Review: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered – Cyrodiil Calls!

In a year already full of high-profile releases, few things blindsided gamers like the surprise launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. With virtually no marketing or buildup, Bethesda dropped the game quietly over Easter weekend, and suddenly one of the most influential RPGs of all time was reborn in stunning Unreal Engine 5 fidelity. Though whispers of its existence had surfaced during Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax—thanks to some leaked internal forecasts—most fans assumed a remaster would be years away, if it happened at all. But here we are.

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Let’s clear one thing up: this isn’t a remaster in the traditional sense. This is a full-blown remake. Every texture, every light source, every blade of grass has been rebuilt from the ground up. It’s a modern game wearing the skin—and soul—of a classic. And for both returning fans and newcomers, it’s an experience worth savoring.

The Legacy

Originally released in 2006, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was a landmark title for RPGs and a major stepping stone in the franchise’s evolution. Coming off the more niche Morrowind, Oblivion embraced voice acting, radiant AI, and more accessible systems to appeal to a broader audience. It also introduced players to the lush, Imperial province of Cyrodiil, with a sprawling main quest that pitted them against the demonic forces of Mehrunes Dagon as the empire teetered on the brink of collapse.

The remaster retains all of that and includes every piece of original DLC: Knights of the Nine, which expands the game’s lore with a holy crusade to reclaim ancient relics; Shivering Isles, widely regarded as one of the best expansions in RPG history, offering a mind-bending journey into the realm of madness ruled by the Daedric Prince Sheogorath; and even all the smaller content packs, like The Thieves Den, Wizard’s Tower, Fighter’s Stronghold, and—yes—Horse Armor. It’s all here.

What They Got Right

The most immediate and obvious upgrade is the visual fidelity. Cyrodiil has never looked better. The forests feel dense and alive. The lakes shimmer in the light of a rising sun. The Imperial City, once a low-poly hub, now stands tall as a gleaming beacon in the center of the map, visible for miles in every direction. You’ll find yourself pausing just to ire the views—something few “remasters” truly earn.

Despite the graphical overhaul, the game runs smoothly across platforms. Performance is rock solid on both current-gen consoles and high-end PCs, and it even s HDR and 4K at launch. It’s not only one of the best-looking remakes we’ve seen—it’s also one of the most technically stable.

The fact that it launched simultaneously on all major platforms and was included on Game from day one is just the icing on the cake. That kind of accessibility opens the door for a whole new generation to experience a game that helped define the open-world genre.

And nostalgia? Oh, it hits hard. The music—composed by Jeremy Soule—returns in full force. Those soft strings and wistful piano chords still have the power to transport you. And hearing the voice of Patrick Stewart as Emperor Uriel Septim again? Pure magic.

Where It Stumbles

That said, this isn’t a flawless resurrection.

The character creator, while allowing an impressive level of customization, has a weird way of making nearly every character look… off. There’s an uncanny ugliness to most faces, no matter how much time you spend tweaking sliders. Even mods struggle to “beautify” these creations. It’s oddly faithful to the original, for better or worse—but in ultra HD, it’s harder to laugh off.

Combat feels like it’s stuck somewhere between classic and modern. Two-handed weapon handling is especially clunky; you’re locked into animations and can’t interrupt to block, which can lead to frustratingly cheap deaths. Archery also feels unnatural. Rather than firing physical projectiles like in Skyrim, it behaves more like a hitscan mechanic—more Overwatch Hanzo than medieval marksman.

The UI, while cleaned up, still feels like it’s been held back by a desire to preserve the past. You’ll miss features like quick-looting, side-by-side item comparisons, or even something as basic as seeing what you’re currently wearing when selling gear. It’s serviceable, but not seamless.

Dialogue is another sore spot. Conversations remain largely unchanged from 2006: click a list of pre-set topics, get an info dump. There are no branching responses or dynamic exchanges. It works, but it doesn’t immerse. In a world this visually alive, the NPC interactions feel sterile.

A Beautiful Mistake?

There’s a lingering question that even the best visuals can’t shake: was Oblivion the right game to remake?

Don’t get me wrong—Oblivion deserves respect. It was the game that brought The Elder Scrolls to the mainstream. But revisiting it with modern clarity exposes some of its weaker bones. Cyrodiil, though massive, often feels barren. Outside of cities and dungeons, much of the terrain looks like set dressing. In 2006, our imaginations filled in the blanks. In 2025, we can see the emptiness.

The main story, too, is largely a series of fetch quests wrapped in high fantasy packaging. It gets the job done, but doesn’t quite inspire. It’s really the expansions—especially Shivering Isles—where the game shines with personality, creativity, and emotional impact.

The lack of a Creation Kit or official modding tools is another missed opportunity. The Elder Scrolls community thrives on mods. And while UE5 doesn’t play nice with Bethesda’s old toolkit, it’s a shame not to see more content, quests, or living world details added. This was a chance to expand on Oblivion’s foundations, not just polish them.

It’s clear the devs approached this project with deep reverence for the source material. But maybe a little less reverence and a little more reinvention could’ve made it even better.

The Verdict

In the end, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is both a time capsule and a technical showcase. It’s an incredible way for modern audiences to experience a foundational RPG, and for longtime fans to return to a world that once felt endless and mysterious.

But it also reminds us just how far the genre has come—and just how high the bar has been set by Skyrim, which, even nearly 15 years later, still reigns supreme thanks to its refined gameplay, immersive world, and endless modding potential (including fully immersive VR).

Oblivion Remastered is a brilliant, beautiful love letter—but it also feels like a stopgap. A preview of what’s to come. And with The Elder Scrolls VI likely landing around the 20th anniversary of the original Oblivion in 2026, that makes perfect sense.