Bethesda’s Most Reviled Game Becomes a 10/10 If You Ignore the Story

Starfield’s story disappointed many players after its 6 September 2023 launch, leaving the game short of the sense of discovery and memorable characters they had expected from Bethesda. The article argues that setting the main plot aside reveals a rewarding open-world game, where players can find their own reasons to explore and stay engaged.

Faction quests, including storylines with Ryujin Industries and the Crimson Fleet, offer scripted diversions and access to compelling locations. The writer’s strongest enjoyment came from personal projects such as collecting homes, building settlements, raiding hostile sites and upgrading a small ship into a fleet of powerful battleships across many planets.