Play in first-person view, where the world is viewed through your character's eyes, or in third-person view, when your character is visible on the screen and the camera can rotate freely.
Explore the open world of Skyrim on foot or horseback, or fast travel to explored cities, towns and caves.
Quests can be accepted from non-player characters (NPCs) around the world, and through a radial plot system, quests can dynamically change to suit your actions.
Your actions may affect quests, characters, and objectives. Radiant Plot can further guide your interaction with the world by setting up unexplored caves as quest locations.
When not in a quest state, you can communicate with NPCs through dialogue, and the NPCs may request help or train you in a skill. In addition to the quests in the storyline, there are an infinite number of dynamically generated random quests in the game.
Some NPCs can become your followers and provide help in battle.
It is possible to join factions organized by some NPCs, such as the Dark Brotherhood (an assassin organization) Each faction has a headquarters with its own quest channels. The town economy can be boosted by farming, mining, etc. or by spending large amounts of gold in the stores. The town economy can also be weakened by falsifying business books and robbing safes in stores.
Your actions or words will often have an impact on NPC communication - such as joining a side in a civil war or fighting a dragon. In exploring the game world, you may encounter wildlife. Many wild animals in the wilderness will become hostile to you immediately upon encountering them.
"The presence of dragons in Skyrim has a significant impact on both the plot and gameplay.