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The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall is a 1996 action role-playing video game developed and published by Bethesda Softworks.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall is a 1996 action role-playing video game developed and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the second main entry in the Elder Scrolls series and is set in the Iliac Bay region of Tamriel, in the provinces of High Rock and Hammerfell.

Gameplay and structure

Daggerfall is an open-world action role-playing game with a large explorable world and role-playing systems typical of early Elder Scrolls titles. It is known for its scale and for giving players broad freedom in how they approach quests and character development.

Story

The game follows an imperial champion sent by Emperor Uriel Septim VII to investigate the death of King Lysandus of Daggerfall and to prevent the Numidium from falling into the wrong hands. The story is set amid political conflict among powers in the Iliac Bay.

Release and platform

The game was released in 1996 for MS-DOS and later made available through Bethesda’s digital distribution channels. It remains an early landmark in the Elder Scrolls franchise.

Legacy

Daggerfall is widely remembered as one of the most ambitious role-playing games of its era, especially for its large game world. It is frequently discussed as an important predecessor to later Elder Scrolls games.

Key facts

  • It was released on September 20, 1996 for MS-DOS.
  • It is the second main game in The Elder Scrolls series.
  • The game is set in the Iliac Bay area between High Rock and Hammerfell.
  • Bethesda Softworks developed and published the game.
  • The plot involves the King of Daggerfall, the Numidium, and an imperial investigation in High Rock.
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Canadian context

Daggerfall has relevance for Canadian readers as part of The Elder Scrolls franchise, which has a large and active player base in Canada and remains significant in video game history and PC role-playing game culture.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall?
It is a 1996 action role-playing game by Bethesda Softworks and the second main entry in The Elder Scrolls series.
When was Daggerfall released?
It was released on September 20, 1996.
What platforms was Daggerfall released on?
The original release was for MS-DOS.
Where is the game set?
It is set in the Iliac Bay region of Tamriel, especially High Rock and Hammerfell.
What is the main story?
The player is sent by Emperor Uriel Septim VII to investigate the death of King Lysandus and the political struggle surrounding the Numidium.

References

  1. Steam — https://store.steampowered.com/app/1812390/The_Elder_Scrolls_II_Daggerfall/
    Supports: Developer, publisher, release date, genre, and story synopsis.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elder_Scrolls_II:_Daggerfall
    Supports: Series placement, release date, platform, setting, and basic plot.
  3. Bethesda — https://elderscrolls.bethesda.net/en-US/daggerfall
    Supports: Official story synopsis and setting.
  4. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeobReM8298
    Supports: General retrospective claim about the game's influence and scale.
  5. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gc7G6DZskg
    Supports: Summary of the main story and setting.