Summary
- Bethesda's immersive games focus on freedom, magical combat, and non-linear storytelling, attracting fans for years.
- Ghostwire: Tokyo offers mixed opinions, highlighting excellent visuals but varying combat experiences.
- Elder Scrolls titles like Skyrim and Morrowind offer expansive and customizable magic systems for players to enjoy.
Bethesda is one of the most popular video game studios around, with its work on The Elder Scrolls and Fallout turning it into a household name. Fans love the freedom and immersion in these worlds and how it drives them to carve out their own path instead of being restricted by a linear story.
Most Complex Bethesda Games, Ranked
While their games now may be simple to pick up and play, Bethesda has also released some notoriously complicated titles.
Their rampant success has allowed Bethesda to acquire and publish the work of several companies, eventually drawing the attention of Microsoft itself. Watching their library of games expand was great for long-time fans, especially given the intense focus on magical combat in these titles.
Games that are published and/or developed by Bethesda are considered for this list.
8 Ghostwire: Tokyo
The Player Wields Psychic Abilities In Combat
Ghostwire: Tokyo
- Released
- March 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Tango Gameworks
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Ghostwire: Tokyo is an open-world game that has drawn a lot of mixed opinions from players. The visuals of this game are excellent, although it's the combat that can be a bit of a mixed bag for fans.
As long as players don't mind slinging psychic spells in combat, they'll have a great time schooling their foes as they enjoy this title's trippy visuals. Despite some issues on the surface, fans who like a reliance on magic in combat will love Ghostwire: Tokyo's supernatural trappings.
7 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Magic Is Expansive And One Of The Many Gameplay Pillars In The Game
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
While Skyrim may be the most popular Elder Scrolls game by a country mile, most people agree that this title ultimately dumbs down the complex magic systems from previous games. For starters, spell crafting is completely gone, which is a massive shame.
However, such issues shouldn't take away from the fact that magic is still very varied and interesting in Skyrim. The dual-wielding playstyles mean that players can equip a spell and a weapon at the same time, making it easier for them to explore the magic system without feeling restricted to being a mage without any specializations.
6 Dishonored
Corvo Can Become A Blur Of Chaos And Death With The Right Spells
Dishonored
- Released
- October 9, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
Dishonored is one of the sleekest and most enjoyable stealth games that fans can enjoy, as long as they don't focus too much on the fact that this title is a bit too insistent about players walking the path of non-violence. Corvo's journey to redeem himself causes him to embark on several adventures that involve a lot of sneaking about and killing.
The abilities Corvo has are pretty supernatural and loosely fit the definition of spells. Teleportation, summoning rats, and possession are just a few of the many ways Corvo can turn the tide against his intelligent foes, which is a must since he's usually outnumbered in most combat zones.
5 Deathloop
The Player Can Use Many Unique Abilities In Battle
Deathloop
- Released
- September 14, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Arkane Studios
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Deathloop's repetition can be a bit too grating for players to fathom at points, but players who see this as an opportunity to learn will understand why people went gaga over this game. It's a refined form of Arkane's patented gameplay with an intense mix of combat and stealth that is excellent.
The beauty of Deathloop stems from its abilities, which allow Colt to travel great distances and become invisible. The selection of abilities may be lower than most other Arkane games, but it's the focused and effective nature of these powers that helps them stand out as equally useful in the eyes of many.
4 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
Players Can Use And Create Spells To Great Effect
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
Oblivion is one of the best video games ever made, and fans are glad to see a remaster that does justice to this title's grand allure. Exploring Cyrodil and becoming the Hero of Kvatch has never felt better.
Spell creation is fun in Oblivion, even if it may be a pared-down version of Morrowind. The selection of spells is still vast and does a great job of letting players become competent mages who can smite their foes with ease, regardless of the School of Magic they excel in.
3 Dishonored 2
Both Corvo And Emily Have Unique Supernatural Abilities To Choose From
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
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Dishonored 2 expands the set of powers that players can use in the game. With the addition of both Corvo and Emily as playable protagonists, it's easy to see why fans are encouraged to replay the game and explore what this game has to offer in terms of these abilities.
Most players will be familiar with Corvo's abilities if they're familiar with the first game. Meanwhile, Emily's powers help her sneak around more efficiently and distract enemies, making them easy to avoid or incapacitate.
2 Prey
The Alien Powers Players Can Use Are Pretty Powerful
Prey
- Released
- May 5, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Arkane Studios
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Prey is one of the best video games that many people have overlooked, which is a shame. It's not a stretch to say that this may be Arkane's finest immersive sim, proving just how highly players rate this amazing stealth-action game.
If players consider the Typhon powers to be spells, then there are several ways Morgan can use these alien abilities to get an advantage in battle. While players will have to see the pros and cons of giving up to the Typhon influence, the game's nuanced writing ensures that no one is punished too much for just wanting to have fun.
1 The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
Spells In The Game Are Superpowered And Very Customizable
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)
Morrowind was a huge step for Bethesda, which established the Elder Scrolls formula that is still enamoring fans to this day. The idea of dropping into a massive world where players can go anywhere they want may seem exhausting, but it doesn't take long for the exploration to reveal its magic to players.
The best part about Morrowind is its expansive magic system, allowing players to teleport great distances and start flying. It's a level of freedom never seen before in any Elder Scrolls game, and this statement is hammered in by a magic creation system that lets players create whatever they want as long as they have the skill to use it.
- Date Founded
- June 28, 1986
- Headquarters
- Rockville, Maryland, United States
- CEO
- Todd Howard
- Parent Company
- Microsoft
- Subsidiaries
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Known For
- The Elder Scrolls, Dishonored, DOOM