Every Iconic Bethesda Game Ranked From Worst To Best

3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Although there's been a bit of a backlash against Skyrim since it first released (probably not helped by Bethesda continuing to sell different versions of the sequel to players who already own about five copies of it to begin with), there's a reason why it's the most popular game the developer has ever made.

That's not to say the criticism aimed at the title isn't valid, as although the combat and gameplay are tight, the complexity of the quests don't hold a candle to other entries in the franchise, making Skyrim much more of an action game than it is an RPG.

What the sequel lacks in quest structure and role-playing options though, it more than makes up for in its sense of adventure. Few games, Bethesda-developed or otherwise, have captured the thrill of exploration that this fifth game nailed so effortlessly. Every new landmark you came across had a story to tell, and unlike the copied-and-pasted dungeons of previous releases, the locations remained vibrant and distinct throughout.

Sure, there were occasions where decapitating the same skeletons for the hundredth time started to feel old, but these lulls were always rendered insignificant when you were taking in the wonder of the world under the glow of Skyrim's beautifully rendered night skies.