Despite being one of the most iconic and well-loved series in gaming, Bethesda’sElder Scrolls 6faces a central, series-wide problem when it comes to its characters. Being that the games are often set decades, if not centuries apart from one another,most ofElder Scrolls’ central charactersare very much one-and-done for their respective titles. That said, there are plenty of recurring characters fans have come to know and love throughout the series’ lifespan.
Saying that details aboutThe Elder Scrolls 6are slim would be generous at the moment. Bethesda has been incredibly secretive about the next entry of its flagship franchise, leaving fans to endlessly speculate about where the game will be set, when it will be set, and who will be in it. And while major characters are typically locked into the games they originate from (with some notable exceptions), there are some fan-favorite recurring characters that are likely to return for the next adventure in Tamriel.
1M’aiq the Liar
There’s very, very little known about the nextElder Scrollsgame, but M’aiq making an appearance is almost a guaranteed lock. Arguably more of an easter egg than a fully-fledged character,M’aiq has appeared in everyElder Scrollstitle sinceMorrowindas a running gag from the developers. M’aiq is randomly encountered as the player travels through the wilds, often dropping some tongue-in-cheek fourth-wall-breaking dialogue. Because of the large time differences between games, each title’s M’aiq has technically been a different individual, but he still delivers the same Deadpool-esque jabs at the games’ development cycles.
2The Daedric Princes
It might be a cheat to lump 16 characters together (technically 17 if Jyggalag is factored into the equation) but the Daedric princes are too iconic for Bethesda to skip out on in the next game. The setting’s most powerful demons don’t always reach the relevancy they did inOblivion, when Merhunes Dagon nearly destroyed the world, but between Molag Bal’s role as primary antagonist ofElder Scrolls: Online, the Shivering Isles expansion, and their many side quests inSkyrim, the Princes have become an inseparable part ofElder Scrollslore. They also tend to offer some of thebest gear in any of theElder Scrollsgames, making their inclusion all the more inevitable.
3Shadowmere
It may be a stretch to call Shadowmere a full-fledged character, but the pitch-black steed of the Dark Brotherhood has been a much-beloved companion for many an adventurer since its debut inOblivion. Shadowmere was the fastest mount in his original game and one of themost useful mounts inSkyrimdue to the fact that it could not be permanently killed; instead, simply respawning a few days after its death. The horse’s supernatural nature means that time is irrelevant to its lifespan, making him a prime candidate for returning wherever and wheneverElder Scrolls 6takes place.
4Gelebor
A somewhat deep cut, Gelebor is one of the few remaining members of the Snow Elves; an offshoot of Tamriel’s Mer folk that was long thought to be extinct. Gelebor’s involvement in the Dawnguard DLC is admittedly one of the least memorable aspects of the expansion, but the lore implications of him simply existing cannot be understated. If he managed to survive, perhaps others of his kind have also been flying under the radar all these years. Given enough time, Gelebor could be instrumental inreviving the long-absent race of Snow Elves, and maybe even giving fans a new playable race.
5Serana
Serana is one ofSkyrim’s most popular companions, let aloneThe Elder Scrollsas a whole. Completely ignoring her unmatched abilities in combat, Bethesda’s writing and Laura Bailey’s top shelf vocal performance made the character a great addition to the series. Serana’s status as a vampire means that she can feasibly appear in any future installments, no matter how large the time gap may be. ThoughSkyrimgives players the option to convince Serana to cure her vampirism, it’s unclear if this is canon, leaving Bethesda plenty of room to bring back one of it’s most beloved characters.
