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Due to their unique design and characteristics, it isn’t farfetched to say Bethesda RPGs fall into their own category of gaming. Culminating with the new release of Starfield, these games transcend the usual RPG genre due to their massive open worlds and gameplay quirks. Although each entry is difficult to compare with one another, some of these entries are far superior to others. Explorability, gameplay accessibility, RPG elements, and player freedom are all factors that contribute to making an amazing Bethesda RPG. Although they don’t factor as much, load times and visual graphics are important elements to note as well. From Morrowind to Starfield, here are the best RPGs developed by Bethesda Game Studios.
8. The Elder Scrolls: Blades
Coming in last place, we have the mobile and Nintendo Switch Bethesda entry, The Elder Scrolls: Blades. In this action RPG, players must hack and slash their way through various dungeons. However, unlike other Bethesda RPGs on this list, Blades is extremely linear and restrictive. It lacks the content that makes Bethesda’s RPGs special. For that reason and more, many critics and fans were very disappointed with this release. Despite being free-to-play, The Elder Scrolls: Blades is the one Bethesda RPG you should avoid.
7. Fallout 76
Next up in the ranking, we have Fallout 76. The newest entry of the Fallout series, Fallout 76 took a new direction for Bethesda RPGs. Instead of the usual singleplayer experience, this entry is an online multiplayer game. However, the game had a rocky launch, with numerous bugs, technical issues, and bland gameplay that ruined what could have been a strong first impression. Over time, the game eventually started to show signs of improvement. Sadly, Fallout 76‘s poor release has solidified what many think of the game to this day.
6. Fallout 4
Coming in at the sixth place spot for the best Bethesda RPGs is Fallout 4. Despite the massive amount of hype surrounding the game, Fallout 4 failed to live up to the expectations set by the previous entries. While it was a solid game, many of the classic roleplaying elements, like dialogue options, were overly simplified. Additionally, the experience itself was far more linear and watered down than other Fallout games. However, despite being a decent experience, Fallout 4 is weaker than the rest of Bethesda’s RPGs.
5. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
For our first mainline Elder Scrolls entry on the list, we have The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Based on our ranking standards, a few elements have prevented this classic from a higher spot. Namely, Oblivion is a far more linear game in terms of questing and story than the others, with a much less interesting design revolving around similar looking towns and castles. Sadly, it also changed some enjoyable features, like adding essential NPCs, less joinable factions, and simplified skills. With that being said, the RPG is still loads of fun to play, especially with the DLCs and has a lot of interesting gameplay elements, like spell-crafting, that hold up to this very day.
4. The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
On the other side of the coin, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind excels at both freedom and world design. Despite being the first Bethesda Game Studios RPG, Morrowind still holds up exceptionally well today. The world design is mysterious and fun to explore, with unique environments and a laundry list of things to do. However, Morrowind does feel a bit dated at times, since the game lacks many of the quality-of-life improvements, specifically for gathering ingredients and escort missions, we have grown to expect over the years. Mods can help this experience though, fixing these problems and making Morrowind still fun to play.
3. Fallout 3
Fallout 3 is arguably the best way to experience the Fallout franchise in terms of Bethesda RPGs. Although these games lack the quality-of-life improvements of newer entries, they are incredibly fun experiences with a huge variety of RPG elements to choose from. Gameplay-wise, Fallout 3 nails the roleplaying experience of a post-apocalyptic world, offering quality narratives to get immersed in and many ways to customize your playthrough through skills, equipment, and more. Additionally, the large map is a blast to explore, as it’s rich with hand-crafted content you won’t find in many modern RPGs.
2. Starfield
Starfield is Bethesda’s latest RPG and arguably the best entry to choose in terms of content and exploration. This space RPG features tons of customization options, very in-depth mechanics like shipbuilding, and a massive galaxy for players to explore. For anyone wanting to live out their dreams of exploring the stars, this is probably the best Bethesda RPG out there. However, Starfield is a bit of a slow-burn, taking some time for players to adjust to the many systems it has to offer.
1. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
However, the best Bethesda RPG would have to be The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Taking place in the land of the Nords, Skyrim manages to find a perfect balance between all the facets that make Bethesda games amazing. The RPG has a huge open world with tons of freedom to explore, fun mechanics that provide build variety, and an engaging and meaningful story to tie it all together. If you had to play only one Bethesda RPG, then Skyrim is the best choice.
