Is Skyrim Special Edition Worth It on PC? A Detailed Look at the Pros and Cons

Hello friend! If you‘re an experienced PC gamer wondering whether to buy Skyrim Special Edition, I have some helpful insights to share from my years analyzing the video game market.

The short answer is yes, Skyrim SE is absolutely worth it on PC – if you don‘t already own the original base game. It provides the definitive way to experience this acclaimed open world RPG.

Now let me walk you through a more nuanced breakdown of the pros and cons so you can make the right decision for your needs. Grab a sweetroll and let‘s begin!

An Overview of What‘s New in Skyrim Special Edition

Released in 2016, Skyrim Special Edition includes the full original game plus all DLC content – Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn. On top of that, it adds a range of visual enhancements through a new 64-bit engine:

• Higher resolution textures – Improved clarity, especially at higher resolutions
• Realistic lighting and shadows – Advanced shadow rendering with crisp sun shadows
• Volumetric god rays – Sunlight beams illuminate fog and dust particles
• Screen space reflections – Crystal clear water reflections that react dynamically
• Increased draw distance – See farther into the landscape
• Improved foliage and plants – Full 3D trees and grass react naturally to wind
• Higher polygon counts – Smoother and more detailed edges on models

Here‘s a screenshot comparing the visual difference between old Skyrim and Special Edition:

"Skyrim SE offers a generational leap in visual quality over original Skyrim."

Beyond the graphics, Special Edition also brings some quality of life improvements:

• Visible Favorited Items menu
• Auto-sorting containers like chests
• Achievements work even with mods
• In-game mod browser via Creation Club

Now let‘s analyze the key considerations around upgrading to SE for PC owners.

Key Factors to Consider When Upgrading to Skyrim SE

You Don‘t Already Own Skyrim on PC

If you‘ve never played Skyrim on PC before, SE is absolutely the way to go. It provides the complete experience with all DLCs and several years‘ worth of mods available.

The game still looks fantastic at ultra settings, and you can augment it further through the vibrant Skyrim modding community. For new players, SE is the clear choice.

Desire an Optimized 64-bit Engine

The original Skyrim used a 32-bit engine optimized for older hardware. SE‘s 64-bit engine takes advantage of modern multi-core CPUs and extra RAM.

This translates into higher frame rates and a smoother overall experience. The more powerful engine also enables greater stability when using graphics mods that would overwhelm old Skyrim.

Plan to Use Visual Mods

With the improved base visuals of SE, you have more headroom to layer on graphics mods like texture packs, lighting overhauls, foliage enhancements, weather systems etc. before hitting instability.

Skyrim can only be pushed so far before the aged engine starts to crack. SE gives you much more room for modded beautification.

Want Access to Creation Club Content

The Creation Club is an official venue for Bethesda-approved mod content including spells, armor, weapons, player homes and more. Paid Creation Club mods are an extra revenue stream for quality mod authors.

As of 2022, there are over 75Creation Club items ranging from small addons to more ambitious content like Fishing, Rare Curios and The Cause. This content is only available in SE.

Care About Achievements

Unlike original Skyrim which disables achievements when you use mods, Skyrim SE allows you to earn achievements even with mods installed. This is a nice quality of life change.

Appreciate Subtle Improvements

Small enhancements in SE like the visible Favorites menu and auto-sorting containers save time and clutter. Item management feels more intuitive. Plus, being able to play at higher resolutions without texture artifacts is great.

Hardware Considerations

If your PC hardware is quite old, original Skyrim may actually run a bit better than SE. The more demanding 64-bit engine benefits newer rigs with 4+ cores and lots of RAM. Players still on older dual cores may want to do some performance research first.

Reasons Some Fans Prefer Original Skyrim

While Special Edition is the optimal way to experience Skyrim for most PC gamers, there are still a few factors that keep some loyal to the original:

Already Invested in Heavily Modded Setup

Players who have carefully cultivated a modded setup with 200+ plugins tweaked over years may not want to risk destabilizing it by migrating to a new platform. If it ain‘t broke, don‘t fix it.

Reliant on SKSE-Based Mods

The Skyrim Script Extender is a tool required by many advanced mods to expand scripting capabilities. SKSE has not been ported to SE yet, limiting mods that depend on it. For example, the popular SkyUI interface replacement needs SKSE to function.

Don‘t Want to Re-Purchase Content

While Skyrim SE goes on sale for as low as $15 during Steam sales, some principled fans may not feel comfortable buying the same game twice. But from a cost perspective, SE often represents good value for the upgrades it brings.

Prefer Original Game‘s Look

Some purists insist the original aesthetic and feel of Skyrim is superior to the visual changes in SE. There‘s no right or wrong here. Select fans just prefer old school Skyrim on principle.

How Does Modding Compare Between Skyrim Versions?

Mods help Skyrim remain so popular over a decade after its initial release. But how do the modding capabilities compare between LE and SE in 2022?

Things Missing in SE Right Now

• No SKSE support yet
• No ENB presets yet – authors working on alternatives
• Less overall mods than LE – though SE modding is accelerating

SE‘s Modding Advantages

• More stable engine for complex modded games
• Download mods directly in-game via Creation Club menu
• Achievements still work with mods
• Being on Xbox brings lots of new mods to PC

My verdict is that while LE still has a wider selection of mods, SE has major technical advantages and is being rapidly brought to parity by authors updating and releasing new mods. The Script Extender is really the last missing piece. Once that arrives, SE modding will be superior in almost every way.

What Do Critics and Gamers Think About Skyrim Special Edition?

Looking at reviews from both professional game critics and average gamers, Skyrim SE has been very well received:

Steam User Reviews

• Recent: 96% positive across 15,000+ reviews
• All-time: 94% positive across 70,000+ reviews

Metacritic User Score

• 8.8/10 across 1300+ fan ratings

IGN Review

• 9.5/10 praising the visual overhaul and rock-solid performance

GameSpot

• 9/10 calling SE the best version of Skyrim yet

Fans and reviewers alike agree that SE takes an already amazing game and makes it even better with enhanced graphics, smoother gameplay and increased long-term potential through advanced mod support.

So What‘s the Final Verdict – Is Skyrim SE Worth It on PC?

Phew, that was a lot of information to analyze! Let‘s summarize the key conclusions:

For first-time Skyrim players on PC, absolutely get Special Edition – it provides the definitive way to experience this masterpiece with superior graphics and all DLC content included.

However, if you already own Legendary Edition on PC, upgrading to SE becomes an individual decision:

• If visual upgrades are important to you, get SE.
• If you mod heavily, consider your specific mod setup needs.
• During a Steam sale, SE is very reasonably priced to upgrade.
• But at full $40 price, carefully weigh if it‘s worthwhile for you.

For me personally, I think the graphical enhancements, smoother performance, mod capabilities and creation club access make Special Edition a worthy upgrade for most PC owners. But it does depend on your priorities and modding needs.

I hope this detailed breakdown helps provide some clarity! Feel free to ask any other questions. And may the sweetroll odds be ever in your favor.