Two releases, one story
Both versions tell the same story in the same world with the same Forgotten Stories content. What differs is the engine underneath:
- Enderal: Forgotten Stories runs on the original 32-bit Skyrim (2011 / Legendary Edition). It arrived on Steam on February 14, 2019.
- Enderal: Forgotten Stories (Special Edition) runs on 64-bit Skyrim Special Edition. It was released on Steam on March 18, 2021.
Side-by-side comparison
| Enderal (original) | Enderal Special Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Base game required | Skyrim / Legendary Edition | Skyrim Special Edition |
| Steam app | 933480 | 976620 |
| Architecture | 32-bit engine | 64-bit engine |
| Lighting / rendering | Original Skyrim renderer | Skyrim SE renderer |
| Stability | Older engine limits | Better, thanks to 64-bit |
| Mods section on Nexus | Enderal | Enderal Special Edition |
| Saves | Separate | Separate, not compatible with original |
How Enderal SE came to be
SureAI built Enderal for the original Skyrim. After the team moved on, community developer Eddoursul ported it to the Skyrim Special Edition engine. The port first appeared on Nexus Mods in early 2021 and was then published on Steam as the official Special Edition in March 2021, with SureAI listed as developer and publisher alongside Eddoursul.
The store version comes pre-installed with the components it needs. The community port continues as a separate 2.1 branch for players who install Enderal SE as a mod in Mod Organizer 2.
Which should you choose?
- You own Skyrim Special Edition or Anniversary Edition: choose the Special Edition. It looks better and is more stable.
- You own only Legendary Edition: the original release is your option unless you buy Skyrim SE.
- You want VR: the community Enderal VR project is built on the SE port, not the original.
Can I move my saves?
No. The official Steam FAQ states that Special Edition cannot load saves from the non-Special Edition version. You need to start a new playthrough. The community 2.1 branch also requires a new game when updating from 2.0.x.
Mods are not shared either
Each version has its own Nexus Mods section. Mods for the original Enderal must be converted before they work in Enderal SE; the port's author specifically warns about this (a common symptom is a broken paper map). See the Enderal mods guide.
What about Skyrim Anniversary Edition?
Anniversary Edition includes Skyrim Special Edition, so owning AE lets you install Enderal SE. According to the official Steam FAQ, AE content does not affect Enderal.
Summary
Same game, two engines. For nearly every player in 2026, Enderal Special Edition on Skyrim SE is the version to download. Start with our Enderal download guide.
Ready to set out?
Enderal is free for Skyrim Special Edition owners on Steam and GOG.
