Bethesda Softworks

Bethesda Softworks at a Glance

Bethesda Softworks has operated in the United States since 1986, growing from a small developer into one of the largest publishers in the industry. The company released only two games during the 1980s before increasing output to 18 titles in the 1990s. Their catalog expanded significantly in the 2000s with 19 games and surged again in the 2010s, where they published 50 titles. This momentum continued into the 2020s with 39 releases so far. While they developed some of their own early work, they stopped developing games in-house after 2001 to focus solely on publishing for other studios like id Software, Arkane Studios, and MachineGames. Their library spans many genres, but shooters dominate their portfolio with 67 titles. Adventure games follow closely with 55 releases, while role-playing games account for 51 titles. They have also touched strategy, puzzle, simulator, racing, sport, platformer, and real-time strategy markets, though those numbers remain much lower than their top three categories. Most of their work is available on PC, with 98 titles listed there. Console support is strong on PlayStation and Xbox platforms, reaching 50 games on PS4 and 48 on Xbox One. Their presence on older systems like DOS and PS3 is smaller but still notable. The quality of their output shows a wide range. Out of 76 rated games, 29 achieved great scores above 80, while another 29 fell into the good range between 60 and 79. There are also 14 mixed titles and four that received poor ratings below 40. Their highest-rated releases include The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Anniversary Edition at 91.2/100 and Doom (2019) at 90.9/100. Quake (2021) and Doom 3 (2019) also scored above 89, showing they can deliver top-tier experiences in the shooter and RPG spaces. Recent years show a continued focus on major franchises. Upcoming or recently released titles include Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition and two Doom entries, with Doom: The Dark Ages holding an 85.5/100 rating. They also published Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in late 2024 to high acclaim. Despite their massive catalog of 134 games, the variation in ratings means players will find both standout hits and forgettable entries within their portfolio.

Release Timeline

Rating Distribution