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Ranking all Bethesda RPG games from worst to best

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - October 22nd 2024, 15:00 GMT+2

About this gallery:

To create this gallery, we decided to focus on RPGs made by Bethesda. So, you won’t see *Fallout 1* or 2 here, since Bethesda hadn’t yet acquired the rights to the franchise. And no, we’re not covering some of the less-than-great RPGs they’ve made either, because we’re sticking to the top 15.

If you think we missed an essential RPG or don’t agree with the ranking, why not leave us a comment? | © ZeniMax Online Studios

Cropped The Elder Scrolls Blades — 15. The Elder Scrolls: Blades (2019)

*The Elder Scrolls: Blades* is Bethesda’s attempt to bring the RPG experience to mobile, complete with town-building and first-person dungeon crawling. It’s not the next big Elder Scrolls game, but hey, it’s a fun little distraction for when you’re stuck in a meeting or waiting for your coffee. Just remember, there’s no Fus Ro Dah to save you this time. | © Bethesda Game Studios

Cropped An Elder Scrolls Legend Battlespire — 14. An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire (1997)

*Battlespire* takes a bit of a detour from traditional Elder Scrolls gameplay, focusing more on dungeon crawling and combat. It’s a strange but intriguing spinoff that still holds a special place in Elder Scrolls history. With no towns or merchants, it’s just you, your wits, and a whole lot of Daedra to take down. Talk about hardcore! | © Bethesda

Cropped The Elder Scrolls Adventures Redguard — 13. The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard (1998)

*Redguard* stepped away from the typical open-world formula of *The Elder Scrolls* and gave us a more linear action-adventure experience. Playing as Cyrus, a swashbuckling hero, you explore the island of Stros M’Kai. It didn’t quite shake up the world like *Skyrim*, but it’s a beloved piece of *Elder Scrolls* history for those who appreciate a good pirate story with a sprinkle of magic. | © Bethesda

Cropped The Elder Scrolls Arena — 12. The Elder Scrolls: Arena (1994)

The game that started it all, *The Elder Scrolls: Arena* is where Bethesda’s sprawling, open-world fantasy began. Sure, it’s a bit clunky by today’s standards, but this game laid the foundation for everything we love about the series. From creating your character to slaying monsters in dungeons, *Arena* was ambitious, and the true birthplace of Tamriel’s legends. | © Bethesda

11. Fallout Shelter (2015)

Who knew managing a vault could be so... cute? *Fallout Shelter* shrinks the wasteland experience down into an addictively charming mobile game where you build and manage your very own vault. It’s like *Sims* meets *Fallout*, with less drama and more radiation. Managing happiness, water, food, and babies all in one? Now that’s true Vault-Tec spirit. | © Bethesda Game Studios

Cropped The Elder Scrolls II Daggerfall — 10. The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall (1996)

*Daggerfall* is where *The Elder Scrolls* went from a cool fantasy RPG to a sprawling, open-world behemoth. The game’s map was the size of a small country, and its complexity for the time was mind-blowing. Sure, there were bugs, but that’s part of the Bethesda charm, right? It laid the foundation for the sandbox-style exploration the series is known for. | © Bethesda

9. Fallout 76 (2018)

*Fallout 76* is that friend who had a really rough start but got its life together—sort of. At launch, this multiplayer *Fallout* entry stumbled through bugs and glitches galore. But to its credit, it’s made a comeback with updates that made the wasteland a little more welcoming, at least as much as radiation-soaked Appalachia can be. If you enjoy fixing a post-apocalyptic mess, this one's for you. | © Bethesda Game Studios

8. The Elder Scrolls Online (2014)

*The Elder Scrolls Online* lets you take your Tamriel adventures to a whole new level—multiplayer. Whether you’re exploring Summerset or battling it out in Cyrodiil, this MMO gives you the freedom to live your Elder Scrolls life with a bunch of other adventurers. It’s the perfect place to get lost in, whether you’re a solo player or want to form your own guild of misfits. | © ZeniMax Online Studios

