After months of limited release, Bethesda has finally launched The Elder Scrolls: Castles globally. And just like Fallout Shelter before it, I’m hooked.
The Elder Scrolls: Castles is a settlement management game that takes place in Tamriel — the setting of popular RPG games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls Online. But even if you’re not familiar with the games, you can easily dive into Castles without feeling lost.
In the game you’re given a castle to manage and your designated ruler will need to make decisions every so often that can gain or lose favor with your subjects. If you’ve played Fallout Shelter, you’ll be familiar with the mechanics such as building, optimizing workspaces, and sending your subjects on adventures.
But Castles sets itself apart with a charming blend of characters from different Tamriel races, from Nords and Imperials to Dark Elves and Argonians. I personally love seeing the Khajiit (feline humanoids) roaming the rooms in my castle.
Where Castles Sets Itself Apart
Many elements of Castles are similar to Fallout Shelter. You manage residents, you build rooms, and you make babies to grow your population. But despite the similar premise, Castles does manage to set itself apart.
Firstly, time works differently in the game. Each real-life day is a year in the game. Residents grow older and eventually die. So you have to balance your older generation with your younger generations.
Then there’s the fact that you’re managing a dynasty. This means making decisions via your ruler, making heirs, and choosing successors. Decisions don’t come without consequences and your ruler faces the threat of assassination from disgruntled factions. Combat is also more complex and you will have to send adventurers through a map of challenges with different gear requirements and weapons.
All this combines into an engaging experience that doesn’t overwhelm you with too much information initially. Since its release on September 10, I’ve been playing daily.
Where Castles Falls Short
When I mention that Castles is similar to Fallout Shelter, my friends naturally ask me about microtransactions. While you can easily get through Castles without spending a dime or watching adverts, the fact that you get more if you pay is very in-your-face.
There are adverts you can watch for rewards, multiple in-game currencies, once-off paid transactions, and even a battle pass (dubbed the Emperor’s Pass). When you level up your dynasty, you will be shown the items you could’ve earned if you paid up for a pass.
Popups also appear urging you to buy in-game items. It’s very annoying and is the biggest drawback to the game, which undoubtedly feels pay-to-win.
I’m not planning to spend any money on the game anytime soon and the fact that the paid boosts are so egregious actually makes it less likely I’ll buy anything in the future. I’ve learned that these types of mechanics take any challenge out of the game if you do end up spending a bit of money.
Overall, Castles is a great diversion when you’re passing the time, on a lunch break, or letting your worries fade away in bed. I’m truly enjoying the game. But if in-your-face microtransactions aren’t your cup of tea, you may want to give the game a skip.
