “My god we’ve gotten so desperate,” they wrote.

In the meantime, The Elder Scroll 5: Skyrim Anniversary Edition has added the Nintendo Switch 2 to the vast number of platforms it has already been available on. The title is available along with its Hearthfire, Dawnguard and Dragonborn expansions. Along with this, the title also includes “hundreds” of items from the Creation Club, all wrapped up in a single bundle priced at $59.99.

Since it’s on a Nintendo platform, there are also some Nintendo-specific in-game goodies for players to discover and use: the Master Sword, Hylian Shield and Champion’s Tunic from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It is worth noting that those who already own the original Switch version of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Anniversary Edition will get the Switch 2 version as a free upgrade.

While fans have been waiting for any news regarding The Elder Scrolls 6, creative director Todd Howard believes that the title will likely come out only after Rockstar Games has released Grand Theft Auto 6. When asked about which game would come out first, he said, “I got my fingers crossed for GTA 6.”

“I do,” said Howard when asked if Grand Theft Auto 6 will hit its November 19, 2026 release date. “They are doing an incredible job. I know the folks at Rockstar and I think they are some of the absolute best at bringing a virtual world to life. It’s a world that feels like it would go on even if you weren’t there.”

Back in November, Howard had also noted that the long-awaited entry in the fantasy RPG franchise is “still a long way off”.

Unfortunately, despite promising improved performance, the frame rate is still stuck at 30 frames per second. While some users report native 1080p in Handheld Mode (up from 720p), the port seemingly suffers from extensive input lag. One Reddit user noted “nearly a full second of delay after each input.”

“I knew Bethesda were never great at optimisation, but this is just an absurdly poor effort. I’d honestly rather play the Switch 1 version, at least that one didn’t feel so sluggish…,” they added. Others also noted the same issues, which seemingly mirror the Anniversary Edition’s launch on Switch 1 back in 2017.

Given how recent the release is, Bethesda has yet to issue a statement or acknowledge the issue. Hopefully, it’s patched relatively quickly, but given the various problems with Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition on its current platforms, there might be a wait. It also doesn’t bode well for the title’s eventual release on Switch 2 next year, but as always, stay tuned for updates.

Even the exclusive Nintendo content, namely the Master Sword, Hylian Shield and Champion’s Tunic from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is included. Those who already own the Switch version can upgrade for free, so that’s nice. While Bethesda didn’t delve into all the improvements the Switch 2 version brings (mouse control support is unknown), you can look forward to an improved resolution, better performance and faster loading.

Even though it first arrived in 2011 and $60 is pretty steep, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is one of the best games of all time, so it may be worthwhile if you’re looking to jump into the series. Alternatively, you could wait for Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition, which is out next year on Switch 2. It’s also currently available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC platforms, though it’s gone down with all the enthusiasm of a lead balloon.

Many of these games are so addictive and well-designed, you’re probably going to be thinking about them when you’re not playing them. Let’s get started!

1. Where Winds Meet

This wuxia-based RPG is simply unmatched when it comes to the number of activities it offers you, the quality of each one, and the variety you can find. It’s an open world where exploration without having a specific destination in mind is the best possible way to experience it, with a lot of great side content baked into the game aside from a compelling main campaign.

With online multiplayer and MMO elements integrated into the gameplay loop, and combat and gear systems that are great for creating unique PvP characters, there’s just so much to do in this game, and so much more to come with subsequent updates, that hitting triple figures on your playtime is almost an inevitability.

2. EA Sports FC 26

The football simulator that’s been around forever continues to be a viable option for a game that has you coming back to it every chance you get, for a very long time after you first boot it up. With a very detailed Career mode, regular online events, the option to pit your team against your friend, or perhaps have a buddy join your team instead, there’s a lot to experience.

The gameplay on offer is also quite solid, with a lot of realism baked into the experience to make you feel like you’re on the pitch and not staring at it through a screen. However, its systems and some of its challenges are going to require that you literally put your best foot forward on the pitch. If you decide to dive into this one, the game is on and is going to stay that way for a while.