7. Starfield (2023)

It’s *Skyrim*... but in space! *Starfield* had the unenviable task of living up to the hype of a thousand Reddit threads, and while it didn’t cure our longing for the stars, it gave us some pretty sweet space-faring action. Whether you’re exploring the cosmos or getting lost in the game's absurd level of detail, it’s Bethesda's most ambitious leap into the final frontier. | © Bethesda Game Studios

Cropped Fallout 3 — 6. Fallout 3 (2008)

The game that took *Fallout* from isometric to first-person RPG glory. *Fallout 3* introduced us to the Capital Wasteland, where everything is gray and grimy—and it’s beautiful. With Liam Neeson as your dad (yep, that happened), this game is a post-apocalyptic blast. You’ll never forget the first time you leave Vault 101 and are blinded by the sun. Welcome to the wasteland, kid! | © Bethesda Game Studios

5. Fallout 4 (2015)

Welcome to post-apocalyptic Boston! *Fallout 4* brought settlement building, a talking protagonist (finally), and more side quests than you could shake a Nuka-Cola at. With a world this huge, it’s no wonder some of us spent more time decorating our settlements than saving our kid. But hey, who doesn’t want a cozy little wasteland getaway? | © Bethesda Game Studios

Cropped The Elder Scrolls III Morrowind — 4. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002)

*Morrowind* is the hardcore Elder Scrolls fan’s favorite—where the lore is deep, and the cliff racers are even deeper into your nightmares. This game introduced us to a world filled with weird creatures, stranger landscapes, and a combat system that was, well, unique. It’s a game that doesn’t hold your hand, and that’s exactly why it has such a passionate fan base. | © Bethesda Game Studios

Cropped The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion — 3. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006)

Before *Skyrim*, there was *Oblivion*, where the guards had a sixth sense for detecting your crimes and everything was just a little more... awkward. But that’s what we love about it. The Oblivion Gates were terrifying, the combat was clunky, and the NPCs had the weirdest conversations. And yet, it’s one of the best RPGs out there, with a charm that’s all its own. | © Bethesda Game Studios

Cropped Fallout New Vegas — 2. Fallout: New Vegas (2010)

*Fallout: New Vegas* is the wild wasteland adventure we didn’t know we needed. With a complex reputation system, engaging side quests, and a sense of humor that would make even the driest desert chuckle, it’s no wonder fans consider it a classic. Yes, you can gamble, but the real jackpot is the story. Just make sure you don’t anger too many factions at once! | © Obsidian Entertainment

The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim — 1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)

You’ve probably shouted “Fus Ro Dah!” at least once in your life, and *Skyrim* is to thank for that. In its original release, *Skyrim* gave us dragons, shouts, and a world so massive that you could spend hundreds of hours just getting distracted by side quests. To this day, it’s still spawning memes, mods, and endless re-releases. *Arrow to the knee*, anyone? | © Bethesda Game Studios

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Bethesda Game Studios has given us some of the most iconic and immersive role-playing games (RPGs) in gaming history. From battling dragons in the frozen tundra of Skyrim to surviving the radioactive wasteland in Fallout, Bethesda’s RPGs are filled with unforgettable worlds, stories, and (of course) plenty of bugs.

Whether you’ve been dodging cliff racers in Morrowind or exploring the far reaches of space in Starfield, this ranking will take you through the best (and the not-so-best) that Bethesda has to offer. So grab your Pip-Boy, ready your dragon shout, and let’s dive into the vast world of Bethesda RPGs—ranked from worst to best.

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Bethesda Game Studios has given us some of the most iconic and immersive role-playing games (RPGs) in gaming history. From battling dragons in the frozen tundra of Skyrim to surviving the radioactive wasteland in Fallout, Bethesda’s RPGs are filled with unforgettable worlds, stories, and (of course) plenty of bugs.

Whether you’ve been dodging cliff racers in Morrowind or exploring the far reaches of space in Starfield, this ranking will take you through the best (and the not-so-best) that Bethesda has to offer. So grab your Pip-Boy, ready your dragon shout, and let’s dive into the vast world of Bethesda RPGs—ranked from worst to best.