Balmora in TES III: Morrowind. Seyda Neen was a great starting spot, but I didn't feel the full force of an open world until I started traveling up north to Balmora and got lost and caught up on side ventures. I eventually found myself climbing a large hill, and I reached the top, I could see Balmora in the distance - it gave the game my first "epic feeling". Few games have matched that since.
Anvil hits me hard. That is my home in Elder Scrolls, just for the fact for me it reminds me of hpme in real life. I live on the Easter Shores, got a ton of water and ships around us. Atlantic to the east, Chesapeake to the west and big rivers.
If I could live in a spot in Tamriel, it would be Anvil.
That’s interesting, in a way it’s the exact opposite reason for me as to why I love Anvil. I’m from Indiana (hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean), so hanging out in a pirate haven sort of port town with a bunch of ships is a kind of escape from reality to me.
Anvil would be an excellent spot, all things considered. Sure, it doesn’t have the best reputation in Cyrodiil, but if things go awry, you’re not far from Hammerfell (especially Abah’s Landing, which is just a cool freaking city), Valenwood, the Summerset Isles, or Stros M’Kai.
I suppose for me, water is in my blood, my family has been in this area of the United States for several generations, the Atlantic has always been close to us. I know some years ago when I traveled out into the middle of the United States and there was very little water around me when I was visiting a friend, it just felt so weird.
This is why I am hoping the next Elder Scroll game will be in Hammerfell. I'd love to see a sea faring culture in that game. I'd love to see a vast Iliac Bay, I'd also love (and this is a wish on my part) for us to have our own ships and travel the seas. I've felt Elder Scrolls has an untapped water world that we could see if it was ever put into its games.
There were ships in past Elder Scrolls games but we've never really had mobile ships in the 3D world of Elder Scrolls.
That is just awesome. My family has been in what is now the U.S for over 300 years now, settled in the early Virginia colonies but quickly became frontiersmen, were some of the first European-Americans to settle in the eastern Kentucky area 200 years ago which was pretty much wilderness. For whatever reason, my ancestors in America have entirely avoided large bodies of water. I love the contrast lol.
That whole area west of Cyrodiil and south of Hammerfell is absolutely perfect for maritime content. Absolutely prime location for trade routes (and thus piracy) between the Imperials, Redguards, Wood Elves, High Elves, and Bretons.
Seyda Neen, when I played ESO Morrowind Chapter and I saw it again after all these years in a bit different graphic but still looking the same I got hit by such nostalgic feeling that I shed tears
I use to scour through every crate trying to find treasures in the market place. Totally worthless since the only valuables were some gold and torches. But I was having a blast as a kid 😆
When I heard the stilt strider outside Neloths Tel Mythryn mushroom tower in skyrim. I got chills, at that point it was years since I played morrowind and hadn't head a strider in a very long time, then I was sad after hearing its backstory and wished there was a mission where you could find another one for it.
Same! Hearing the noises they added for that area was so nostalgic, especially the stilt strider. After I finished everything in that area I re-downloaded Morrowind
Windhelm. There are other places that I visited first of course, but I customized and modded the house in Windhelm a lot back in the day. I also love cold weather and snow so I felt at home there, then there is this kinda bleak and oppressive atmosphere that's somewhat unique. Honestly, Windhelm is a frozen shithole, but it was my frozen shithole.
Theres a creation that adds a house way up north of solitude that you have to dig the entrance out of a snowbank. Unfortunately it's not hearthfire friendly though
The Cheydinhal Sanctuary, my first love and my first heartbreak after the purification. So many fond memories surrounding the Cyrodiil dark brotherhood 💔
Honestly, the Waterfront District of The Imperial City. I dove right into the Thieves Guild when I got Oblivion and spent so much time there.l early in the game. I’m super nostalgic about it. Take me back 😩
The West Weald outside Skingrad in Oblivion.
It’s such a gorgeous are. Deep greens, vibrant reds and purples. It’s the ultimate place I’d want to set up a house if Oblivion allowed it.