3. Fortnite

Once again, there’s so much to do in Fortnite, which is more of a platform than a game at this point. With so many modes on offer, regular content being added into the game, social features that make it a blast when it’s enjoyed in company, and a PvP Battle Royale mode that has become quite popular in its own right, this one’s definitely a game where 200 hours might go by before you even notice.

Dive in and you’re going to find a lot of freedom for self-expression, and a lot of fun to be had on the islands. Just be careful not to put too much of a strain on your wallet, as those outfits and goodies can be very tempting indeed.

4. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim + Expansions

Step into the shoes of the Dragonborn and begin your journey into Skyrim, and you’re probably not going to look at another video game until you’ve explored every corner of its sprawling map. Anything can happen along the road to your next point of interest, and with some of the finest RPG mechanics to grace the genre, you’re going to spend a lot of time tinkering with your build.

This is an RPG that has more than earned its popularity and ranks high among modern gaming’s finest for a reason. It’s also smart to dive in now and perhaps brush up on the story ahead of the sequel that’s eventually coming our way. The expansions are worth a mention, and can add a significant amount of hours to your total playtime. Every second of them is going to be worth it, though.

5. GTA Online

A thriving community of players, a massive map to explore in San Andreas, and interesting activities to engage with. GTA Online was kind of a no-brainer for this list. With heists to plan and execute, quests to carry out for some of the main story’s characters, and a reputation to build for your silent protagonist, this one’s going to have you avoiding plans and spending your weekends indoors for a while.

It’s GTA at its finest, and if the delay to GTA VI has had you feeling down, perhaps this one can act as a suitable placebo until the real thing gets here.

6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt + Story Expansions

Geralt’s search for Ciri, and all the shenanigans he can get up to in the process, continues to be among the best open-world games we’ve played despite it being a decade old at this point. CDPR’s ability to hide a frankly overwhelming amount of secrets across three vast maps, and a whole lot of quality side content to distract the Witcher from looking for his adoptive daughter, is nothing short of a marvel.

The story expansions are a whole other ball game, bringing some very satisfying arcs full of possibilities to change the narrative’s direction, along with excellent new monsters to hunt and more secrets and lore to uncover. You might not be able to get enough of this one, if we’re being honest.

7. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

The first open-world Metal Gear Solid is a great option for those of you who like a game that takes a while to outstay its welcome. Big Boss’s adventures continue in a main campaign that works very well as a bridge between previous entries, while side ops, Metal Gear Online, and the Forward Operating Base systems are all reasons for this one to have you enjoying many entertaining hours of espionage and skullduggery.

Indeed, a significant part of your playtime is going to be planning the best possible route to your objectives without your enemies being none the wiser to your presence. This is a hunt that takes a satisfyingly long time and is definitely worth considering.

8. Destiny 2

This award-winning online FPS title from Bungie has a staggering amount of content for you to take on in its story-based PvE mode, while your multiplayer options range from cooperative three-player missions to PvP battles. There’s a lot to take in, both in terms of the game’s lore and the amount of gear and potential build options you can find.

With a lot of content to get through, and a lot of fun to be had as you dive into all it has to offer, Destiny 2 is a dream come true if you’re an FPS player who wants a game that can take over their holidays.

9. Elden Ring + Shadow of the Erdtree

FromSoftware’s ambitious open-world and the Tarnished’s incredible journey is nothing short of a masterpiece. The Lands Between are full of places to explore, mysteries to uncover, NPCs with haunting stories, and a lot of weapons, armor, gear, and loot to plunder as you try to become Queen Marika’s consort and impose your will on the world.

It’s easy to forget about all that as you ride your horse through the Lands Between, and that feeling only intensifies when you finally make your way to the Land of Shadow in the game’s DLC. Tracing the steps of Miquella is an adventure worth taking on, and coupled with the base game, this one’s a behemoth.

10. Monster Hunter: World + Expansions

Taking on the role of a representative of the Research Commission and exploring every region and zone of the New World was a fun and engaging experience from start to finish. There are so many monsters to hunt, so much to discover, and a whole lot of activities to engage in at your camp and the main base.

