Summary
- Bethesda's move into publishing brings in talented developers for games with top-tier storytelling and worldbuilding.
- Wolfenstein 2 had intense narrative but was cinematic-heavy, contrasting with Morrowind which excelled in story and quest design.
- Quality writing in games like Hi-Fi Rush and Indiana Jones elevates gameplay experience, showcasing storytelling prowess.
Bethesda's games are known for letting players explore massive worlds with incredible lore. With the company delving into the publishing business, they have also acquired the talents of amazing developers who wow players with both their gameplay and writing.
As a result, fans can enjoy some of the best Bethesda games around that do a great job of wowing players with the quality of their narratives and the worldbuilding present in their games. The writing quality is off the charts and ensures that fans are emotionally invested in these adventures.
Games published by Bethesda have also been taken into consideration.
8 Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus
Can Be A Bit Too Cinematic-Heavy At Times, But The Story Was Still Compelling
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
- Released
- October 27, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- MachineGames
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
As brilliant as The New Order was, fans can't help but feel that MachineGames took the wrong lessons from this title's success. While the gameplay of The New Colossus was improved, it took way too long for Blazkowicz to regain his strength.
A lot of this had to do with the title's narrative, which was a bit too heavy-handed and in-your-face compared to its predecessor. The characters didn't get enough opportunities to flesh out their personalities, and the conclusion felt abrupt & flat, but that should take nothing away from the strengths of this game's writing, as every cinematic was something that fans looked forward to early on.
7 Ghostwire: Tokyo
The Narrative Was Interesting, Even If The Gameplay Felt Shallow
Ghostwire: Tokyo
- Released
- March 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Tango Gameworks
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Ghostwire: Tokyo's first-person action felt somewhat lacking and didn't have too much of an impact. Thankfully, the excellent worldbuilding and a quality narrative helped make up for what is definitely a major flaw.
As long as fans power through the uninspired gameplay, they'll have a great time uncovering the mystery at the heart of Ghostwire: Tokyo. Fans may be surprised to find out just how much they enjoy this game's story if they decide to give it the time of day.
6 Hi-Fi Rush
The Humorous Writing In The Game Elevates Its Quality
Hi-Fi Rush
- Released
- January 25, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated T: Fantasy Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Tango Gameworks
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Genre(s)
- Action
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, PS5
It was a bold move to shadow-drop Hi-Fi Rush, but this strategy helped the game make major waves when it launched. The rhythm-action gameplay was incredibly riveting and did a great job of helping the combat stand out.
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Another aspect of Hi-Fi Rush that fans loved was the humorous writing. Most video games have a bad habit of making players sit through painfully bad jokes, which is why the high quality of the game's comedic script deserves its praise.
5 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
The Writing Plays It Safe But Is Still Compelling
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
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is one of the greatest video games ever made. The main story may not be a major focus of the title, but that shouldn't take anything away from the quality of this title's writing.
Alduin's threat is sold beautifully despite being a disappointing final boss fight, and the side quests boast some compelling scenarios that fans will love. All of this, along with the quality worldbuilding and lore of Skyrim, helps its writing stand out despite a few missteps along the way.
4 Fallout 3
Made A Valiant Effort To Do Justice To The Impeccable Writing Of The Games That Preceded It
Fallout 3
- Released
- October 28, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
Bethesda needed to do something special to help Fallout 3 stand out as a worthy sequel to Interplay's CRPGs. While the role-playing options in this title weren't as in-depth as the games that preceded it, the strong writing in the game's side quests gave fans a reason to explore the Capital Wasteland.
Players interacted with a wealth of compelling characters with unique stories of their own. This added to the sense of exploration and discovery in this title, making up for a relatively underwhelming main quest that boasts one of the most unnecessary sacrifices in video game history.
3 The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
Boasts The Best Story In The Elder Scrolls Series By A Country Mile
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 came during a time when Bethesda didn't shy away from integrating quality writing in their RPGs. The lack of voice acting may be a major hurdle for some players, but Morrowind makes up for it with its scintillating writing and quest design that takes players on some wild adventures. Unlike later Elder Scrolls games, there were no waypoints, so players had to read text and explore to know what they were supposed to do or where to go.
The Nerevarine will be able to enjoy several amazing storylines as they help out people in need and prevent a dastardly plot from laying waste to the world. It's a shame that later Bethesda titles have watered down the stories in their games, since the combination of Morrowind's writing quality, coupled with good voice acting, could've made for a beautiful combination.
2 Wolfenstein: The New Order
The Immense Quality Of The Narrative Was A Pleasant Surprise
Wolfenstein: The New Order
- Released
- May 20, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- MachineGames
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
Fans of Wolfenstein: The New Order knew this game was going to be loaded with action-packed set pieces, but they didn't expect a genuinely thought-provoking and emotional story that humanizes B.J. Blazkowicz's character. The end result is one of the best story-driven FPS titles fans love.
MachineGames did a great job of modernizing the action of this classic. The alternate history setting is also riveting and lends a unique flavor to the immersive atmosphere of The New Order.
1 Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
The Writing Does Justice To Indy's Compelling Character
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
Fans were skeptical about a first-person Indiana Jones game, but these people were underestimating the work MachineGames had done beforehand. They completely made up for the disappointment of Wolfenstein: Youngblood by letting fans enjoy one of the greatest first-person action-adventure games of all time.
Troy Baker's performance as Indiana Jones proves once again why he's one of the most talented voice actors of his generation, and it helps that the script allows him to shine even brighter. The bumbling hilarity of the Nazis coupled with excellent side quest design ensures that the writing of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will compel players to stick with this experience till the very end.
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