The short verdict
Enderal is the easiest recommendation for anyone who wants more Skyrim without more Skyrim. Built by SureAI on Skyrim's engine, it is a completely new world with a fully voiced, darker story about fate and madness. It feels instantly familiar in the hands, yet its progression and writing make it its own game — and the standalone Steam release costs nothing.
Enderal and Skyrim at a glance
| Enderal | Skyrim SE | |
|---|---|---|
| Steam rating | 94% · Very Positive Steam | 92% · Very Positive Steam |
| Metacritic | Not listed on Steam | 74 MC |
| Critics (OpenCritic) | Not rated | 81 · Strong OC |
| Platforms | PC | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 |
| Steam Deck | Unsupported on Steam Deck | Steam Deck Verified |
| Mods on Nexus | 266 Nexus | 141,888 Nexus |
| Steam release | Feb 14, 2019 | Oct 27, 2016 |
| Developer | SureAI | Bethesda Game Studios |
| Co-op | None | None (single-player) |
| Perspective | First & third-person | First & third-person |
Ratings, dates, developers, co-op modes and Steam Deck status from the official Steam store; critic scores and platforms from OpenCritic; mod counts from Nexus Mods. Refreshed automatically.
What feels like Skyrim
- Same engine, same first-person feel — your Skyrim muscle memory carries over.
- Open world with dungeons, cities, guild-like factions and plenty of side quests.
- Free on Steam as a standalone game.
What is different
- Skills do not level by use — you spend learning points earned from experience.
- A heavier, more personal main story that is the heart of the game.
- Overusing magic causes Arcane Fever, so mages have to play more carefully.
Skip Enderal if…
Skyrim's engine and animations are what put you off in the first place.
Is Enderal a good alternative to Skyrim?
On our five-trait comparison, Enderal: Forgotten Stories scores 72% similar to Skyrim(close) and ranks #5 of 13 on ouralternative Skyrim list. Same engine, same first-person feel — your Skyrim muscle memory carries over. The biggest adjustment for Skyrim players: skills do not level by use — you spend learning points earned from experience.
Enderal trailers & video reviews
Official trailer
Official trailerWhere to play Enderal — price, Steam Deck & players
How long is Enderal?
Playtimes vary hugely with how much you explore. See community-submitted completion times on HowLongToBeat.
Enderal PC system requirements
Minimum
- OS *
- Win 7, Win 8, Win 10
- Processor
- Intel Core2Duo E7400 CPU
- Memory
- 4 GB RAM
- Graphics
- GeForce 9800 GTX
- DirectX
- Version 9.0c
- Storage
- 16 GB available space
- Additional Notes
- Skyrim Classic needed (no DLCs required), Skyrim Special Edition does not work
Recommended
- OS *
- Win 7, Win 8, Win 10
- Processor
- Intel i5-2400/AMD FX-8320
- Memory
- 8 GB RAM
- Graphics
- GeForce GTX 970
- DirectX
- Version 9.0c
- Storage
- 16 GB available space
- Additional Notes
- Skyrim Classic needed (no DLCs required), Skyrim Special Edition does not work
From the official Steam store page · verified October 14, 2026
Latest official Enderal news
THE CURE FOR LIVING
THE CURE FOR LIVING Now available for preorder! Walk blessed – or, as they say in Khîra, yâsh thûya, It’s time. Five years after Dreams of the Dying, the next two books in the Twelfth World series are now available for…
Dreadful River joins Steam Next Fest
Today the Steam Next Fest kicks off. For a duration of one week you will be able to play demo versions for a lot of awesome, new and upcoming games. We are taking part in this event with a playable demo of Dreadful…
Korean Version Update
Korean version is now updated to the latest patch v1.6.4.0.
New Game in Development
Good news everyone! We're glad to announce the start of the Early Access phase of our new game Dreadful River, for later this year! Premise of the game The realm is under attack. The king and his most loyal guards are…
Official announcements from the developer’s Steam news hub, updated automatically.
Enderal mods & community
Community links are fan-run spaces; opinions there are players’ own, not ours.
Community
What Skyrim players say about Enderal
Reviews from players on this site, answering the questions Skyrim fans actually ask. Published instantly, moderated afterwards.
No player reviews yet
Played Enderal? Be the first Skyrim fan to tell others whether it scratches the itch.
Enderal FAQ
Is Enderal like Skyrim?
Partly — we rate it 72% similar to Skyrim. Same engine, same first-person feel — your Skyrim muscle memory carries over. The biggest difference: skills do not level by use — you spend learning points earned from experience.
Is Enderal on PS5 or Xbox?
We can only confirm the PC version on Steam. Check the developer’s official site for console versions.
Does Enderal work on Steam Deck?
Valve rates it Unsupported on Steam Deck, according to its Steam store page.
Does Enderal have co-op?
No. Its Steam store page does not list co-op modes; like Skyrim, it is a single-player game.
Does Enderal have mods?
Yes. Nexus Mods hosts 266 mods for Enderal, downloaded 1,322,188 times.
Is Enderal worth playing?
Steam players rate it 94% positive (“Very Positive”) from 12,401 reviews. Skip it if: skyrim's engine and animations are what put you off in the first place.
How long does it take to beat Enderal?
It depends heavily on how much side content you do. See community-reported completion times on HowLongToBeat.
