Summary
- The Elder Scrolls series has heavily relied on prophecy-driven narratives since Morrowind, limiting player agency.
- The protagonist in The Elder Scrolls 6 should break free from the chosen one trope for a more personalized experience.
- A protagonist detached from prophecy would deepen the narrative, increase player agency, and allow for more role-playing opportunities.
The long wait for The Elder Scrolls 6 continues, as Bethesda has yet to give any more concrete information about it apart from its teaser trailer. Despite the lack of information, however, longtime fans of the series are likely to know at least a little bit about what’s in store for them with The Elder Scrolls 6, as the franchise has been known to follow a particular formula in its gameplay and story. Not all traditions should last forever, though, including one involving the series’ narrative tropes.
Prophecy-driven stories (also called “chosen one” narratives) are very popular in the fantasy world, and that includes Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls series. They are popular for a reason, as they allow audiences to vicariously experience what it’s like to be unstoppable and to have a glorious destiny ahead of them. In The Elder Scrolls, however, that trope has worn out its welcome. As a series of games that claims it wants to give its players freedom, The Elder Scrolls relying too heavily on prophecy-driven narratives makes little sense, as it ultimately strips players of that freedom. Now, it’s up to The Elder Scrolls 6 to change that once and for all and truly place real power into the palms of players’ hands.
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Since Morrowind, The Elder Scrolls Has Relied on Prophecy-Driven Narratives
Since the release of The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, where the player is literally fulfilling an ancient prophecy as the Nerevarine, the series has relied on prophecy-driven narratives largely centered around its protagonists. Even if one of its stories isn’t necessarily driven by prophecy, the protagonist is somehow the “chosen one” who is called to bring the world back into balance. Of course, there are benefits to this trope, with the clearest being that players get to live out the heroics of a destined fantasy character and are therefore often given supernatural powers that can make gameplay exciting — like Skyrim‘s Dragonborn, for example.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is a bit different in this regard, as its protagonist is a normal individual, the Hero of Kvatch. However, the prophecy-driven core of the story is still there, revolving instead around Martin Septim rather than the player character. Even so, the player is still dropped into a predetermined world-altering role when they are given the Amulet of Kings by Emperor Uriel Septim VII, which, in turn, sets them on a path that they can’t deviate from. The main quest then revolves around ensuring Martin fulfills his prophesied destiny as the last of the Septim bloodline, and the player is positioned as the sole person capable of saving Tamriel.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Should Forego the Prophecy Trope for a More Personalized Protagonist
While the chosen one trope can be a fun one to experience in a fantasy RPG, not only is it overused in general, but The Elder Scrolls has arguably relied too heavily on it throughout its lifespan, leaving The Elder Scrolls 6 in a unique position to break that streak. If The Elder Scrolls 6 were to feature a normal individual rather than a prophesied hero or heroine, and if it were to fully lean into its identity as a choice-driven RPG, its protagonist would feel more personalized. When a protagonist’s role in a world is preordained, any sense of personal agency is weakened, and since The Elder Scrolls prides itself on honoring player agency, the fact that it has repeatedly relied on the prophecy trope for its narratives doesn’t really make sense.
As a series of games that claims it wants to give its players freedom, The Elder Scrolls relying too heavily on prophecy-driven narratives makes little sense, as it ultimately strips players of that freedom.
If The Elder Scrolls 6 were to break that cycle and feature a protagonist who isn’t attached to a divine calling or given a predetermined destiny of any kind, players could finally experience what it feels like to have true agency in an Elder Scrolls game. Additionally, since a preordained protagonist ultimately lowers the stakes of a narrative by guaranteeing success, having a non-chosen-one protagonist in The Elder Scrolls 6 might make the story feel a bit heavier, causing players to be more cautious about the choices they make. And speaking of choices, a protagonist fully detached from prophecy would, in theory, give players even more opportunities for true role-playing.
- Released
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2026
- ESRB
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m
- Developer(s)
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Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher(s)
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Bethesda Softworks
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