The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind® Game of the Year Edition

This is still one of Bethesda's greatest gems. It is one of the only open worlds with true tabletop RPG class builders. Even though many hate chance rolls, it really does add another layer to class building. Dodge chance, spell chance, and attributes really make the 3 domains of stealth, melee, and magic progress differently, and there are things a character of that archetype will have that the others never will. Like a max melee will have the most health since endurance grants more health the earlier you spec into it, and you can wear the Daedric armor set and not be encumbered. Sleath skills somewhat work when your character specs into it, dodge chance is a good plus for high agility characters, and mages can have an insane level of utility spells. Unlike actual table tops, though, it still has the Bethesda Elder Scrolls formula of get better by doing. Even if a character sucks at progressing a skill with a low chance, there is a chance for them to master everything. This is also the only Elder Scrolls game with real opposing factions like Fallout. The game's quests and lore are written on the same level; they don't really dumb down the setting like in Skyrim just to make the quests more accessible. The factions have real intrigue and ambitions, only really seen since Fallout: New Vegas for Bethesda Games' writing. Fast travel is a good system. It costs money, and there is also public transport between all the major settlements. There is even an obelisk that teleports you as a reward for those who clear dungeons. The Roads, road signs, maps, journals, and landmarks are actually important for completing your quests. The way a character can speed up non-fast travel is very unique, too. High Athletics, high speed, high acrobatics, potions that boost movement, scrolls that boost movement, enchanted items you make that let you fly, casting spells like water walk, fly, water breath, and mark teleport add an insane choice of traversal. Money is also a key resource in this game; enchanting, potions, and fast travel all cost money. Money is also integral for bribes and training. Many of these systems are unique to Morrowind, and you find them in any other Bethesda game. The character models are a bit dated, but the world and building textures are still great at showing you different cultures in this game. I recommend playing with higher-res texture mods. Some dark elves live in stucco adobe, others in giant mushrooms, other basic wood and stone structures, and the Elites on the coast live in ziggurats above the water. The humans also have a distinct style with a medieval fortress and cottages. The capital Ebonheart is a human colony with dark elven elites living there. The native dark elves called ashlanders are nomads that live in tents in ash lands, and the beast races live in shacks on marshy platations. The world shows so many races and classes without having to look at a wiki. It's hard to even generalize how divided the elite dark elves are, too. It is a weird Bethesda open-world strength.