Top Bethesda RPGs: A Ranking

If there’s one developer synonymous with a specific genre, it’s Bethesda and their signature style of crafting expansive open-world RPGs. So iconic is their approach that it’s tempting to dub the entire category of first-person, open-world Western RPGs as “Skyrimlikes” or “Oblivionvanias.” Since *The Elder Scrolls: Arena* launched in 1994, Bethesda Game Studios has grown into a powerhouse in the triple-A space, amassing a fervent fanbase, massive sales figures, and even a $7.5 billion acquisition by Microsoft—all on the strength of their tried-and-true design philosophy.

Over the years, Bethesda has delivered both triumphant hits and humbling misses. With the recent release of *The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remaster*, fans are reconsidering their long-held opinions on the studio’s legacy. As *The Elder Scrolls VI* remains tantalizingly distant, we figured it was the perfect time to revisit and rank their body of work. Rest assured, this list won’t be outdated anytime soon.

Before we dive in, note that this list focuses exclusively on Bethesda’s hallmark RPG titles. Spin-offs like *Battlespire* and *Redguard*, as well as mobile games like *The Elder Scrolls Blades* and *Fallout Shelter*, don’t make the cut. While the latter holds a special place in our hearts for its dark humor and quirky charm, this ranking is reserved for the heavyweights—the sprawling, prestige sandboxes that immediately conjure the image of a capital-B, capital-G “Bethesda Game.” That said, we’ll begin humbly…

9: The Elder Scrolls: Arena

Arena isn’t last because it’s bad—it’s last because it was the studio’s first foray into RPGs, and it shows. Bethesda’s 1994 lineup consisted mostly of sports and Terminator-themed games, so Arena was a mishmash of ideas, originally pitched as a medieval gladiator competition. Developers quickly pivoted to adding exploration, side quests, and dungeon-diving mechanics, but the transition wasn’t seamless.

The result is an impressively ambitious first-person RPG that feels unmistakably of its era—a chaotic, labyrinthine “where-the-hell-do-I-go?” experience reminiscent of Ultima Underworld and Might and Magic. Arena brims with arcane systems, randomized loot, and convoluted side quests, but its clunky movement and imprecise combat make navigation a chore.

Despite its flaws, Arena was successful enough to establish Bethesda’s path forward, even if its title didn’t quite match its vision. After all, the developers couldn’t rename the game after ditching the gladiator concept, so they tacked on “Chapter One” and hoped gamers would overlook the mismatch.

The Elder Scrolls: Arena
Bethesda
Jan 15, 1992

8: Starfield

Every new Bethesda Game Studios (BGS) title brings speculation about whether it will finally break free from their aging Gamebryo engine. Spoiler alert: Starfield didn’t. While the “Creation Engine 2.0” boasts a sleeker animation pipeline, you’re still greeted with loading screens whenever you step into a store.

The NASApunk sci-fi setting marked a welcome departure from the gritty locales of Tamriel and The Wasteland, but it doesn’t suit BGS’s strengths. Their expertise lies in crafting intricate, interconnected worlds filled with discoveries and surprises. Starfield, on the other hand, offers 1,000 procedurally generated planets, but they feel repetitive, with a handful of points of interest spread thinly across each.

Exploring endless alien ruins gets tiresome fast, especially when every planet seems to host another abandoned cryo lab or mining facility. Compare this to Skyrim, where you can always stumble upon something exciting nearby—here, you’re stuck grinding through mundane tasks until you can escape.

Placing Starfield so close to Arena might seem harsh, but it’s easier to forgive the growing pains of a fledgling team than the shortcomings of a $200 million triple-A titan that failed to meet expectations.

Starfield
Bethesda Game Studios
Sep 5, 2023

7: The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall

One reason Starfield feels so underwhelming is that Bethesda has been mastering procedural generation since the beginning. Their second RPG, Daggerfall, is one of the most impressive feats of algorithmic world-building ever made—and it came out in 1997.

While Skyrim’s map spans about 15 square miles, Daggerfall’s sprawls across a staggering 80,000 square miles—roughly the size of Great Britain. Walking across the entire continent takes 69 hours, assuming you don’t fall asleep at the reins of your trusty steed.

The world is vast, sparse, and visually unimpressive, but it’s far from empty. The Iliac Bay region alone hosts nine distinct climates, 44 political factions, and 15,000 points of interest. That includes 4,000 dungeons and 5,000 towns, each brimming with NPCs and quests. Procedural generation is clearly involved, but it’s hard to fault a game for its ambition.

Combat improves incrementally, and the introduction of the skill-based leveling system—a series of upgrades that reward practice—is a highlight. However, the real star of Daggerfall is its above-ground experience, where you can buy property, join guilds, and live life to the fullest.

The Elder Scrolls: Chapter II -- Daggerfall
Bethesda
Jun 24, 1997

6: Fallout 76

Why is Fallout 76 on this list? Because it’s a Bethesda RPG, albeit one that leans heavily into live-service mechanics and multiplayer elements. At launch, the game was a disaster, stripping out handcrafted dialogue and NPCs in favor of grief-prone online players. This decision, among many others, made for a frustrating experience in 2018.

Thankfully, updates like Wastelanders have added voiced NPCs and tweaked the loot system, making the game more enjoyable. Still, its reputation as a live-service cash grab persists, especially given the superior Elder Scrolls Online. Despite this, Fallout 76 has found a niche following, buoyed by the popularity of Amazon’s Fallout TV series.

Discontent with Bethesda’s handling of the Fallout franchise has been simmering for years, and Fallout 76 only amplified those concerns. Still, it’s hard to ignore the game’s enduring