Forget Skyrim, This 80 Metacritic Game is the Best Thing to Play While Waiting for TES 6 Despite Not Even Being Made By Bethesda

There are plenty of great fantasy RPGs out there that have been released since the last Elder Scrolls entry, Skyrim, staked its claim as one of the most beloved additions to the genre. Some of the best open-world fantasy RPGs of the past decade aren’t even Bethesda-made, and while it’s tempting to go back to Skyrim to prepare for The Elder Scrolls 6, one 2023 title is the better option: Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Takes Skyrim’s First-Person Fantasy RPG Formula and Makes it Its Own

When it comes to strong first-person RPGs, there have been a lot of options to choose from recently. Last year, Avowed tackled the fantasy genre, while Kingdom Dome: Deliverance 2 opted for a more realistic, historically accurate approach. Both games are solid choices for Skyrim fans, but Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon balances dark fantasy and open-world exploration in a way that makes it a game that’s incredibly reminiscent of The Elder Scrolls while still maintaining its own unique identity. Between its gameplay and love for exploration, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a wonderful love letter to the genre that it aims to honor, and for those thinking about another Skyrim playthrough, this game is worth taking up instead.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Brings a Dark Twist to Arthurian Legend

The main story of Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon revolves around the legendary King Arthur. Taking place 600 years after his reign, players help shape what his legacy looked like, offering plenty of freedom within a set premise. That definitely isn’t where the player freedom ends, though. Players can craft their character to be a truly unique citizen of Avalon, with skills and weapon variety paving the way for a character build that ultimately tops Skyrim‘s.

Skyrim’s Combat Feels Limp, While Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Packs a Meaningful Punch

Although Skyrim remains incredibly popular, Bethesda’s most recent fantasy RPG is definitely showing its age, and the feeling of its combat becomes increasingly worse as time passes. Even when Skyrim first launched, the combat felt limp. Each swipe of a melee weapon felt like slicing through air, not an actual object, and thankfully, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon doesn’t have this problem. Melee isn’t the only fighting style that feels impactful, either. Even spells can be properly felt, and when comparing the two, it’s clear which game has the stronger combat mechanics. Over the years, there have been a lot of games that have featured mechanics that are now better than Skyrim, and Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon‘s combat isn’t only satisfying, but immersive, because of the weighty feeling of every hit.

Skyrim’s Map May Be Bigger, But Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon’s Close-Knit Map Works in Its Favor

Skyrim‘s map is huge. Not only is the size itself large, but the diverse terrain that covers the map makes it feel even more daunting, and while it’s a world that is still wonderful for expansive exploration, there is also something to be said about smaller scale maps. Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon only features three main areas, but what is lacks in sheer size, it makes up for in hidden gems, a stronger story, and immersion-building features that make a player feel like part of Avalon, like fishing, blacksmithing, farming, or even journaling. The game’s approach swaps size and seemingly endless exploration for a more well-rounded overarching narrative, and it ultimately creates a world that is on par with Skyrim.

The Three Areas of Avalon

• Cuanacht Village
• Horns of the South
• Forlorn Swords

Skyrim’s Nine Major Cities

• Winterhold
• Windhelim
• Whiterun
• Solitude
• Riften
• Morthal
• Markarth
• Falkreath
• Dawnstar

Skyrim‘s cities are also just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to places to explore in the fantasy RPG’s impressive map. The size and detail of Skyrim‘s map is one of its most celebrated features, even now. So, some will definitely see Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon‘s more modest size as a downgrade, but for those looking for a world that offers stronger narrative over aimless wandering, then it’s an RPG worth diving into.

In Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, Choices Have a Greater Impact on the Story

Besides weak-feeling combat, another issue that faces Skyrim is its shallow storytelling and lack of truly meaningful choices. Skyrim‘s main story definitely isn’t the star of the show, and while a lot of gamers prefer it for its exploration over storytelling, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon has the benefit of offering both. There are plenty of choices for players to make in Skyrim, but ultimately, only a few have any actual impact, like siding with the Imperial Legion or the Stormcloaks. Overall, in-game decisions don’t really affect the story in any huge way, but Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon makes sure that choice is an integral part of the experience. Of course, it’s not on par with fantasy RPGS like Baldur’s Gate 3, but it’s still a big improvement over Skyrim in regard to its main narrative.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a special game that puts a wonderfully-crafted dark fantasy world into the spotlight. The Elder Scrolls 6 release date is one of the biggest mysteries in gaming right now, and as Bethesda continues to keep tight-lipped, a lot of fantasy RPG lovers are likely itching for something fresh. Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon may not be a Bethesda-made game, but it takes the familiar spirit of Skyrim and makes it a more well-polished and compelling RPG.