When it comes to Western RPGs, there are a few names bigger than Bethesda. With their first new IP in 25 years, Starfield, Bethesda wants to create the biggest game world it has ever created. If you’ve played Starfield (and possibly managed to complete it) and are on the lookout to play else from Bethesda, then you have come to the right place. In this list, we will look at some of the best games published by Bethesda.
Do note that we will take into account the entirety of the studios under Bethesda Zenimax, not just Bethesda Game Studio. Otherwise, this list will be limited to just Elder Scrolls and Fallout titles.
So let’s get started.
Fallout: New Vegas
It was tough to choose between this and Fallout 3. While the Capital Wasteland of Fallout 3 was arguably a more interesting setting as compared to the Mojave Wasteland, the improved gameplay and better mission structure gave New Vegas the edge. The game featured the tried and true gameplay mechanics of a Bethesda RPG with lots of factions, difficult morality choices, and awesome enemies.
Pros
- Fun storylines
- Great open world
Cons
- The map can feel a little barren
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
I’m pretty sure you might have already played Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The game has been relaunched multiple times on various consoles. In fact, you can even play a version of it on the Amazon Echo smart speaker. And people continue to buy it. The game features good combat, difficult choices, and tons of places to explore, which improves the game’s replayability.
Pros
- Great open world
- Fantastic story
- Good combat
Cons
- Can we have Elder Scrolls VI already?
Doom: Eternal
Now let’s look at a few games that aren’t from Bethesda Game Studio. First up is Doom: Eternal from Id Software. The Doom series is considered by many to be the granddaddy of FPS games and Doom: Eternal certainly lives up to those expectations. While many modern FPS games try to have more realistic combat gameplay, Doom: Eternal goes back to the glory days of the genre. So you are granted an arsenal of powerful weapons with one key objective, “rip and tear until it is done.”
Pros
- Awesome Gunplay
- Huge arsenal of weapons
- Surprisingly decent story
Cons
- The learning curve can be steep
Dishonored 2
If you prefer more nuanced combat, then Dishonored 2 might be right up your alley. Featuring improved gameplay as compared to the first entry, Dishonored 2 gives you the freedom to tackle objectives as you want. Want to sneak through the entrance level like a ghost? Go right ahead! Want to go in all guns blazing? You can do that too! Oh, and did I mention it as a great story as well?
Pros
- Excellent level design
- Lots of freedom
Cons
- Predictable story
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Wolfenstein is a legendary series that is spoken of just as highly as Doom. The game has been through multiple reboots throughout its history. But this one is considered to be the best. This game introduces you to an alternate universe where the Nazis won World War 2 thanks to vastly superior technology. You play as William “B.J.” Blazkowicz and it’s up to you to cripple the Nazi regime by destroying everything in your path.
Pros
- Satisfying story
- Surprisingly good stealth mechanics
Cons
- Relatively short main campaign
