Rarely does a developer become synonymous with a single genre, but Bethesda has so mastered its signature style that it's tempting to rename the entire realm of first-person open-world Western RPGs as "Skyrimlikes" or "Oblivionvanias." Since *The Elder Scrolls: Arena* debuted in 1994, Bethesda Game Studios has grown into a powerhouse in the triple-A space, amassing a passionate fanbase, racking up massive sales, and even fetching a $7.5 billion acquisition from Microsoft—all thanks to its tried-and-true design principles.

Bethesda has seen its share of blockbusters and misfires over the years. With the recent release of *The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remaster*, it's prompted us to reassess our long-held opinions, making this an opportune time to revisit and rank the studio's catalog. It'll be a while before *The Elder Scrolls VI* materializes beyond its dramatic, and perhaps premature, reveal logo, so at least this list won't be outdated anytime soon.

This list celebrates the heavyweights—the sprawling, prestige sandboxes that instantly evoke the grandeur of a Bethesda Game. Starting humbly, though, with...

9: *The Elder Scrolls: Arena*

While not last due to poor quality, *Arena* lands at the bottom because it was a first effort from a studio unfamiliar with RPGs. Back in 1994, Bethesda had primarily developed sports and Terminator games, and *Arena* was an odd hybrid of medieval gladiatorial battles and city exploration. Developers quickly shifted gears, introducing dungeon crawling and sidequests, resulting in a fascinating first-person RPG that feels quintessentially of its time—a "where-do-I-go?" adventure reminiscent of *Ultima Underworld* and *Might and Magic*.

*Arena* boasts complex systems, randomized loot, and sprawling, labyrinthine sidequests, though its clunky movement and frustrating combat detract from the experience. Despite its flaws, the game’s success was pivotal, paving the way for Bethesda's future triumphs.

8: *Starfield*

Every new Bethesda game brings whispers of engine upgrades, yet *Starfield* clings to the outdated "Creation Engine 2.0," despite its sleeker animations. While the NASApunk sci-fi setting marks a welcome departure from the low-tech locales of Tamriel and the Wasteland, it doesn’t mesh well with Bethesda’s strengths. Instead of a richly detailed world, we’re met with 1,000 procedurally generated planets featuring repetitive points of interest. Landing on a new world often results in yet another abandoned cryo lab or mine—monotonous, to say the least.

Despite its ambitious scope, *Starfield* feels hollow compared to the intricate environments of Bethesda’s past. Placing it so close to *Arena* might seem harsh, but it’s easier to forgive the growing pains of an inexperienced team than the shortcomings of a $200 million triple-A endeavor that failed to meet expectations.

7: *The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall*

One reason *Starfield* disappoints is that Bethesda has long excelled at procedural generation. Their second RPG, *Daggerfall*, remains one of the most impressive feats of open-world creation, released in 1997. By comparison, *Skyrim’s* map spans about 15 square miles, while *Breath of the Wild* and *Grand Theft Auto 5* hover around 30 square miles. *Daggerfall*, on the other hand, covers a staggering 80,000 square miles—roughly the size of Great Britain.

Walking across the entire map takes 69 hours, though riding a horse speeds things up. The world is immense, sparse, and visually underwhelming, yet brimming with life. The Iliac Bay region alone hosts nine climates, 44 political regions, and 15,000 points of interest. Thousands of dungeons and cities teem with quests and NPCs, though the procedural generation leads to some inconsistencies.

Combat improves slightly, but the standout feature is the skill-based progression system, where your abilities grow as you use them. Above ground, *Daggerfall* shines with immersive activities like buying property, joining guilds, and stealing/murdering freely. It’s a sandbox that practically begs for companionship, though its opacity and clunkiness might make you yearn for modern conveniences.

6: *Fallout 76*

It might surprise you to see *Fallout 76* on this list, given its shift toward multiplayer and live-service mechanics. At launch, the game was a disaster, omitting NPCs and dialogue in favor of griefing players for flavor. It was a mistake, to say the least, compounded by loot restrictions, crafting frustrations, and questionable monetization. However, updates like *Wastelanders* have introduced voiced NPCs, making it the largest cast in the series, though their value remains debatable. Tweaks to the loot system and gameplay have improved the experience, and a growing community has formed, especially amid the success of the *Fallout* TV series.

Despite these changes, *Fallout 76* struggles to match the depth of *Elder Scrolls Online*, which narrowly missed inclusion here due to its external development by Zenimax Online Studios. Fans remain skeptical of Bethesda’s stewardship of the Fallout franchise, but discontent was brewing long before *76* launched.