SkyrimandFallout 4are considered to be incredible open-world masterpieces that are often compared to one another. Bethesda Studios created both titles, creating similarities that would eventually lead to them being stacked side by side. Despite their similarities,SkyrimandFallout 4vary from each other in many different ways.
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Gamers love discussing which game is the better take on theopen-world formula, and for good reason. This article examines whetherSkyrimorFallout 4is the better of the two by comparing various criteria such as level design, exploration and even modding potential. Read on to find out which game managed to score the win.
Updated July 20, 2025, by Anastasia Maillot:With Bethesda’s sights on its brand-new upcoming sci-fi themed RPG Starfield, it’s a good time to talk about the studio’s two most epic games that have defined the last decade of video games: Fallout 4 and Skyrim.
Skyrim has its 10th-year anniversary around the corner and is often considered one of the major titles of the last decade for pushing the boundaries as an open-world RPG. However, Fallout 4 remains extremely underrated and is without a doubt the best-looking RPG Bethesda has released so far, with the exception of Fallout 76. Here’s how the two compare.
22Fallout 4: Meaningful Factions
A problem quite often experienced inSkyrimis thatthe Dragonborncan simply join all the factions without any issues and become this all-knowing and all-seeing god-like creature. This doesn’t happen inFallout 4, where the factions negate each other once the player has picked a side.
For some players, this can be frustrating, because it means starting a new playthrough to experience other paths in the game. However, it’s also incredibly boring to just be able to do everything in one playthrough, with no consequences. It definitely makesFallout 4’sworld feel more realistic, with higher stakes.
21Skyrim: Truly Unique Weapons
Both games have unique weapons, butSkyrimwins by a slight margin when it comes to truly unique weapon design. While it’s trueFallout 4has some crazy, wacky weapons like the Nuka Nuke Launcher and Alien Blaster pistol, they just don’t compare with somethinglike the Wabbajack fromSkyrim.
Moreover, sinceSkyrimis a medieval fantasy setting, there’s more variety in terms of weapon types and character builds. There are far more things players can accomplish in combat, simply by using the Sanguine Rose to summon a Dremora friend to their side.
20Fallout 4: Voiced Main Character
This part might divide fans in terms of opinions, but hear this out first. While a voiced main character might feel like limiting creativity and imagination, it can actually help players feel more connected to their main character. The issue with the silent Dragoborn is that not only does he have fewer dialogue options (addressed later in this list), but he also just remains silent, which takes away a huge part of his personality.
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Plus, who doesn’t love the sarcastic jerk voice lines spoken by the voice actors inFallout 4? Those moments are pure comedy gold while deep in a serious playthrough. Despite what fans might feel or think, the voice actingof the Sole Survivor inFallout 4is pretty good.
19Skyrim: Buying Houses
Building aside, which is something Bethesda introduced in both games, whereSkyrimbeatsFallout 4is in its housing feature. Sure,Skyrimisn’t a post-apocalyptic world where such a thing probably wouldn’t be possible, but there were a few missed opportunities inFallout 4where fans could have bought a house (for example,in Diamond City).
It’s definitely a special feeling when players unlock those expensive houses inSkyrim’svarious locations, each with a ton of loot inside and a place to showcase any armor and weapons they’ve gathered on their journey. That’s somethingFallout 4simply can’t compete with.
18Fallout 4: Survival Difficulty
A great game is one that has a difficulty mode that’s sure to keep the players busy for years to come. WhileSkyrimdoes have Legendary difficulty, it just can’t compare with the epic experienceFallout 4’sSurvival difficulty is. Even though the community has added on to the survival experience through mods, playing the difficulty even on a vanilla version ofFallout 4is a game-changer.
A Survival difficulty is precisely what seems to be missing fromSkyrim, which is whyso many mods have been made after the release to respond to that demand. Think Frostbite and Campfire, all opportunities the developers could have taken, but chose not to. And that’s whyFallout 4simply reigns supreme in this category.
17Skyrim: Unforgettable Soundtrack
Bethesda is known for going big on its soundtracks.A great RPG needs an epic soundtrack to go with, and both games have shown that reliably. However,Skyrim’ssoundtrack is definitely better known between the two, and for a good reason.
The work that went into makingSkyrim’smusic is immense, and the dedication can definitely be felt. The main theme itself is so iconic that even those who have never played the game will recognize it easily. WhileFallout 4has an epic soundtrack as well, it’s nowhere near the grandeur ofSkyrim’smusic.
16Fallout 4: Slightly Better Exploration
Exploration is a big factor in Bethesda games, and bothSkyrimandFallout 4tackle the concept very well. There’s a lot to see and discover, and that extends the length of the gameplay while adding new experiences. It’s hard to call a winner between the two when it comes to exploration, butFallout 4holds a razor-thin advantage.
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There’s something particularly fascinating aboutexploring a world ravaged by a nuclear war. Around every corner is a relic of humanity’s bygone days and a world that once was. Abandoned bunkers, museums, and underground passageways contain not only a wealth of loot but echoes of the past.Skyrimdoes the same, butFallout 4does it just a little bit better.
15Skyrim: Incredible Atmosphere
BothSkyrimandFallout 4successfully replicate a feeling of fantasy and post-apocalyptic wasteland, respectively. Bethesda succeeded at crafting two very immersive game worlds littered with all the details that go into the making of either realm. Immersion and atmosphere are huge reasons why both games stand so tall with fans.
Still, it’s hard to denySkyrim’sslight advantage overFallout 4, given how well it nails the fantasy feeling. This goes double (perhaps triple)for a modded copythat adds texture and environment detail, new music, and nature mods that flesh out the game. It’s the closest one can get to wandering around aLord of the Rings-style world without actually getting inside Tolkien’s head.
14Fallout 4: Meaningful Choices
Questlines and character development are a part of both games, and there are forks in the road that allow players to dictate how the story progresses. This is yet another reason why fans adore both titles, but they’re not entirely the same in how they dish out choice.
Skyrimdefinitely has a decent amount of decision-making strewn throughout the story,butFallout 4’sdecisionscreate a much bigger impact, especially if one has the DLC content. There are a lot more moments in the game where players are forced to consider the consequences of their actions, for better or worse.
13Skyrim: Better Modding
Bethesda games are made to be modded, and bothSkyrimandFallout 4are two of the absolute biggest platforms in the entire scene. Mods are plentiful, and they range from texture upgrades to weapon and armor mods and even brand new locations that extend the size and scope of the game.
Skyrimstill has an advantage when it comes to modding.The Special Edition version of the gameis very stable and much more forgiving thanFallout 4.Even veteran modders have trouble dealing withFallout 4’stricky architecture. Mods that affect navmeshes are particularly troublesome and can either break the game or plague it with massive FPS drops.
