Skyrim is my second favorite The Elder Scrolls game and also second in my top 5 greatest RPGs of all time. Oblivion is at the top, forever.
I love everything about Skyrim. I love the feeling of being lost in a huge world, the harsh climate beautifully expressed through dynamic weather system, the story, fluid combat, the grittiness and dirt of textures, grand scale of the natural environments, the design and execution of every single model (mesh) and how open to experimentation the RPG systems are. I especially love how darker the overall tone of the game is, compared to its predecessor.
Even with all the praise and awards, I still don't think the game got enough recognition and respect from the players. It deserves way, way more.
Skyrim is not just an RPG, it's a simulation of life.
I don't care about the mods, I've never tried them and I never will. It's quite simple: The game is, in its original state, one of the greatest video games of all time. But the best thing about it --- Skyrim arrived at the perfect time. It has plenty of technological complexities and dynamics in it to captivate the attention of all fans, both new and old, for decades.
Can't wait for The Elder Scrolls VI but at the same time I want Bethesda to take all the time they need to make the game as epic as Skyrim and Oblivion are.