Bethesdagames are known for grand, sweeping worlds and for loving their own franchises just a little too much, but besides all of that, thebest Bethesda gamesbring RPGs that are known for consistently bringing fascinating levels to the combat systems thatBethesdagames include.
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From the medieval fantasy ofThe Elder Scrollsgames to the wide arsenal available in laterFalloutentries, the combat systems of Bethesda have varied a great deal but have almost always managed to leave a lasting impression on gamers. In spite of any other problems that Bethesda have had with keeping their games consistent, their combat isn’t usually one of the greater problems facing the studio.
6Fallout 4
There was something about Bethesda’s early work in games likeFallout 3which didn’t manage to impress as they tried to get the idea of shooting mechanics correct. This proved to be an issue that still holds back some of the better entries in theFalloutfranchise, butFallout 4finally managed to be the one that got it right.
Despite not being considered one of the very bestFalloutgames, the shooting mechanicsand combat systems inFallout 4were excellent and, when the ADS system was added to all of that, it made for a much more strategically-focused style of play that helped gamers fall in love with theFalloutfranchise all over again.
5The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
WhileSkyrimis generally considered to be a flawed masterpiece, it is considered by many to be one of the finest games ever to exist. The grand sweeping world built in Tamriel is filled with so much lore and history from the other games inThe Elder Scrollsfranchise thatSkyrimwas bursting with more content than most gamers could ever make it through, even in multiple playthroughs.
However,theSkyrimcombat system, enabling players to use magic, swords, axes, bows, and more in their fight against a wide array of enemies, has so much capability and range to it that players can focus entirely on enchanting a wooden sword and make it the most deadly weapon in the game. The possibilities are endless, and when players become too powerful for their own good they can switch to a different style of weapon or reset their traits from the beginning for a new challenge.
4Dishonored 2
Dishonored 2presents another excellent combat system that is so well-loved because it can be entirely avoided. Not only can players choose to focus on their great array of magical abilities and weapons inDishonored 2, which can be upgraded as the game continues, but they can choose to fight in stealthy manners and can complete side quests that even allow them to complete the game without killing anybody.
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This wide array of choices is wonderful but doesn’t stop players from wantonly murdering their way noisily through thekingdom of Empress Emily Kaldwin.Dishonored 2is one of the better pure action games to be released in the last decade, and the improvements made to the combat system since the first game in the franchise are hands-down the biggest factor towards this success.
3Wolfenstein 2: The Old Colossus
The revamped andbestWolfensteingameshad big shoes to fill, after all the originalWolfensteingames basically invented the idea of a first-person shooter and so the combat systems were a big focus for the new entries. WhileThe Old Colossuswas hugely strong due to a narrative and dark origin story for BJ Blazkowicz, the combat was also just so damn fun.
Killing Nazis almost never gets old, andThe Old Colossusallowed players to beat armies of enemies into bloody pulps with a great variety of options in how to do so. It felt like an FPS level-up beyond other games being released at that time, allowingThe Old Colossusto stand out even in a hugely saturated marketplace.
2The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
Elder Scrollsfans may love the simple combat ofSkyrim, butOblivionis still the height of the franchise in many ways. There was muchmore attention to detail and difficultyprovided inOblivion’scombat style thatSkyrimwould later lack, some minor details like blocking requiring timing were taken out in the follow-up that help makeObliviona more structured, challenging style of combat.
The AI of many enemies inOblivionis also a level higher than they would later be inSkyrim, which made a big difference for players.Oblivionalso allowed players to simultaneously cast magic and attack with other weapons, which players would later complain about no longer being able to do inSkyrim. The fifth entry in the franchise would be grand and sweeping but would be a failed attempt to regain the combat inOblivion.
1Doom Eternal
One of the mostcombat-focused game franchises of all time,Doomhas always been at the forefront of finding ways to make murdering random demonic creatures more fun than ever before, andDoom Eternalis already being considered one of the best games in history for how clean, crisp and amazing the combat systems are.
Players are able to fly about in arenas chock-a-block full of enemies, destroying in a huge variety of ways, and face much more challenge in combat and a necessity for switching up their method of attack that the 2016Doomentry simply didn’t provide to the same degree. Some players are torn over the style ofDoom Eternal’scombat, but it is one of the most complete combat systems ever seen in a video game.
