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The 10 Best Bethesda Video Games of All Time, Ranked
Collider has published a ranked list of the ten best video games made or published by Bethesda, drawing on the studio's decades-long history across franchises such as The Elder Scrolls, Fallout and Dishonored. The feature acknowledges that not every Bethesda release has been a hit, citing Starfield, but argues the company remains held in high regard by fans for its immersive worlds, ahead of anticipated future titles including The Elder Scrolls VI. Games are judged on design, gameplay, visuals, narrative, influence, originality, entertainment value, fan opinion, critical acclaim and overall quality.
Titles covered include Fallout 4, praised for its accessible design and base-building mechanics; The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, highlighted following its recent remaster; and two Arkane-developed titles published by Bethesda, Prey and Dishonored 2, both noted for their immersive-sim gameplay and power systems. The list explicitly includes games developed by external studios, such as Arkane, as long as Bethesda published them, and the excerpt provided covers only part of the full ten-game ranking.
In short
- Collider ranks Bethesda's ten best games across its major franchises.
- Fallout 4 and Oblivion's remaster feature prominently in the list.
- Arkane-developed titles Prey and Dishonored 2 also make the ranking.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A ranked list can help readers compare Bethesda’s varied catalogue and recognise games that shaped beloved franchises. Including titles Bethesda published as well as developed reflects its role in bringing notable games such as Prey and Dishonored 2 to audiences, while the stated criteria give readers a basis for understanding the choices.
The case against
Any ranking of the “best” games depends on subjective priorities: one reader may value narrative or influence, while another prefers gameplay, originality or personal enjoyment. Grouping games Bethesda developed with those it published can also blur distinctions in creative responsibility, and an excerpt covering only part of the list makes it harder to assess the ranking as a whole.
Explained simply
Bethesda is a video game company known for publishing role-playing games and open-world adventures. Its best-known series include The Elder Scrolls, set in a fantasy world, and Fallout, set in a post-apocalyptic future.
Bethesda has both developed games itself and published games made by other studios, including Arkane. That distinction matters here: the ranking includes titles such as Prey and Dishonored 2, which Arkane developed and Bethesda published.
These games span different styles, from exploring large worlds to using abilities and tools to tackle missions in varied ways. Lists of the “best” are subjective, so this one weighs factors including design, story, influence and critical reception.