You don't have to play Skyrim, but you do have to buy it.
Seriously, Skyrim is the first AAA game in my life, so I may be biased towards it.
If you want combat, play Sekiro.
If you want a story, play Nier Automata.
If you want interesting characters, play Genshin.
If you want good music, play The Witcher 3.
But if you want an atmosphere that stays in your heart all your life, Skyrim is a great option.
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