Bethesda Never Understood What Made Morrowind Special

For over two decades, Bethesda fans have argued over which game truly represents the studio at its best. Some point to Skyrim’s massive open world, others to Fallout 4’s combat, but many still believe Morrowind delivered something Bethesda has never been able to replicate. In this video, I break down why Morrowind’s writing, worldbuilding, RPG mechanics, and player freedom made it so special, and how those elements were slowly stripped away in later titles.

We’ll explore why Morrowind’s alien world felt genuinely new, how its deep RPG systems created meaningful choices and consequences, and why modern Bethesda games prioritize size and spectacle over depth and agency. I also examine Bethesda’s own comments on Morrowind, the remake debate, and why the studio may no longer fully understand what made the game legendary in the first place.