Right now is a good time to be a fan of classic RPGs. As part ofBethesda’s migration over to Steam, the developer has made its first twoElder Scrollsgames,ArenaandDaggerfall, available for free. This is fantastic news for anyone who recalls these older classics, or for those who want to experience where the series began. On top of that, the third entry in the long-running franchise,Morrowind, has just hit a rather large milestone today.
Released on June 08, 2025, in the US, and a launch in Europe the following day,The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowindhas officially turned 20. Representing a significant leap in video game technology since 1994’sDaggerfall, this entry is beloved by many fans, not just of the series, but of role-playing games in general. No doubt many will be keen to wish the game, and its studio, a happy 20th birthday. Some may even be unable to believe that two decades have passed since the game first dropped on PC. It was also the first time anElder Scrollsgame had a console version, with it being ported to the original Xbox in June of that year.
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Although it’sone of the smallerElder Scrollsgamesin terms of its map size, to many it still felt like a huge world of possibilities and exploration. At just 16 km, it’s more than half the size ofSkyrim’s region, both of which are dwarfed by the sheer scale ofDaggerfall’s 161,600 km world. Much of what makesMorrowinda unique entry is its removal of the fast travel mechanics, something which existed in the previous games and continues in the current installments. Aside from boats, silt strider creatures that went from town to town, and Mage’s Guild teleportation services, players had to travel by foot from one place to the other, which some may even prefer to standard fast travelling.
Because of this mechanics, or lack thereof, players are encouraged to thoroughly explore the island of Vvanderfell, which only adds to theimmersion factor ofMorrowind. It was also the last entry before Bethesda incorporated easier navigation such as map markers, which makes the classic RPG ever more immersive. Like all theElder Scrollsgames, this one was also rich in lore, placing the player at the center of the main events that take place in that era.
Asfans gather to celebrateMorrowind’s 20th anniversary, many of whom have been taking to Twitter, there will be a lot of reminiscing about first playthroughs. No doubt as well, there will be just as many who will take upon themselves to reinstall the game. That’s just the unspoken rule ofThe Elder Scrolls 3.
Morrowindis available for PC and the original Xbox.
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