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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.” In the three decades since The Elder Scrolls: Arena debuted, 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 from 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 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 years away and likely to remain just a logo for the foreseeable future, this list remains relevant for the time being.
Before we dive in, let's clarify that we’re focusing strictly on Bethesda’s trademark RPGs. This means no Elder Scrolls spinoffs like Battlespire or Redguard, nor mobile games like The Elder Scrolls Blades and Fallout Shelter, although the latter has a special place in our hearts for its dark humor and charming Vault Boy style.
This list is dedicated to the heavy hitters, the sprawling, prestige sandboxes that immediately come to mind when thinking of a capital B, capital G “Bethesda Game,” starting with…
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 from a team still finding its footing. In 1994, Bethesda was primarily known for sports and Terminator games, and Arena was a bold step into new territory. Initially centered around medieval gladiator battles, the game evolved to allow players to explore cities, interact with NPCs, and tackle challenging dungeons.
Arena is an impressive first-person RPG of its time, reminiscent of Ultima Underworld and Might and Magic. It features arcane systems, randomized loot, meandering sidequests, and clunky movement that challenges players to rethink mouse navigation. The combat, based on stats and dice rolls, could be frustrating, leading Bethesda to move away from the gladiator concept. Despite its flaws, Arena was successful enough to set Bethesda on a path to create a legendary franchise.
The Elder Scrolls: Arena
Bethesda
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8: Starfield
Every new BGS game brings speculation about whether it will ditch the aging “Gamebryo” engine. Starfield, despite the fancy new moniker “Creation Engine 2.0,” still relies on the same cell-based framework, with loading screens persisting when entering stores.
The NASApunk sci-fi setting was a refreshing departure from Tamriel and the Wasteland, but it doesn’t quite fit Bethesda’s signature style of crafting a single, interconnected world filled with discoveries and memorable encounters. Instead, Starfield offers 1,000 procedurally generated planets with repetitive points of interest, such as abandoned cryo labs and mines.
While it might seem harsh to place Starfield near Arena, the shortcomings of a $200 million triple-A game are harder to forgive than those of a first effort from a less experienced team.
Starfield
Bethesda Game Studios
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7: The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall
Bethesda’s early experience with procedural generation is evident in Daggerfall, their second RPG, released in 1997. With a map size of 80,000 square miles, roughly the size of Great Britain, it's an impressive feat of algorithmic world creation. The Iliac Bay area boasts nine distinct climates, 44 political regions, and 15,000 points of interest, including 4,000 dungeons and 5,000 cities or towns.
While the world is vast and filled with content, the movement and combat remain challenging. The introduction of the series’ trademark skill-based progression system was a significant improvement. Above-ground exploration offers rich opportunities for immersion, such as buying houses and boats, joining guilds, and engaging in criminal activities with consequences.
The Elder Scrolls: Chapter II -- Daggerfall
Bethesda
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6: Fallout 76
Fallout 76's inclusion on this list might surprise some, given its initial launch as a multiplayer looter-shooter rather than a story-driven RPG. The game was a disaster at launch, lacking handcrafted dialogue and NPCs, hoping player interactions would compensate. Issues like loot limits, endless crafting, and questionable pricing practices marred its debut in 2018.
However, updates like the Wastelanders update introduced voiced NPCs, making it technically the most populated game in the series. While the narrative quality remains debatable, these changes, along with tweaks to the loot system, have made Fallout 76 a more enjoyable RPG experience, especially with friends. Despite its growth, it still ranks below the more successful Elder Scrolls Online, developed by Zenimax Online Studios.
Fallout 76
Bethesda Game Studios
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5: Fallout 4
With 25 million copies sold, Fallout 4 is the most successful game in the series, transforming it into a mainstream blockbuster. While streamlined gameplay and quality-of-life improvements are welcome, the game struggles to maintain depth and complexity. The movement and shooting mechanics feel crisp and responsive, and the Commonwealth offers a worthy environment to explore. The settlement-building system is innovative but polarizing.
