First released in 2011, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim remains one of the most popular open-world RPGs of all time. Developed by Bethesda Softworks and released on essentially every major gaming device available, Skyrim has been resoundingly praised for its sprawling, Nordic-themed game world and dynamic, emergent gameplay.
With such popularity comes a fervent fanbase, and Skyrim’s sizable community is as passionate as they come. Many players have come up with unique, creative ways to celebrate the classic RPG, from stunning ultra-graphics mods to LEGO recreations of Skyrim’s memorable Bleak Falls Barrow.
A talented Reddit user named BurnBabyBurn420 made a rather exceptional recreation of the game’s map. Rather than sketching or painting the creation, BurnBabyBurn420 has instead produced a striking wood-burned adaptation. The map's dark burned lines and shading contrast beautifully against the light wood background. Major cities like Whiterun and Riften are included, and BurnBabyBurn420’s detailed mountain ranges and calligraphy mimic Skyrim’s map’s own iconic design.
The post has been a hit on the Skyrim subReddit, earning over 800 upvotes as of writing as well as plenty of comments. Other Reddit users are commending BurnBabyBurn420’s work and wishing they had their own version. BurnBabyBurn420 has stated that the impressive piece of work took them around 20 hours to complete.
Skyrim’s longevity can likely be attributed to the game’s impressively lived-in game world and its vast array of role-playing opportunities. The game is simply loaded with heaps of worthwhile content that players can approach how they see fit, increasing replayability greatly. On top of all the vanilla content for the game, Skyrim also has an extensive modding community that allows gamers to further alter the title to fit their needs. These mods range from graphical improvements to the more bizarre, like a Skyrim leek remaster mod that over twelve thousand people have downloaded.
Of course, Skyrim isn’t the only open-world RPG with an impressive mod scene nor is it the only fantasy game with a passionate fanbase. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is another much-beloved title that also finds itself inspiring players to create impressive fan art. Still, there is something about Skyrim’s breadth of character builds and gameplay variety that manages to capture the imaginations of loving fans. With the Skyrim Anniversary Edition set to release the game on next-gen consoles this coming November, Skyrim fans like BurnBabyBurn420 will be able to jump into the classic RPG once again.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available on PC, Switch, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The next-generation Skyrim Anniversary Edition will release on November 11th, 2021.