One of the central inclusions in both Skyrim and Elden Ring locations like Blackreach, but there are many other ways in which the two games differ when it comes to their iconic maps.
Skyrim took the gaming world by storm thanks in large part to its dizzyingly large map, presented in breathtaking HD graphics (albeit graphics that were more impressive in 2011). Open-world games with huge maps had been released before Skyrim, of course, and even earlier Elder Scrolls entries like Morrowind had sprawling in-game environments, but Skyrim managed to densely populate this gargantuan world with countless activities, small details, collectibles, and unique locations. The sheer amount of both gameplay and narrative content contained in Skyrim's game world have made it one that stands out from the crowd, even more than a decade after its release. This focus on size would be continued in The Elder Scrolls Online, which actually beats Skyrim when it comes to pure scale.
These same compliments can be paid, arguably to a much greater degree, to Elden Ring. FromSoftware's fantasy map is immense and structured in a way that is different from not only Skyrim, but nearly every other open-world game. Size isn't the only factor to consider here, however, as the way that the Lands Between encourages exploration and delineates lore is also vastly different in Elden Ring versus Skyrim. Other features, such as art style, encounter design, and atmosphere are additional areas where both games differ, and many will find that there are key ways that Elden Ring's map is even better than the iconic slice of Tamriel shown in Skyrim.
Elden Ring's Map Is More Varied Than Skyrim's
's politically divided map is anything but static or stagnant, with different regions serving unique visuals, weather, structures, loot, enemies, and more. The warmer, more central areas of the map are home to important cities like Whiterun which serve as traditional fantasy environments packed with guilds, shops, and secrets to uncover. Cities, towns, and settlements become more visually distinct as players venture further towards the snowy mountains that encircle the region, which are filled with their own dark caverns and hideouts to explore. The mountains, towns, beaches, fields, and marshes of Skyrim are even further expanded through DLC like Dragonborn, which takes players to the island of Solstheim off the coast of Morrowind.
The map of Skyrim is undoubtedly vast and variable, but Elden Ring's the Lands Between has it beat. Players won't know exactly how big Elden Ring's map is at first, which makes its diversity even more astonishing. Whereas Skyrim offers visual diversity between its most important settlements, Elden Ring's many locations have differences that are far more than surface-deep. For example, Noskella, Eternal City has almost nothing in common with Leyndell, as the former is a subterranean, dark, menacing landscape while the former is a regal and pristine metropolis. These opposing styles are evidenced through each city's unique art style, but also through their environment design, with Leyndell being far more open and sprawling and Noskella is more linear, with a greater focus on verticality and complex, Gothic architecture that highlights its incomprehensible nature. This difference is also present in the enemy types of each location (shining knights in Leyndell, giant bugs in Noskella).
This is just one of many examples of how Elden Ring does map diversity better than Skyrim, something that could become even more apparent through rumored Elden Ring DLC. While Skyrim's many unique cities and natural vistas are impressive, Elden Ring's man-made settlements, fantasy landscapes, and varied topography will constantly surprise players even after dozens of hours of gameplay. Elden Ring's variety plays a major role in its satisfying, deep exploration as well.
Elden Ring Has More Vast & Complex Exploration Than Skyrim
Again, Skyrim represents a huge step forward when it comes to exploration. The game offers a number of sights and touchstones that can be discovered organically, while also featuring many secrets and lore-rich areas that are connected to its many quests. By the time most players finish with Skyrim, the in-game map will be littered with fast-travel markers tied to cities, ruins, monuments, and much more.
Skyrim's exploration holds up, but Elden Ring offers the overall better experience for adventurous players. There are shockingly few non-optional areas in Elden Ring, which s a sense of unbound, unguided exploration. This approach to map design is deepened by just how vertical and condensed the actual topography of the game is. While many open-world games, even some of the most critically acclaimed like Breath of the Wild, will often feature large stretches of empty land, this is not the case in Elden Ring. Many of the game's most important and expansive locations are hidden just out of sight, and players can easily miss entrances to caves, dungeons, and other secret areas by not closely examining each bush, building, and cliffside. This leads to a feeling that anything can happen whilst exploring the Lands Between, whereas a game like Skyrim will typically overtly draw the player's attention to the most important areas, making for a more ive experience.
Players have to use Elden Ring's actual in-game map, too, as the game is considerably larger than Skyrim. According to a Stack Exchange post from Martin Sojka, the total surface area of Bethesda's 2011 RPG comes out to just over 14 square miles - certainly nothing to scoff at. Meanwhile, however, Elden Ring has been determined by Reddit Lusty-Batch to weigh in at a whopping 79 square kilometers, or 30.5 square miles, making it more than twice the size of Skyrim. Skyrim's base game has 343 fast-travel locations, while Elden Ring has 300. However, it's important to keep in mind that Elden Ring players can only fast travel to sites of grace, whereas Skyrim allows players to fast travel to just about any location they come across. Given how many locations Elden Ring features that are not sites of grace, the game has a far greater number of unique locations to explore.
Traversal in both games is worth mentioning as well. Elden Ring's Torrent might not have enough lore, but the spectral steed plays a vital role in exploration, as players will have to use him for various platforming challenges in the open world, challenges that give way to valuable exploration opportunities. This can be contrasted with the many horses players can obtain in Skyrim, which primarily serve as a way to cross broad, empty stretches of land quicker.
It may not be fair to outright state that Elden Ring is a better game than Skyrim. After all, Skyrim was released over ten years before FromSoftware's 2022 opus, and it offers a much more casual, relaxed experience with countless strengths. However, when examining the maps of each game, the size, diversity, and opportunities for meaningful exploration in Skyrim are dwarfed by Elden Ring.
