Bethesda Softworks is an American game publisher that has become renowned for its RPG titles and its ability to craft expansive and immersive worlds. From Fallout to Doom, Bethesda has left their touch on many worlds, here are my top 5 Bethesda games so far.
Dishonored
[This game] performs the very neat trick of making the player truly responsible for his or her actions.
Developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda, Dishonored was a hit in 2012 winning a BAFTA and leading to a sequel scheduled for this year. The quest of Corvo to avenge his empress and save the city of Dunwall is complicated by a mysterious plague and the meddling of a Godlike being called the Outsider.
The story in Dishonored is unique because of the consequences brought on the game’s world by players’ actions. The more that a player uses violence in the game, the more chaotic the city becomes.
Additionally, the game’s ending is decided by the player’s choices. I loved this game because of the atmosphere of Dunwall and the mixed gameplay which includes stealth, magic, or upfront violence. The ending and the journey to it had me invested in the characters and cheering for Corvo and Emily.
The Elder Scrolls IV- Oblivion
Oblivion was magical and unlike anything I’ve ever played.
Why is Oblivion such a great game? In 2006 when it was released, it offered an awesome RPG experience. An open world game with complex NPCs, great graphics, and an immersive soundtrack, in my opinion, Oblivion was an improved version of Morrowind.
I could follow the main quest and save Cyrodiil from the Mythic Dawn cult or spend hours on side quests, crafting and exploring on my horse. The customization available and the beautiful world had me spending hours focusing on every detail. Also, I loved the fact that Martin was voiced by Boromir, I mean Sean Bean.
Oblivion is not a perfect game, but it was the predecessor to Skyrim and a strong title from the Elder Scrolls series.
Fallout 3
I will always remember Fallout 3 as a fine example of a cult game turned mainstream.
Fallout 3 is Bethesda’s first take on the Fallout series and it is glorious! When the game first loads and the eerie music from the 50s begins to play, you know that you are about to start something great. Who will ever forget the iconic song “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire”? The mix of American Cold War-era culture and post-apocalyptic science fiction works together beautifully in making a real and creepy world.
In Fallout 3, the player – a survivor from Vault 101 goes looking for daddy dearest in the nuclear wasteland of Washington D.C. The story (and your choice whether to follow it or not) is creative and the open ending and world is a great way to spend hours building and exploring.
Fallout 4
Fallout 4 was released recently in November, 2015. If you go on reddit or any online forum you can see how crazy this game is and how it can consume your life. The fifth installment of the Fallout series, Fallout 4 has the added bonus of being able to build settlements.
Fallout 4 makes everything you love about Fallout games even better.
The Elder Scrolls V- Skyrim
Dragons! Werewolves and vampires! Norseman! Civil war! Magic and legendary powers! Skyrim has something for everyone, so much customization and lore jam packed into one game. The game is open to explore freely with beautiful graphics and locations so real looking and mysterious you may wish that you could live in the world of Skyrim.
Players have a wealth of different races and physical attributes to choose from, some players taking hours to craft their own character. You can decide to play as an assassin, thief, warrior, magi user, and so much more. From the plethora of side quests to the enchanting soundtrack, Skyrim is the king of rigs from Bethesda and I cannot wait for the next installment of the Elder Scrolls!
