Skyrim’s latest release — yes, we know — is an outstanding board game

polygon.com:

When it was announced in late 2021, many saw The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim — The Adventure Game as little more than a goof. Many wryly remarked that this would be the last time Skyrim would be relaunched in any form, a kind of final physical apotheosis for the classic video game. More than a decade after its release, Skyrim remains playable on virtually every console and computer platform known to humankind. So, why not a board game as well?

I will admit there were many more lighthearted variants on the headline that eventually appeared on Polygon. And yes, most of those variants mentioned Todd Howard by name. But it turns out that Modiphius’ interpretation of the land of the Nords is actually a solid little board game. And, just like the video game, you can essentially play it forever. It’s like a tiny little clockwork continent sitting on your dining room table.

Skyrim — The Adventure Game is set long before the events of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Players take on the role of Blades, agents of the emperor driven north by conflict in the heart of Cyrodiil. Across three scenarios, one to four players must work to mitigate a violent civil war, and then uncover a conspiracy before time runs out. The narrative plays out using a sequence of numbered cards, not unlike the sprawling cooperative horror game The 7th Continent, or the tight and agile narrative engine at the heart of Fantasy Flight Games’ Fallout.

But Skyrim — The Adventure Game goes one step further. You can actually pull out some of the biggest endgame event cards, mush all three scenarios together, and embark on a free-roam tabletop adventure without end. In this way, the board game mirrors my preferred way of playing Skyrim — wandering around with powerful