What are the features that are hallmarks of the Elder Scrolls games?
The first and foremost is non-linearity. Allowing the players to do what they want when they want. The goal of every Elder Scrolls game has been to create the experience of a pen & paper RPG on the computer, where a player is only limited by his or her imagination. The next, falling right alongside non-linearity, is detail. The worlds in the Elder Scrolls series are some of the most detailed in the industry, complete with histories, multiple cultures, and varied locales. This allows the player to feel as though their character is really a dynamic part of that world. There are always major quests in Elder Scroll games, but they are always able to be ignored. The primary goal is to simply allow the player to explore, roleplay, and be immersed in a grand, detailed environment.