Quests flow from one to another almost as smoothly as the water in some parts of the New World, and you’re going to be helping your fellow companions and NPCs while having tons of fun along the way. It helps that this is a game that’s both charming in its writing and enchanting on the visual front. You can’t go wrong with this one, and it’s going to have you getting very creative in your approach to each distinct monster you’re tasked with bringing down.

11. Dragon’s Dogma 2

This sequel was an excellent new addition to Dragon’s Dogma. It was a pleasure to step into the shoes of the Arisen once again, and each of the playable classes brought something interesting to the table. But it’s when you begin to dive deeper into the world’s mysteries and begin to discover more about it that this one’s true depth shows itself.

You’re going to want to place your teleporting stones quite carefully, as the rest of the world actually has you travelling across it, navigating set pathways via a travel system, while the world’s unpredictability can make those trips quite treacherous indeed. This is an experience that is both memorable and filled with so much content and so little hand-holding that you’re going to be obsessed with discovering more about the world and the people you meet within it.

12. Red Dead Redemption 2

Arthur Morgan is an obvious contender for a place on this list of massive games, and his adventures are so extensive that it can be hard to believe one man lived through them all. From kicking back with mini-games to exploring some truly bizarre stories that can come to you in multiple ways, this is a game that can have you walking and talking like a cowboy from the Wild West every chance you get.

It’s among the finest games in modern gaming, and its world is so full of clever little details to discover that hopping on your horse for a new day of exploring is going to take precedence over your leisure time for a very entertaining and lengthy block of time.

13. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla + Expansions

As the largest one in the franchise, Valhalla’s unique take on living your life as a noble Viking and uncovering the conspiracy across England, is a world worth getting lost in.

The game’s expansions do more to set up a lot of things, while coming with some brilliant new adventures for Eivor to pursue, complete with members of shadowy organizations to hunt down. It’s quite a tale, and a very large one full of fun things to do. Switching the cinematic camera on during a boat ride could have you spending more hours on this one than you’d like to admit.

14. No Man’s Sky

As one of modern gaming’s greatest comeback stories, this is a game that stands in its own class in terms of its shelf life. It’s an almost endless adventure, its narrative justifying multiple playthroughs in a way that makes total sense, while the completely random worlds that you get to explore and engage with are quite hard to leave once you start with them.

No Man’s Sky is a story about enjoying the journey, while also waiting eagerly to see what you’re going to find at its destination. It’s going to have you pushing past your bedtime with a smile on your face, and a sense of wonder compelling you to move forward and see just what you’re about to find.

15. Baldur’s Gate 3

With a stellar cast of actors bringing several NPCs to life, and an expertly narrated Dungeons and Dragons-based tale to have their settings intertwine with yours, Larian Studio’s banger continues to be a game that you can keep replaying, with astounding build variety and stories that never truly take place the same way when you play them.

There’s the Honour Mode, cross-platform modding support, co-op and online multiplayer, and a very dark take on the story to play through. Faerun is a great holiday destination, although the things you might find there can stay in the darkest corners of your mind rent-free.

16. Stardew Valley

We weren’t going to leave out one of the ultimate farming simulations from this one. Stardew Valley belongs here, with a playtime that doesn’t really end. You’re going to keep coming back to the farm that you grew from scratch, a town gradually building out of the effort you sink into, and the relationships with its many NPCs you build along the way.

No two days are the same out in this valley, and bringing in the online component is a great way to make this one as immersive as it can be, thanks to a thriving community of die-hard fans. You’re going to feel very welcome in this one, and you might choose to stay with it for a very long time to come.

17. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

This life sim always has a goal to reach, and things to do to get there. The Nook Miles system is its highlight, while the charming world and its uniquely retro art style make it stand out. Building out your presence in its world is an activity on its own, and you’re going to be quite obsessed with placing your buildings in a layout that’s to your liking, while getting them constructed has you constantly checking back into the game.

This is a game where you come to relax, and do that quite often, thanks to how entertaining it is to play, and how satisfying it is to stay with.

