Players frequently cite bugs, glitches, and technical issues as major sources of frustration, including game-breaking bugs that force restarts or prevent quest progression. Combat mechanics, such as clumsy hit detection and unreliable summoning, along with outdated or poorly balanced systems (e.g., dragon spam, overpowered builds), further exacerbate dissatisfaction.
The game’s vast open world, dynamic combat (especially dragon battles), and replayability drive excitement. Players highlight the thrill of exploration, discovering new mechanics (e.g., becoming a vampire or guild master), and the epic narrative payoff, such as climactic boss fights and modding potential.
Skyrim evokes nostalgia through its long-term appeal, with players reflecting on childhood memories, comparisons to older Elder Scrolls titles, and its status as a defining RPG of its era. The game’s music, modding community, and personal milestones (e.g., 10+ years of ownership) reinforce its sentimental value.
Players derive satisfaction from the game’s freedom, depth, and long-term engagement, such as extensive playtime (e.g., 500+ hours) and customization options. Mods enhance replayability, while the open-world structure and progression systems provide a sense of accomplishment, even amid flaws.
The game is praised for its ambitious open-world design, immersive atmosphere, and legendary status in the RPG genre. Players admire its depth, freedom, and attention to detail, often calling it a 'buggy masterpiece' that revolutionized solo role-playing experiences.
Core metrics
Core business metrics
Steam review mix, revenue model, and refund leakage.
Steam review stats
Steam rating
Very Positive (8/10)
Total reviews
317,516
Positive
300,97594.8%
Negative
16,5415.2%
Sales estimations
Estimated sales count
20,159,746
Estimated revenue
$402,993,323
Game price
$20
Review → sale ratio
Refund leakage
Refund-intent reviews
260.64%
Estimated copies lost
1,651
Estimated revenue lost
$33,003
Review pace
Statistical analysis
Sentiment vs playtime and velocity signals.
Sentiment Ă— Playtime
review counts
Bucket
Neg
Pos
≤ 2h playtime
260.6%
Avg playtime 1h
380.9%
Avg playtime 0.8h
> 2h playtime
42410.5%
Avg playtime 267.4h
3,55987.9%
Avg playtime 364.9h
Velocity
review pace
Avg/day
0.9 rev/day
Last 30d
10.4 rev/day
Quarterly
61.9 rev/qtr
Days covered
4,592.9 days
Audience segments
Who is reviewing
Buyer mixes, lifecycle phase, and Steam Deck signals.
Buyer vs key activations
Share of review volume
4,047 total
Organic purchasers1,83145.2%
Voted up: 88%
Key activations2,21654.8%
Voted up: 90%
Honeymoon vs endgame
Based on hours played
4,047 total
First impression0-2h842.08%
Voted up: 67%
Mid game2-10h3378.33%
Voted up: 85%
Late game10-20h2816.94%
Voted up: 91%
Endgame20h+3,34582.7%
Voted up: 90%
Steam Deck monitor
Deck vs global sentiment
0.27% of reviews
Deck satisfaction
90.9%
Global baseline 88.9%
11 Steam Deck-tagged reviews out of 317,516 total.