Top 10 Best Bethesda Games

You've wandered through irradiated wastelands with a pistol and a prayer. You've stolen sweet rolls and shouted dragons out of the sky. If you've spent any time in a Bethesda game, you already know the thrill of losing hours to a world that barely cares you're even there, and somehow that's part of the magic.

But not all Bethesda games hit the same. Some are sprawling triumphs of player freedom and atmosphere. Others, well, had ambition bigger than their engine could handle. This list is where you separate the all-timers from the clunky-but-lovable messes. Vote for the ones that pulled you in, chewed you up, and didn't let go. Or the ones that at least let you fus ro dah someone off a cliff.

The Top Ten

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Released in 2011, this open-world role-playing game is set in the province of Skyrim within the Elder Scrolls universe. Players complete quests, develop skills, and interact with factions while the main storyline centers on the return of dragons.

This game represents the best melding of a classic, quest-oriented RPG with a first-person shooter ever created. The environments are breathtaking. The depth of the characterization of the NPCs is surprisingly vivid, and the arc of the game itself, encompassing a no-boundaries, open world, is immensely satisfying. Even the soundtrack reinforces the grandeur of the gameplay.
My only critique would be the dearth of voice actors. Different, important characters brought to life by the same voice talent is disappointing, at times cartoonishly so. Overall, this is the best game I have ever played, and it is so by a considerable margin.
Fallout 3

This 2008 role-playing game is set in the Capital Wasteland, a devastated region surrounding Washington, D.C. Players explore ruins, complete quests, and make moral decisions that influence the game world.

I played Skyrim WAY more than Fallout 3, but this is way better. Fallout 3 feels more like a game because half the time I played Skyrim, I had to look up everything to understand it. Fallout 3 tells you or shows you what happens (or what happened), what something is, and just helps you understand.
It is a game with an ending, but without one as well (as long as you get DLC). The cap is 30, but that's fine because every time you level up, you feel like you have accomplished something, and you are rewarded amazingly, unlike Skyrim.

I played Skyrim and Oblivion before this. (I know, those aren't to be compared to this. This is different, but it's a Bethesda list, so...) Oblivion bored me, Skyrim addicted me, and this... oh, this went beyond addiction. It sucked me into its world and didn't let go.
So much freedom too. The choices were what Skyrim was missing. It's worth getting this game set up on Windows 10. It's that good.
Fallout: New Vegas

This 2010 action role-playing game is set in a post-apocalyptic Mojave Desert following a nuclear war. The story focuses on political conflict among competing factions while allowing players to shape outcomes through dialogue choices and allegiances.

Fallout: New Vegas gives the player more freedom than Fallout 3. The Courier is a character we can feel like ourselves without having a quest to find our father.

Better story, better lore, better location. It beats Fallout 4 and Fallout 3 significantly because of its originality.

By far the best. It's probably due for a graphics revamp, but I'd be ready to play it through for a third time.
Fallout 4

Released in 2015, this game takes place in the Commonwealth, a post-nuclear version of the Boston area. It introduces a voiced protagonist and a settlement-building system alongside traditional exploration and combat mechanics.

It gets a lot of hate, yet it is still loved by most people who played it. It's different from Fallout 3, but I think that's what makes it a step forward for Bethesda.

This was the first Fallout I played. I've never been a fan of games like this, but I was quickly drawn into the story and flow of the game. I love it!

I'm shocked to see Fallout 4 ranked this low. This game is the best game I've ever played. The story, the mechanics, the choices - I dare say it's perfect.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Released in 2006, this installment is set in the province of Cyrodiil within the Elder Scrolls setting. The narrative revolves around closing portals to the demonic realm of Oblivion while supporting the restoration of the imperial throne.

This was the first Bethesda game I ever played, and I have well over 500 hours on it. This is what got me through middle school and some of high school. Oblivion was there for me when I was depressed and had to escape the world.
I recently bought it again and am feeling the nostalgia hit. I'm much better now, and when I play this game, I'm able to go back to the past and see where I am now. Best Bethesda game ever for me. Second is Morrowind, haha!

Skyrim, in my opinion, is overhyped. Oblivion's quests were way better. Going into someone's dream and doing tests is hard to forget. Competing in the arena is badass and had much more interesting faction quests. The Mages Guild and Fighters Guild provided a nice HQ in every city.
In Skyrim, a small village burns down. In Oblivion, a city does. Dragons get boring fast, while going into Daedric realms is much more interesting.
Doom (2016)

This first-person shooter serves as a reboot of the Doom franchise and was released in 2016. It emphasizes fast-paced combat and movement while battling demonic forces on Mars and in Hell.

Doom is one of the most violent and brutal games. However, you will really enjoy ripping and tearing. The background music and the graphics do a great job of creating an intense atmosphere. The story plot is also logical, making Doom 2016 a unique FPS game.

Possibly the fastest game I have ever played. It manages to have a ton of action while also having a convincing yet discreet storyline.

This throwback to the original is one of the greatest additions to the FPS genre this decade.
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

This 2002 role-playing game takes place on the island of Vvardenfell in the province of Morrowind. It features an open-ended quest structure and a detailed world influenced by political, religious, and cultural conflicts.

Morrowind is the best game that Bethesda has ever made, by far. Daggerfall is a very good game and revolutionary in many ways, but Morrowind is Bethesda's masterpiece. Both games are extremely better than Oblivion, Skyrim, Fallout 3, and Fallout 4 in terms of design, mechanics, and content.
Morrowind and Daggerfall are truly RPGs and include intelligent, adult design - in the real sense of adult: serious, convoluted, and deep. Morrowind specifically offers the most detailed and original world in video game history, one of the best art designs, and the largest set of possibilities in a single-player game. It is one of the longest games to "finish" ever. Also, no game before or after has done exploration so well.
Dishonored

Released in 2012, this stealth-focused action game is set in the industrial city of Dunwall. Players assume the role of a supernatural assassin and can complete missions using combat, stealth, or non-lethal approaches.