18. Gran Turismo 7

This PlayStation-exclusive racing sim is a great option for those of you who’d like to spend your time behind the wheel of a fast car on some of the world’s most iconic tracks. With PSVR2 support, incredible visuals, a very realistic translation of each car’s real-life track performance, and a lot of options to enjoy races at your disposal, you’re going to rack up a lot of miles on your ODO once you get started with this one.

The astounding visuals work very well with the game’s many systems that work well together to make your time on the track feel truly authentic, and push you to try taking those corners as well as you can. It’s time to let those engines loose and enjoy the results for hours on end.

19. Satisfactory

For a game carrying its title, this one is more than satisfactory, and can have you very immersed in building out your space base in your role as the Pioneer. Your factories are soon going to have you thinking about them while you’re away from your PC, and the potential for self-expression is almost humming with endless possibilities.

While its map is almost overwhelmingly large for most players, the ones who invest the time in hunting down as much to do as they can in this game are going to have a lot of fun building out their factories and playing their part in developing the corporation that put them there. Satisfactory is unique, visually distinct, well-executed, and simply fun to play, plain and simple.

20. Mass Effect Legendary Edition

This is the definitive way to enjoy a trilogy of legendary titles, bringing improved visuals and performance while also bringing in each title’s DLC and expansions into one title with a single character creator and the option to launch any of the three games from a unified menu.

If you’re familiar with the Mass Effect games, you already know that you’re going to be spending inordinate amounts of time with each one. You also know that their replay value is off the charts, and it can be easy to lose yourself in this trilogy’s expansive universe, where spending several hours making memories in it can become an entire holiday on its own.

That wraps up our list of the largest games you can get your hands on. We hope you have as much fun playing them as we did, and that the one you pick gives you many fond memories as you play it.

Classification ratings in Taiwan and by PEGI over the last few months have suggested that that would change soon enough, and out of nowhere, it’s now been made official. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim – Anniversary Edition is now available on the Nintendo Switch.

Those who already have the base game on the platform can upgrade to the Anniversary Edition for an additional $19.99. Meanwhile, if you don’t have the game, you can purchase the Anniversary Edition bundle – which, of course, also includes all base game content – for $69.99 (which might seem a little steep for a Switch re-release).

In our review of Skyrim – Anniversary Edition last year, we awarded it a score of 7/10, saying, “While perhaps not as enticing as it could have been, the additions that this version of Skyrim offers keep it from feeling like a total cash grab.” Read the full review through here.

New quests, foes, weapons and more await you in Tamriel – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition is out now on #NintendoSwitch!

Upgrade now, or buy the complete bundle: https://t.co/VA2HthEK0r pic.twitter.com/2iiWl5QvJM

— Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) September 29, 2022

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Anniversary Edition launched in November 2021 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC and serves as yet another re-release for Bethesda’s acclaimed action RPG. It consists of the Special Edition with the base game, all three DLC packs and over 500 pieces of content from the Creation Club. Players can also fish and set up aquariums.

Xbox One and PS4 players who own the Special Edition can upgrade to the Anniversary Edition on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 for free. With Skyrim available on Nintendo Switch, it remains to be seen if current owners can avail of a free upgrade. Stay tuned for more details, and check out our review for the Anniversary Edition here.

Skyrim is, of course, available on the Nintendo Switch as well, and the lack of a Switch version for last year’s Anniversary Edition launch did not go unnoticed. It seems that that could soon change though. Skyrim Anniversary Edition recently released a classification rating for the Nintendo Switch in Taiwan, and though the rating has since been taken down, Switch Brasil did manage to grab a screenshot of it before that happened. You can check it out below.

A Switch release for the title isn’t something that’s been officially confirmed, but it’s very much in the realm of possibility that that’s going to happen sooner rather than later. Of course, with the aforementioned rating having been taken down, one has to wonder whether this was little more than a mistake- but if it wasn’t, it’s likely that Bethesda will make an announcement in the not-too-distant future.

In our review of Skyrim Anniversary Edition, we awarded it a score of 7/10, saying, “While perhaps not as enticing as it could have been, the additions that this version of Skyrim offers keep it from feeling like a total cash grab.” You can read our full review through here.