The Elder Scrolls 6 vs Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Who Takes the Crown in Open-World?

The Elder Scrolls 6's Open-World Won't Hold a Candle to Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's

The highly anticipated release of The Elder Scrolls 6 has been a topic of discussion since its announcement in June 2018. This upcoming game is Bethesda's next big project, following the release of Starfield. Despite the lack of information on its release date, one thing is certain - The Elder Scrolls 6 has a lot riding on its success.

Bethesda's reputation has suffered in recent years, particularly following the disastrous launch of Fallout 76. After the remarkable success of Skyrim, it seemed as though Bethesda could do no wrong. However, with public perception of the company shifting, it is now up to Starfield to restore faith in the developer's brand. If Starfield fails to deliver, then The Elder Scrolls 6 will be Bethesda's last chance to redeem themselves. Despite Bethesda's efforts to meet fan expectations, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's open-world may still outshine The Elder Scrolls 6 in one significant aspect.

The Elder Scrolls series by Bethesda and the latest entries in the Legend of Zelda franchise have distinct approaches towards open-world game design. Bethesda's games such as Oblivion and Skyrim usually guide players through their quests by placing markers on the game's map. Although players have the option to go their own way, the games encourage them to follow a predetermined path to level up in a linear fashion. On the other hand, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom give players complete freedom to explore.

Both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom emphasize player choice and liberty. After completing a brief tutorial, the entire map is open to players, enabling them to chart their own course through the game world and choose their own objectives. The biggest difference between the two approaches is how players move through the world.

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The Elder Scrolls series has always had a basic traversal system, with players mostly walking or jogging across Tamriel. Climbing is limited to awkwardly jumping up mountains, while the fastest mode of transportation is horseback riding. These mechanics feel outdated in 2023, and even the dragon riding in Skyrim's Dragonborn DLC is disappointing due to the lack of control players have.

On the other hand, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom boasts some of the most rewarding traversal systems in gaming. Building on the innovative mechanics introduced in Breath of the Wild, players can climb almost any surface and glide through the air with a paraglider. The game also features new abilities like Fuse and Ultrahand, allowing players to create their own vehicles and transportation methods, from basic cars to hoverbikes. The sheer freedom and creativity offered in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is unlikely to be matched by The Elder Scrolls 6's traversal mechanics.

The Elder Scrolls 6 is in development.