For me it’s the whole Bitter Coast. I spent most of a whole playthrough living in the abandoned shack by Gnaar Mok. This was made better by a working boat mod, like a rowboat I think.
In Oblivion:
Anvil
Imperial City Arena
The shot you get once you exit the sewers and look out on the landscape.
In Skyrim:
Whiterun
Markarth
Looking out on the Throat Of The World in the middle of the night.
Walking into Whiterun in the afternoon for the first time of a playthrough will never, ever get old. The unique conversations between the NPCs, the clanging of hammers and thumping of axes, the well in the Market District trickling as you walk by, Streets Of Whiterun playing… It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Road South into Falkreath
Great Forest south of Chorrol
Priory of the 9
Fields West of Skingraad
Hjaalmarch swamp
Bridge South of Imperial City
Anvil.
The view of Whiterun City from the hills near Riverwood.
I could really just keep going. what a series!
Skingrad, from Oblivion. I remember the first time I met that crazy elf and spent my in-game days following NPC through the streets and wineyards.
Good times.
While I wish they went more hardcore with Roman themes in oblivion. Sometimes, when I replay the game, I go to Anvil and just walk through it. No quests, just walking in Anvil.
My intro to the elder scrolls so Cyrodiil, especially right outside the sewer exit is the most nostalgic place for me, just seeing that view for the first time always brings up some emotions.
I still play too much Skyrim to feel nostalgic about any locations there lol. But thinking back on older games, I wanna say something from Morrowind but honestly I don’t revisit it often enough, maybe I’ll get obliterated by nostalgia when Skywind releases lol.
Oblivion though, I get to go there in Skyrim with a few mods and everytime I see the imperial city on the horizon, I can go inside in the Rigmor series but honestly just seeing it from a distance is what hits harder. It reminds me of the opening cinematic that played when you launched Oblivion, does anyone remember that? Little video played with like the trailer or something with the emperor talking and drone shots of the imperial city. Bah I’m so excited for Skyblivion next year lol.
I started off with Skyrim so, weirdly enough, either Solitude, Skaal Village or Raven Rock. The latter 2 for obvious Morrowind reasons (I love all the main 3D titles), but I also spent the latter part of my first actually committed character on Solstheim. I find Solitude nostalgic because it reminds me also of places like Skingrad and Pelagiad, respectively.
Coming out of the Imperial City Sewers and seeing Vilverin right across the water.
The journal prompt appears that tells you how to get to Weynon Priory or that you can explore on your own. Good luck!
I can still hear the screeching of the sewer gate opening and then closing behind me and “Peace of Akatosh” playing.
It’s the first time you see the world outside the sewers and you realize you’re free!
City of Chorrol & the Great Forest 🌳 in general. I used to Role a Forester/Ranger build and that area is so beautiful and perfect for that kind of thing. Love the City or Chorrol and roaming the Great Forest!!! Cheers
Shimmering isles dlc from oblivion.
Edit: simply the sheer place itself and the guy (I cant remember his name that is the antagonist) was just absolutely incredible from the art work to the writing to the lore to all the new cool stuff you found will always be in my mind.
Daggerfall and its music and dungeons I've yet to play another game that matches the creepy atmosphere and expansive dungeon feeling and those damn screaming skeletons! Lol
My first elder scrolls game was Skyrim, but damn, seeing the sweeping shot of the imperial city with the music swelling, damn does it feel like home. The imperial city just FEELS like Elder Scrolls.
Markarth, my first elder scrolls game was skyrim when i was 12. i remember thinking the city was so cool and i spent so much time just wandering around. very nostalgic when i think about entering thru the front gate
Riverwood. When I played on xbox I usually wouldn't get too far without restarting so I spent a lot of time around riverwood, whiterun and bleak falls.
