10 Best Bethesda Franchises, Ranked

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Established back in 1986, Bethesda Software has been creating video games for longer than I have existed. Their journey started modestly with titles such as Wayne Gretzky Hockey and IHRA Drag Racing, but one of their iconic intellectual properties, The Elder Scrolls, emerged during the early phase of Bethesda’s history, debuting in 1994.

After that point, Bethesda has broadened its collection of games by acting both as a publisher and a developer, introducing fresh game worlds and acquiring established gaming franchises such as DOOM, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls. It’s difficult to find someone, whether a gamer or not, who isn’t familiar with these titles, given their popularity. In fact, many people have been inquiring about the upcoming Elder Scrolls VI game from Todd Howard.

Among Bethesda’s extensive library of over 20 IPs, some stand out as their most celebrated titles, ranging from iconic franchises to hidden gems. However, determining which ones are truly the cream of the crop can be challenging due to Bethesda’s lengthy history in game development and publishing. But don’t fret, we have compiled a list for you.

Let’s go over our top 10 favorite Bethesda series, listed from least favorite to most. Including both their newer creations and classic titles, we’re showcasing the finest offerings that Bethesda Game Studios has produced.

Here are our picks for the ten greatest Bethesda games, arranged from worst to best, covering both their latest series and long-standing franchises. Enjoy exploring Bethesda’s finest works!

10.
Starfield

Aiming For The Moon

As an ardent admirer, I can understand why Bethesda might want to experiment with fresh ideas instead of exclusively focusing on Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series, although it’s undeniably what we, the fans, yearn for their continued success.

Starfield as a notion truly intrigues: imagine playing a role-playing game by Bethesda, but this time set in the cosmos. Sounds like a no-brainer, doesn’t it? Regrettably, that’s not the case.

Starfield shows promise with its innovative concepts, yet it encounters a multitude of design hurdles that hinder its potential. A phrase frequently used in the late 2010s comes to mind: procedurally generated worlds. The excitement of discovering numerous planets loses its charm when there’s little intrigue or appeal hidden within them.

Additionally, Starfield presents a challenge concerning the open-world RPG genre: Isn’t it misleading if we can’t move freely between planets as if they were part of one continuous world? I believe the answer is yes, it fails to deliver on this promise, resulting in a less engaging experience that leaves us questioning the game’s development.

9.
RAGE

Starring…John Goodman?!

Many individuals held extremely lofty anticipations for the initial RAGE game, often likening it to a fusion of Borderlands and Fallout. However, from my perspective, the game didn’t seem to fit that description; instead, it played out as an open-air adaptation of DOOM.

As anticipated, the outcome was as I had expected, and it turned out to be an enjoyable experience for me, despite not being particularly extraordinary.

2019’s follow-up title, RAGE 2, was brimming with style and character, but unfortunately, it failed to deliver on these aspects. The main problem lay in its humor, which often missed the mark. Regrettably, it didn’t contribute much to gameplay innovation; ironically, it drew a great deal of inspiration from the 2016 reboot of DOOM in an attempt to stand out.

It would be fantastic if there was a hypothetical scenario where Rage received a second chance to deliver gameplay similar to DOOM, with more robust world-building. However, considering the current status of AAA game development, it seems unlikely that such an event will occur.

8.
The Evil Within

Tangoing With Survival Horror

In simple terms, if you want to create an immersive survival horror experience in my opinion, just mentioning that the game was directed by Shinji Mikami, who’s famous for developing the Resident Evil series, is enough to pique my interest.

The Evil Within series offers compelling survival horror gameplay, providing enjoyable experiences though they may not be groundbreaking.

One advantage they have is launching when the Resident Evil series was struggling and veering off course. However, considering that Capcom has since revitalized the franchise with Resident Evil 7 and Village, The Evil Within might seem somewhat outdated in today’s context.

Initially, I appreciated the retro vibe in these survival horror games, yet I found myself wishing they could’ve omitted some of the challenging elements the genre is infamous for.

7.
Prey

Rebooted And Forgotten

One potential rephrased version could be: “The primary problem with Prey lies in its lack of staying power. Interestingly, it bears strong resemblances to the everlasting classics, System Shock 2 and BioShock.

While Prey offers solid gameplay and a strong theme, it falls short in creating lasting impressions, particularly with its conclusion. In contrast, games like System Shock 2 (with SHODAN) and BioShock (boasting Rapture, the mid-game twist, and Big Daddy battles) deliver more impactful moments.

The quality of a game being good might get attention initially, but it seems that isn’t enough for Bethesda to commission a sequel. The original game didn’t perform well in terms of sales, and it failed to create enough excitement or anticipation among players to necessitate a new installment.

It’s too bad that there was so much potential for exploration within this universe, and I wished they had continued with more of their previous work instead of creating a looter shooter. However, that’s the way things turned out.

6.
Dishonored

Definitive Stealth Action

Prior to developing Prey, Arkane Studios made a big entrance into the gaming industry with the Dishonored series, delivering a remarkable spin on the stealth-action game genre.

The Dishonored series captivates you with its distinctive visual design. Instead of sticking to the drab looks typical of many 2010 games, it offers a vivid, colorful universe that seems almost like a living watercolor masterpiece.

The essential gameplay mechanism that draws you in again and again, providing freshness and novelty, is that your actions within the game significantly impact the world around you. If you move stealthily like a mouse, the world may not even notice your presence. On the other hand, if you opt for a more aggressive approach, confronting enemies will become more challenging due to their increased numbers.

