Why I love Starfield and why Bethesda's new universe is no dud

Bemused by the game’s mixed reputation, a reader explains why he loves Starfield so much and encourages more people to give it a try.

Let me start with a simple statement: I love Starfield.

If you’ve played it and found it wasn’t for you, feel free to skip this. I’m not here to change anyone’s mind about a game they’ve tried and disliked. But if you’ve only heard the internet’s chorus of complaints, I want to speak up for those of us who think Starfield is incredible. It’s even my favourite Bethesda game to date.

This love wasn’t something I expected. With lukewarm reviews from places like IGN and the overwhelmingly negative reviews from GameCentral, I was ready to chalk Starfield up as another overhyped Microsoft miss. But as soon as I booted up the game, I was captivated. The graphics are intricately detailed, and the first person view pulled me right into this vast, immersive universe.

Within minutes, I was happily caught in the Bethesda loop: discovering quests, looting, selling, and repeating the cycle in a world that felt endlessly alive. Each faction has a distinct history, complete with museums you can visit to understand their backstories. And, above all, Starfield offered a wealth of gameplay options. For context, I’d been in the middle of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom and Horizon Forbidden West, but after diving into Starfield I haven’t felt compelled to go back.

If you approached Starfield purely for its gunplay or the main storyline I can understand why you might be disappointed. But my joy in over 300 hours of gameplay has come from the sheer variety of things to do. Combat and exploration? Check. Alien flora and fauna? Check. Space combat, shipbuilding, detective work, stealth missions, and even navigating complex social scenarios like a botched bank robbery or helping a couple arrange child care – Starfield delivers a surprisingly deep range of experiences.

You can build and upgrade your own ship, unlock skills to sneak past enemies, negotiate tense situations, or even just share a meal with a granny or visit a zero-gravity party boat.

When I read complaints about the ‘endless loading screens’ I’m confused. I’ve spent hours exploring inhabited planets, fighting off bounty hunters, uncovering hidden secrets, and climbing towering mountains just to see what lies on the other side. I understand that procedurally generated levels aren’t for everyone, but for me, they make the exploration feel genuinely open-ended.

There’s no trail of breadcrumbs, no markers on a map that tell you where to go next (I switched them off). When I reach the summit of a mountain and see a ringed planet filling the horizon, I feel like I’m truly exploring a vast, mysterious universe.

I wanted to write this piece when the game first came out, but I was too busy actually playing. Now, with the Shattered Space DLC out, I find myself returning to Starfield multiple times a week. And I hope Bethesda stays the course. GameCentral suggested the game should have focused on fewer, hand-crafted planets, but that would’ve missed the point.

Star Wars Outlaws, which tried that approach, ended up feeling like a bland, shallow space game by comparison. Some players have called for Starfield to change engines or simplify its mechanics, but to me, that would just push it toward the same formulaic open world approach that’s already saturating the industry.

So here’s the takeaway: if you didn’t enjoy Starfield, fair enough; maybe it just wasn’t your game. But if you’re avoiding it because of the noise online, I’d say give it a try. You might find yourself as lost in Bethesda’s universe as I did.

By reader DarKerR (gamertag)