The establishment of an in-house development arm within Bethesda Softworks in 2001 would kick off one of the most successful runs of any single developer in history, with the newly foundedBethesda Game Studiostaking the reins of theElder Scrollsfranchise and practically reinventing the conventions of Western RPGs overnight with the release ofThe Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind. Since then, the company has consistently raised the bar for immersive, open-world RPGs with both its high-fantasyElder Scrollsseries and its successful reinvention of theFalloutfranchise. And, in 2023, Bethesda Game Studios would see one of its greatest commercial successes yet with the release of its first original IP in over a decade –Starfield.
Though the initial critical reception toStarfieldwas mostly very positive, user perception of the title has cooled significantly in the months since its release, prompting discussion over the continued longevity of the tried-and-trueBethesda Game Studios design philosophyand game mechanics. With the next release in the company’s pipeline being the long-awaitedElder Scrolls 6, it will be interesting to see how that title learns from the various missteps ofStarfield. Even with the mixed reception to its latest game, though, Bethesda Game Studios has one of the most impressive libraries of titles of any single developer, giving cause to see how they stack-up next to one another.
S Tier
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim:The success ofThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionall but guaranteed that the next game in Bethesda’s flagship franchise would be one of the most anticipated games to ever release. Sure enough, the hype surroundingthe launch ofSkyrimin 2011 was an industry-shaking event, and the game’s release would prove to be the same. Undoubtedly Bethesda’s masterpiece and a benchmark in open-world game design,Skyrim’s vast and detailed world is one of the most fully-realized and feature-rich sandboxes for players to get lost in, embracing all the best aspects of playing an RPG and providing nigh-unprecedented levels of replayability. There are hundreds of potential hours to spend in the region of Skyrim, and every one of them yields some new discovery or worthwhile adventure.
Fallout 3:Between the launch ofOblivion(which would serve as one of the killer apps for the then-new Xbox 360) and beginning development onSkyrim, Bethesda Game Studios would do something many thought impossible by purchasing the rights to the dormantFalloutfranchise and announcing that it would be developing a brand-new game set in its universe. Taking the tenets of the classic CRPG and then transposing them into the studio’s signature first-person open-world RPG template,Fallout 3still stands as one of the best reinventions of a series and an incredible game in its own right. The greatestsuccess ofFallout 3comes from its understanding of the core elements of the franchise, maintaining the series' history of excellent writing, compelling NPCs, and plenty of gallows humor.
A Tier
Fallout 4:Fallout 4introduces several improvements over its predecessor, including bringing the addictive base-building feature that would see a return in Bethesda’sStarfieldas well as a complete overhaul to the character creator. Though it adds new gameplay elements, has improved graphical fidelity, and is a qualityfollow-up toFallout 3,Fallout 4finds itself somewhat lacking in the narrative department and also lacks the same impact of the franchise’s monumental relaunch.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion:The release ofMorrowindwas practically a revelation in the RPG genre, prompting its sequel to generate a considerable amount of hype ahead of its release. Along with it being one of the premier titles on Microsoft’s 7th generation console,Oblivionwas the game that would introduce millions of fans toThe Elder Scrolls. The ways thatOblivionretains the core design ofMorrowindbut is a much more accessible experience for newcomers would help it to become a massive hit, and its no surprise thatthe rumoredOblivionremasteris high-up on many longtime fans' wishlists.
B Tier
The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind:At the time of its release, The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind was a game unlike any other, essentially inventing an entirely new style of RPG and establishing Bethesda Game Studios as a developer to watch. Going back andplayingMorrowindtodayin the wake ofOblivionandSkyrimmakes its rough edges a little more obvious, but there’s no discounting the game’s historical importance and incredibly deep RPG systems.
Starfield:Interestingly,Starfieldactually reintroduces several long-forgotten RPG mechanics fromMorrowindto somewhat bridge the gap between Bethesda Game Studios' past and its future. As the first original IP from the developer in over a decade,Starfieldis nothing if not ambitious, even though it occasionally stumbles under the weight of that ambition. Still,Starfieldexcels as an RPG, allowing players to live out any number of space-faring fantasies.
C Tier
Fallout 76:Though it currently finds itself in a much better state than at launch, there’s something to be said for first impressions being a killer.Fallout 76is a great idea in theory (astheFalloutuniverseseems ideal for a live-service game) that would find itself becoming the target of fans' ire thanks to its buggy launch and predatory monetization model. Today, the game has a thriving community, but it definitely stumbled out of the gate rather than running out of it.
D Tier
Fallout Shelter:Fallout Sheltertakes the irreverent charm andhumor of theFalloutfranchiseand utilizes it for an oftentimes fun base-building and management sim, but it lacks the depth that the series is known for.
The Elder Scrolls: Blades:Along withFallout Shelter,The Elder Scrolls: Bladesis another Bethesda Game Studios mobile title that leverages its license to cover up otherwise uninspired gameplay not befitting the series' bar of quality.
IHRA Professional Drag Racing 2005:Though some racing fans who owned an Xbox might look back on this title fondly, there’s a reason that Bethesda Game Studios hasn’t ventured outside its RPG wheelhouse since 2005.
