<P> The Elder Scrolls is a series of action role - playing open world fantasy video games primarily developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks . The series is known for its elaborate and richly detailed open worlds and its focus on free - form gameplay . Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim all won Game of the Year awards from multiple outlets . The series has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide . </P> <P> Within the fictional The Elder Scrolls universe, each game takes place on the continent of Tamriel . The setting is a mix of early or pre-medieval real - world elements, often revolving around a powerful Roman - like Empire in a world with very limited technological capabilities, and high fantasy elements, such as widespread magic use, travel between parallel worlds and the existence of many mythological creatures such as dragons . The continent is split into a number of provinces of which the inhabitants include humans as well as popular humanoid fantasy races such as elves, orcs and anthropomorphic animals . A common theme in the lore is that a chosen hero rises to defeat an incoming threat, usually a malevolent being or an antagonistic army . </P> <P> Since debuting with Arena in 1994, the series has produced a total of five main games (of which the last three have each featured two or three expansions) as well as several spin - offs . In 2014, a massively multiplayer online role - playing game, The Elder Scrolls Online, was released by Bethesda's affiliated ZeniMax subsidiary ZeniMax Online Studios . </P> <Table> Timeline of release years <Tr> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls: Arena </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1995 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2003 </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Elder Scrolls Travels: Stormhold </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls Travels: Dawnstar </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Elder Scrolls Travels: Shadowkey </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2005 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Elder Scrolls IV: Knights of the Nine </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2007 </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2008 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2009 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2011 </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2012 </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim--Dawnguard </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim--Hearthfire </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim--Dragonborn </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2013 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls Online </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2015 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2016 </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim--Special Edition </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2017 </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls: Legends </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim - VR </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls: Blades </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> TBA </Td> <Td> The Elder Scrolls VI </Td> </Tr> </Table>

When did the first elder scrolls come out