Summary
WithBethesdareleasingStarfield, a grand-scale RPG, their first new IP in over 2 decades, it’s time to look at their impressive library of games and see whichBethesdagame is the hardest among them all. Whether it’s the ability to converse with friend and foe, shoot or slash, all Bethesda games have an extreme level of freedom for players to enjoy, no matter the difficulty.
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However, on the topic of difficulty, there are some titles that players will want to be aware of before they start their adventures. Most of these titles feature a difficulty option to toggle to make things harder or easier, but this is mainly about the difficulty of mechanics and gameplay challenges.
7Fallout 4
Emerging from Vault 111,Fallout 4was a bold and modern new entry into theFalloutuniverse. Fans had not seen this post-apocalyptic landscape in years, andFallout 4was a refreshing return thanks to its revolutionary gunplay and looting mechanics, as well as the first and only timea voiced protagonistfeatured in a Bethesda game.
The difficulty scaling emerges pretty quickly inFallout 4, and players will be able to see that this is a fairly easy Bethesda title. The gunplay makes things smooth and fast, and enemy AI isn’t the smartest. Companions can’t die, and players feel guided toward everything they should do to become the best.
6Fallout 76
While reception may not have been the best at launch,Fallout 76has become the only way to playFalloutmultiplayer, and that comes with a few perks.Fallout 76features the same gameplay asFallout 4, so players can enjoy the easy and familiar mechanics of the previous entry, except this time, with a few friends to help.
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The addition of co-op is a first for the series, with apotentialFallout 5bringing even more unknowns. This means that friends can enter their power armor, pick up the nearest Gatling gun, and take out any monstrosity that dares to take them on in a fight. The game is easy enough thanks to its online attributes.
5The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Perhaps the immediate pick for most newcomers to Bethesda,Skyrimis one of the greatest RPGs ever made, and its open world is to be marveled at even a decade later. From the moment players enter the immersive world ofSkyrim, they are faced with their dragon-slaying quest. Players will see rather quickly whySkyrimis a fairly easy Bethesda game.
The quests are simplified, and waypoints give a defined place of interest. The combat just features players hitting things hard with sharp objects, ormastering a mage buildto practically break the game and kill anything instantly. On top of this, the AI isn’t the smartest, meaning players can dominate as the Last Dragonborn.
4Fallout 3
Bethesda’s first try at theFalloutfranchise came withFallout 3, a game where they finally embraced gunplay mechanics.Fallout 3did a great job for such an early attempt, but with it came a new difficulty that fans ofThe Elder Scrollsprobably didn’t expect. The fact that enemies can now shoot players instead of firing slow arrows, or using sluggish melee weapons, meant a new layer of difficulty was added.
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On top of the fact that enemies had guns, players could fire their own but to a less devastating effect. Some weapons felt like literal BB shooters. The area scaling is rather punishing too, so if players wander off, they may find themselves getting instantly killed by a fire ant or something worse, so it’s best to stick to theweird and wonderful characters ofFallout3for XP before venturing too far.
3Starfield
The newest entry into the infinite creativity of Bethesda,Starfieldis a conquest of space exploration and wonder. From the moment players are dropped into the infinite space ofStarfield, they will find themselves lost in all the good ways possible. Yet, this lost feeling may be alarming or intimidating to new players as they try and master all the new mechanics and featuresStarfieldhas to offer, whether that’sgetting marriedor joining a pirate crew.
The gameplay is at its most refined yet from a Bethesda game, but its difficulty might be a tad challenging to new Bethesda players, and even old ones. Enemies are smarter, planets can be filled with hostile alien life, and managing resources and quests isn’t the easiest in a procedurally generated cosmos.
2The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
Unlike the other Bethesda games,Obliviondoesn’t exactly hold the player’s hand as soon as they enter. Following the emperor of Tamriel out of prison and into his murder, players are given the freedom to do whatever they want. They can start their journey by following the dying request of the Emperor, or, go to the Imperial City to become the Champion of the Arena, or just run around making skooma and installing thebestOblivionmods.
The possibilities are endless inOblivion, but new players may struggle with its leveling system, in which enemies will get noticeably harder as the player levels up, which doesn’t help them feel as powerful as they should be. Mechanics also aren’t the clearest they could be, but it’s all part of the charm and fun of this great fantasy epic.
1The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
Most of the difficulty fromMorrowindcomes from ‘getting into it’. The game is good, and very lore-heavy, which could be a great joy for The Elder Scrolls fans who want to enjoy what the series has to offer. However, the game is notably dated in terms of graphics and mechanics, so players shouldn’t expect themost immersive journey that Tamriel has to offer.
Areas are leveled, meaning players can’t just explore anywhere without seeking power first. Quests are seen as more difficult, as players have to find their own path thanks to a lack of quest markers, and hitting enemies can be a burden based on stats. Even still, it’s rather easy to break the game with potions.
