It's rare that a developer becomes synonymous with a single genre, but Bethesda has its signature style so locked down that it's a wonder we don't just call the entire field of first-person open-world Western RPGs "Skyrimlikes" or "Oblivionvanias." Since the debut of The Elder Scrolls: Arena three decades ago, Bethesda Game Studios has emerged as a juggernaut in the triple-A space, earning a rabid fanbase, massive sales, and a $7.5 billion acquisition by Microsoft, solely on the strength of its tried and true design principles.
Bethesda has been responsible for some big hits and even bigger misses over the years. The shocking (but not really) release of The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remaster has us all rethinking our long-calcified tier-lists, prompting a fresh look at ranking the studio's output. With The Elder Scrolls VI still a distant dream, this list remains relevant for the foreseeable future.
Before we dive in, let's clarify that this list focuses strictly on Bethesda's trademark RPGs. The mid-tier Elder Scrolls spinoffs like the co-op focused Battlespire and swashbuckling action-adventure Redguard, as well as mobile games like The Elder Scrolls Blades and Fallout Shelter, won't be featured here. Instead, we'll celebrate the heavy hitters, the sprawling, prestige sandboxes that define a capital B, capital G "Bethesda Game."9: The Elder Scrolls: Arena
The first entry in the franchise isn't last because it's a bad game, but because it was a pioneering effort. In 1994, Bethesda was primarily known for sports and Terminator games, and Arena was a bold mix of both. Initially, players traveled the world competing in medieval gladiator battles with the occasional sidequest. The developers soon realized the potential in allowing fighters to explore cities, interact with residents, and tackle challenging dungeons.
The result is an impressive first-person RPG, very much a product of its time, reminiscent of Ultima Underworld and Might and Magic. Arena features arcane systems, randomized loot, meandering sidequests, and clunky movement that challenges players' mouse skills. The combat, based on stats and dice rolls, can be frustrating, often resulting in no damage despite visual hits. While the "gladiator" concept was dropped, the title remained due to pre-printed marketing materials. By declaring Arena as the start of a new franchise, Bethesda set a bold path forward despite its flaws.
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8: Starfield
With each new BGS game comes speculation about whether it will finally move beyond the aging "Gamebryo" engine. Starfield did not, retaining the "Creation Engine 2.0" with its familiar loading screens for every store entry.
The NASApunk sci-fi setting offered a refreshing change from the low-tech locales of Tamriel and the Wasteland, though it's starting to wear out its welcome. It's less suited to Bethesda's strengths in creating interconnected worlds filled with discoveries and intricate details. Instead, Starfield features 1,000 procedurally generated planets with repetitive points of interest.
While dragon claw puzzles in previous games were manageable, landing on new planets in Starfield often leads to encountering yet another abandoned cryo lab or mine. It's easier to forgive the shortcomings of Arena, a gallant first effort, than those of Starfield, a $200 million triple-A game that promised much but delivered less.
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7: The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall
The disappointment with Starfield's procedural generation is understandable given Bethesda's long history with it. The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall, released in 1997, is a testament to algorithmic open-world creation, boasting a map size of about 80,000 square miles, roughly the size of Great Britain. It would take approximately 69 hours to walk across it, though riding a horse would speed up the journey.
The world is vast, sparse, and visually dated, yet not empty. The Iliac Bay area features nine distinct climates, 44 political regions, and 15,000 points of interest, including 4,000 dungeons and 5,000 cities or towns with hundreds of quests and NPCs. While the dungeon-crawling combat is only slightly improved, the introduction of the series' "improve your stats as you use their skills" system is a significant advancement. Above ground, Daggerfall offers immersive experiences like buying houses and boats, joining guilds, and facing consequences for stealing and murder, though its systems are simple and opaque.
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6: Fallout 76
It might seem odd to include Fallout 76 on this list, given its live service, multiplayer looter-shooter nature rather than a traditional epic, story-driven RPG. Initially launched as a disaster in 2018, the game omitted handcrafted dialogue and NPCs, hoping that online interactions would fill the void. This, along with aggravating loot limits, endless crafting, and questionable pricing, made it a dud at launch.
However, the Wastelanders update transformed the game by adding voiced NPCs, more than any other game in the series. While the quality of their dialogue is debatable, these changes, along with tweaks to the loot system, have made Fallout 76 a more enjoyable RPG, especially when played with friends. Despite these improvements, it ranks lower than the superior Elder Scrolls Online, which, although developed by Zenimax Online Studios, set a higher standard for Bethesda's live service games.
Fallout 76's shift towards live-service trends raised concerns about Bethesda's direction with the Fallout franchise, reflecting broader discontent among fans despite strong sales.
