Skyrim's longevity was attributed to the game's freedom and imperfections.

Almost a decade and a half has passed since the release of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but Bethesda's game remains popular. Lead designer Bruce Nesmith, speaking on the FRVR podcast, explained that the secret to its longevity lies not only in the scale of the world but also in its unique imperfections.

According to the developer, Skyrim was unique due to its freedom of action and the lack of strict restrictions on the player. This allowed for the feeling of a living, unpredictable world, where you can go in any direction and stumble upon something interesting everywhere.

Nesmith noted that one of the reasons for the game's popularity was its "unpolished" nature—the presence of bugs and quirks that introduce an element of chaos into the gameplay and make each session a little unique. The developers didn't strive for absolute polish, and this, he believes, is what allowed Skyrim to retain its special charm.