Which Bethesda Games Should You Play First?
If you are searching for video games Bethesda, the first thing to know is that "Bethesda" can mean two different things: Bethesda Game Studios, which makes The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Starfield, or Bethesda as a publisher, which includes games like DOOM, Dishonored, Wolfenstein, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The best place to start depends less on the name on the box and more on what you actually want to play: a huge RPG, a fast shooter, a stealth game, or a guided adventure.
Major Bethesda Game Studios series
Bethesda Game Studios is the developer most people think of when they hear "Bethesda game." Its main identity is the large open-world RPG: big maps, flexible quests, character progression, and plenty of room to ignore the main story while you chase side quests, loot, factions, or random discoveries.
The Elder Scrolls
The Elder Scrolls is Bethesda's fantasy RPG series, set in Tamriel across regions filled with cities, ruins, guilds, magic, politics, and long-running lore. The big appeal is that you can follow the main quest or treat the world like a place to wander through at your own pace.
Skyrim is still the easiest entry for most players. It lets you become a warrior, mage, thief, archer, or some messy mix of all four without asking you to understand every system before you begin.
Fallout
Fallout takes Bethesda's open-world RPG style and drops it into a ruined retro-futuristic America. Instead of castles and dragons, you get vaults, scavenged weapons, strange factions, mutated creatures, and dark humor sitting next to genuinely bleak stories.
For a first playthrough, Fallout 4 is often the most approachable because its combat feels more modern and its world is easy to read: see a ruined building, explore it, find supplies, uncover a small story, move on. Players who care most about deeper role-playing may later want to try older entries, but Fallout 4 is a smooth starting point.
Starfield
Starfield is Bethesda Game Studios' space RPG, built around faction quests, ship systems, planetary travel, and a broader science-fiction setting. It is the best fit if the idea of building a character across space matters more to you than fantasy kingdoms or wasteland survival.
Other major Bethesda-published games
Bethesda also publishes games made by other studios, and these can feel completely different from Bethesda Game Studios RPGs. This is where a lot of confusion starts: DOOM is a Bethesda-published game, but it is not trying to be Skyrim with guns.
DOOM and Quake
DOOM and Quake are first-person shooter names with deep history, now part of Bethesda's wider catalog. Modern DOOM, especially DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal, is about speed, aggression, movement, and constant pressure.
Choose DOOM if you want quick payoff. It is not a game where you spend half an hour comparing dialogue choices; you learn the combat loop fast and improve by moving better, aiming better, and staying bold.
Quake is more relevant if you are curious about classic shooter design and arena-style movement. It is less of a general beginner recommendation than DOOM, but it still matters in Bethesda's shooter lineup.
Dishonored and Deathloop
Dishonored and Deathloop, developed by Arkane, are for players who like options inside carefully built spaces. Instead of asking "Where should I go on this giant map?", they ask "How do I want to solve this room, route, target, or mission?"
- Pick Dishonored if you enjoy stealth, rooftops, hidden paths, and choosing whether to avoid, distract, or confront enemies.
- Pick Deathloop if you want Arkane's experimentation with a more stylish action tone and a time-loop structure.
Wolfenstein
The modern Wolfenstein games are story-driven shooters published by Bethesda and developed by MachineGames. They have heavy action, but they also care about characters, pacing, and alternate-history storytelling.
If DOOM sounds too relentless, Wolfenstein: The New Order is a more guided choice. You still get strong combat, but the campaign gives you clearer narrative momentum and less pressure to master every arena like a combat puzzle.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle adds a more adventure-focused option to Bethesda's published catalog. It leans into exploration, puzzles, stealth, and cinematic storytelling rather than acting like a pure shooter or a giant RPG.
This is a sensible pick for someone who likes recognizable characters and a guided journey. If you are buying for a casual player who may find Starfield too system-heavy or DOOM too intense, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle sits in a friendlier middle ground.
What kinds of Bethesda video games can you play?
Bethesda's catalog is broad, so the easiest way to choose is by play style first and franchise second. Ask yourself what you want from the next few hours: freedom, combat, stealth experimentation, or a clear story path.
Open-world RPGs
Open-world RPGs are the core Bethesda Game Studios experience. Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield all give you quests, progression, loot, exploration, and the freedom to drift away from the main story.
They are best for long sessions or players who enjoy making their own goals. If you only play in short bursts and dislike remembering unfinished quests, they can feel heavier than expected.
First-person shooters
Bethesda-published shooters range from the raw speed of DOOM to the more story-led structure of Wolfenstein. They are usually easier to jump into than a giant RPG because the main loop is clearer: move, fight, survive, upgrade, continue.
Stealth and immersive sims
Stealth and immersive sims such as Dishonored and Deathloop are about solving situations in flexible ways. You might sneak, climb, distract, use powers, set traps, or fight directly, depending on your mood and skill.
Story-driven action games
Story-driven action games, including Wolfenstein and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, give you more direction than Bethesda's open-world RPGs. They still have action and exploration, but the game is usually pushing you through a clearer arc.
Choose this style if you want momentum without giving up atmosphere. It is also a good compromise for someone who wants a polished single-player game but does not want to spend dozens of hours learning RPG systems.
Best Bethesda games to start with
The best first Bethesda game is not automatically the most famous one. A better rule is to match three things: your favorite setting, your preferred pace, and how much freedom you actually want.
| If you want... | Start with | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| A huge fantasy world | Skyrim | Easy to enter, flexible, and still the clearest classic Bethesda RPG. |
| Post-apocalyptic exploration | Fallout 4 | Modern-feeling combat with lots of scavenging, quests, and customization. |
| Space and sci-fi systems | Starfield | Best fit if ships, planets, and factions are the main appeal. |
| Immediate FPS action | DOOM | Fast, focused, and easy to understand quickly. |
| Stealth and creative routes | Dishonored | Compact missions with meaningful player choice. |
| A guided adventure | Indiana Jones and the Great Circle | More cinematic and approachable than a large RPG. |
Conclusion
Bethesda's game catalog is easiest to understand once you separate the developer's huge RPGs from the publisher's wider action lineup. Start with Skyrim, Fallout 4, or Starfield if you want a long open-ended game, but choose DOOM, Dishonored, Wolfenstein, or Indiana Jones and the Great Circle if pace, stealth, story, or shorter sessions matter more. The right choice is the one whose setting and moment-to-moment loop still sound fun after the first few hours.
FAQ
Are all Bethesda games open-world RPGs?
No. Bethesda Game Studios is famous for open-world RPGs, but Bethesda-published games also include shooters, stealth games, immersive sims, and adventure games.
Does Bethesda Game Studios make DOOM?
No. DOOM is developed by id Software and published by Bethesda; Bethesda Game Studios is the team behind games such as The Elder Scrolls, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, and Starfield.
Where can I find the official Bethesda game catalog?
The official Bethesda website is the best place to check the current catalog, supported platforms, newer releases, and franchise pages, since availability can change over time.
