The strengths of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered are abundant, making it the definitive version of the classic title for many. Indeed, Virtuos has done an exceptional job polishing Bethesda's nearly 20-year-old RPG, bringing it up to contemporary visual standards without adulterating what made the original so special.
As is often the case with remastered games, Oblivion Remastered is likely to spark some discussion about the merits and value of high-fidelity visuals in gaming. After all, many would quite reasonably argue that good graphics don't necessarily make for a good game: there are plenty of examples of underwhelming or flat-out terrible modern games that lure players in with the promise of lifelike graphics. At the same time, higher-quality graphics can often serve to elevate the artistic vision of a game, heightening its narrative, atmosphere, and environmental storytelling. This is what has happened with Oblivion Remastered, as its polished graphics work in favor of its broader creative goals.
It's worth noting that the original Oblivion was striving for cutting-edge graphics back in 2006, so it makes sense that its remaster would attempt to do the same thing in 2025.
Why Oblivion Remastered Might Be More Important Than Elder Scrolls 6 Right Now
Oblivion Remastered isn't just filling time because it proves Bethesda still values what made its RPGs iconic, which could mean good things for TES6.
In a Sea of Visual Improvements, Oblivion Remastered's Character Creator Stands Out
It's Easy To Create a Distinct and Impressive Protagonist in Oblivion Remastered
In the world of western RPGs, few features are as ubiquitous as the character creator, which allows players to better realize their individual fantasy within a given game's world. The original Oblivion is no different, presenting a slew of options for race, gender presentation, hairstyle, eye color, and the like. However, much like the rest of the game's character models, the protagonist tends to come out looking quite bizarre and awkward, regardless of how much tweaking and fine-tuning the player performs at the outset.
Things are considerably improved in Oblivion Remastered, though. In this new version, it's remarkably easy to make a good-looking character, as the standard face models are far more appealing and less uncanny-valley-esque. This applies to both human and non-human races, as even the Khajiit and Argonians look far more detailed than their 2006 counterparts. Beyond the high-level improvements to character models, Oblivion Remastered's character creation tools are simply more intuitive, allowing players to look at preview menus for things like hair and eye color, rather than having those variables restricted to sliders. There are also new features within the character creator, like the option to select a distinct origin for each chosen race, bringing the remaster more in line with Elder Scrolls lore.
Thankfully, players are still more than capable of creating hideous, cartoonish, and implausible avatars in Oblivion Remastered—it's just harder to do this by accident.
Why Oblivion Remastered's Improved Character Creation Matters
While it definitely doesn't shy away from levity and humor, Oblivion is meant to be a mature and sober narrative experience. Its story of royal lineage, dark cosmic forces, and warring political factions can sometimes be undermined by its unintentionally goofy character models and animations, so players in 2006 were required to suspend their disbelief at several points if they wished to take the game seriously. This criticism applies to the player-character as much as to the game's NPCs, as it's hard to feel immersed in a world when one's surrogate doesn't line up with their vision or headcanon.
In Oblivion Remastered, players have more freedom to create the sort of character that they want to inhabit, as they are provided more options outside the realm of visual absurdity. Moreover, it's far easier to craft a unique-looking protagonist, as the more detailed graphics allow for a greater breadth of custom designs. In other words, Oblivion Remastered's improvements to character creation buttress the game's broader role-playing elements.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- April 22, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
WHERE TO PLAY
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion™ Remastered modernizes the 2006 Game of the Year with all new stunning visuals and refined gameplay. Explore the vast landscape of Cyrodiil like never before and stop the forces of Oblivion from overtaking the land in one of the greatest RPGs ever from the award-winning Bethesda Game Studios.
Rediscover Cyrodiil
Journey through the rich world of Tamriel and battle across the planes of Oblivion where handcrafted details have been meticulously recreated to ensure each moment of exploration is awe-inspiring.
Navigate Your Own Story
From the noble warrior to the sinister assassin, wizened sorcerer, or scrappy blacksmith, forge your path and play the way you want.
Experience an Epic Adventure
Step inside a universe bursting with captivating stories and encounter an unforgettable cast of characters. Master swordcraft and wield powerful magic as you fight to save Tamriel from the Daedric invasion.
The Complete Story
Experience everything Oblivion has to offer with previously released story expansions Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, and additional downloadable content included in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Franchise
- The Elder Scrolls
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- April 22, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- April 22, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- April 22, 2025
- Genre(s)
- Action, RPG, Open-World, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 123.2 GB