The storyline, centered around synthetic humans and a predictable twist involving your character’s son, feels at odds with the Fallout universe’s grungy atompunk flavor. The dialogue system, featuring voiced protagonist interactions, limits player options and simplifies choices, deviating from the franchise's traditional RPG depth.
Fallout 4
Bethesda Game Studios
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4: Fallout 3
When Bethesda announced the acquisition of the Fallout franchise in 2004, fans had mixed reactions. Some saw it as a perfect fit for Bethesda's open-world expertise, while others feared a dilution of the series' anarchic spirit. Fallout 3's revival starts strong with an opening sequence that introduces players to Vault 101 life and the V.A.T.S. system, an elegant translation of the original games' combat mechanics into a 3D environment.
However, not everything in Fallout 3 is as successful. The Capital Wasteland, while filled with iconic landmarks, suffers from repetitive encounters and a dated green filter. The game's narrative railroads players into a ludicrous ending, later patched by the Broken Steel DLC. The Tale of Two Wastelands mod, which combines Fallout 3 with Fallout: New Vegas, offers a more cohesive experience, as does the anticipated remake following Oblivion's remaster.
Fallout 3
Bethesda Game Studios
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3: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Ranking Oblivion is contentious. Some fans might argue it should be above Skyrim, while others might favor the Fallout series. Oblivion serves as the foundation for modern Bethesda games, introducing elements like the awkward conversation zoom, stealth archery dominance, and a power fantasy that elevates a prisoner to a hero of Tamriel.
The main plot involves fending off a Daedric invasion, but it's the sidequests, especially those involving guilds, that truly shine. The Dark Brotherhood missions in Oblivion are more engaging than Skyrim's, with specific kill conditions that challenge players. The Thieves Guild is shrouded in mystery, requiring players to seek it out through rumors and clues.
Despite its strengths, Oblivion's placement below Skyrim is due to its dated graphics, awkward character animations, and a progression system that can feel grindy. The Oblivion Remaster modernizes the game with improved graphics, a more forgiving level-up system, and a sprint button, but retains the original's charm and quirks.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Bethesda Game Studios
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2: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim, while simplifying some elements of its predecessors, made significant improvements to gameplay. The quests may be less deep, and character customization less extensive, but the game's moment-to-moment feel is vastly improved. Features like dual wielding, weapon crafting, and shouts enhance combat, making it more enjoyable.
Skyrim's setting, with its frozen tundra and diverse landscapes, feels more cohesive and immersive than Oblivion's Cyrodiil. The game's geography becomes familiar as players explore mountains, caves, and settlements, making Skyrim a world you could imagine living in. Its success turned the Elder Scrolls into a blockbuster franchise, striking a balance between accessibility and depth that appealed to a wide audience.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Bethesda Game Studios
+4
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Honorable Mention: Fallout: New Vegas
We couldn't leave out the best Fallout game ever made, even if it was developed by Obsidian. Built on Bethesda's engine, Fallout: New Vegas is a near-perfect blend of old-school RPG sensibilities and Bethesda's open-world quirkiness. It's essential, especially with the upcoming second season of the Fallout TV series.
Fallout: New Vegas
Obsidian Entertainment
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1: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Despite its lack of polish and accessibility, Morrowind is the pinnacle of the Elder Scrolls series. Its combat system, reliant on RNG, and cluttered UI can be challenging, but the game offers unparalleled freedom. Without quest markers, players must rely on a dense journal and environmental clues to navigate the world.
Morrowind's spellmaking system allows for creative and powerful combinations, and its NPCs offer extensive dialogue. The game's world, Vvardenfell, is a unique blend of dark fantasy and science fiction, inspired by The Dark Crystal and Dune. While later games like ESO revisit the region, they can't replicate the original's magical atmosphere.
Morrowind's complexity and individuality come at a cost, as it may not appeal to all players. Bethesda's decision to make Oblivion more accessible was a commercial success, but Morrowind remains a beloved classic, akin to modern games like Baldur's Gate 3, which balance tradition with innovation.
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Bethesda
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