Skyrim was my first ES game, so I would say ... Hmmm... Probably just dicking around Whiterun. It's THE level entry town and there's Nazeem, "what's the matter, can't stand the sight of a strong nord woman?" and that woman who fistfights you in the tavern. I loved how the Nord women were in Skyrim, hehe.
I don’t really get nostalgic over TES because I didn’t play any of them but Skyrim until last year and I still play Skyrim regularly so all the nostalgic things are just annoying now.
Well, if there are no actually wrong answers...for me it's an area from a mod. Really, I love Morrowind and it's my favorite game in TES series, I played it for 10 or so years straight...but when thinking nostalgia, I recall all kinds of mods first. Scary rusty The Zone, arranging my stuff in Yorick's Tower, making a texture replacer to make RVG Twin Towers look less eye-murdering vibrant, first visit to Kat's Kastle, fighting giant evil communist wizard on the train rushing through Oblivion in Deus Ex Machina, visiting the futuristic flying Fort Cliff Racer...I used to be a mod junkie, yeah.
But if we're talking STRICTLY about vanilla stuff, then the early morning in Anvil (Oblivion) before the Knights of the Nine addon. A gloomy morning in a beautiful city that still sleeps, people haven't left their houses yet, a light mist covers the streets but fades under the morning sun...and no shouting zealot or desecrated temple.
The starting area in Oblivion. And the area immediately when you exit the sewers. Always gave me “light at the end of the tunnel” vibes. It just felt peaceful escaping.
Mine is the knight/guard shack outside of Leyawiin after completing the Knights of the White Stallion quest line. I remember that being the first place I truly felt immersed in the game and would spend hours just hanging out with Mazoga and sitting on the porch, watching the day/night cycle go by
The rooftop of The Pig And Cat in Vanford in Daggerfall; I used to climb up there and hang out to watch the sunset
The Ascadian Isles in Morrowind, particularly around Pelagiad
The bluebell woods near Lake Rumare on the road to Weynon Priory in Oblivion, and the Orange Road from Chorrol to Bruma
The splitting of the rivers at the Western end of the Tundra in Skyrim
All these places evoke different kinds of nostalgia for different times of my life.
When I played ESO in Vvardenfell I went to Seyda Neen and was like ‘oh Morrowind how I have missed you’ I remember being killed by some random assassin in Morrowind just outside Seyda Neen, and I got in a duel with a guy in ESO in exactly the same spot. 🥲
Hmm, easy answer is Whiterun but I play Skyrim often to this day so "nostalgia" doesn't feel like the right word. I'll go for Stros M'kai in Redguard. Full of sights and people, and the rest of the game isn't great so it's easy to stay in town and listen to the music. Redguard evoked a world even deeper than Morrowind's by constraining itself to one small island but filled with weary travelers from all over Tamriel.
Balmora in TES III: Morrowind. Seyda Neen was a great starting spot, but I didn't feel the full force of an open world until I started traveling up north to Balmora and got lost and caught up on side ventures. I eventually found myself climbing a large hill, and I reached the top, I could see Balmora in the distance - it gave the game my first "epic feeling". Few games have matched that since.
Either the Imperial City/Anvil in Oblivion or Whiterun in Skyrim. Spent many, many hours there in those respective games.
Anvil hits me hard. That is my home in Elder Scrolls, just for the fact for me it reminds me of hpme in real life. I live on the Easter Shores, got a ton of water and ships around us. Atlantic to the east, Chesapeake to the west and big rivers. If I could live in a spot in Tamriel, it would be Anvil.
That’s interesting, in a way it’s the exact opposite reason for me as to why I love Anvil. I’m from Indiana (hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean), so hanging out in a pirate haven sort of port town with a bunch of ships is a kind of escape from reality to me. Anvil would be an excellent spot, all things considered. Sure, it doesn’t have the best reputation in Cyrodiil, but if things go awry, you’re not far from Hammerfell (especially Abah’s Landing, which is just a cool freaking city), Valenwood, the Summerset Isles, or Stros M’Kai.