Dishonored is a one-of-a-kind experience that’s incredibly fun to play, merging the top elements of stealth and action RPG games. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a decade since a game in this series has come out. Bethesda, could you please explain why there hasn’t been a new release yet?

5.
Quake

Fast-Paced FPS

After launching DOOM, id Software subsequently developed another first-person shooter game: Quake, which marked the last project they worked on together, John Romero and John Carmack.

If you found DOOM’s gameplay a bit sluggish, get excited because the high-speed action you desire is now available with Quake!

One aspect that initially made Quake distinctive was its atmosphere, offering a darker, gothic-style terror feel, which complemented its advanced, cutting-edge 3D graphics for the era.

Gradually, the game Quake moved away from its initial style and adopted a more science fiction tone in its larger storyline, which has been present across various titles following Quake II, some of which have fallen short of expectations.

Despite my personal preference, I never quite took to Quake like some of id Software’s other games, but I must admit, it has certainly made its mark on the gaming genre.

This significant chunk of gaming heritage, for unknown reasons, has lain dormant for a considerable period, apart from occasional remakes. It could be due to the captivating content found in DOOM and Wolfenstein which might explain their popularity as superior Bethesda series.

4.
Wolfenstein

Punch Your Local Nazi

For numerous individuals, DOOM is often referred to as the “grandfather” of the First-Person Shooter (FPS) genre, yet it’s worth considering that Wolfenstein could also hold

Over the years, what’s kept Wolfenstein enjoyable, excluding the disappointing 2009 release, is its ability to evolve with the times.

Wolfenstein 3D, an iconic first-person shooter from the boomer era, offers a great gaming experience. Its multiplayer expansion, Enemy Territory, was popular in the 2000s and didn’t require any additional purchases or microtransactions. Moreover, the series paved the way for a comeback of old-school first-person shooter design with The New Order and The New Colossus.

Bethesda has truly excelled in the contemporary Wolfenstein series, and I’m eagerly anticipating what they have planned for the future of this popular franchise, following the success of their DOOM revival.

3.
DOOM

The Man, The Legend

Speaking of that DOOM reboot, it was exactly the breath of fresh air the franchise needed.

It’s quite remarkable how well the old MS-DOS games still stand the test of time, but let me emphasize the significant change that DOOM 3 represented. Instead of feeling like the original DOOM, it was more akin to a terrifying survival horror experience.

As for me, I dive into these virtual worlds with a straightforward approach – fire first, converse later, and keep shooting if I’m not satisfied with the responses.

Bethesda played a significant role in this scenario. Under their leadership, DOOM received the revival it desperately needed, resulting in a trio of games (DOOM 2016, Eternal, The Dark Ages) that have significantly impacted the First-Person Shooter genre as we know it today. It appears that speedy, action-packed games with over-the-top elements are still trending.

2.
The Elder Scrolls

The Premiere Fantasy RPG

After giving it considerable thought, I found myself at a crossroads when deciding which Bethesda franchise deserves the number one spot between the two highly deserving contenders. Ultimately, what tipped the scale was the more compelling main storyline of the Fallout series compared to The Elder Scrolls.

It doesn’t mean that The Elder Scrolls series has weak narratives overall, especially when it comes to the tales of The Dark Brotherhood, which are usually quite compelling.

As a gamer, I find myself immersed most deeply when I’m wandering the realms of Tamriel, veering away from well-trodden paths, and happening upon genuine, spontaneous instances within the game.

One strong argument for The Elder Scrolls is that playing Elder Scrolls Online offers a top-notch solo role-playing game (MMORPG) experience. While the term might seem contradictory, as I’m not typically fond of the leveling and questing aspects in most MMOs, I genuinely enjoyed my time with it, from its initial release up until now.

I’m really looking forward to Bethesda releasing a contemporary Elder Scrolls game, but truthfully, I wouldn’t mind if they postponed it and released a new Fallout instead. No need to get worked up about it.

1.
Fallout

War Never Changes

Absolutely, the Fallout games developed by Bethesda differ significantly from the originals made by Interplay. However, I personally think this change has been beneficial, and many others seem to agree. In fact, some consider Fallout 3 as the finest game in the series.

The primary factor lies in the fusion of elements that make The Elder Scrolls exceptional, along with the unique flair and character of Fallout.

Stepping into the Wasteland for the first time in Fallout 3 is hard to beat among gaming experiences; discovering all that lies ahead is truly a remarkable journey, and little do you know just how much lies ahead for you.

As a gamer, stepping into Fallout 3 was my introduction to this epic franchise, and once I grasped the potential it held, I couldn’t help but feel an exhilarating rush of anticipation. What I yearned for in an open-world gaming experience were not the monotonous, objective-driven gameplay loops that some developers seem overly fond of; instead, I was longing for something more immersive and engaging.

Indeed, there’s an argument to be made that Fallout 4 moved towards a more mainstream style, but I find this trade-off acceptable since it remains a true Fallout game, showcasing the peak of Bethesda’s design prowess, a standard few games can rival. This is why I unwaveringly assert that the Fallout series, despite my affection for The Elder Scrolls, stands as Bethesda’s finest franchise.

Of course, that can all change when Elder Scrolls VI releases in 2031.

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2025-05-22 20:41