One of the biggest draws in RPGs is the characters. Skyrim clearly recognized this, as it leaned into NPCs more than its predecessor, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, which had temporary followers during important story quests. By introducing a follower and marriage system, Skyrim added another way for the Dragonborn to get to know and befriend the characters who inhabit Skyrim. This mechanic proved to be incredibly popular, with some of the most endearing characters in Skyrim being available as followers to the Dragonborn.