Is The Elder Scrolls: Arena free?

Yes — The Elder Scrolls: Arena is free to play, so you can install and play it without buying anything.

Is The Elder Scrolls: Arena Steam Deck compatible?

Mostly. Valve rates The Elder Scrolls: Arena Playable on Steam Deck: it runs, but may need some manual tweaking — a community controller layout, or zooming in on small text.

Can I play The Elder Scrolls: Arena on Mac?

Not natively — Steam lists no macOS version of The Elder Scrolls: Arena. Mac players would need a cloud gaming service or a Windows compatibility layer.

Is The Elder Scrolls: Arena multiplayer?

No — Steam lists The Elder Scrolls: Arena as single-player only.

Is The Elder Scrolls: Arena on PC Game Pass?

No — The Elder Scrolls: Arena is not on PC Game Pass right now.

The Elder Scrolls: Arena

Name: The Elder Scrolls: Arena
Brand: Bethesda Softworks
Availability: InStock

Bethesda Softworks · April 26, 2022 · RPG, Fantasy, Action RPG, Singleplayer, Action

The Elder Scrolls: Arena is free to play — no purchase needed. We track it so you know if that ever changes.

Action deals RPG deals Bethesda Softworks games

Very Positive80% · 2,59713playing now

Best price

Free

Get it free on Steam

This game is free to play. Get it on Steam →

Screenshots

The Elder Scrolls: Arena price

The Elder Scrolls: Arena is free to play — there is no purchase price, on Steam or anywhere else we track. We keep watching it, so if it ever stops being free the price history on this page will show when that happened and what it changed to.

About The Elder Scrolls: Arena

✦ AI summary

The Elder Scrolls: Arena has you traveling across the vast fantasy world of Tamriel as a prisoner tasked with collecting the shattered Staff of Chaos to rescue the kidnapped Emperor from an alternate dimension. This pioneering first-person RPG stands out for its massive open world, deep character customization, and the freedom to explore and approach quests however you choose.

The imperial battlemage Jagar Tharn betrays the Emperor Uriel Septim by imprisoning him in an alternate dimension, then assuming the Emperor’s identity and place on the throne. A lone prisoner must travel to Tamriel’s most famous and dangerous sites to collect the shattered Staff of Chaos, save the Emperor and free the Empire.

The Elder Scrolls: Arena — game info

Platforms: Windows
Steam Deck: Playable
Player modes: Single-player
PC Game Pass: Not included

The Elder Scrolls: Arena — questions & answers

Is The Elder Scrolls: Arena free?: Yes — The Elder Scrolls: Arena is free to play, so you can install and play it without buying anything.
Is The Elder Scrolls: Arena Steam Deck compatible?: Mostly. Valve rates The Elder Scrolls: Arena Playable on Steam Deck: it runs, but may need some manual tweaking — a community controller layout, or zooming in on small text.
Can I play The Elder Scrolls: Arena on Mac?: Not natively — Steam lists no macOS version of The Elder Scrolls: Arena. Mac players would need a cloud gaming service or a Windows compatibility layer.
Is The Elder Scrolls: Arena multiplayer?: No — Steam lists The Elder Scrolls: Arena as single-player only.
Is The Elder Scrolls: Arena on PC Game Pass?: No — The Elder Scrolls: Arena is not on PC Game Pass right now.

What Steam players say

Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.

✦ AI summary

Elder Scrolls: Arena is a nostalgic piece of gaming history that appeals primarily to long-time fans willing to engage with its dated mechanics and design, though players widely note that its brutal difficulty spikes and labyrinthine dungeon design make it exhausting without external guidance like maps or forums. While the game is technically playable on modern systems and works well on Linux, its clunky controls and graphics require workarounds or mods to enjoy, and many find that the experience is mainly valuable for historical appreciation rather than engaging gameplay by modern standards.

Not recommended Sep 26, 2026

It's a port from a Nintendo. I didn't like it at all the few minutes I played

Not recommended Sep 23, 2026

Not keen on the controls.

Recommended Sep 21, 2026

Took me 15 minutes to escape the sewers (ended up just running and killing anything in my way until I made it to the rift gate) just to get killed while looking for an inn because the city was flooded with goblins, would read the 85 page manual again.

Recommended Sep 17, 2026

Excellent!

Recommended Sep 14, 2026

I mean yeah it sucks today.... but i know this game had to be amazing back in the day lol its cool to see how far we have come in the graphics and lore of Elder Scrolls! I gave it 85 minutes might not play it ever again.... but i can say i have now!!!

Not recommended Sep 13, 2026

THE GRAPHICS MAKE ME THROW UP!

Community reviews

—

0 reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to review this game.

More like The Elder Scrolls: Arena

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

-75%

Game Pass

News

All news →

Xbox

Minecraft Dungeons 2 Deluxe Edition: skip it, play on Game Pass

The Minecraft Dungeons 2 Deluxe Edition asks you to pre-order two unannounced DLC packs for a game Game Pass already gives you. What it contains, and why the upgrade can wait.

Sep 30, 2026

Is DayZ worth it? A straight answer before you buy

Is DayZ worth it? Twelve years on it is still the genre's least forgiving game. What you are buying, who it suits, and what our 97-day price record says about the timing.

Sep 30, 2026

Transport Fever 3 price: which edition to buy on launch day

Transport Fever 3 is out today. The Transport Fever 3 price splits three ways, the loyalty discount has a fortnight-long fuse, and our record shows what the older game really costs.

Sep 29, 2026

No Man's Sky price: how low it gets and when to buy

The No Man's Sky price has come a long way down since 2016, and the game is on PC Game Pass too. Our tracked 12-month low, the regional key gap, and what to actually pay.

Sep 29, 2026

Deals

Sekiro cheap: what our price record shows, and what to avoid

Search Sekiro cheap and the results are keyshop listings, not a store discount. Our three-month price record explains the gap, and why so few live offers changes the advice.

Sep 28, 2026

Freebies

System Shock 2 Remaster free on Epic from 1 October

System Shock 2 Remaster free on Epic from 1 to 8 October, alongside BURIED STARS. Our price record shows why its floor has not moved in three months, and why waiting beats buying this week.

Sep 28, 2026

Dead Island 2 cheap: which edition, and what the price does

Dead Island 2 cheap used to mean under a dollar. Our price record shows the floor has roughly doubled since September - here is which edition to buy, and the one that is a trap.

Sep 27, 2026

Deals

Steam Autumn Sale 2026: the games that cannot be discounted

The Steam Autumn Sale 2026 runs 1-8 October, but Valve's own rules bar every September release from it. Which games are locked out, and what our record says about the two biggest.

Sep 27, 2026