Bethesda Game Studios is renowned for its vast and immersive game worlds, embodying the philosophy that ‘bigger is better.’ These sprawling environments are not only rich in detail but also populated with eclectic characters and occasionally some amusing bugs. However, the actual size of these in-game worlds can vary significantly from one title to another. Gamers often seek the most value for their time in exploring these expansive universes.
In this article, we’ll rank the open world sizes of Bethesda’s first-party RPGs, measured in square kilometers of viewable space. It’s important to note that some areas are off-limits due to invisible walls, which may affect your exploration. This list excludes any racing titles, focusing solely on the company’s rich role-playing game catalog.
Estimating exact map sizes can be tricky due to design scaling, so the figures provided below stem from official descriptions or calculated metrics from die-hard fans. If you have more precise data or sources, please feel free to share!
9 Fallout 4
10.36 km² (6.44 sq mi)
Set in a dystopian recreation of Boston, Fallout 4 presents players with a map area of 10.36 km², the smallest among recent Bethesda offerings. Despite its size, the game contains over 27 hours of main story content, alongside engaging side quests and a unique settlement-building mechanic.
8 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
16 km² (9.94 sq mi)
Hailed for its depth and complexity, Morrowind features a compact map of 16 km². This title thrives on exploration and a lack of fast travel options, resulting in a gameplay experience that often feels larger than its physical size through various travel methods—from boats to Silt Striders.
7 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
37 km² (22.99 sq mi)
Skyrim, though larger than its predecessors, encompasses a 37 km² landscape characterized by stunning craftsmanship. Players assume the role of the Dragonborn, embarking on a quest to thwart Alduin, a dragon foreseen to bring about the world’s end. Gameplay includes various quests, dungeon exploration, and activities ranging from home ownership to facing Dragon Priests.
6 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
41 km² (25.48 sq mi)
With a map area of approximately 41 km², Oblivion stands as the largest handcrafted world of recent Elder Scrolls titles. The storyline follows an imprisoned character tasked with stopping a cult named the Mythic Dawn from unleashing chaos. The game introduces the Radiant AI system, allowing NPCs to exhibit daily life, enhancing immersion.
5 Fallout 3
41.4 km² (25.72 sq mi)
Fallout 3, marking Bethesda’s first venture into a fully realized 3D world, features a similar size to Oblivion at 41.4 km², set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic Washington D. C.Players embark on a quest to locate their missing father within the Capital Wasteland, facing moral decisions that influence the game’s outcome. Walking is the primary mode of transportation, enhancing immersion but slowing travel time—despite the availability of fast travel options.
4 Fallout 76
41.99 km² (26.09 sq mi)
Fallout 76 marks Bethesda’s entrance into online multiplayer gaming, featuring a map of 41.99 km²—slightly larger than a few of its predecessors. The game is set 25 years after the nuclear conflict, allowing players to re-colonize the Earth. Subsequent updates have expanded the map significantly, introducing new regions and enhancing gameplay.
3 The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
161, 600 km² (100, 414 sq mi)
Daggerfall is frequently cited as one of the largest game worlds ever, boasting approximately 161, 600 km² comprised of thousands of towns, cities, and dungeons, thanks to its procedural generation. Players are tasked by the Emperor to solve the mystery of King Lysandus’s ghost, while also having the freedom to engage in a vast array of side quests and guild memberships, including spell creation.
2 Starfield
2, 589, 988 km² (1, 609, 344 sq mi)
As Bethesda’s first original franchise in 25 years, Starfield boasts an impressive scale, featuring a play area of approximately 2.6 million km² within its depiction of the Milky Way. Players navigate through over 1, 000 procedurally generated planets, alongside hand-crafted locations including the expansive city of New Atlantis, marking a significant achievement in game design.
1 The Elder Scrolls: Arena
9, 000, 000 km² (5, 592, 341 sq mi)
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Platform |
PC |
|---|---|
|
Publisher |
Bethesda Softworks |
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Genre |
RPG |
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Release Date |
March 1994 |
Exploding onto the gaming scene, The Elder Scrolls: Arena set the stage for the illustrious series. Spanning nearly 9 million km², the game invites players to delve into the comprehensive land of Tamriel, tackling conspiracies that threaten the Emperor. While packed with adversaries, inns, and dungeons, the game’s procedural generation allows for virtually limitless exploration, making it comparable in size to the total land area of the United States, which covers roughly 9.147 million km².
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