Bethesda Softworks is hard at work on both Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI. The latter still has a long ways to go before fans even see what it look like, but there's no denying that its release will be a momentous occasion. Will the developer stay true to the Elder Scrolls formula, or will they significantly shake things up?
If they decide to give players an experience in Tamriel like never before, they would be wise to take some inspiration from the following ten games below. Elder Scrolls VI does not have to be a carbon copy of any of these, but certain facets could help breathe life into the series.
10 Red Dead Redemption 2
Few open-worlds feel as alive as Rockstar Games' interpretation of the old west in Red Dead Redemption 2. The way random encounters periodically spring up, leading to small adventures of their own, truly makes the world feel lived in.
Elder Scrolls games always have the chance to run into NPCs while in the wilderness, but every stranger in Red Dead Redemption 2 has their own story.
9 Breath Of The Wild
One thing Breath of the Wild has over any Bethesda game is the simple joy that comes from exploring the world. Climbing a mountain, sliding down a hill, and gliding across large plains feels majestic.
While discovering new areas and dungeons in Skyrim is a treat, the movement has always felt janky and climbing up a hill is a hilariously awkward mess. Bethesda needs to make the simple act of moving a pleasing activity.
8 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Of all the games on the list, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is perhaps already the closest to feeling like a Bethesda game, because it is a first-person RPG ripe with bugs and glitches.
However, its systems go way deeper than most Bethesda titles. For those who long for the days of the unforgiving and complex early Elder Scrolls games, some deeper RPG mechanics could help veteran fans feel at home again.
7 Baldur's Gate
In BioWare's quest to recreate a Dungeons and Dragons for video games, they created a world with endless possibilities.
The game is unforgiving and players are often at the mercy of virtual dice rolls, but it still offers a character customization even most modern RPGs do not match. Elder Scroll III: Morrowind also had combat more akin to virtual dice rolls, so maybe the studio could bring this feature back.
6 Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor
The big takeaway from Shadow of Mordor is the innovative nemesis system. Tougher enemy leaders remember the player and future encounters changed based on the adversaries' animosity towards the main character. In an Elder Scrolls game such a system could significantly liven up the world.
Maybe the character kills someone for a quest, which in turn makes family members seek vengeance, or one's reputation within a town changes based on what quests they do. Similar features exist to an extent in Skyrim, but they could be fleshed out so much more.
5 Fallout: New Vegas
Obsidian took a shot at the Fallout franchise in 2010 and knocked it out of the park. Fallout: New Vegas is the perfect mixture of the new Fallout gameplay and the older quest structure.
The player's choices during missions have a more tangible impact on the world. Elder Scrolls games offer choice, but the consequences do not reach as far as they do in most Obsidian games.
4 Final Fantasy XV
This one is a clear outlier on the list since it features a more turn-based battle system, but Bethesda can still learn a thing or two from the game's structure.
The next Elder Scrolls should not be afraid to strive for more cinematic sequences on a larger scale. They dabbled with this in Skyrim during the dragon attacks, but they feet wonky. These do necessarily need to take control away form the player, either.
3 Death Stranding
Similar to Breath of the Wild, Hideo Kojima's 2019 science fiction epic Death Stranding makes the challenge of traversal a rewarding experience all on its own.
Of course, anywhere in Tamriel needs to be more heavily populated and feature cities, but the road to these areas should feel just as rewarding as the arrival. After all, many will say an adventure is more about the journey than the destination.
2 The Outer Worlds
While Obsidian's The Outer Worlds is smaller than most of the other games on this list, virtually every decision the player makes has consequences on the story and the world.
The quirky science fiction narrative begs for multiple play throughs just to see how events change when playing as a different type of character. With more time and a bigger budget, Elder Scrolls VI could follow a similar design goal on a larger scale.
1 The Witcher 3
CD Projekt Red knocked it out of the park with The Witcher 3. The world is massive, populated by vast wilderness, quaint villages, and bustling cities. Additionally, the abundance of side quests feel like they are handled with the same care as the main storyline.
Geralt's decisions are often tough, with no answer ever truly feeling morally just. The relationship between the protagonist and Ciri adds a heart to the narrative lacking in many Elder Scrolls titles. The Witcher 3 raised the bar for open-world RPGs; will Bethesda match it?