If you’ve played any ofThe Elder Scrolls(TES) games, then you’ve experienced the groundbreaking work ofJulian LeFay, the series creator who sadly passed away on July 21, 2025.Despite the tragic news, Julian’s profound effect on our lives will continue through the existing Elder Scrolls games and in the projects still to come, for which Julian left instructions.
From Morrowind to Skyrim, to Oblivion, and its remaster, The Elder Scrolls series gave us countless moments of joy, wonder, and amazement that shaped our personal lives as significantly as it impacted pop culture. In honor of Julian LeFay and his incredible legacy, these are the ways The Elder Scrolls changed our lives forever.
8Brightened Our Days With Countless Memes
While neither Julian LeFay nor Todd Howard set out to make a game withmemes in mind, they succeeded nonetheless,with characters like the Adoring Fan ascending to incomprehensible levels of infamy. Even now, we hear the phrase ‘By Azura, by Azura, by Azura, it’s the Grand Champion!’ echoing in our heads, and can’t help but crack a smile.
And who could forget the infamous ‘I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow to the knee,’ that became every Skyrim guard’s claim to fame? The list goes on and on, but above all else, these meme-able lines, moments, and quests have etched themselves into our memory because they make us feel something – a telltale sign of impressive work.
7Gave Us A Place To Feel Like We Belong
Picture this: it’s the early 2000s, and you’ve just arrived home after another rough day of school or work. You load up Morrowind or Oblivion while you let the school bullies, awkward work meetings, and mud that splashed on you from the bus fade away.
What better universe to jump into than The Elder Scrolls, where you could shape your life and the world around you in unimaginable ways? For many of us, this was a reality, and whether you were focused on stopping Dagoth Ur or Mehrunes Dagon, the fantasy worlds provided a set of quests and puzzles that only we, the main character, could solve.
6Taught Us The Importance Of Collaboration
While many games feature protagonists who are all-powerful chosen ones tasked with saving the world, games like Oblivion challenge this idea. The main character is merely a prisoner who happens to be in the right place at the right time to help save the world.
Skyrim veers away from this subversion in favor of a more traditional main character, but its predecessor switched up the formula.
Throughout the entire Oblivion questline, you catalyze the events leading to the battle against Mehrunes Dagon, but your true job is to assist Martin Septim so he can save the world. Aside from the main quest, you learn to be a team player in Cyrodiil’s mostpopular guilds, including the Dark Brotherhoodand the Thieves Guild, emphasizing a collaborative approach to solving problems.
5Empowered Us To Stand Up To Evil
One thing that Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, and the other Elder Scrolls titles share is a strong emphasis on the importance of good people standing in opposition to unfathomable evil. From monstrous individuals like Mehrunes Dagon to nefarious organizations like the Thalmor, The Elder Scrolls asserts that darkness comes in many forms.
However, against all odds, you overcome these seemingly indestructible enemies to bring the world into a brighter age. In our modern world, where evil takes many shapes, Julian LeFay’s work shows us that nothing is insurmountable, and it only takes the dedication of a few good people to successfully stand against tyranny.
4Inspired The Creation Of Imaginative, New Worlds
The Elder Scrolls games are impressive examples of beautiful worlds with gorgeous environments to explore, but their impact can be felt across various game series. The Elder Scrolls served as inspiration for several other games, like Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Fallout, The Witcher, Baldur’s Gate, and Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon.
While each of these titles takes different levels of inspiration from TES, it’s clear that this series' impact is felt within the Bethesda ecosystem and beyond. If you’re a fan of modern fantasy RPGs, chances are they include something inspired by a TES title.
3It Can’t Hurt To Ask Nicely
While thepersuasion minigame in Oblivionmight be more notable for its absurdity rather than its real-world applicability, there’s no denying that the haggling system gave us a taste of bartering in the real world. Negotiating the right price is a valuable life skill that can save you a few dollars at the farmer’s market or larger sums on a house or apartment lease.
Regardless of your silver-tongued skills, the overall message behind the system was clear: give it a try and see what happens. Sure, we probably asked for too much by setting the price slider too far to the right several times, but we learned that a fair deal usually sits somewhere in the middle of each party’s asking price. Even if you don’t reach an agreement, it never hurts to ask.
2Developing A Sense Of Morality
While The Elder Scrolls doesn’t boast a morality system that mimics the Light and Dark Side of popular Star Wars games, itsusage of infamy and fame provides a nuanced understanding of the impactour actions have. Furthermore, several quests throughout the series will make you question your actions, especially upon reflection.
Maybe there’s no excusing the murderous rampage you’re sent on in the Dark Brotherhood, but stealing from crooked government officials to return money to the poor brought practical credence to the famous Robin Hood tale. While we wouldn’t say the game encouraged us to steal, it introduced more nuance to these concepts as we formed our conscience.
1The Importance Of Having A Partner By Your Side
Skyrim’s inclusion of several companion characters, such as Lydia, reinforced the idea that having a friend (or a significant other) by your side is a key to success, even for a Dragonborn. When you have too many burdens to carry, physical or emotional, who better to help you shoulder these burdens than a close friend?
Despite being single-player RPG experiences, one of the series' clearest messages is that everybody needs help sometimes, and it’s okay to ask for it. Julian LeFay may be gone, but the impact of his work will persist in our hearts like the friend we’ve always needed.
