The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (#Skyrim) is Bethesda’s 2011 open-world RPG that became one of the most ported, modded, and memed games in history, with over 60 million copies sold across multiple platforms and re-releases.
Release & Impact
Released November 11, 2011 (11/11/11), Skyrim set new standards for open-world RPGs with its massive explorable world, emergent gameplay, and modding community. The game’s “arrow to the knee” meme became one of gaming’s most referenced jokes.
The game has been re-released on virtually every platform: Special Edition (2016), VR (2017), Switch (2017), Alexa (2018 joke port), and Anniversary Edition (2021). “Todd Howard will never stop releasing Skyrim” became an industry meme.
Cultural Legacy
- Modding community: Over 60,000 mods on Nexus Mods, from visual overhauls to complete game conversions
- “Arrow to the knee”: Guard dialogue became viral meme about marriage/giving up adventure
- Sales: 60+ million copies, one of best-selling games ever
- Longevity: Active player base 13+ years post-launch
- Influence: Set template for open-world RPGs through 2020s
Social Media Presence
The hashtag remains active across platforms:
- Gaming forums: Build discussions, mod showcases, speedruns
- YouTube: Playthrough series, mod reviews, lore analysis
- Reddit: r/skyrim (1.7M+ members), daily content creation
- TikTok: #SkyrimMods, bug compilations, nostalgia posts
Reference: Bethesda Sales Data | Nexus Mods