Is Skyrim Anniversary Edition a separate game from Special Edition?

The quick answer is no, Skyrim Anniversary Edition is more of an expanded DLC package – it still builds on the original Special Edition game. But what exactly does the upgrade include and is it worth getting? As a passionate Skyrim gamer since 2011 who has played over 500 hours across different platforms, let me share my in-depth insights!

What‘s Included in Skyrim Anniversary Edition?

Here‘s a run-down of everything you get if you upgrade or buy Skyrim Anniversary Edition, compared to the original Special Edition:

Core Game

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (the same base game as before)

Official Add-Ons

• Dawnguard
• Hearthfire
• Dragonborn

The add-ons above were already included in Skyrim Special Edition

New Content

• Over 500 Creation Club elements like:
  • New Quests – 18+
  • Dungeons – 15+
  • Bosses – 10+
  • Weapons – 80+
  • Spells – 55+
  • Armor/Items – 50+
  • House/Decorations – 30+
  • Enemies – 25+
  • Various other additions!

So in total, you get the full Skyrim Special Edition game plus over 500 extra Creation Club content pieces when upgrading to the Anniversary Edition. That‘s a ton of new adventures, gear, customization and more!

Is it a Paid Upgrade?

Yes, in order to get all the new content, you need to purchase the Skyrim Anniversary Edition upgrade:

As you can see, there is some savings on PC/last-gen consoles versus paying full price ($59.99) for the enhanced next-gen console editions.

Should You Upgrade to Anniversary Edition?

Whether upgrading to Skyrim Anniversary Edition is worth it depends on a few factors:

You‘ve Never Played Skyrim Before

If you‘ve yet to play Skyrim, the Anniversary Edition is 100% the best version to get. It takes an already incredible RPG adventure and expands it even further to create the ultimate Skyrim experience.

Over 500 pieces of additional Creation Club content means so much more to explore beyond the 200+ hours of gameplay from just the base game and official add-ons. I wish I could wipe my memory of Skyrim and play Anniversary Edition for my first time again!

You‘re a Skyrim Lover Doing Another Playthrough

As a devoted Skyrim gamer who has put in over 500 hours myself, I find the vast new Creation Club content adds tremendous replay value. The sheer amount of new quests, dungeons, spells, gear and features breathes so much life into Skyrim for return adventures.

It feels almost like an "Ultra Definitive Edition" with everything Bethesda has made for Skyrim all bundled together. I‘m having a blast with my new necromancer playthrough thanks to all the new content available!

You Recently Played/Modded Skyrim Special Edition

This is the one case where I‘d maybe hold off for now. If you just poured hundreds of hours into a heavily modded Skyrim Special Edition setup, starting that process over may not be very appealing.

However, once more mods become compatible with Anniversary Edition, upgrading could be worthwhile then to experience the ample new Creation Club material. But no rush if you‘re still deep into your current Special Edition playthrough.

Anniversary Edition Modding: What‘s Compatible?

One natural question around Anniversary Edition is compatibility with mods, which are a huge part of Skyrim‘s popularity a decade later. Here‘s a breakdown on the mod situation:

• Many older Skyrim Special Edition mods will work fine as-is
• Some mods may require an update from creators to fully function
• SKSE and SkyUI have been updated to work with Anniversary Edition
• Top mods like Ordinator, Apocalypse, Immersive Armors, etc already updated or have patches
• Ongoing compatibility fixes mean more mods will work over time

So while recent Special Edition mod lists may need some changes, the modding scene is quickly adopting Anniversary Edition as the new standard. And tons of top mods already work flawlessly.

Between official Creation Club content and supported mods, Anniversary Edition has an incredible amount of fresh adventures waiting!

The Verdict: A Worthy Upgrade for Most

At the end of the day, Skyrim Anniversary Edition takes one of the greatest RPGs of all-time and manages to make it even better.

For new players and veterans alike, over 500 new Creation Club elements provide countless hours of additional gameplay on top of the already stuffed base package. It feels like the cumulative work of Bethesda Game Studios over the past decade, gifting fans an ultra-definitive edition to enjoy for years to come.

Unless you just fully modded and finished Skyrim Special Edition, the Anniversary Edition upgrade is absolutely worthwhile in 2024/2024. It‘s a sublime expansion that lets us adventure through Skyrim like never before!

Over 10 years later, Skyrim still manages to feel fresh – and Anniversary Edition makes it feel new all over again.