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5: Fallout 4
With 25 million copies sold, Fallout 4 is the most successful game in the series, far surpassing the expectations of its creators at Interplay/Black Isle. Its streamlined gameplay and quality-of-life improvements transformed it into a mainstream blockbuster, though it sacrificed some depth and complexity.
Fallout 4 excels in movement and shooting, offering a responsive experience compared to its predecessors. The Commonwealth provides a rich environment to explore, and the settlement-building system is an impressive addition, though its appeal varies. The game's visual and audio quality marks it as one of Bethesda's most polished launches. Expansions like Far Harbor capture the essence of Fallout, and characters like Nick Valentine stand out in the narrative.
However, the storyline, centered around synthetic humans and a predictable twist involving the protagonist's missing son, feels at odds with the series' atompunk flavor. The dialogue system, which voices the protagonist's interactions, limits player choice, often boiling down to four repetitive options. Despite these flaws, Fallout 4 remains a significant entry in the franchise.
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4: Fallout 3
When Bethesda announced its purchase of the dormant Fallout franchise in 2004, fans were divided. Some saw it as a perfect match for Bethesda's expertise in systemic open-world sandboxes, while others feared a dilution of the original games' anarchic spirit for broader appeal. The result was a mix of both.
Fallout 3 starts strong with an opening sequence that introduces players to Vault 101 and the V.A.T.S. system, a brilliant adaptation of the original's turn-based combat into first-person gameplay. The Capital Wasteland, filled with ruined national landmarks, is impressive, though repetitive encounters and a green-tinted visual style can be off-putting.
While the game offers meaningful choices with significant consequences, the ending scenario can feel ludicrous and unsatisfying. The vanilla experience can be challenging, but mods like the Tale of Two Wastelands, which combines Fallout 3 with Fallout: New Vegas, offer a more cohesive experience. With the promise of a Fallout 3 remake on the horizon, inspired by the success of the Oblivion Remaster, fans have much to look forward to.
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3: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Ranking Oblivion is a contentious issue. Many fans might argue it deserves a higher spot than Skyrim, while others might prefer some of the Fallouts. However, Oblivion laid the foundation for modern Bethesda games, serving as a template for Fallout, Starfield, and subsequent titles.
Oblivion's main plot involves fending off a demonic Daedric invasion, with a cinematic narrative that draws inspiration from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The game's sidequests, particularly those involving guilds, are particularly engaging, with unique challenges and stories that surpass those in Skyrim.
Despite its innovations, Oblivion faces criticism for its dated visuals, awkward character animations, and a progression system that requires grinding to avoid losing stats. The Oblivion Remaster addresses many of these issues, updating the UI, graphics, and level-up system, though it retains the game's inherent jank, such as enemy scaling and repetitive minigames.
While the remaster enhances the experience, it remains to be seen if it will surpass Skyrim in the rankings, as the two games differ fundamentally beyond mere aesthetics.
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2: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim, while sacrificing some of the depth and customization of its predecessors, made significant improvements to gameplay. The ability to dash, dual wield, craft weapons, and use shouts adds excitement to combat, making it more engaging. The game's design favors controllers, providing a tactile and responsive experience.
Skyrim's world, set in the frozen tundra of its titular region, is more memorable than Oblivion's Cyrodiil, with its varied landscapes and cohesive geography. The setting invites players to explore and settle, contributing to Skyrim's lasting appeal and numerous re-releases.
Skyrim transformed the Elder Scrolls series into a blockbuster AAA giant, striking a balance between accessibility and depth that allowed it to reach a wide audience. While it may not be the most complex game in the series, its impact and sales make it a landmark title.
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Honorable Mention: Fallout: New Vegas
We can't conclude this list without mentioning the best Fallout game ever made, even though it was developed by Obsidian. Built on Bethesda's engine, Fallout: New Vegas is a near-perfect blend of old-school sensibility and Bethesda's open-world quirkiness, making it a must-play, especially for fans of the upcoming TV show's second season.
1: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Despite being less polished and accessible than later entries, Morrowind offers unparalleled freedom. Without quest markers or floating arrows, players must rely on a dense journal and clues to navigate the world. The spellmaking system allows for creative and powerful combinations, while the dialogue is expansive and immersive.
In Morrowind, no NPC is unkillable, and players can face the consequences of their actions directly. The world of Vvardenfell, with its ashen landscapes and unique flora and fauna, is a departure from traditional fantasy settings, drawing inspiration from The Dark Crystal and Dune.
While Morrowind's complexity may have limited its audience, its individuality and freedom make it the greatest Elder Scrolls game. Reflecting on it invites comparisons to modern classics like Baldur's Gate 3, raising questions about what a true sequel to Morrowind might look like and whether today's audience would embrace it.
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