Xbox console exclusiveStarfieldis one of the most hotly anticipated video games of 2022. Set to release on the 11th anniversary ofSkyrim’sinitial release,Starfieldlooks as though it could signal in a new era of Bethesda games with an exciting new setting. For many years,Starfieldhad been eagerly awaited by Bethesda fans across all platforms, but its eventual release will come with a major caveat. For players on Xbox and PC, the hype train was allowed to continue, but PlayStation fans were left in the dark. Now with the release ofStarfieldscheduled for just under a year from now, PlayStation Bethesda fans are scrambling to find a way to play the exciting title.
The official announcement thatStarfieldis an Xbox console exclusivewasn’t entirely a surprise, as Xbox’s acquisition of Bethesda early this year was expected to have an impact on the availability of future games on other consoles. This makes a big change from the likes ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, which is renowned for being available on a broad range of platforms. This is the first and most obvious difference betweenStarfieldandSkyrim, but Bethesda fans may be hoping that the differences don’t stop there, asStarfieldcould stand to improve upon a handful ofSkyrimelements thatfrustrated fans.
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The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimhas a lot of dungeons for the Dragonborn to explore and discover their secrets as well as their treasures. While thecaves and dungeons ofSkyrimoffer a chance for some of the game’s best storytelling and gameplay, fans of the game do grow tired of them after a while. This makes repeated playthroughs ofSkyrimdrag a little bit and leaves the player wanting to explore more of the game’s overworld. It has recently been teased on the officialStarfieldTwitter account that the game will also have caves and dungeons of sorts, but long-time fans of Bethesda games may be hoping that the game will shake up the experience of exploring these locations somewhat.
Skyrim Dungeon Types
Some ofSkyrim’sbest dungeons stand out as the more memorable parts of the player’s experience of the game, but these are are few and far between. Much of the underground sections ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimare grounded in familiarity. Given their prevalence, the samey feeling that is often felt while exploringSkyrim’sdungeons is enough to make fans think twice before taking up certain quests. While many ofSkyrim’squests have great storiesbacking them, to enter into one of the game’s more lengthy dungeons is a large time investment and one that may leave players longing to breatheSkyrim’sfresh air.
This is one area whereStarfieldcould improve uponSkyrim, making each dungeon that bit more unique. From the looks of the teasedStarfielddungeons, they will function more like caves and will feature some interesting environmental aspects. The concept art ofStarfield’scaves shows an expansive cave with large crystals stemming from each of its walls. If the cave type shown is just one of many, it could be an exciting part of exploring the planets ofStarfield. Trying to imagine what lies beyond each cave entrance could be exciting in its own right, with the eventual reveal serving to compound this excitement. Each planet could hold its own geological wonders to discover, which would make caves that much more exciting.
Are Skyrim’s Caves Boring?
While they make up much of the gameplay ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, players may be forgiven for feeling a sense of deja vu while exploring the game’s caves and dungeons.Skyrim’sDwemer ruinsare notorious for being long and drawn out, and much of the content inside can be found in other instances of Dwemer ruins. However, these ruins are no exception, as many of the Nordic ruins can also come across as rather similar. For many players, upon entering a dungeon inSkyrim, they are simply looking to complete their quest so that they can get back to the open world.
Players may be hoping for a little bit more fromStarfield’sopen worlds and planets, and they may also be hoping for some more exciting dungeons. AsStarfieldis inter-planetary, it’s likely that each location will have its own unique flora and fauna. This could translate well to the caves ofStarfieldand its inhabitants. If players are regularly swapping between worlds, entering into some ofStarfield’scaves could be a tense, yet exciting experience, where players never know what to expect beyond the cave entrance. InSkyrim, players know they will be facing endless armies of Draugr or Dwarven Spiders before they’ve even entered the dungeon, but this could change inStarfield.
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Skyrim Has Too Many Dungeons
ExploringSkyrim’slore-rich open worldcan make up some of the players’ best memories of playing through the game. However, far too often players are sent below ground to its caves and dungeons.Skyrim’sopen world is fairly small by today’s standards, but if it were larger, players would no doubt aim to stay above ground as much as possible. While dungeons are entertaining aspects of many RPG games, the games they are present in may benefit from more overworld content. This is perhaps somewhere thatStarfieldcould look to improve upon what can be found inSkyrim.
Starfield’sopen worlds and multiple planetsshould include enough content to make its dungeons more of a supplementary element among the main bulk of its content. A big issue aroundSkyrim’sdungeons is that players simply grow bored of them because of the frequency with which they are asked to visit them.Starfield’sspace-exploration theme could reduce the need for these dungeons. In doing so, this would increase the rarity of these dungeons, and make their exploration feel like a much more valuable experience.
Starfield’srelease in November 2022could be one of the highlights of the year, but in order to win over Bethesda fans, some improvements overSkyrim’sdungeons may be necessary.
Starfieldwill be released on August 06, 2025 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
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