Is Skyrim VR Worth It? An Expert‘s In-Depth Analysis

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is arguably one of the greatest roleplaying games ever created. And now with Skyrim VR, players can fully immerse themselves in this massive fantasy open world like never before. But is this VR version worth playing? As a VR gaming expert and longtime Skyrim fan, I‘m going to do a deep dive on everything you need to know about Skyrim VR to decide if it‘s worth your time and money.

Skyrim VR – More Than Just a Mod

Skyrim VR started off as a fan-made mod that adapted the original game for virtual reality headsets on PC. However, in November 2017, Bethesda officially released The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR for PC and PlayStation VR. This is a full standalone game, not a mod, created in collaboration with developer Escalation Studios.

Skyrim VR includes the complete core game as well as its expansions Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn. For PC, it costs $59.99 USD. The PSVR version was originally $59.99 but has since dropped to $29.99 digitally. On PSVR alone, Skyrim VR sold over 460,000 copies as of November 2018 according to market analyst Daniel Ahmad. So while originating as a mod, Skyrim VR has become a considerable commercial success.

Key Gameplay Differences vs Original Skyrim

Bethesda specifically adapted Skyrim VR to make the experience work in virtual reality. Here are some of the key gameplay differences compared to playing on a flatscreen:

• Full real-time VR immersion – Freely look around and see the world rendered in 3D stereoscopic 360 degrees

• Motion controls – Use VR controllers to directly interact with objects and perform actions like equipping weapons or casting spells with hand gestures

• New VR UI – Inventory, maps, and menus redesigned to work in VR with gaze/point selection

• Melee combat – Manually swing weapons and strike with more accurate collision physics

• Archery – Nock and loose arrows using an actual aiming motion with the VR controls

• Scaling – World is scaled up by 15% so you feel properly sized relative to characters and architecture

• Seated play – Play the entire game while seated with joystick movement and snap turning

So while the core content remains the same, the VR gameplay creates a much more interactive and immersive Skyrim experience.

Mods Take Skyrim VR to the Next Level

One downside of the base Skyrim VR port is it lacks many VR-specific mechanics you‘d expect. But thankfully on PC, the power of mods can add advanced features and gameplay not in the vanilla version. Here are some examples:

• Weapon Throw VR (65,000+ downloads) – Throw weapons with real throwing motions

• HIGGS (1,000,000+ downloads) – Grab, push, and climb objects and NPCs dynamically

• VRIK Player Avatar (1,400,000+ downloads) – See full arms, body, and equipment when looking down

• Spellsiphon (250,000+ downloads) – Cast spells by drawing magical sigils and runes in the air

• Blade and Sorcery Combat (230,000+ downloads) – Advanced melee physics for blocking, parrying, and dismemberment

With the help of mods like these, Skyrim VR transforms into a much more interactive, physical, and believable VR experience compared to the vanilla version.

Immersive VR Gameplay – But How Well Does it Run?

When played on a capable PC, Skyrim VR enables incredible VR immersion as you explore dungeons, climb mountain peaks, and slay dragons up close. Wielding weapons and magic with your own hands is incredibly fun and satisfying.

That said, Skyrim VR is a demanding game requiring some solid PC hardware for a smooth experience. Here are some benchmarks on different GPUs:

As you can see, an older GPU like the GTX 1070 or RX 590 can only deliver a passable 40-45 FPS on lowered settings. You‘ll realistically want at least an RTX 2070 or RX 5700 XT level card to maintain 90 FPS on higher settings for smooth VR gameplay.

Making use of performance boosting mods like {VRIK Supersample Boost}[https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/58417] can help squeeze more performance out on weaker PCs. But in general, Skyrim VR demands some serious hardware for the best experience.

Skyrim VR is Worth it for an Immersive Fantasy Adventure

As both a Skyrim fan and VR enthusiast, I can confidently say Skyrim VR is absolutely worth playing if you have the required PC/PSVR hardware to run it properly. Exploring Skyrim with true life-size scale and freedom is an incredible experience, especially once you mod in advanced VR mechanics absent from the base game.

The main appeal is simply being immersed in the expansive fantasy world of Skyrim like never before. When you first ride your horse across those snow-capped mountain peaks towering above you, wander dark caverns dungeons with flickering torches in hand, or engage in thrilling magic and melee combat face-to-face with enemies, it‘s clear this offers an adventure impossible on flatscreen.

Compared to newer VR-exclusive RPGs, Skyrim VR has much greater scope and content. Even ignoring the hundreds of potential mod additions, the base game offers easy 100+ hours of gameplay across factions, quests, dungeons, and expansions. This amount of content is rare in VR.

There are some rough edges given this wasn‘t originally designed for VR. But the immersion and adventure Skyrim VR offers remains unparalleled in the VR RPG space. If you have a VR headset and love fantasy roleplaying, Skyrim VR should absolutely be part of your collection. Just make sure your PC is up to the task before diving in.

Tips for Getting Started with Skyrim VR

For those about to embark on their first Skyrim VR adventure, here are some tips:

• Start small with mods – Don‘t overload with 200+ mods off the bat. Get comfortable with the base game, then add mods like VRIK, HIGGS, Weapon Throw VR, and magic overhauls for more advanced immersion.

• Consider seated play – Playing seated with a gamepad can be easier to learn at first. You can stand after getting VR legs.

• Adjust comfort settings – Experiment with snap turning, vignettes, and movement speeds to minimize motion sickness. Take breaks as needed.

• Lower graphic settings – Shadows, draw distances, and antialiasing are performance heavy. Lower these to maintain FPS.

• Save often – Bugs can occur with lots of mods. Save frequently to avoid losing too much progress.

• Have realistic expectations – Skyrim VR is amazing, but remains a port of a decade old game. It has its flaws.

Immerse yourself in the epic fantasy of Skyrim like never before with Skyrim VR. Despite some jankiness as an older port, the scope, content, mods, and sheer immersion make this an incredible VR RPG experience. Just be sure you have the hardware to do it justice. Now sit back, relax, and let the dragon shouts commence!