The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard

Lore & Background

Redguard is a free-roaming action-adventure game played from a third-person perspective. Unlike other Elder Scrolls titles, the player controls a fixed character—Cyrus, a Redguard mercenary—with a set name, race, and skills. The game emphasizes exploration, puzzle-solving, and sword combat, with players talking to NPCs through keywords and using items to progress. The story unfolds amid the Tiber Wars, shortly after Tiber Septim's conquest of Hammerfell, where the island of Stros M'Kai is under the ruthless governorship of Lord Richton. Cyrus arrives seeking his sister Iszara, who has become entangled with the Restless League and a plot to restore the soul of Prince A'tor, trapped in a soul gem. The narrative involves necromancy, a Daedric Prince, and a dragon, culminating in a final confrontation aboard a Dwarven airship.

Reader's Guide

Redguard was the second of three titles in Bethesda's planned The Elder Scrolls Adventures series, developed over two and a half years. Inspired by Tomb Raider, Prince of Persia, and the Ultima series, the team used the XnGine engine to create detailed real-time 3D environments. The game shipped with a manual containing a Pocket Guide to the Empire, and early copies included a comic book. Despite favorable reviews from outlets such as Next Generation, Redguard was a commercial flop, contributing to Bethesda's financial difficulties between 1996 and 2000. It was a finalist for Computer Gaming World's 1998 Best Adventure award, losing to Grim Fandango and Sanitarium. GameSpot and PC Gamer US also nominated it as the year's best adventure, but both gave the distinction to Grim Fandango. PC Gamer US noted that while its action elements might deter traditional adventure fans, it delivered exploration and puzzle-solving in a fresh way.

Did You Know?

• Redguard is the only Elder Scrolls game with a predetermined character and forced third-person perspective.
• The game's manual included a Pocket Guide to the Empire with handwritten anti-imperial notes.
• Early copies shipped with a comic book depicting events leading up to Cyrus's adventure.
• The dragon Nafaalilargus appears as a boss, guarding the soul gem containing Prince A'tor's soul.