The Elder Scrolls Is Officially Switching Genre For November 2026 Return

The Elder Scrolls series is in something of a tricky spot at the time of writing due mainly to the ongoing delay with the launch of the next mainline entry, The Elder Scrolls VI. After all, it has been fifteen years since the most recent entry, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, was released, and since then, only The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has stopped the franchise from fading into the background.

It was way back in 2018 that Bethesda first confirmed that The Elder Scrolls VI would be the next installment in the much-loved franchise, but since then, updates and details surrounding its development have remained scarce, leading some fans to worry that it would be canceled altogether.

Whilst that is not the case, at least at the time of writing, there is at least one The Elder Scrolls-related release on the way, and it is set to launch this November.

Offering a complete genre change for the franchise, The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era Board Game is an upcoming tabletop experience from Zatu Games. Set to launch on 30 November 2026, it is now available for pre-order, but with a £187.75 price tag, it is quite the investment. The only good news here is that it is currently on offer from its RRP of £188.99.

Recommended for 1-4 players with each game taking anything from 150-180 minutes, The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era Board Game's official synopsis reads as follows:

The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era is a cooperative tabletop adventure set during Tamriel's Second Era - specifically during the events of the Planemeld, as the Order of the Black Worm plots to secure the Amulet of Kings. As the dark cult schemes, however, one of its members is planning an even darker betrayal, one that will tie Tamriel in with Oblivion forever. Adventurers work to uncover her machinations and stop her plot amid a bevy of endlessly replayable content. As in The Elder Scrolls video games, players will travel on an epic journey, balancing exploration, character building, dungeon diving and close quarters combat.

In The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era Board Game, each game takes place over the course of three gameplay sessions, "with sessions being roughly two hours plus an additional half hour per player in length." During this, players will be tasked with customizing and controlling a single hero throughout all three sessions as they "manage multiple skill lines, classes and experience the many regions of Tamriel, each with their own unique flavor and mechanics."

With experience points handed out throughout the course of the game, players will be encouraged to build interesting and unique characters, each with their own skills and abilities. Luckily, as the description details, "session to session progression is meaningful, but players are not required to remember complex narrative points or play with the same group forever."

As such, replayability is a big selling point for this upcoming The Elder Scrolls-inspired board game. So, if you are interested in The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era Board Game ahead of its launch in just over a month's time, make sure to secure your copy by pre-ordering now.