"Bethesda"

2006 · Open World RPG · PC / Steam

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a landmark open world RPG with some of the best quest writing in the series and a modding community that has kept it alive for two decades. Its leveling system is notoriously punishing, the level scaling can drain the sense of progression, and Cyrodiil's generic medieval fantasy aesthetic pales next to Morrowind's alien landscapes. But the Dark Brotherhood, Thieves Guild, and Shivering Isles expansion represent Bethesda's quest design at its creative peak, and the sheer freedom of its open world still holds up as one of the most inviting sandboxes in RPG history.

2017 · Survival Horror / Third-Person Shooter · PC / Steam

The Evil Within 2 is a stronger, more refined game than its predecessor in almost every mechanical sense. Better stealth, better crafting, better exploration, and a more personal story for Sebastian Castellanos. It trades some of the original's relentless horror tension for player freedom and accessibility, and that trade-off defines how you'll feel about it. If you want a polished survival horror experience with room to breathe and explore, this delivers. For those who want something that never stops trying to terrify them, the sequel's open-world ambitions occasionally get in its own way.