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The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

Updated: 12/20/2025, 11:31:20 AM Wikipedia source

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall is a 1996 action role-playing game published by Bethesda Softworks. The second installment in the Elder Scrolls series, it was released on September 20, 1996 for MS-DOS, following the success of 1994's The Elder Scrolls: Arena. The story follows the player, sent by the Emperor, to free the ghost of King Lysandus from his earthly shackles and discover what happened to a letter sent from the Emperor to the former queen of Daggerfall. Compared to its predecessor, Arena, the player can now only travel within two provinces in Tamriel, those being High Rock and Hammerfell. Daggerfall consists of 15,000 cities, towns, villages, and dungeons for the character to explore. Arena's experience-point-based system was replaced with a system that rewards the player for utilizing role-playing elements within the game. Daggerfall includes more customization options, featuring an improved character generation engine as well as a GURPS-influenced class creation system, offering players the chance to create their classes and assign their skills. The game was a critical and commercial success, with sales of around 700,000 copies by 2000. The game was followed by The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind in 2002. In 2009, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Elder Scrolls franchise, Daggerfall was made free to download from the Bethesda website.

Infobox

Developers
Bethesda SoftworksMediaTech West
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Director
Julian LeFay
Designers
Julian LeFayBruce NesmithTed Peterson
Programmers
Hal BoumaJulian LeFay
Artists
Mark K. JonesHoang NguyenLouise Sandoval
Composers
Eric HeberlingAndy Warr
Series
The Elder Scrolls
Engine
XnGine
Platform
MS-DOS
Release
mw- NA: September 20, 1996UK: November 1, 1996
Genre
Action role-playing
Mode
Single-player

Tables

Review scores
AllGame
AllGame
Publication
AllGame
Score
Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World
Publication
Computer Gaming World
Score
Next Generation
Next Generation
Publication
Next Generation
Score
PC Gamer (UK)
PC Gamer (UK)
Publication
PC Gamer (UK)
Score
89%
PC Gamer (US)
PC Gamer (US)
Publication
PC Gamer (US)
Score
90%
PC Zone
PC Zone
Publication
PC Zone
Score
65/100
PC Magazine
PC Magazine
Publication
PC Magazine
Score
Computer Games Strategy Plus
Computer Games Strategy Plus
Publication
Computer Games Strategy Plus
Score
PC Games
PC Games
Publication
PC Games
Score
A−
Publication
Score
AllGame
Computer Gaming World
Next Generation
PC Gamer (UK)
89%
PC Gamer (US)
90%
PC Zone
65/100
PC Magazine
Computer Games Strategy Plus
PC Games
A−
Awards
PC Gamer US
PC Gamer US
Publication
PC Gamer US
Award
Best Roleplaying Game 1996
Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World
Publication
Computer Gaming World
Award
Role-Playing Game of the Year
PC Games
PC Games
Publication
PC Games
Award
Game of the Month
Codie awards
Codie awards
Publication
Codie awards
Award
"Best Adventure/Role-Playing Software Game" (finalist)
Publication
Award
PC Gamer US
Best Roleplaying Game 1996
Computer Gaming World
Role-Playing Game of the Year
PC Games
Game of the Month
Codie awards
"Best Adventure/Role-Playing Software Game" (finalist)

References

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