Easily the best game Bethesda has made. It takes nearly all of the things Skyrim tried to do and does them properly. We can only hope that the people responsible for Dishonored are involved in Elder Scrolls 6, too.
Dishonored has a great story that, even with a silent protagonist, still somehow forces you to care about the result - something that Skyrim failed to do. Dishonored also has a beautiful setting. Even though it is not open-world, and doesn't even try to hide that fact, it is still a hundred times more immersive than Skyrim or Fallout. Both of these games feel more like underdeveloped premises than proper worlds. Skyrim spread too little substance over too great a space, and Fallout feels more like the dream of the protagonist, in which events only happen when the protagonist is there to witness them.
Wolfenstein: The New Order

Released in 2014, this game is set in an alternate history where Nazi Germany won World War II. The story follows a resistance movement fighting against a technologically advanced regime.
Rage

Released in 2011, this first-person shooter is set in a post-apocalyptic future following an asteroid impact. The game combines gunplay with vehicular combat and exploration of open environments.

I don't see why everyone hated this game. From the minigames to the actual missions, I loved it. The graphics were decent, and the missions were pretty fun.

The Newcomers

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The Elder Scrolls: Blades

Released in 2019, this action role-playing game was designed primarily for mobile platforms. It features dungeon-based gameplay, town rebuilding mechanics, and simplified controls.
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Rage 2

This 2019 sequel is set in an open-world post-apocalyptic environment following a global catastrophe. It combines first-person shooting with vehicular combat and exploration.

The Contenders

Brink

Released in 2011, this first-person shooter is set on a massive artificial island known as the Ark. It blends single-player and multiplayer objectives with a class-based progression and parkour-style movement system.

The action was just awesome, and you never felt alone.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

This 2017 sequel continues the alternate-history storyline in a Nazi-controlled United States. It features a linear narrative-driven campaign with expanded character development.

Anybody who says The New Order is better than Wolfenstein II probably just never played it. The New Colossus is one of the best FPS games ever released on the PS4. It's not only the best Bethesda Wolfenstein game ever released, it's also just a fantastic experience and story even upon replay.
Seriously, give it a shot. Most think that The New Order was "good" but never bothered to buy the second one. That's because The New Order is not as good as they think. It greatly lacks in comparison to this installment. Play it!
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

Released in 1996, this role-playing game features one of the largest explorable game worlds of its time. The plot centers on political intrigue and supernatural events in the Iliac Bay region.
Pirates of the Caribbean

This 2003 action-adventure game is loosely based on the film franchise of the same name. Players navigate naval combat and sword fighting while progressing through a story inspired by pirate-themed settings.
Dishonored 2

This 2016 sequel allows players to choose between two protagonists with distinct abilities. The game expands on the original's stealth systems and is set across multiple locations beyond Dunwall.

The best thing about this FPS game is that you can choose to become one of the two main characters. The storylines of both characters are quite different, and you may want to play it twice. The power abilities in this game are also interesting, and players can use them for many tricks.
Prey

Released in 2017, this science fiction game is set aboard the space station Talos I. The narrative focuses on survival and discovery while players use abilities and tools to overcome hostile alien organisms.

The most unique thing about this FPS game is that there are many open endings you can choose. As the identity of players ourselves is a bit special, it might also affect which kind of ending you will like to pick. Each different choice you make will greatly affect the story development after that.

This is the best Bethesda game since Skyrim. Starting with the soundtrack - oh my god, that soundtrack is a masterpiece. The gameplay is beautiful, and the graphics are like something out of the National Art Museum.
The Evil Within

Released in 2014, this survival horror game follows a detective investigating a series of violent events linked to a distorted psychological world. Gameplay emphasizes limited resources, stealth, and environmental hazards.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

This 2015 re-release removed the mandatory subscription model from The Elder Scrolls Online. It allows players to explore the continent of Tamriel through quests, dungeons, and large-scale multiplayer content.
The Evil Within 2

This 2017 sequel continues the narrative of its predecessor within a fragmented virtual environment. It expands exploration with semi-open areas while maintaining survival horror mechanics.
Fallout 76

This 2018 online action role-playing game is set in Appalachia shortly after a nuclear apocalypse. It emphasizes multiplayer exploration, crafting, and environmental storytelling without traditional human non-player characters at launch.

It's a good game. It's a game style I love, and it might have some glitches, but all games do (well, maybe not as many glitches, but they are working on that). Soon, maybe after most of the updates, it will be a better game.

The game is good. Bethesda gave us what we wanted.

Good game. It gets loads of hate from people who haven't even played it.
Doom 3

Released in 2004, this first-person shooter is set in a research facility on Mars overrun by demonic entities. It emphasizes atmospheric lighting and narrative-driven horror elements alongside combat.
Home Alone (1991)

This video game adaptation is based on the 1990 film and was released on multiple platforms in 1991. Players control Kevin McCallister as he sets traps to defend his house from intruders.
An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire

Released in 1997, this role-playing game is set within a magical training facility connected to multiple realms. It focuses on dungeon exploration and real-time combat rather than an open world.
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

This 2005 survival horror game is inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft. It features investigative gameplay, sanity effects, and combat set in a 1920s coastal town.
Quake Champions

Released in early access in 2017, this arena-based first-person shooter builds on the Quake franchise's fast-paced multiplayer design. It introduces distinct playable characters with unique abilities.