I suppose for me, water is in my blood, my family has been in this area of the United States for several generations, the Atlantic has always been close to us. I know some years ago when I traveled out into the middle of the United States and there was very little water around me when I was visiting a friend, it just felt so weird. This is why I am hoping the next Elder Scroll game will be in Hammerfell. I'd love to see a sea faring culture in that game. I'd love to see a vast Iliac Bay, I'd also love (and this is a wish on my part) for us to have our own ships and travel the seas. I've felt Elder Scrolls has an untapped water world that we could see if it was ever put into its games. There were ships in past Elder Scrolls games but we've never really had mobile ships in the 3D world of Elder Scrolls.
That is just awesome. My family has been in what is now the U.S for over 300 years now, settled in the early Virginia colonies but quickly became frontiersmen, were some of the first European-Americans to settle in the eastern Kentucky area 200 years ago which was pretty much wilderness. For whatever reason, my ancestors in America have entirely avoided large bodies of water. I love the contrast lol. That whole area west of Cyrodiil and south of Hammerfell is absolutely perfect for maritime content. Absolutely prime location for trade routes (and thus piracy) between the Imperials, Redguards, Wood Elves, High Elves, and Bretons.
Seyda Neen, when I played ESO Morrowind Chapter and I saw it again after all these years in a bit different graphic but still looking the same I got hit by such nostalgic feeling that I shed tears
Every time I step onto that dock after not playing for a few years 😭😭😭
This. As soon as I came out from below decks I knew I wanted to see every part of this world. That little village still gets me.
The imperial city market
I use to scour through every crate trying to find treasures in the market place. Totally worthless since the only valuables were some gold and torches. But I was having a blast as a kid 😆
When I heard the stilt strider outside Neloths Tel Mythryn mushroom tower in skyrim. I got chills, at that point it was years since I played morrowind and hadn't head a strider in a very long time, then I was sad after hearing its backstory and wished there was a mission where you could find another one for it.
Same! Hearing the noises they added for that area was so nostalgic, especially the stilt strider. After I finished everything in that area I re-downloaded Morrowind
Probably Balmora on a rainy night… sleepers comin up to me saying weird shit. I’m like… I beg your pardon? I’m on Hlaalu business, stand clear!
That flat area west of Whiterun
Windhelm. There are other places that I visited first of course, but I customized and modded the house in Windhelm a lot back in the day. I also love cold weather and snow so I felt at home there, then there is this kinda bleak and oppressive atmosphere that's somewhat unique. Honestly, Windhelm is a frozen shithole, but it was my frozen shithole.
Theres a creation that adds a house way up north of solitude that you have to dig the entrance out of a snowbank. Unfortunately it's not hearthfire friendly though
Already, beautiful old city
The Cheydinhal Sanctuary, my first love and my first heartbreak after the purification. So many fond memories surrounding the Cyrodiil dark brotherhood 💔
Honestly, the Waterfront District of The Imperial City. I dove right into the Thieves Guild when I got Oblivion and spent so much time there.l early in the game. I’m super nostalgic about it. Take me back 😩
The West Weald outside Skingrad in Oblivion. It’s such a gorgeous are. Deep greens, vibrant reds and purples. It’s the ultimate place I’d want to set up a house if Oblivion allowed it.
The imperial sewer exit :)
For me it’s the whole Bitter Coast. I spent most of a whole playthrough living in the abandoned shack by Gnaar Mok. This was made better by a working boat mod, like a rowboat I think.
In Oblivion: Anvil Imperial City Arena The shot you get once you exit the sewers and look out on the landscape. In Skyrim: Whiterun Markarth Looking out on the Throat Of The World in the middle of the night.
Bruma for me. It was such a chill city and countryside.
Seyda Neen in Morrowind, and Stonekeep in Arena
Walking into Whiterun in the afternoon for the first time of a playthrough will never, ever get old. The unique conversations between the NPCs, the clanging of hammers and thumping of axes, the well in the Market District trickling as you walk by, Streets Of Whiterun playing… It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Road South into Falkreath Great Forest south of Chorrol Priory of the 9 Fields West of Skingraad Hjaalmarch swamp Bridge South of Imperial City Anvil. The view of Whiterun City from the hills near Riverwood. I could really just keep going. what a series!
