*name drops every other 'open world' game from the past decade or so*
Ok, to put in perspective, I said name me another game to this quote from you:
Do people actually believe this or? i mean, Bethesda games don't even offer a whole lot of freedom besides having a big world to explore (and moving things around, which is apparently a big deal somehow) which at this point is hardly unique.
Ok, now I'm going to mention at least the RPGs most popularly compared.
Witcher. No. 3 comes closest but you are still stuck playing one character, with his personality, and playing how he would tackle a situation (you are not given a situation and just told figure out how you want to resolve it). Witcher does not have the same freedom that Bethesda games give you. If you really think they are the same type game, why do you think that there is such controversy with some preferring one over the other? They really do not cater to the same type tastes. Witcher feels more gamey and less roleplay like. Even iwth the choices you make it's more of a figure out which choice is more appropriate making choices feel gamey vs. play how you think your character would approach the situation.
Dragon's Dogma. HA! No fucking way. The story wasn't even that great either (I could care less about the story) The only reason it is a good game is it has good combat, good enough that it really made up for being a poor RPG. You don't even get to choose much of how your character responds to other characters. You just do the quests given you. It's not one where you are roleplaying your character, your pretty much given your motivation by the game. I loved this game for the combat but I didn't even care to finish it cause that was the only reason it was fun (and crafting). And it was great fun. Just no point in caring about finishing hte story or anything.
Dark Souls. Ok, to be fair I haven't played this but I've been curious and have asked around a lot on what type game it is and the impression I get is this game is the type of RPG where it's all action and not much RP part (but it's fantasy so it's considered RPG). It's mostly focusing on combat. ONce again, not the same kind of freedom.
Deus Ex? At least this game does seem to offer more variety in how you approach a situation. Honestly, more appropriate than the ones I listed above. And yet some how I have never seen anyone compare the two. Even though this is more appropriate. Seems to me the people trying to hate on Bethesda don't even get what people want out of Bethesda games when it's the ones above that get compared (none are the same type game or are even trying to be. Witcher 3 was inspired mosty just by the true open world but still was doing its own thing other than that) and they can't even think of this game that comes a lot closer than any of the above ones. Still don't get to play your own character and you're given the characters motivations on why he's doing what he's doing (a big part of Bethesda games is making your own character and making your own motivations for your character and how he or she wants to approach the world).
Honestly, if you think every other RPG does what Bethesda games do well you obviously don't get why people love Bethesda games.
I'd have had more respect for your opinion if you could have listed ones that maybe actually done what a lot of bethesda fans like about bethesda games well rather than try to claim every other RPG is better. Cause no, every other RPG isn't even trying to do what Bethesda does (most the ones above save maybe Deus Ex are not the same type game at all). THe fact you think they all do means you don't even get why people love the game and find it so immersive. At least people who are bitching that Vegas is far better (and it is) understand what is so alluring about the games. Also, I say non turn based cause other than combat type, turn based RPGs are a much better comparison for Bethesda games than live action games. It is just I like the combo of hte live action with the more turn based philosophy on what an RPG is (most live action RPGs just focus on the gameplay and less on the RP part).
I have yet to encounter anything super similar that really scratches the same itch.