When it comes to legacy, Bethesda is a company that not only has a long history, but it’s one whose back catalogue is filled with absolute bangers. Without many of Bethesda’s leading RPGs, the genre would look very different, especially when looking at the genre’s development in the west.
Ask any Bethesda fan for their top 10 and it will be incredibly varied because the choice is so wide. Some may prefer the apocalyptic style of Fallout, while others want the high fantasy of The Elder Scrolls. Another player could choose the action and stealth mash-up of Dishonored. With the legacy and range in mind, here are our top 10.
Prey
Rarely does Bethesda and its development teams step into the sci-fi genre, but with 2017’s Prey, they did so with gusto. Part science-fiction and part horror, Prey told the tale of human experimentation gone wrong as you wake up onboard a space station overrun with alien creatures. Bringing more of an action slant to their signature gameplay, Bethesda and Arkane Studios created an adventure that is memorable for its subtle storytelling in a world ruled by the trademark Bethesda style of stealth versus action.
Deathloop
Playing with time travel is always a blast and Deathloop is no exception. It’s a race against time to kill the Visionaries, people with questionable morals who rule over an island with an iron grip. It’s up to Colt, our protagonist, to learn everything he can about each member of the group to kill them all in one day. This humbling challenge tasks you with collecting information, trying things out and piecing them together in one epic run, because as you progress and learn, you’ll often be killed and set right back to square one. Action-packed or stealthy, Deathloop, as our review says, is “an exciting, rewarding, and ambitious challenge".
Wolfenstein: The New Order
In 2014, Bethesda resurrected an acclaimed franchise giving it an overhaul that caused it to stand out among the best modern action games. Wolfenstein: The New Order is a reboot of the classic that helped spawn shooters as we know them. Set in an alternate period where the Nazis rule, it’s down to one legendary American soldier to topple the dictatorship. Filled with many action-packed set pieces, this legendary game is a ‘must play’ and consistently delivers punchy one-liners and intense combat.
The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind
When Elder Scrolls fans eat, they eat well. Morrowind, which was the first 3D action RPG in the series, is a standout for many reasons. Most notably for its vast open-world, but also for its changes that took on a more steampunk style, while keeping the high fantasy edge. Heavily inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, Morrowind was filled with wonderful quests and a fully realised world. After its expansions, this stellar RPG became better than ever and won multiple awards for its ingenious design.
DOOM
It wouldn’t be a good list without the inclusion of the rebooted DOOM from 2016; a game that seemed to nail both the modern retooling and the homage to an all-time classic. DOOM took us, once again, to Mars, to face off against hordes of demons in a bone-crunching action adventure that revelled in gore, guns, and grungy heavy metal riffs. With a kick-ass soundtrack that backed some of the most gorgeous and gruesome kills, this reboot managed to capture what makes the shooter genre so special. The iconic guns and creature designs were back and nothing beat stomping, punching, and blasting your way through blood-soaked hellscapes with a sci-fi edge.
Fallout 3
When it comes to Fallout, really any of the games can be in some of these slots. Each of them stands out for one reason or another, but the third instalment in the franchise is special because, much like Morrowind, it was the game that took the series mainstream and went 3D. Before this, Fallout was an isometric turn-based RPG, but now it expanded out into an encompassing wasteland that seemed to go on forever. This iconic entry into the Fallout universe featured some of the best storytelling Bethesda has put out and very few games will beat the opening missions here.
Dishonored 2
Ultimately, this entry could be for either of the mainline Dishonored games. Both of them are brilliant, however, this second iteration takes the billing due to its dual characters who are both sublime. Playing as either Empress Emily or her protector, Corvo, this is linear gameplay and storytelling at its best. While it doesn’t feature a Bethesda open-world, Dishonored 2 still lets players experiment with possibility; who do you play as first? What decisions do you make? Do you rely on spectral powers of stealth? Do you prefer the action and gunplay? Play it, then play it again and again to see more secrets than ever.
The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
As we near the top of this list, the next three games could go in any order. However, Oblivion takes the third spot because, while it was groundbreaking and delivered an amazing RPG experience, it wasn’t as expansive and all-encompassing as its sequel. Nothing will compare to the initial hours of Oblivion however, as we guide a duke from prison to the great world outside, hearing the dulcet tones of Patrick Stewart walk with us before we open the dungeon’s exit door and are besieged by a world of beauty and colour that would remain for hundreds of hours.
Fallout: New Vegas
This one comes down to story, as well as character. Fallout: New Vegas took what made Fallout so good and localised it within a region that was itself over-the-top. It delivered a more mature story, bolstering it with rival gangs who all felt important to the central story and brought the city of Las Vegas to life. Featuring some of the funniest moments, this instalment of the franchise is considered by many to be the best Fallout game ever made. It had it all; there was joy, sadness, fear, horror, whimsy, hilarity, and a world that felt just as important as any character. What’s more, it stands up to new playthroughs because that story just carries you through.
The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Could it really be anything else? Skyrim isn’t just the best of The Elder Scrolls, but it’s hailed as one of the best games ever made. Whether that’s due to the enormous open-world that keeps you distracted and finding secrets; or it might be the countless ways to build your character; the modding community who keep adding to the game; or it might just be the engaging story that kept us up til the wee hours. Skyrim, the game released for practically every modern system known to man, lets you do pretty much anything in a world where everything holds importance or consequence. Tamriel is better than ever, the guilds and character classes are superb, and Skyrim is full to bursting with lore, personality, and charm - it’s the game that keeps on giving.
Featured Image Credit: BethesdaTopics: Bethesda, Deathloop, Doom, Doom Eternal, Fallout, Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls, The Elder Scrolls 6, Opinion