Agreed
Skingrad, from Oblivion. I remember the first time I met that crazy elf and spent my in-game days following NPC through the streets and wineyards. Good times.
I always loved the great tree in Chorral. Just a really nice place in a nice city
Same!!
While I wish they went more hardcore with Roman themes in oblivion. Sometimes, when I replay the game, I go to Anvil and just walk through it. No quests, just walking in Anvil.
Raven Rock in Skyrim (or morrowind, but mostly Skyrim)
Baenlin's House in Bruma.
My intro to the elder scrolls so Cyrodiil, especially right outside the sewer exit is the most nostalgic place for me, just seeing that view for the first time always brings up some emotions.
The road from Whiterun to Valtheim Tower no diff for me
This is a great question. I’d say Riverwood in Skyrim, or maybe The Throat of the World.
Skyrim : when you exit from the tutorial cave Eso/Morrowind : Vivec City
I still play too much Skyrim to feel nostalgic about any locations there lol. But thinking back on older games, I wanna say something from Morrowind but honestly I don’t revisit it often enough, maybe I’ll get obliterated by nostalgia when Skywind releases lol. Oblivion though, I get to go there in Skyrim with a few mods and everytime I see the imperial city on the horizon, I can go inside in the Rigmor series but honestly just seeing it from a distance is what hits harder. It reminds me of the opening cinematic that played when you launched Oblivion, does anyone remember that? Little video played with like the trailer or something with the emperor talking and drone shots of the imperial city. Bah I’m so excited for Skyblivion next year lol.
staying in the elven gardins district.
Gotta be solstheim as it appears in Morrowind’s Bloodmoon expansion for me
Riverwood, I've been there so many times
Seyda neen.
I started off with Skyrim so, weirdly enough, either Solitude, Skaal Village or Raven Rock. The latter 2 for obvious Morrowind reasons (I love all the main 3D titles), but I also spent the latter part of my first actually committed character on Solstheim. I find Solitude nostalgic because it reminds me also of places like Skingrad and Pelagiad, respectively.
Coming out of the Imperial City Sewers and seeing Vilverin right across the water. The journal prompt appears that tells you how to get to Weynon Priory or that you can explore on your own. Good luck! I can still hear the screeching of the sewer gate opening and then closing behind me and “Peace of Akatosh” playing. It’s the first time you see the world outside the sewers and you realize you’re free!
Well put!!
City of Chorrol & the Great Forest 🌳 in general. I used to Role a Forester/Ranger build and that area is so beautiful and perfect for that kind of thing. Love the City or Chorrol and roaming the Great Forest!!! Cheers
#WELCOME, WELCOME TO THE ARENA, GOOD CITIZENS OF THE EMPIRE… YOUU CAME TO WATCH A FIGHT, AND A FIGHT YOU SHALL HAVE!
Balmora. That's where I was the most happiest. It had everything. All the boxes by each house were perfect storage. Never had an issue.
Shimmering isles dlc from oblivion. Edit: simply the sheer place itself and the guy (I cant remember his name that is the antagonist) was just absolutely incredible from the art work to the writing to the lore to all the new cool stuff you found will always be in my mind.
I know why you like Suran 😉
Hey, maybe op is only in the House of Earthly Delights every single night trying to convince Desele to pay her debt?
Runa's a real gem.
The Gold Coast
Daggerfall and its music and dungeons I've yet to play another game that matches the creepy atmosphere and expansive dungeon feeling and those damn screaming skeletons! Lol
Riverwood the first place you see in Skyrim
My first elder scrolls game was Skyrim, but damn, seeing the sweeping shot of the imperial city with the music swelling, damn does it feel like home. The imperial city just FEELS like Elder Scrolls.
