The highly-esteemed video game developer Bethesda has earned an indispensable place in the history of video games as the maker of some of the world’s highest-grossing video games of all time.
Bethesda’s indomitable success started more than 20 years ago with the advent of the first game in The Elder Scrolls franchise – The Elder Scrolls: Arena. From then on, Bethesda has skyrocketed to the most prominent place in the video game industry as one of the leading and most respected Western RPG developers of stellar titles like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 3.
Here we have a list of the 10 best video games by Bethesda at your disposal:
10. DOOM (2016)
DOOM - Fight Like Hell Cinematic Trailer
The sanguinary successor to 2004’s Doom 3, the new Doom enraptures the spirit of pandemonium, hopelessness and despair. While for many it doesn’t build up to the splendor and bedlam of the original Doom, Doom 2016’s foremost merit is the blood-sodden, adrenalin-imbued campaign, coupled with hell-bent heavy metal music. Strict and concise in its execution, the new Doom reinvigorates all praiseworthy elements of the classic Doom, delivering them in an efficient way that is approachable for both long-standing fans and newcomers to the series.
9. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls III : Morrowind Trailer
Despite The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s numerous sales and universal acclaim, 90’s players of the Elder Scrolls series still fondly remember the grandeur and depth of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, which for long-standing fans of the series is still the symbol of what every Elder Scrolls game should aspire to.
Set in the island of Vvardenfell, the land of the Dark Elves, Morrowind is arguably the series’ most diverse and lavishly abundant entry. Its release dating back to 2002, the aged graphics, static NPCs and written dialogue substituting voice acting, Morrowind may not appeal to present-day gamers as much as the recent Elder Scrolls entries.
Even during its time, the game was not without its defects, but the voluptuous world of Vvardenfell – imbued with misty swamps, desert cities, and seedy ports – interwoven together with a unique, complex, unforgettable narrative, outweigh the game’s every shortcoming. The games outline is the most original in the series, taking into account The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Skyrim’s heavy reliance on medieval European history and Norse mythology.
8. The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online - E3 2013 Gameplay Trailer
One of the more recent entries in The Elder Scrolls series, The Elder Scrolls Online is not without its merits despite its crumbling start in the form of game-breaking bugs, unreliable servers and the heavily-criticized monthly subscription fee which stirred an outburst of reproach from fans.
However, the game has improved significantly in the last two years, with the addition of new content packs including fan-favorite factions such as the roguish Thieves Guild and the clandestine Dark Brotherhood along with the removal of the monthly subscription fee.
Having evolved into a successful multiplayer experience with an adequate amount of players, Bethesda’s interpretation of a World of Warcraft-styled reiteration is sure to keep fans busy until the release of The Elder Scrolls VI.
7. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV : Oblivion Trailer
Like most of it Elder Scrolls counterparts, Oblivion offers new and divergent areas to traverse, however, the medieval European-inspired province of Cyrodiil was not met with a lot of fan approval. Add to this the meager, predictable story with a lack of a memorable cast, the game left fans wanting, who entered the game with overreaching expectations following the originality and character-driven narrative of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.
Oblivion is still meritorious despite its lackluster narrative; the manifold and suspenseful side quests, the copious, open-ended content outside the main narrative allows an abundance of potential for character building, even if the player doesn’t pursue the main storyline.
6. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Official Trailer
Even today, the brilliance and success of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim still pervades the video game world. Ornamented with manifold praise and numerous awards, the Nordic tale of the Dragonborn and the wind-swept land of Skyrim still attract many players of the RPG genre. Despite the fact that the game is already aged 5 years, Skyrim’s release has turned the tide of role-playing games; its trace in the history of games will not be easily diminished anytime soon.
As the production cycle of The Elder Scrolls VI is about to begin, the gaming world has its sights set on the stellar Elder Scrolls Skyrim’s successor, wondering whether any other future Elder Scrolls games will be able to portray and reiterate the exemplar formula of Skyrim.
5. Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition Trailer
A linkage of the meticulously detailed open-ended aspect of Fallout 3 and the narrative depth and world-building of Fallout 2, Fallout: New Vegas represents the best of both worlds as a laudable member of the award-winning, post-apocalyptic Fallout series.
Fallout: New Vegas has remained one of the series’ fan-favorites to this day, its key merits being the plausible and diverse suite of characters, an extensive, affluent main storyline with far-reaching consequences which shape the destiny of the people of New Vegas.
4. Dishonored
Dishonored - Debut Trailer
One of Bethesda’s newest IPs in the first-person, stealth action-adventure sphere which debuted in 2012, Dishonored swiftly enthralled gamers worldwide with its unparalleled freedom of choice, the stunning architecture reminiscent of 19th century Victorian London, open-minded, branching narrative and the impressive range of supernatural powers.
While the game’s dim, predictable narrative and the exclusion of a voiced protagonist was a frequent critique concerning the game, the adroit game mechanics and multitudinous paths to complete a certain objective, gave players enough reason to replay the game numerous times.
3. Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood - Gameplay Launch Trailer
The self-contained sequel to 2014’s Wolfenstein: The New Order is infused with double the butchery and slaughter compared to previous games, adorned with memorable, tense-driven shootouts in opportunity-driven settings. The crossfire is unyielding and involved, you never really have a moment to catch your breath or relish in the moments of traversing uncharted areas or the character development, which in a way, makes the new game fall short compared to its predecessor.
2. The Elder Scrolls: Legends
The Elder Scrolls: Legends - Official E3 2016 Campaign Intro Cinematic
A queer entry to The Elder Scrolls franchise, The Elder Scrolls: Legends is the first collectible card video game based on the world of the Elder Scrolls. The game abounds in elements reminiscent of those found in Hearthstone and Magic. Legends is more severe and serious compared to its other card game contemporaries, the dismal art and sounds, the multitude of available mechanics, a story with many branching decisions, the extensive scope reflecting the map of Tamriel makes The Elder Scrolls: Legends a worthy rival to Hearthstone as more players join Legends over time.
1. Fallout 4
Fallout 4 - Official Trailer
Since its unforeseen announcement at E3 a few months prior to the game’s release, expectations for Fallout 4 went through the roof.
The game’s chief defect was the lack of captivating graphical enhancements compared to games like Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, which was Fallout 4’s contemporary. However, the games dull aesthetic quality is overshadowed by its bountiful, refreshing content imbued with a dose of replayability.
The game was warmly greeted by long-standing fans of the Fallout series and RPG genre as a whole, the plethora of content that inters fans in post-apocalyptic Boston, flexible leveling system and a gripping, multi-faceted narrative which offers a lot of opportunity for both character and world-building.
When it comes to quality and uniqueness, Bethesda seems to have only scratched the surface as the coming years seem to promise even more stellar titles for the company.
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