Most Complex Bethesda Games, Ranked

Game Rant

Bethesda

By Jason Wojnar

Published Jan 24, 2025

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Thread 1

Summary

Start with simpler Bethesda games before progressing to more complex RPGs to ease into the genre.
Fallout 4 simplifies RPG mechanics, focusing on combat & base-building, making it a good entry point for newcomers.
Fallout 76, while simple for an MMO, is more complex than previous Bethesda games due to community interactions and microtransactions

Bethesda Softworks is known mostly for sprawling RPGs, though the studio has delved into other genres in the past. The genre is often associated with complex mechanics, especially for those unfamiliar with it. Is this true, though? It all depends on the game.

Looking at the studio's most complex games, some of the simpler ones are great starting points for those apprehensive about jumping into the deep end. Start with any of the games that appear early on the list. When one is comfortable with those, then it is time to move on to the more involved RPGs from them.

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10 Fallout 4

A More Streamlined Journey Through The Apocalypse

Fallout 4 simplifies a lot of the RPG mechanics from the series. Players no longer distribute stat points. Instead, abilities and stats are determined by the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system and a more comprehensive list of perks.

This simpler progression system is accompanied by a new base-building mechanic where players flex their creative muscles to fortify multiple settlements. This, along with the more advanced crafting system, establishes Fallout 4 as more combat-driven than prior Fallout games.

9 Gridiron

Some Sports Are More Complicated Than They Seem

Developer: Bethesda Softworks
Platforms: Amiga, Atari ST, AmigaOS
Publishers: Electronic Arts, Bethesda Softworks
Release year: 1986

The developer's debut title has extremely primitive visuals. The complexity in Gridiron comes from its focus on football's strategic elements. The title separates itself from other sports games of the time with a more in-depth play system and deeper stats for all the teams.

It stresses the complexity of football, a sport often associated with negative stereotypes about jocks spending more time at the gym than in a book. It is a reminder that this sport requires just as much brain as it does brawn.

8 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Complex Mechanics Smoothly Integrated Into Gameplay

Skyrim is the most streamlined game in Elder Scrolls series. It features all the staples of the franchise, including skills that improve organically by using them and level scaling.

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Its systems are more finely tuned, meaning players are less likely to level up into a brick wall that makes the game too hard to explore. Older entries in the series can be broken to either make the game too easy or too hard. Skyrim allows players to enjoy the world without forcing them to think about numbers.

7 Fallout 76

Simple For An MMO, Complicated For A Video Game

As far as online multiplayer RPGs go, Fallout 76 is pretty simple. However, it is still more complex than most of Bethesda's prior efforts in the series. The core gameplay resembles Fallout 4, but the base building is more flexible, allowing for some incredible creations from the community.

The interactions between players and the trading system were unprecedented for the developer. In the modern day, live-service games like this also come with optional subscriptions and various microtransactions that make the game more complicated, for better or worse.

6 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion

Don't Make The Game Too Hard

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion can be enjoyed in a manner almost as carefree as Skyrim, but players do have to watch out for its level scaling system. Enemies get stronger based on the player's level, regardless of their build.

Even if the player's character is strong and has high defense, there will come a time when even the most basic enemies have too much health and do too much damage to make the game enjoyable. Players can still enjoy the game without much thought until then, but it is something to ponder while enjoying one's time in Cyrodiil.

5 Fallout Shelter

Build Up A Vault

This mobile game came out as Bethesda revealed Fallout 4 to the world. Unlike the other titles, Fallout Shelter is a base management game. Players develop a vault, ensuring it has everything it needs to flourish in the post-apocalypse.

There are microtransactions to make the game easier, but the title is perfectly playable without spending money. Despite the more complex systems on the surface, the fact that it is basically impossible to get a game over prevents it from ending up higher on the list. It is complex, but ultimately forgiving.

4 Starfield

A Trek Through Space And Menus

Starfield is perhaps the most polarizing Bethesda game. It has some unique ideas, and the concept of an epic space opera RPG is always welcome. However, it is held back by needless complexity. A common complaint is just how much time players spend in menus fast-traveling from planet to planet.

Navigating the various cities and settlements is no simple feat, either. On the plus side, the ability to customize one's ship is welcome and makes everyone's experience unique. Then there is the innovative new game plus mode, which changes quests with each new run.

3 The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind

The Most Complicated 3D Elder Scrolls Game

The first fully 3D entry in the series shrinks down the scale of the adventure to make the world feel more alive and interesting than ever. Morrowind lacks many modern quality-of-life common to newer Western RPGs, forcing players to be more attentive.

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Waypoints are replaced with a journal that describes where players need to go with words, and the progression system takes some time to get used to. Combat is more traditional to RPGs, with swings representing the roll of a die. It is perplexing to swing a sword multiple times and do no damage, but that's just how this game works.

2 The Elder Scrolls: Arena

Old Age Did Not Make This Game Simpler

The debut entry in Bethesda's well-known series has the distinction of not including the trademark progression system that increases skills as one uses them. Players choose what skills get points upon leveling up.

While this is a little simpler than the leveling system in future games, the game is complex just by the nature of mid-1990s RPGs. To modern gamers, simply controlling the character, navigating menus, and attacking are all intensely perplexing feats. Combine that with this game's unforgiving difficulty, and it makes for one of the most perplexing titles by the developer. It was hard for gamers back in the day to even make it out of the first dungeon; now, it is almost impossible.

1 The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall

All The Features Of Elder Scrolls, But Complex And Intense

Daggerfall might be slightly easier than Arena, but it builds upon the first game's foundation to add more complex systems and mechanics. This is The Elder Scrolls as gamers know it today, but it does not hold the player's hand.

The game world is massive and the procedurally generated content means virtually limitless playtime. Players can also make their own spells and use various tricks to exploit the world to their benefit. Being complicated does not mean being hard, after all, so players can do a lot to tip the scales in their favor.