Bethesda’sThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimroutinely appears on lists as one of the greatestRPGsof all time. The game’s open-world setting takes place in the province known as Skyrim. It’s a rugged, mountainous region that is also referred to as the Throat of the World. Skyrim has a rich backstory that ties into the events of the game.
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There have been some great RPGs over the years, but not all of them compare toThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.The foundation of an RPG is an intriguing story.The following games could’ve been masterpieces, but they fell short of expectations due to a weak narrative.
10Kingdom Hearts III
Rather than be the conclusion to theKingdom Heartstrilogy that fans deserved,Kingdom Hearts IIIwound up being too convoluted. It had the chance to finish the story, but it left loose ends untied with an ending that is up for interpretation.Sora’s fate is unknown,which opens up the possibility for another sequel. In the end, the story doesn’t measure up toThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, one of the greatest RPGs of all time.
9Diablo III
TheDiablofranchise is acclaimed for addicting hack and slash gameplay.There is a story behind it all, but it doesn’t quite measure up toThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.Looking at the series as a whole, it does tell an intriguing story about the Prime Evils. Diablo, also known as the Lord of Terror, is the main antagonist of the threeDiablogames. However, it feels like the third sacrificed story for gameplay.
The Nephalem could have a more developed backstory. More character development could’ve madeDiablo IIIa masterpiece. Instead, we get a short story that doesn’t live up toSkyrim.
8Mass Effect: Andromeda
The story ofMass Effect: Andromedapales in comparison toThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.To the credit of the game’s creators, it did something exciting by bringing the series to our neighboring galaxy.
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This is a story set betweenMass Effect 2andMass Effect 3. With so much buildup toMass Effect: Andromeda’s release, it was a letdown of epic proportions. This spiritual successor was the first in the series not to allow character carryover. The decision to make a game with a blank slatedid not have the effect we hoped for.
7Chrono Cross
AlthoughChrono Triggerwas an all-around awesome game, it’s become clear that even developer Square is entitled to write a few bad stories.Chrono Crossis hailed as a phenomenal RPG,but the plot is not its strong suit. With alternate realities, it could have been a smashing success. There are too many characters, so players can’t form a meaningful connection. Ultimately,Chrono Crossbecomes too confusing, bordering on nonsensical with its ending.
6Quest 64
As thefirst RPG on the Nintendo 64,Quest 64had high expectations. The game turned out to be a commercial success, even if the story pales in comparison to RPGs likeThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.The sequel game’s story was revealed, but it was canceled before hitting the development phase. ConsideringQuest 64’s narrative was its weak point, it’s hard to blame the developers for wanting to scrap the sequel.
5Fallout 4
At the beginning ofFallout 4,we are intrigued by this post-apocalyptic situation in which the protagonist loses his son. His husband or wife, depending on your gender in the game, is left for dead. As you get towards the middle of the game, monotonousside quests get in the way of a good story.It’s almost as if you forget the premise, as it is seldom mentioned. HadFallout 4focused more on the main story, it could’ve placed among Bethesda’s great games likeSkyrim.
4Jade Empire
It was games likeJade Empirethat made the originalXboxa juggernaut platform. The game is set in a fictional kingdom known as the Jade Empire. It follows The Last Spirit Monk and has a robust cast of characters that keep the game interesting. AlthoughJade Empireis an excellent RPG, it doesn’t have the expansive lore thatThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimhas.Jade Empiretells a beautiful story from Asian history, but it’s unable to live up to a masterpiece likeSkyrim.
3South Park: The Stick Of Truth
South Park: The Stick of Truthis an excellent RPG, even if the plot fails to deliver a meaningful adventure. The turn-based combat ofSouth Park: The Stick of Truthmakes you want to return. However, the story goes to places never expected.
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This game is borderline offensive, including an intense alien probing scene, racism, and more swear words than you can count. Could we have expected more in aSouth Parkvideo game?
2Fable III
Fable IIIdoesn’t have the solid foundation that the previousFablegames had. The story is lackluster, uneven, and it doesn’t have the enchantment as previous entries. Had the topic of discussion beenFableorFable II,an argument could be made for a better story thanThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.you may be a king inFable III, but that’s one of the few things to appreciate.
1Dark Souls: Prepare To Die Edition
Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Editionis a game with a unique story supplemented by grueling, addictive gameplay. The plot is difficult to comprehend since the game contains very little spoken dialogue.
The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimandDark Soulsare both RPGs with fascinating lore.Most of the lore is told through text but might be passed by word of mouth.The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s storytelling is better, butDark Soulsmight be more gripping.The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimedges outDark Soulsfor consistency.