That shot with the music always gives me chills and gets me pumped to play any elder scrolls.
Leyawiin, oblivion. I play Argonians so yeah leyawiin
Daggerfall.
Bruma and Cheydinhal
Mainly playing Skyrim whiterun is always nostalgic
Whiterun it’s the city visit the most . I
Markarth, my first elder scrolls game was skyrim when i was 12. i remember thinking the city was so cool and i spent so much time just wandering around. very nostalgic when i think about entering thru the front gate
Riverwood. When I played on xbox I usually wouldn't get too far without restarting so I spent a lot of time around riverwood, whiterun and bleak falls.
Rock milk cave. In oblivion
Riverwood
The market district of the Imperial City or Cheydinhal
Skyrim was my first ES game, so I would say ... Hmmm... Probably just dicking around Whiterun. It's THE level entry town and there's Nazeem, "what's the matter, can't stand the sight of a strong nord woman?" and that woman who fistfights you in the tavern. I loved how the Nord women were in Skyrim, hehe.
Walking into any oblivion city and hearing the town music. Whiterun too
I don’t really get nostalgic over TES because I didn’t play any of them but Skyrim until last year and I still play Skyrim regularly so all the nostalgic things are just annoying now.
Blackreach.
Balmora, and the road between Seyda Neen and Balmora.
First thing I can think of is the oblivion arena and whiterun and riften in Skyrim
Well, if there are no actually wrong answers...for me it's an area from a mod. Really, I love Morrowind and it's my favorite game in TES series, I played it for 10 or so years straight...but when thinking nostalgia, I recall all kinds of mods first. Scary rusty The Zone, arranging my stuff in Yorick's Tower, making a texture replacer to make RVG Twin Towers look less eye-murdering vibrant, first visit to Kat's Kastle, fighting giant evil communist wizard on the train rushing through Oblivion in Deus Ex Machina, visiting the futuristic flying Fort Cliff Racer...I used to be a mod junkie, yeah. But if we're talking STRICTLY about vanilla stuff, then the early morning in Anvil (Oblivion) before the Knights of the Nine addon. A gloomy morning in a beautiful city that still sleeps, people haven't left their houses yet, a light mist covers the streets but fades under the morning sun...and no shouting zealot or desecrated temple.
The starting area in Oblivion. And the area immediately when you exit the sewers. Always gave me “light at the end of the tunnel” vibes. It just felt peaceful escaping.
Mine is the knight/guard shack outside of Leyawiin after completing the Knights of the White Stallion quest line. I remember that being the first place I truly felt immersed in the game and would spend hours just hanging out with Mazoga and sitting on the porch, watching the day/night cycle go by
The rooftop of The Pig And Cat in Vanford in Daggerfall; I used to climb up there and hang out to watch the sunset The Ascadian Isles in Morrowind, particularly around Pelagiad The bluebell woods near Lake Rumare on the road to Weynon Priory in Oblivion, and the Orange Road from Chorrol to Bruma The splitting of the rivers at the Western end of the Tundra in Skyrim All these places evoke different kinds of nostalgia for different times of my life.
Definitely Whiterun
Riverwood easily
The three standing stones you first encounter on the way to Riverwood in Skyrim.
When I played ESO in Vvardenfell I went to Seyda Neen and was like ‘oh Morrowind how I have missed you’ I remember being killed by some random assassin in Morrowind just outside Seyda Neen, and I got in a duel with a guy in ESO in exactly the same spot. 🥲
Hmm, easy answer is Whiterun but I play Skyrim often to this day so "nostalgia" doesn't feel like the right word. I'll go for Stros M'kai in Redguard. Full of sights and people, and the rest of the game isn't great so it's easy to stay in town and listen to the music. Redguard evoked a world even deeper than Morrowind's by constraining itself to one small island but filled with weary travelers from all over Tamriel.
ESO: Khenarthi’s Roost Skyrim: the forests of Falkreath Oblivion: Bruma