When it comes to legacy, Bethesda is a company that not only has a long history, but it’s one whose back catalogue is filled with absolute bangers. Without many of Bethesda’s leading RPGs, the genre would look very different, especially when looking at the genre’s development in the west.
Ask any Bethesda fan for their top 10 and it will be incredibly varied because the choice is so wide. Some may prefer the apocalyptic style ofFallout, while others want the high fantasy ofThe Elder Scrolls. Another player could choose the action and stealth mash-up ofDishonored. With the legacy and range in mind, here are our top 10.
Prey
Prey
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Deathloop
Deathloop
Playing with time travel is always a blast andDeathloopis no exception. It’s a race against time to kill the Visionaries, people with questionable morals who rule over an island with an iron grip. It’s up to Colt, our protagonist, to learn everything he can about each member of the group to kill them all in one day. This humbling challenge tasks you with collecting information, trying things out and piecing them together in one epic run, because as you progress and learn, you’ll often be killed and set right back to square one. Action-packed or stealthy,Deathloop,asour review says, is “an exciting, rewarding, and ambitious challenge".
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Wolfenstein
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In 2014, Bethesda resurrected an acclaimed franchise giving it an overhaul that caused it to stand out among the best modern action games.Wolfenstein: The New Orderis a reboot of the classic that helped spawn shooters as we know them. Set in an alternate period where the Nazis rule, it’s down to one legendary American soldier to topple the dictatorship. Filled with many action-packed set pieces, this legendary game is a ‘must play’ and consistently delivers punchy one-liners and intense combat.
The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind
Morrowind
DOOM
Doom
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It wouldn’t be a good list without the inclusion of the rebootedDOOMfrom 2016; a game that seemed to nail both the modern retooling and the homage to an all-time classic.DOOMtook us, once again, to Mars, to face off against hordes of demons in a bone-crunching action adventure that revelled in gore, guns, and grungy heavy metal riffs. With a kick-ass soundtrack that backed some of the most gorgeous and gruesome kills, this reboot managed to capture what makes the shooter genre so special. The iconic guns and creature designs were back and nothing beat stomping, punching, and blasting your way through blood-soaked hellscapes with a sci-fi edge.
Fallout 3
Fallout 3
When it comes toFallout, really any of the games can be in some of these slots. Each of them stands out for one reason or another, but thethird instalmentin the franchise is special because, much likeMorrowind, it was the game that took the series mainstream and went 3D. Before this, Fallout was an isometric turn-based RPG, but now it expanded out into an encompassing wasteland that seemed to go on forever. This iconic entry into the Fallout universe featured some of the best storytelling Bethesda has put out and very few games will beat the opening missions here.
Dishonored 2
Dishonored 2
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Ultimately, this entry could be for either of the mainline Dishonored games. Both of them are brilliant, however, this second iteration takes the billing due to its dual characters who are both sublime. Playing as either Empress Emily or her protector, Corvo, this is linear gameplay and storytelling at its best. While it doesn’t feature a Bethesda open-world,Dishonored 2still lets players experiment with possibility; who do you play as first? What decisions do you make? Do you rely on spectral powers of stealth? Do you prefer the action and gunplay? Play it, then play it again and again to see more secrets than ever.
The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Oblivion
Fallout: New Vegas
New Vegas
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The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Skyrim
Could it really be anything else?Skyrimisn’t just the best of The Elder Scrolls, but it’s hailed as one of the best games ever made. Whether that’s due to the enormous open-world that keeps you distracted and finding secrets; or it might be the countless ways to build your character; the modding community who keep adding to the game; or it might just be the engaging story that kept us up til the wee hours.Skyrim, the game released for practically every modern system known to man, lets you do pretty much anything in a world where everything holds importance or consequence. Tamriel is better than ever, the guilds and character classes are superb, andSkyrimis full to bursting with lore, personality, and charm - it’s the game that keeps on giving.
Topics:Bethesda,Deathloop,Doom,Doom Eternal,Fallout,Skyrim,The Elder Scrolls,The Elder Scrolls 6,Opinion
