Fallout | 4

In a controversial move, Bethesda removed traditional skills and karma, replacing them with a simplified perk-based leveling system. This shift has led some fans to describe it as an "FPS pretending to be an RPG". World Design & Atmosphere

A massive, albeit controversial, addition allowed players to rebuild communities across the Commonwealth . While some found it a "fiddly" distraction, others found it extremely satisfying to "clean up" the wasteland. Fallout 4

The most significant shift in was the move away from traditional "clunky" RPG mechanics toward a more fluid, shooter-centric experience. In a controversial move, Bethesda removed traditional skills

By overhauling weapon variety, animations, and enemy AI, the game transitioned from RNG-based gunplay to real-time aiming. Critics from Game Informer noted that this made wandering the wasteland genuinely enjoyable for the first time in the series. While some found it a "fiddly" distraction, others