11 Shakespeare Plays Ranked From Worst to Best

My honest opinions on all the Shakespeare plays I’ve read

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.” — William Shakespeare

Shakespeare wrote over thirty plays in his lifetime. And while it would be nice to read all of them, time is not infinite.

This begs the question — to read or not to read? In other words, which of his plays are worth picking up?

Between high school and university classes, I have read or seen 11 Shakespeare plays. Ranking these plays from worst to best, I’ll tell you which ones I enjoyed and which ones I didn’t.

Without further ado, here are my honest opinions on 11 Shakespeare plays:

11. Richard III

Goodreads rating: 3.91/5 My rating: 2/5

Famous quote: “Out of my sight! Thou dost infect mine eyes.”

That quote sums up how I feel about Richard III.

I actively disliked this play when I read it. There were some interesting themes about power and manipulation, but I felt like the plot dragged. There were also too many characters to keep track of (and a very confusing family tree).

10. Henry IV, Part 1

Goodreads rating: 3.80/5 My rating: 2/5

Famous quote: “If all the year were playing holidays; To sport would be as tedious as to work.”

The history plays are just not my favorite. I can appreciate the play and its themes, but at the end of the day, I didn’t like this one. I felt like there was a lot of historical context I was missing which made it hard to follow what was happening. I was bored.

9. The Tempest

Goodreads rating: 3.79/5 My rating: 2.5/5

Famous quote: “Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”

Quite simply, this play was forgettable. I even acted in a production of this play, and I had to look up the plot to remind myself what happened.

I don’t hate this play, but I feel so neutral about it that I don’t think it deserves to be any higher on the list.

8. Macbeth

Goodreads rating: 3.90/5 My rating: 3/5

Famous quote: “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.”

Macbeth was engaging to read because it is so famous. It’s fascinating watching Macbeth create his own downfall and watch his prophecy unfold.

If you’re looking for a good tragedy, I would recommend it. It has a mystical, dark fantasy element to it with the witches. Plus, Lady Macbeth adds an interesting aspect to the story.

That said, for me personally, it’s just not my favorite.

7. The Merchant of Venice

Goodreads rating: 3.79/5 My rating: 3/5

Famous quote: “All that glisters is not gold.”

A man needs money to impress a girl, so he strikes a deal with his merchant friend. It’s a commentary on money and loyalty, and what is actually valuable in life.

Some of the play is funny, and some of it is annoying. I liked it, but I wasn’t wowed.

6. Hamlet

Goodreads rating: 4.03/5 My rating: 3.5/5

Famous quote: “To be or not to be, that is the question.”

This play asks many questions, one of which is: Can revenge make you go mad?

Hamlet is such an interesting character to analyze because you never really seem to understand what is going on with him. He is sassy and angsty. For a tragedy, there were quite a few moments that made me laugh.

I do wish Ophelia had more space to develop in the story, as I think her storyline is as compelling as Hamlet’s. But, overall, I liked digging into this text and analyzing it.

5. Twelfth Night

Goodreads rating: 3.97/5 My rating: 3.5/5

Famous quote: “If music be the food of love, play on.”

This is a fun comedy about mistaken identity. I enjoyed reading it, and laughed a lot at some of the moments in the story. The dialogue is great in the play. Things end pretty well for all of the characters, minus Malvolio.

I thought it was entertaining.

4. Othello

Goodreads rating: 3.90/5 My rating: 4/5

Famous quote: “Oh beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.”

Watching the drama unfold in Othello was so fun to read. It’s about marriage and trust. Would you believe the words of your wife, or Iago? (As this is a tragedy, you can guess which person Othello chooses to believe).

I liked this one a lot more than I was expecting to.

3. Romeo and Juliet

Goodreads rating: 3.74/5 My rating: 4/5

Famous quote: “These violent delights have violent ends and in their triumph die, like fire and powder which, as they kiss, consume.”

Romeo and Juliet fall in love too quickly. Romeo is annoying. The family feud seems nonsensical. They didn’t need to die at the end.

It’s true, but also, even with all that, I like Romeo and Juliet. It is such an iconic play. The first time I read it, I got excited when I recognized certain scenes I had seen referenced before in pop culture (such as the balcony scene).

In class, we had a great discussion, and I enjoyed looking at the play from a lot of different perspectives. The story is both simple, and also contains a lot of depth. I can see why it is famous.

2. A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Goodreads rating: 3.95/5 My rating: 4/5

Famous quote: “The course of true love never did run smooth.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of the few Shakespeare plays I’ve read multiple times, and I really enjoy it. I like all of the shenanigans with the love potion and how the different storylines connect.

The blend of comedy and tragedy makes it a great play to go back to and analyze.

1. Much Ado About Nothing

Goodreads rating: 4.06/5 My rating: 4.5/5

Famous quote: “I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me.”

I unabashedly love Much Ado About Nothing. There’s something about Beatrice and Benedick’s dynamic that is so fun to watch play out. The characters are so sassy and have great chemistry. Hero and Claudio’s storyline also juxtaposes Beatrice and Benedick’s relationship well.

My only complaint is the villain in the story feels very convenient and evil just to be evil. But, overall, I genuinely loved reading the play.

What is your favorite and least favorite Shakespeare play?

Overall, I have enjoyed most of the Shakespeare plays I have read. I think his work is really rich to analyze, and also just fun to read/watch.

Recommend me Shakespeare plays I should pick up next, and let me know what your favorite and least favorite play is in the comments.

If you liked this article, sign up for free emails whenever I publish something new. You’ll get all my book recommendations, reviews, and ramblings in one place.