Fill the gaps in your Bethesda collection with Oblivion, Fallout, Doom, and other classics from just $3 each

The new Build Your Own Bethesda Bundle from Fanatical isn't just a collection of games; it's a time capsule. At roughly $3 per game, depending on how you build your bundle, it's also a wonderfully affordable way to experience some of the most influential games from Bethesda's expansive stable for the first time, like The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, Fallout 3, or The Evil Within.

The most appealing game of the lot is Oblivion, as far as I'm concerned. Despite its legacy, it somehow still lives in the shadow of Skyrim, but it's a personal favorite of mine, and if you still haven't ticked it off of your game bucket list, then I strongly recommend using this opportunity to do so.

If you've played it, then you know: Oblivion is a much better game than Skyrim. Some may call that a bold statement, but a lot of people agree with me, I swear. Where Skyrim is rugged, stoic, windswept, and frankly quite repetitive (anyone here tired of having to go into yet another cave for a quest?) Oblivion is almost dreamlike. The world of Cyrodiil is brighter, more varied, and more colourful in its landscapes. The storyline and quests are interesting and, again, diverse and creative, making the whole experience so much more fun. NPCs have that famously odd, almost theatrical way of speaking, and the whole game carries this slightly surreal tone, like you've wandered into an uncanny fantasy painting. It's awkward, yes, but it's that charming type of awkwardness that you only really see in older games.

There's a texture to Oblivion that comes from its quirks. The weird zoom-ins during conversations, the unpredictable AI routines, and the strange tonal shifts between epic and unintentionally hilarious. I haven't played the remake, to be honest, and while I am curious about it, from everything I've seen, I worry that many of its endearing oddities have been smoothed out to make way for a more polished, but less distinctive, experience.

It's also one of Bethesda's most quietly ambitious RPGs in terms of systems. The Radiant AI, while imperfect, gives the world a sense of spontaneity. NPCs eat, sleep, argue, and wander, sometimes in completely unexpected ways.

Then there are the quests. The Dark Brotherhood storyline alone is still one of the most inventive questlines Bethesda has ever made: whimsical, sinister, and genuinely memorable. I don't remember Skyrim having any questlines that stood out in this way. In Oblivion, the different guilds all feel very unique, while in Skyrim, they're much more samey.

Of course, this bundle doesn't stop at Oblivion. It's stacked with other classics from across Bethesda's history, spanning genres and eras. You've got the post-apocalyptic pull of Fallout, the lightning-fast, demon-slaying chaos of Doom, and the industrial, old-school intensity of Quake. Each one represents a different flavour of action.

Then there's the stealth and supernatural elegance of Dishonored, the brutal alt-history storytelling of Wolfenstein, and the psychological horror edge of The Evil Within. So, as you can see, there's a lot here that should appeal to different tastes. Here are all the highlights in Fanatical's Bethesda Bundle:

• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
• Titles from the Fallout series
• Entries from the DOOM franchise
• Classic Quake shooters
• Dishonored
• Wolfenstein games
• The Evil Within

If your library has gaps shaped like these iconic RPGs or genre-defining shooters, this is one of those rare chances to fill them - and you only have to pay for the games you actually want, rather than getting the lot. Just make sure you do so before Tuesday, May 5th, when the bundle expires.