Bethesda is at a strange point in its history. For the first time in over two decades, the developer will be releasing a new IP in the form of sci-fi RPGStarfield. Although part of its flagship fantasy franchise, Todd Howard recently describedThe Elder Scrolls 6as still being in the “design” phase despite it being announced over three years ago. The future of theFalloutfranchise remains a mystery.
Other developers have found success remastering their older titles.Haloand, more recently,Mass Effect: Legendary Editionboth remastered their classic original trilogies to great success. Here are theBethesda gamesmost deserving of a remaster, and why each one is a good candidate.
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The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
Morrowindis one of the most belovedElder Scrollsgames.The Elder Scrolls 3took players to the island ofVvardenfell, and it quickly became apparent just how much the game’s setting broke previous high fantasy molds. There were giantWar of the Worlds-esque bug creatures, strange architecture, and the introduction of religious concepts which were mainly inspired by influences beyond the Hellenic and Norse pantheons. The game had a rich story which few Bethesda titles since have been able to match, making its bizarre and alien world feel truly alive.
The game’s age shows, however, especially for fans of the franchise who got onboard withOblivionorSkyrimand are now exploring earlier titles. Nevertheless,Morrowindremains one of the Bethesda games most deserving of a remaster because while its graphics haven’t aged well, its concepts are still among the most creative ever developed forThe Elder Scrolls.
BothOblivionandSkyrimtook a more traditional fantasy route, whileMorrowindtook aesthetic influence from the Sumerian civilization, Hinduism, and more to create a rich world whose graphics no longer live up to its original ambition.Morrowindcertainly has some of the most striking visuals of any Bethesda game from the tech-infused and bloated body ofthe last Dwemerto the asteroid suspended over Vivec City. Seeing those concepts realized in more modern graphics could be jaw-dropping.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
Oblivionis both more recent thatMorrowind, and in some ways less visually unique. Although the game was acclaimed, some fans criticized its world as less interesting that the one players got to explore inThe Elder Scrolls 3, especially afterCyrodiilwas retconned from being a lush jungle to a more generic temperate climate.Oblivion, however, could also be a more suitable candidate for a full remaster thanMorrowind. While it seems unlikely that Bethesda would remasterMorrowindby hiring actors to perform all of the game’s unspoken lines,Oblivionis already fully voice-acted. Its character designs in particular, however, have not aged well.
Mods likeOblivion Character Overhaulshow just how many visual improvements can be made to a game likeOblivionwhile still working within the confines of the game’s engine. A version ofThe Elder Scrolls 4which improved on the original game’s clunky character models and brought them more in-line with the designs found inMorrowindandSkyrimcould bring a lot of fans back toOblivion.
With the dialogue and combat mechanics already more recognizable to fans who joined the series withSkyrim, anOblivionremaster could be one of the most cost-effective routes for Bethesda to go down. The modding community has already shown just how good this 2006 release can look. With Bethesda Game Studios' resources behind a remaster, it could stand to reviveOblivionfor a new generation. It would also be great to seeOblivionwith some AI tweaks, helping to giveCyrodiil’s NPCs the truly dynamic lives the game was originally unable to deliver.
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Fallout 3
As withOblivion,Fallout 3is a great candidate for a remaster where significant improvements could be made without expending huge amounts of resources. TheFalloutseries has struggled to keep up its acclaim in recent years.Fallout 76tried to take the series to multiplayer to mixed reviews, while many fans considerFallout 4a better shooter than it is an RPG. Going back toFallout 3could help restore some of the series' credibility without the risks of making another full-fledgedFalloutgame.
As withOblivion’s character models,Fallout 4’s customization options leave a lot to be desired. In another similarity withOblivion, mods like Fallout Character Overhaul demonstrate just how much better the game can look without needing to be fully remade. Returning toFallout’s Capital Wastelandand seeing it brought back to life in all its post-apocalyptic glory wouldn’t just be a treat forFalloutfans, but a reminder of what Bethesda is capable of at its best.
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegasmay be the Bethesda game most deserving of a remaster, although technically it was developed byObsidian Entertainmentand published by Bethesda. It is the story of the game’s development, however, that shows just how much potential a remaster could have.Fallout: New Vegasis a fantastic RPG with some of the most memorable characters in the franchise, great dialogue, and a unique western spin on the series. It achieved all that despite a constrictive development timeline which saw major parts of the game, including a far larger version of New Vegas itself, to be cut before the retail release.
It seems unlikely that Obsidian will work with Bethesda again, but Bethesda could go back and remaster some elements ofNew Vegas,expanding the strip and updating the graphics to truly bring Obsidian’s original vision to life. Fans have been asking for aNew Vegasremaster or sequel for years, and a remastered version ofFallout: New Vegascould be very successful. As well as working onStarfieldandThe Elder Scrolls 6,Bethesda’s Austin Officehas been working on a mysterious, unannounced project. It’s possible the secondary studio is already working on remastering an older Bethesda game, but for now fans can only wait and see.
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