When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.

Before joining Bethesda during Oblivion, however, he also worked on Activision’s 2005 Fantastic Four game.

“It’s a little scary to work outside of an established story,” Gardiner replied.

Skyrim

“You’re creating things whole cloth.

It’s a shocking amount of work that I wasn’t even really prepared for.

We spent a lot of time working on back history and story, and making connective tissues.”

Fighting a dragon with a sword and shield in Skyrim

“I will overlook shitty game mechanics for hours if I’m enjoying the story.Hours, in an RPG.

It’s an interesting perspective, and personally not one I think always rings true.

When it comes to something character-driven, like The Witcher 3, I think Gardiner is spot on.

Elder Scrolls map

Fallout

A farmer standing in front of a distant town in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Skyrim

Fallout overseer

Fallout 3

Fallout

Fallout 76 screenshot showing an irradiated mutant man-like creature screeching, its sharp canine teeth showing

Posing with a rifle in the Fallout 76 Ghoul update

No Rest for the Wicked

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

Ghost of Tsushima sequel Ghost of Yotei reveal trailer screenshot

A screenshot shows three Elden Ring Nightreign characters wearing Dark Souls armor sets

Hollow Knight

Articulate box, cards, board, and tokens on a wooden table

The cast of Thunderbolts standing in an elevator during the trailer for the upcoming Marvel Phase 5 movie.

Logan Kim as Hershel and Lauren Cohan as Maggie in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2