Starfield set out to bring Bethesda fans an immersive space adventure, and while much of the game's exploring can be satisfying, it can also struggle with its characters. Since its launch in 2023, Starfield has been the focus of debate among a lot of Bethesda fans. Bethesda built a reputation for deep, well-written characters that helped make its game's worlds feel more alive, but a common criticism of Starfield is that its characters lack the depth of its predecessors.

When it comes to companions in Starfield, there is a lack of moral complexity that can be found in past games, like Skyrim and Fallout 4. While there is a small degree of moral differences between companions in Starfield, it can be difficult to attempt a satisfying evil playthrough with the options that are offered. Overall, Starfield feels more tame than its predecessors, which has left some longtime Bethesda fans hungry for more moral gray areas and downright immoral characters. There are questions about what Starfield's next DLC has in store, and bringing more diverse moralities to companions would be a great addition.

Starfield helmet Constellation space suit on Mars
Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Suggests Starfield Might Come to Other Consoles in the Future

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer reflects on Starfield's Xbox console exclusivity, suggesting the game may reach more platforms in the future.

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Starfield's Lack of Morally Questionable Companions Needs Addressed

Looking to Skyrim and Fallout 4 For Inspiration

Skyrim and Fallout 4 have featured some interesting companions with warped moral compasses. From the downright mad to the simply apathetic, these personality traits are seemingly absent from Starfield's world, at least with companions. Skyrim's Cicero and Serana serve as strong examples of these differing levels of morally gray NPCs. Cicero is an insane jester who will attack or kill anyone who questions the power of the Night Mother. When it comes to Serana, her moral quandary is essential to her backstory. Serana willingly becomes a vampire, which instantly puts her in the camp of characters who aren't completely adverse to wrongdoing, despite her good qualities.

Two of Fallout 4's most morally twisted companions are found in Cait, a cage fighter, and Strong, a Commonwealth Super Mutant. Cait's traumatic background is largely responsible for her warped sense of morality. With Strong, his desire to make his race more powerful by introducing them to humanity's knack for teamwork, even if by force, presents a hilarious contradiction. The moral alignment of these two can quickly be decoded when finding out which actions and decisions they dislike.

  • Some of Cait's dislikes include avoiding confrontation, helping settlers, and supporting freedom of the press when talking to Piper in the Jewel of the Commonwealth quest.
  • Some of Strong's dislikes include healing Dogmeat, giving a new home to the Vault-Tec rep, and returning the Deathclaw egg to its nest in The Devil's Due quest.

Skyrim and Fallout 4 have other characters that illustrate the complexities of each game, but narrowing it down to four is still enough to showcase where Starfield needs to improve. In the recent Shattered Space DLC, two new companions were introduced, but they still lacked a lot of the intriguing backstories and motivations that previous Bethesda games had excelled at.

Shattered Space introduced the base game's mysterious House Va'ruun.

Starfield's Next DLC Has to Impress

The nature of Starfield' s upcoming DLC has yet to be revealed, but after Shattered Space, Bethesda will really need to bring something strong to the table. Starfield harbors plenty of potential, but the character development and flexibility featured in past Bethesda titles being absent from the space adventure can be deeply felt at times.

Starfield's next DLC is theorized to be called "Starborn."

When the next expansion for Starfield is announced, it will be interesting to see if Bethesda works to address the lack of diversity in companion personalities or not. Until then, the future of Starfield may still be a struggle for some players seeking an evil role-playing experience.

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Starfield Tag Page Cover Art
10 /10

Starfield
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Action
RPG
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Systems
PC-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
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Released
September 6, 2023
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Engine
proprietary engine
Cross-Platform Play
no multiplayer
Cross Save
no
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
Action, RPG
How Long To Beat
20 Hours
X|S Optimized
Yes
File Size Xbox Series
101 GB (September 2023)
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty