Summary
- Bethesda games feature thrilling dungeons with challenging foes and rewarding loot.
- Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls series stand out for their handcrafted and immersive dungeons.
- Prey offers a sci-fi dungeon experience in the form of the Talos I Space Station.
Bethesda is a company known for developing some of the best RPGs players can get their hands on. By transforming into an industry giant, they have also acquired several notable developers who are pretty competent in their own right.
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This has allowed fans to explore some of the best dungeons in video games if they get their hands on one of the many lauded Bethesda titles. Looting these areas and becoming stronger never ceases to be entertaining.
Games published by Bethesda have also been taken into consideration.
8 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
Cyrodil's Dungeons Are A Joy To Discover, Although The Oblivion Gates Are A Pain
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
- Released
- April 22, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action, RPG, Open-World, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
During their adventures in Cyrodil, players will find several caves and hideouts where rough bandits and powerful monsters reside. These dungeons are fun to explore simply because of the loot present here, even if the dungeon design can be a bit too ham-fisted at times.
One area of this game that fans universally hate is the Oblivion Gates, forcing players into tough encounters that can get grating after a point. Thankfully, the demonic visuals ensure that fans won't be too bored while exploring these unique dungeons.
7 Fallout 3
The Abandoned Hostile Locations In The Game Are Captivating
Fallout 3
- Released
- October 28, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
The Capitol Wasteland is full of abandoned hideouts and locations to explore, although some may not be as barren as players expect. Happening upon a deathclaw or another powerful monster in these games is a wake-up call that forces players to get better and stronger before straying too far from the beaten path.
Along with this, the Vaults in Fallout 3 are also chilling to explore, detailing the horrid social experiments that people had to undergo. All of these locations ensure that fans will have a great time with the simple act of exploration alone, turning Fallout 3 into an all-time classic.
6 The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
The Game May Be Dated, But The Dungeons Are Still Fun To Explore
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
- Released
- May 1, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox (Original)
From dilapidated sewers to abandoned temples full of powerful foes, Morrowind has its fair share of dungeons that are a blast to explore. Even with the visuals aging like spilled milk, the unique dungeon design ensures that the magic of exploration remains constant in this title.
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Players will love how fun it is to roam the world at their own pace and uncover the many secrets along the way. However, unlike the titles that came after it, Morrowind lacks any form of level scaling, so players should be ready for a tough fight if they wander too far into a high-level area.
5 Fallout 4
Some Of The Game's Handcrafted Dungeons Are Incredible
Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Fallout 4's beautiful open world is rife with so many secrets that it can boggle the mind. A simple underground passage can lead to a close-range encounter against a deathclaw, while the haunting location of the Dunwich Borers is something Lovecraftian fans will love.
Despite the issues fans had with Fallout 4, there's no denying that the litany of unique and handcrafted dungeons in the game makes exploration a blast. Finding a group of scarred lunatics in a factory and ascending to the top of a Super Mutant hideout is just one of the many ways that Fallout 4 wows players with its dungeon design.
4 Dishonored 2
The Level Design Is In A Class Of Its Own, And Some Places Can Be Categorized As Dungeons
Dishonored 2
- Released
- November 11, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Arkane Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
It may be a stretch to call Dishonored 2's levels dungeons, but most of these missions take either Corvo or Emily into hostile locations where sneaking around and avoiding direct conflict is paramount.
It helps that the level design in Dishonored 2 is in a class of its own, with the Clockwork Mansion being an obvious mention here. Moving forward and backward through time is handled immaculately courtesy of the level design, and other locations like Aramis Stilton's Manor show that Arkane doesn't need to rely on these gimmicks to entertain players.
3 Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
The Tombs That Indy Explores Are Meticulously Crafted
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Released
- December 9, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- MachineGames
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Given Indiana Jones' profession, it's only a given that he would explore his fair share of tombs in The Great Circle. As one would expect from this lauded title, the level design in these dungeons is immaculate and they look like the kind of place that Indiana Jones would explore for long-lost artifacts.
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The art style soaks these locations in a sinister vibe as players avoid traps and solve puzzles to reach the heart of these archaic locations. The reward that players receive is almost always worth it and ensures that players will never get tired of the many optional tombs in this game.
2 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
The Magic Of Exploration Extends To The Game's Iconic Dungeons
Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Skyrim is one of the best games ever made, allowing players to experience the perfected Bethesda formula. This stretches to the dungeons, too, even if some locations can be a bit too similar-looking at times.
However, it's only after players explore their third cave system that dungeons like Shimmermist Cave feel more special. Along with this, there are several Dwemer Ruins with mechanical enemies and metallic environments that serve as a fresh change of pace from the more rustic dungeons in Skyrim.
1 Prey
Talos I Was Designed As One Giant Sci-fi Dungeon
Prey
- Released
- May 5, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Arkane Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
The lead designer of Prey, Ricardo Bare, wanted to craft the Talos I Space Station to make it seem like one massive dungeon with immersive sim elements. This is why the Talos I is so haunting to explore, with danger lurking around every corner.
Players must be prudent about enhancing Morgan's skills, possibly acquiring a few Typhon powers to level the playing field. Either way, players will love exploring this space station and uncovering its secrets as they play through one of Arkane's best titles by a country mile.
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